Hitomoji Guruguru
Kumamoto · Kumamoto City
32.8034°N, 130.7080°E
A spring onion, briefly blanched, folded in half and then wound round its own white base into a tight coil, served with vinegared miso. It takes seconds to eat and it is on the table at almost every serious Kumamoto meal.
The reason it exists is austerity. Under the frugality edicts of the Hosokawa domain, retainers were restricted in what they could serve, and this was what a household could put in front of a guest without breaking the rules — one vegetable, presented well. The name comes from the old writing of the onion's name as a single character, and guruguru is simply the winding. It is the cheapest thing on any Kumamoto menu and it is the one that says most about the place.
Essential Information
Opening Hours
Varies by establishment
Closed: Varies by establishment
Entrance Fee
¥300–600 as a side dish
Best Season
Winter in origin | Year-round on restaurant menus
Visit Duration
Part of a meal
Getting There
Access Information
Insider Guide
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