When visiting Kumamoto Castle, the nearby Sakurano Sai-en is a great lunch spot.
Because there are so many options
There are popular restaurants with long lines, and also food stalls where you can try different delicacies.
Since it's meal time, there are many people waiting at the restaurants
Plus, the snacks outside look really good, so I decided to eat outside.
1. Kumamon Cake
When in Kumamoto, everything has to relate to Kumamon~~
This Kumamon cake is very popular because it’s shaped like the character～
It also has different filling flavors - cream/red bean/green tea/cheese/strawberry (seasonal limited),
One costs ¥330, which isn’t expensive,
I tried the cheese flavor, and to be honest, I feel that the ones from Hongdong might be better.
The texture is just soft cake, nothing special, but the shape gets a perfect score
2. Original Mustard Lotus Root
This place looks very historic,
I’ve heard that mustard lotus root was a health food originally offered by the lord of this area to the emperor.
Of course, I had to experience the emperor’s tribute delicacy!!!
They add mustard into the gaps of the lotus root, then coat it and deep-fry it.
What is sold here is all cold, and it tastes a bit strange.
Importantly... the mustard does not cover the taste of the lotus root, I truly feel... once is enough,
3. Sea Urchin Fried Rice Balls
If you’re a sea urchin lover, this is a must-try.
The rice balls are freshly fried, so they are still warm when you eat them.
They give a super generous amount of sea urchin inside. With one bite, the fresh taste of the sea urchin fills your mouth.
Because there’s so much sea urchin, it’s practically gushing out~~ it’s a sea urchin waterfall.
5. Kananaya: Horse Meat Trio - Fresh Horse Meat/Horse Meat Sushi/Horse Meat Croquette
Horse meat is also famous in Kyushu, and many people want to try it, with many restaurants selling it.
If you haven’t tried it and want to taste it, I highly recommend trying it at this place.
To buy here, you need to purchase a ticket at the machine next to you first,
Then take the ticket to collect your food.
Horse Meat Crepe: ¥250/ Raw Horse Meat: ¥500/ Horse Meat Sushi: ¥500 (2 pieces)
The horse meat crepe is freshly fried, with a lot of meat juice inside,
But in terms of taste... I honestly feel that beef is still better.
The raw horse meat is cut very thin, and has been refrigerated, making it taste very much like raw ham,
With a slight salty aroma, very chewy, quite like a side dish with drinks, it's not bad.
The horse meat sushi doesn’t have a particularly special feeling when eaten, instead it has more fat, a bit greasy, I didn’t particularly like it.
Here, I sincerely feel you can enjoy the outside snacks, so you can try a few more items.
After all, there are many seating areas nearby.
Sakurano Baba Castle Sai-en
Add: 1-1-2 Ninomaru, Chuo Ward, Kumamoto, 860-0008, Japan
Tel: +81 96-288-5577
Time: 9:00~16:00