Kumamoto's food scene is dominated by a handful of local specialities that set it apart from elsewhere in Japan. Basashi — thin-sliced raw horse meat served with ginger and garlic soy sauce — is the dish visitors most remember. Most restaurants in the centre serve it, and it is genuinely good. Also watch for karashi renkon (lotus root stuffed with mustard-spiked miso and deep-fried) and Kumamoto ramen, a rich tonkotsu broth with mayu (charred garlic oil) stirred in at the table.