Hello!
This time we visited the Yamagata Minami branch of Nikuno Kuronuma, a famous shop in Yamagata City! Established in 1948, this long-established butcher shop has over 70 years of history.

As a butcher trusted by professionals, stocking carefully selected Wagyu beef including Yamagata beef, as well as domestic pork and chicken, this shop is loved by many fans from local families to restaurants. And the bento boxes made by these “meat professionals” are amazing!

Today, we’ll be introducing all the charms of this shop while trying their popular “Beef Curry Bento”!

What kind of shop is Niku no Kuronuma?

Niku no Kuronuma is a popular local butcher shop located in Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture. It’s renowned for its fresh, delicious meats, especially its selection of carefully selected domestic meats, including Yamagata beef, locally raised pork, and chicken. All of the items are carefully selected by meat professionals, making it perfect for everyday meals as well as special occasions.

The shop also sells homemade side dishes and bento boxes, and its fried chicken, croquettes, and minced meat cutlets are popular items with many repeat customers. It’s a casual, homey store where you can drop in casually, so even first-time customers can shop with confidence. They also have meat sets for barbecues and gift items, which make great souvenirs or presents!

We also have Yamagata beef! Introducing Kuronuma Meat’s high-quality lineup

The interior of Nikuno Kuronuma is very clean, bright, and has an easy-to-see layout. In addition to fresh meat, there is also a wide selection of side dishes, bento boxes, and gift packages, making it worthy of being called a “meat theme park.”

What particularly caught my eye was the overwhelming quality and variety of the meat section!

There were so many other attractive meats on display that it’s impossible to introduce them all. They also had pre-cut meat for home yakiniku and BBQs, so it’s great that you can get all the party ingredients you need without having to bring anything.

In addition to the regular meat menu, they also sell gift sets and products in collaboration with local ingredients, making them perfect as souvenirs or year-end gifts. You can also order online, and what’s great is that they can also be selected as a gift in return for “Furusato Nozei” (Hometown Tax) donations.

What is a butcher’s high-quality bento? We try out this exciting bento!

This time, we’ll be focusing on the bento section at Nikuno Kuronuma! We chose our favorite bento and tried them out.

I chose the famously popular Beef Curry Bento at Kuronuma! The first thing that catches your eye is its spectacular appearance! Thickly sliced, tender beef is piled on top of the rice. You can tell from the moment you see it that this is no ordinary dish. The meat is topped with basil, which makes it look stylish and appetizing!

The curry is rich and has a good balance of spices, with a real taste of sweetness and umami that is a testament to its “serious preparation.” The beef fat and curry are perfectly combined, making it so delicious you won’t be able to stop eating the rice. And it’s also very filling! It was a very satisfying dish, perfect for lunch!

A serious bento lineup from a real butcher!

“Niku no Kuronuma” also has a wide variety of other meat bento menu items!

The popular lineup is as follows:

Each bento is “made by a butcher with care,” and the balance of meaty flavor and cooking is exquisite!

The pork loin cutlet curry in particular is an impressive dish, with a huge cutlet so large you can’t even see the rice. I’ll definitely try it next time. The bento boxes start appearing in stores before noon, so it’s best to go before it gets busy.

Kuronuma Meat’s side dishes are also popular!

Kuronuma Niku’s side dishes are also very popular! Their fried chicken is especially popular. In addition to the standard dishes, they also introduce new, slightly different flavors of fried chicken every month. It’s perfect for those who are tired of the same old flavors!

Other popular items include minced meat cutlets, meatballs, and homemade roast pork. It’s an appealing lineup that will have you buying a lot of different things.

Where is Niku no Kuronuma?

This time, we visited Niku no Kuronuma’s Yamagata Minami branch. Located in Minami Yonban-cho, Yamagata City, it’s conveniently located in a residential area, yet easily accessible. It’s easily accessible from National Route 112 and Yamagata Station, and there’s a parking lot, so you can easily visit by car.

Kuronuma Niku also has other locations, including Nakayama, Sagae, and Shokuhinkan 256 (Tokamachi, Yamagata City), so please try the store nearest you.

Summary
“Niku no Kuronuma” is more than just a butcher shop! This shop specializes in bento boxes, side dishes, and meat, all of which are incredibly authentic and delicious, all prepared by meat professionals.

This time I tried the popular beef curry bento at the Yamagata Minami store, but all the other bento boxes were also delicious and I honestly had a hard time choosing. The staff are also very friendly, making shopping easy even for first-time customers.

If you’d like to purchase high-quality meat, bento boxes, and a wide variety of side dishes, why not stop by?

For more information on Kuronuma Meat, click here