Ash-dried food restaurant opens at Kagoshima-Chuo Station, offering affordable business lunches

PUBLISHED Sep 13, 2021

Sakurajima Haiboshi Seared Amatai lunch set

A month and a half have passed since the Japanese restaurant Sakurajima Haiboshi-ya: Seisen opened in the Gourmet Yokocho, on the second floor of Kagoshima-Chuo Station. The opening date was July 24.

The restaurant serves dishes prepared with the Sakurajima Haiboshi method — food dried and matured in the volcanic ash of Sakurajima. Seisen-sha, a company that produces and distributes Sakurajima Haiboshi products operates the restaurant. It used to run at the Kagomma Furusato Yatai Mura (food stall village) but relocated when the facility closed its doors. “We chose Gourmet Yokocho, where many people are coming and going so that we can inform many people about the Sakurajima Haiboshi,” said Yanagawa Kota, the owner. “We are in the preparation period during this pandemic. Once it is over, we want to promote it to as many people as possible.”

The Sakurajima Haiboshi lunch menus include Seared Nodoguro — Blackthroat Seaperch — (2,180 yen); Seared Amatai — Tilefish — (1,600 yen); Seared Kirishima Salmon (1,050 yen); Assorted Aged Sashimi (1,500 yen) prepared with fish sourced directly from the seafood market; Kuroge Wagyu Beef Steak (1,980 yen) aged in ash; and No-Fry Kurobuta Pork Tonkatsu (1,480 yen). Customers can choose from white rice or brown rice for the set meals.

At the end of August, the restaurant started offering Business Lunch Set Meals. The lineup includes Mixed Karaage Set, Chicken Cutlet Set, Seared Fish of the Day Set, and Fried White Fish Set. All the set meals are prepared with ash-dried ingredients and are priced at 750 yen. It plans to start offering takeout in mid-September.

Inside the restaurant, there are 14 tables where customers can relax. “Sakurajima Haiboshi is one of Kagoshima’s wonderful food cultures. We want to spread the fascinating facts of Haiboshi. Please come and enjoy a variety of dishes at our restaurant,” Yanagawa added.

Opening hours: 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (subject to change at the request of the national and prefectural governments).

  • The exterior of Sakurajima Haiboshi-ya: Seisen

  • Seared Tai (Sea Bream) lunch set from Sakurajima Haiboshi-ya: Seisen

  • Seared Kirishima Salmon lunch set from Sakurajima Haiboshi-ya: Seisen

  • Chicken Thigh Karaage lunch set from Sakurajima Haiboshi-ya: Seisen

  • Seared Sanma (Saury) lunch set from Sakurajima Haiboshi-ya: Seisen

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