Kumamoto Haikara Manben Restaurant

Kumamoto Sogo Inshokuten MAO, which offers all-you-can-eat karaage lunch at Shijo Karasuma, opened Kumamoto Haikara Manben Restaurant in September 2023, specializing exclusively in all-you-can-eat karaage. Hyakumanben is right in Kyoto University’s backyard. The young students attending Kyoto University will surely benefit greatly from this restaurant.

Of course, there’s no reason why only students should enjoy this benefit. As a self-proclaimed karaage enthusiast, I recently visited Kumamoto Haikara Manben Restaurant to indulge in their all-you-can-eat fried chicken. So, what was the all-you-can-eat fried chicken like here…?

Seats are limited to one hour, but for all-you-can-eat karaage, that’s plenty… Kumamoto Haikara Manben Restaurant is this kind of place.

Before that, let me briefly describe the atmosphere at Kumamoto Haikara Manben Restaurant. The restaurant is located just a short walk west from the Hyakumanben intersection towards Demachiyanagi. The font used for the restaurant name on the sign somehow evokes the feel of a Chinese town eatery. Upon entering, however, the interior is quite different, boasting a youthful, pop vibe. Seating consists of 7 counter seats and 4 tables for 4 people. When I visited, there were not only students but also quite a few families with children and relatively elderly customers.

Now, one important note: Seating at Kumamoto Haikara Manben Restaurant is timed for one hour, so after an hour, you must settle your bill and leave. But hey, you’re not having a drinking party, and an hour is plenty for all-you-can-eat fried chicken, right? They fry the chicken nonstop in the kitchen, so refills never took long. Big eaters, go ahead and order refills like crazy—stuff your stomach full of chicken to the limit!

For just around 1000 yen, this deal is seriously god-tier value… How did Kumamoto Haikara Manben Restaurant’s all-you-can-eat fried chicken set meal actually turn out?

Alright, let’s dive into Kumamoto Haikara Manben Restaurant‘s signature dish: the all-you-can-eat fried chicken set meal. The time limit is one hour, and the price is 1,100 yen (tax included). The system involves telling the staff the number of karaage pieces you want initially (default is 4) and the amount of rice when ordering.

After ordering, I waited about 5 minutes. Here’s what the all-you-can-eat karaage set meal looked like when it arrived. This time, I ordered a large rice portion, 5 karaage pieces initially, and added Mao Zedong Spice for a flavor change (price: 50 yen tax included).

Now, about this karaage… Each piece is about the size of a chicken egg, with a thick, crispy coating. The meat inside is mostly breast meat, though some pieces seem like thigh meat. It’s more light and refreshing than juicy. However, the soy sauce-based marinade flavor is well-infused, so you can easily eat it plain without needing extra seasoning.

Additionally, soy sauce and Chinese-style fried chicken salt are provided on the table, allowing you to change the flavor without extra charge. The Chinese salt has a noticeable star anise flavor, so it might be an acquired taste, but if that’s not an issue, I think it pairs exceptionally well with this fried chicken. On the other hand, the Mao Zedong spice I ordered as an option this time has a strong cumin aroma, making it very ethnic. It wasn’t just about eating my fill of fried chicken; personally, I really liked how the flavor variations let me experience a bit of exotic flair.

In the end, I think I ate about 20 pieces of fried chicken that day at Kumamoto Haikara Manben Restaurant… While the quality definitely isn’t as high as the fried chicken I first had at Kumamoto Sogo Inshokuten MAO, given the inflationary times and their effort to keep prices steady, it’s understandable. For students at nearby Kyoto University or Doshisha University, this all-you-can-eat fried chicken set meal is definitely recommended. I’d be happy if they could somehow keep it at the current price going forward…

Other Set Meal Options at Kumamoto Hikaara Manben Restaurant (Prices include tax)

• Mapo Curry Set Meal (Regular) 950 yen
• Napoli Rice Set Meal (Regular) 950 yen
• Baka Manma Set Meal (Regular) 650 yen

Takeout and Uber Eats are also available… Access to Kumamoto Haikara Manben Restaurant is an 8-minute walk from the nearest station, Demachiyanagi Station on the Keihan Electric Railway (Eizan Electric Railway).

At Kumamoto Haikara Manben Restaurant, takeout and Uber Eats are also available. Unfortunately, these options don’t include the all-you-can-eat fried chicken benefit, but they are priced lower than dine-in. The Karaage Lunch Box with 4 pieces is ¥700 (tax included), and the 6-piece box is ¥850 (tax included). If this amount of karaage is plenty for you, takeout is actually more economical and recommended.

Now, here are the restaurant details…