On September 16, 2020, the deli shop “kitchen Mori no Kuma-san” opened in the West Building, just a short walk from JR Kurashiki Station.
It’s a great-value spot for bento, hors d’oeuvres, and set meals available only at lunchtime.
The shop’s signature items are two kinds of fried chicken called “Kura-kara”—named in the hope that they would “become a new Kurashiki specialty”—and “Mori’s Hamburg Steak,” whose homemade demi-glace sauce is the key.
Both are available as lunchtime set meals or for takeout.
The owner, Kikumi Yamashita, says she once even considered giving up on opening a shop.
We also heard about her feelings for Mabi, whose support helped make the opening possible, and her experiences during the July 2018 torrential rains.
“I want to preserve a place that matters”
Here’s “kitchen Mori no Kuma-san,” which made a fresh start with that sentiment in mind.
The information shown was accurate when this article was published in October 2020. Please note that it may differ from current information.
Opened in September 2020: A deli shop renovated from an izakaya
“kitchen Mori no Kuma-san” is on the second floor of Kurashiki City Plaza West Building, just a short walk from the south exit of JR Kurashiki Station.
It opened as a deli shop on September 16, 2020, in the former location of an izakaya called “Iso no Ie.”
Near the shop is Motoya (MOTOYA), a specialty fruit sandwich shop.
The cute shop is decorated mainly in red to match the brick color of the West Building.
A craftsperson who lives in Mabi and owner Yamashita came up with the design, and apparently got the exterior ready in just about two weeks.
Inside, you’ll find freshly fried chicken, fried foods, and homemade deli dishes.
The interior still retains traces of its days as an izakaya, with a wide selection of alcoholic drinks on display.
Alcohol can be ordered from opening time, so you can enjoy a quick drink at the counter or have a daytime drink with deli dishes.
▼ There’s also a sunken-floor seating area at the back of the shop.
Bento, deli dishes, and affordable lunch menus
Menus for bento, hors d’oeuvres, and deli dishes are displayed throughout the shop, including outside.
▼ Here’s the menu for the signature “Kura-kara” fried chicken and bento. They also accept Uber Eats orders.
Bento are generally made to order on the spot; they don’t prepare them in advance.
▼ Examples of bento and hors d’oeuvres. The contents can apparently be customized based on price, number of people, and preferences.
There’s also a wide selection of individual deli dishes! Here are just a few:
| Menu | Price (before tax) |
|---|---|
| Mori’s Roast Beef | 980 yen |
| Mori’s Hamburg Steak | 580 yen |
| Nostalgic Beef Tendon and Daikon | 580 yen |
| Mom’s Nikujaga | 580 yen |
| Teriyaki Chicken | 580 yen |
| Grilled Fish, Cooked to Order! | 550 yen |
| Secret-Recipe Simmered Fish | 550 yen |
| Crab Cream Croquettes (2) | 620 yen |
| Everyone’s Favorite Shrimp Mayo with Lemon | 680 yen |
| Grilled Seafood | 1,000 yen |
| Garlic Shrimp | 680 yen |
| Butter-Grilled Scallops in the Shell | 1,000 yen |
| Gorgeous Salad | 680 yen |
| Salmon Salad | 550 yen |
| Scallop and Shrimp Carpaccio | 780 yen |
| Mushrooms Tossed with Bacon | 580 yen |
| Prosciutto and Cherry Tomato Cups | 480 yen |
| Salt-and-Pepper Stir-Fried Gizzard | 500 yen |
| Bear-Shaped Rice Ball | 100 yen |
| Overflowing Chanja Rice Ball | 550 yen |
In addition to the takeout menu, there are also set meals available only at lunchtime.
You can also eat your bento in the shop. Lunch, served from 11:30 a.m., comes with soup.
Homemade sauce is the key! “Mori’s Hamburg Steak Set Meal”
Since we’re here, let’s try the shop’s signature lunch menu, the “Mori’s Hamburg Steak Set Meal,” for 1,000 yen (before tax).
It comes with a daily side dish, soup, and white rice. With plenty of side dishes, it’s a hearty set meal.
This hamburger steak is served with homemade demi-glace sauce, which was offered at “Wafu Sabo Katatsumuri,” the predecessor to “Kaisen Donya Katatsumuri,” the restaurant the owner runs in Kurashiki’s shopping district.
The demi-glace sauce is delicious, with a sharp flavor that brings out the tartness of the tomatoes and sweetness of the onions!
It makes you want to try the hamburger steak bento just for this sauce.
Today’s deli side dish is chikuzen-ni.
It’s made with the parent corms of taro, giving it a comforting flavor.
“Delicious Fried Chicken Set Meal” with a perfect sweet-and-savory sauce
Another recommendation is the “Delicious Fried Chicken Set Meal,” for 850 yen (before tax).
kitchen Mori no Kuma-san serves two kinds of fried chicken. This one is “umakara fried chicken,” coated in a sweet-and-savory sauce. It sounds delicious just from the name.
Just look at the size of these pieces of fried chicken. There are four huge pieces, so large they look like they might spill off the plate.
The crispy fried chicken pairs perfectly with the soy sauce-based sweet-and-savory sauce.
These crispy, juicy, sweet-and-salty pieces of fried chicken are so delicious, you could get hooked.
Of course, they go wonderfully with white rice, which disappears in no time even when you’re already full.
“kitchen Mori no Kuma-san” is a welcome spot where you can enjoy not only bento and hors d’oeuvres, but also an affordable lunch or a quick drink.
We interviewed manager Kikumi Yamashita about the renovated shop, her feelings about its days as an izakaya, and her connection to Mabi.
kitchen Mori no Kuma-san Information
| Name | kitchen Mori no Kuma-san |
|---|---|
| Address | 2nd Floor, Kurashiki City Plaza West Building, 1-7-2 Achi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-427-8898 |
| Parking | None |
| Hours | Tuesday–Thursday and Sunday: 11:30 a.m.–10:30 p.m. (last order 10 p.m.) Friday and Saturday: 11:30 a.m.–11 p.m. (last order 10:30 p.m.) |
| Closed | Monday Open on Mondays that are public holidays; closed on Tuesday |
| Payment methods |
|
| Reservations | Accepted |
| Seating | 12 seats Tatami seating: 4 × 3 |
| Smoking | Entirely non-smoking |
| Restroom | Western-style toilet |
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