On September 15, 2023, the Italian Kitchen VANSAN opened its doors in Kikuyo, Kumamoto, offering a slice of authentic Italian cuisine with homemade fresh pasta and stone oven pizzas. 

 

The restaurant captivates with its theatrical dish presentations that spark cheers and delight. Let’s dive in and explore what makes VANSAN a must-visit culinary experience.

“Italian Kitchen VANSAN Kumamoto Niji-no-mori Store” Opened in Kikuyo Town! 

The restaurant is located in the north area of Musashigaoka, Kikuyo Town, amidst a lineup of stores including a drugstore and a hair salon.

The dining area is roomy and offers plenty of seating. It exudes luxury with grand chandeliers that add to the ambiance.

They also have a terrace!

What is more, there’s a play area that families will find family-friendly! 

Dishes with a Show: A Feast for the Eyes!

 I visited during lunchtime, where the menu offers both à la carte and course meal options, with course meals available even for single diners—a solo diner-friendly gesture.

 The à la carte menu spans pasta, pizza, risotto, and antipasto.

You can Put Cured ham as Much as You Like on Top of Your Spaghetti with Cream Sauce!

First of all, I decided to try Creamy Pasta with Prosciutto Crudo (1,790 yen). It’s a delightful creamy pasta with layers of prosciutto crudo piled on top until you signal for the waiter to stop! 

Look! The waiter is starting to put the ham!

A mountain of prosciutto crudo… I never said “stop” since I wondered how much further they would go. But then, the waiter ran out of ham! “I’ll get you more!” said the waiter and came back with a lot of cured ham! 

The unlimited topping continues!

Check out this amazing creation! A tower of mouthwatering cured ham!

Is this level of indulgence really okay for lunch?

The Iberian ham is a perfect match with the creamy pasta. The pasta itself is VANSAN’s own fresh noodles, offering a satisfying chew. I considered the balance between the pasta and the flavor although I asked the waiter to add plenty of cured ham to the pasta. Taking into account the saltiness, it’s best to have a moderate amount. So, please keep this in mind when placing your order.

Piemont Specialty Truffle Cheese Risotto, Completed by Cheese!

I tried Piemont Specialty Truffle Cheese Risotto (1,490 yen) next. 

 The risotto brought out inside a hollowed-out wheel of cheese.

 By incorporating additional solid cheese, which is scraped off and mixed in, the cheese further enhances the taste of the risotto. As a result, a remarkably rich and dense risotto is achieved!

The risotto is absolutely loaded with cheese! The salty kick from the bacon and the sweet touch of corn really enhance the rich risotto.

Cheesecake Blowtoched Right Before Your Eyes!

Next, I tried Torched Cheesecake (690 yen).

The brown sugar on top of the rare cheese is torched right in front of you!

 Watching it melt is quite the spectacle! Soon, a sweet, aromatic scent begins to fill the air.

 The top turns into a crispy, caramelized delight.

The irresistible charm lies in the contrasting elements of the cracked, seared part and the heavenly melted cheesecake!

In my opinion, this is hands down my favorite one.

Reasonably-Priced Course Meals!

 While the standout à la carte dishes are a must-try, the course menu offers great value and comes highly recommended. This time, we opted for the two-person course.

First of all, we were served an assortment of five different appetizers. The homemade dressing was absolutely superb, pairing perfectly with the vegetables! I really think you should give it a try.

 For the grissini, they suggested wrapping it with mortadella, so we did just that. It’ll have you craving wine.

Next up was the French onion soup topped with plenty of cheese.

As you can see, the cheese melted perfectly and the soup was filled with sweet and delicious onions.

 The Margherita pizza has a wonderfully chewy crust!

The tomatoes and basil on top were fresh and you can easily polish it off.

The other main course option was a choice of pasta. I went for Creamy Pasta with Porcini Mushrooms and Chestnuts. The rich flavors of the porcini mushrooms and the soft chestnuts were a match made in heaven. The sweetness of the chestnuts complemented the creamy sauce perfectly!

At last, we had the Piemonte-style Panna Cotta for dessert. It had a strong vanilla flavor and a smooth texture. It was so delicious that I couldn’t resist having it, even with a full stomach.

Want to Visit This Restaurant?

We visited “Italian Kitchen VANSAN Kumamoto Niji-no-mori Store” this time. The dishes are incredibly delicious, and the entertainment is truly thrilling. It was a delightful experience, with flavors that truly hit the spot. Make sure to check out this restaurant!

Italian Kitchen VANSAN