Nene — Restaurant in Kumamoto

Strong Warning: Avoid Kumamoto Nene ねね at All Costs!

I booked dinner at Kumamoto Nene ねね on the 8th well in advance for this trip. Having seen so many recommendations on Xiaohongshu, I was really looking forward to it—so much so that I went for the highest-priced dinner course at ¥22,000. But what followed turned out to be nothing short of a fried vegetable feast! Aside from the fairly decent beef, the sashimi portion was ridiculously small. Almost everything else was some form of vegetable: fried eggplant, and believe it or not, even fermented tofu… It was truly an eye-opener.

And here’s the kicker: the server initially brought out two portions of sea urchin (I heard the name through their translator device), only to mysteriously take them away later and replace them with something else. Are they adjusting dishes based on the customer? Or did the kitchen suddenly decide sea urchin wasn’t worthy of customers paying this price? The whole performance was nothing short of astonishing.

So, consider this a friendly warning: if you’re thinking of making a reservation, make sure you ask about the menu specifics in advance—unless you enjoy ending your meal deeply...

Nene is amazing! This was my second visit, but I apparently forgot to post a review last time.

The service is fantastic, and the food and drink... Just super delicious! I had the omakase menu, and it did not disappoint in the least. Every dish was wonderful!

I highly recommend sitting at the counter. There's a beautiful view of Kumamoto Castle from the nearby window as a bonus! And you get to watch the skills of the chef preparing your food. ☺️👍👍

I'll...

We had a wonderful experience at Nene. The food was delicious and the staff extremely friendly. They did their best to explain all the dishes and put as at ease. I definitely recommend this place if you...