Kumamoto Dining

Home to picturesque remote islands and the smoking Mount Aso, Kumamoto is the place to head to in Japan’s Kyushu region if you’re a foodie. Famed for its sweetfish sushi with the rice inside the fish, and fruity Kumamoto oysters, the prefecture has a variety of distinctly local savory and sweet dishes that you can find at street food stalls and takeaway establishments. Take your pick of the following mouth-watering culinary delights. Basashi Possibly the quintessential Kumamoto delicacy, basashi is horse meat sashimi (raw horse meat). While some might find the idea off-putting, it’s the street food many visitors most want to try to immerse themselves in the local cuisine. The thinly-sliced red meat has a subtle taste and is valued for its high protein and low-fat content is often served with onions, salad, a wedge of lemon, ginger, garlic, or soy sauce. Kumamoto Ramen Most parts of Japan have a signature ramen dish. Kumamoto’s is widely known nationwide as tonkotsu ramen and is one of the more popular varieties. Its sumptuous, creamy broth is made by boiling pork bones for up to 18 hours. Key ingredients are noodles, pork belly slices, half a boiled egg, and a heavy sprinkling…