The unmistakable Kumamoto snack: a slice of lotus root packed full of mustard-spiked miso and deep-fried in a turmeric batter. The crunch of the lotus root and the sinus-clearing kick of the mustard make a good beer accompaniment. Several small shops along Shimotōri sell fresh slices to take away, and the snack also appears as an appetiser in most basashi restaurants.
The best-known producer, Moriyamashizuka, has a counter in the Sakuranobaba Josaien complex by the castle.