Akaushi Don
In Aso, one of the four major Japanese wagyu breeds—Akaushi (Red Cattle)—is raised on its vast pastures. Akaushi Don is a rice bowl topped with generous slices of medium-rare grilled Akaushi beef. The meat is tender and juicy, with rich, flavorful marbling. It is often served crowned with a soft-poached egg.
Takana Meshi
This dish is Takana fried rice, a local specialty of Kumamoto. Takana is a leafy green vegetable grown in and around the region, often pickled and used in various dishes. It is prepared by stir-frying rice with pickled takana and egg.
Dago Jiru
Dago are flour dumplings, known in standard Japanese as dango. Dago is the local Kumamoto dialect term for this dish. It originated as a quick, easy-to-make meal for busy farmers working long hours in the fields.
The dish is a hearty miso soup containing the dumplings along with various vegetables such as taro, shiitake mushrooms, daikon radish, burdock root, and carrots.
