JPN: Yufuin Kinsho Korokke (湯布院 金賞コロッケ)

Dreamy creamy cheese inside a crunchy croquette!

Along the bustling pedestrian-only shopping street called Yunotsubo Street in Yufuin, Japan is a small shop selling a variety of croquettes. Routinely winning contests for best croquettes in the country, the shop attaches the word kinsho (lit. gold medal) to its name.

I tried three different flavours over two days.

Kinsho Croquette ¥170 (~S$2.10)

Taste: 8/10

The Japanese writing on the display for this croquette is 金賞コロッケ. The award-winning croquette is filled with mashed potatoes, beef and spring onions. Although I didn't see much of the greens inside the one I was holding, the croquette was enjoyably crunchy with a savoury and velvety filling.

Curry Croquette  ¥170 (~S$2.10)

Taste: 8/10

The Japanese writing on the display for this croquette is カレーコロッケ. Possibly not having any meat inside, the croquette filled with piping hot curry had some carrots and potato cubes. In terms of texture, the filling was adequately thick for my liking. Also, it was sweet and lightly spicy.

Cheese Croquette  ¥170 (~S$2.10)

Taste: 8.5/10

The Japanese writing on the display for this croquette is チーズコロッケ. Out of the three flavours that I tried, the cheese variant turned out to be the winner. The combination of velvety mashed potatoes and cream cheese, which was simultaneously sweet and savoury, was finger-licking good.

Melon's Rating

Taste: 8/10

Besides croquettes, the shop also sells toriten (a local style deep-fried battered boneless chicken) and drinks. Pika's advice: It's possible to buy frozen croquettes from the shop. A minimum purchase of four pieces applies.

Yufuin Kinsho Korokke

(湯布院 金賞コロッケ)

1481-7 Yufuincho Kawakami

Yufu, Oita

Japan

(Daily: 9.00am - 6.00pm)

*Prices quoted are nett prices.

Have a nice meal,

Cliff(y)