Tasty Trails: 7 Depachika Favorites from Hakata Hankyu and Ming

Thursday, August 14, 2025

Tasty Trails: 7 Depachika Favorites from Hakata Hankyu and Ming

7 Depachika Favorites from Hakata Hankyu and Ming

Last year, my husband and I spent several days in Hakata, staying at the ANA Crowne Plaza Fukuoka—a detail some of you might recall from an earlier post. The hotel is conveniently located just a five-minute walk from JR Hakata Station. Surrounding the station are several department stores, including Hakata Hankyu (博多阪急), and a charming souvenir mall called Ming (マイング).

As I mentioned in my previous entry, in Japan, major department stores often feature gourmet delicatessen areas in their basement floors, known as depachika (デパ地下)—a blend of depa (デパ), meaning "department store," and chika (地下), meaning "underground floor." If you’re planning a visit to Japan, you absolutely must explore a depachika. They showcase top-tier foods from renowned restaurants, confectioners, and other culinary artisans. In my experience, depachika foods are far tastier than meals from convenience stores or supermarkets. During our stay near JR Hakata Station, we visited the depachika several times—and each visit was a delicious adventure.

We also stopped by Ming (マイング), a shopping mall specializing in gourmet souvenirs and is tucked into the first floor of JR Hakata Station, right near Hakata Hankyu—perfect for grabbing souvenirs after browsing the depachika. Today, I’m going to share seven delightful foods I picked up from Hakata Hankyu and Ming.

Hakata Hankyu (博多阪急)

📍 Address: 1-1 Hakataekichuogai, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka
🕒 Hours: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
📍 Depachika located on B1F (basement floor)

Ming Hakata Ekinaka Shopping (マイング博多エキナカ)

📍 Address: 1-1 Hakataekichuogai, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka
🕒 Hours: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
📍 Located on the first floor of JR Hakata Station, just steps away from Hakata Hankyu

1. Umegae Mochi (梅ヶ枝餅)

📍 Purchased at: Matsushima Chaten (松島茶店), Ming Hakata Ekinaka Shopping

🍵 Type: Wagashi (traditional Japanese confection)

Umegae Mochi (梅ヶ枝餅)

Because my husband loves Umegae Mochi (梅ヶ枝餅), it was a must-try wagashi during our trip to Fukuoka. This grilled rice cake is filled with smooth red bean paste, wrapped in a delicate layer of mochi dough and baked on a hot iron plate until lightly crisp on the outside. Its comforting flavor and nostalgic aroma made it an essential part of our culinary journey.

Umegae Mochi (梅ヶ枝餅)

At Matsushima Chaten (松島茶店) in Ming, we picked up a freshly grilled one for just 150 yen—around $1 USD. Simple, delicious, and budget-friendly, it was one of his favorite bites from the trip.

Umegae Mochi (梅ヶ枝餅)

2. Ikinari Dango (いきなりだんご)

📍 Purchased at: Kinjo Seika (金城製菓), Hakata Hankyu

🍵 Type: Wagashi (traditional Japanese confection)

Ikinari Dango (いきなりだんご)

I’ve always loved Ikinari Dango (いきなりだんご)—a humble yet comforting specialty from Kumamoto prefecture. It’s made by wrapping thick slices of sweet potato in soft flour dough, with a generous dollop of sweetened red bean paste nestled inside. These are steamed to perfection, and the flavor is as nostalgic as it is satisfying.

Ikinari Dango (いきなりだんご)

We picked up two varieties at Kinjo Seika (金城製菓): the classic for 184 yen (about $1.25 USD), and the Kuromame Ikinari Dango (黒豆いきなりだんご), studded with black beans, for 195 yen (around $1.34 USD). The subtly earthy sweetness of the potato combined with the creamy bean paste made it one of my favorite wagashi on this trip.

Ikinari Dango (いきなりだんご)

3. Hakata Yaki Donut (博多焼どうなつ)

📍 Purchased at: Satsuma Jokiya (薩摩蒸氣屋), Hakata Hankyu

🍩 Type: Donut

Hakata Yaki Donut (博多焼どうなつ)

I’d heard Hakata Yaki Donut (博多焼どうなつ) was a popular souvenir in Fukuoka—many visitors grab a few when passing through JR Hakata Station. Unlike traditional deep-fried donuts, this version is baked, making it lighter and a bit more guilt-free.

Hakata Yaki Donut (博多焼どうなつ)

At Satsuma Jokiya (薩摩蒸氣屋), the donuts are baked fresh on-site, and the warm aroma drifting through the area was impossible to ignore. I couldn’t resist picking one up—it was just 90 yen (about $0.62 USD), freshly baked and perfectly warm in my hands.

Hakata Yaki Donut (博多焼どうなつ)

We enjoyed Hakata Yaki Donut for the first time, and its soft, cake-like texture reminded me more of a madeleine than a typical donut. That subtle buttery flavor and tender crumb made it unexpectedly delightful—I really liked it.

4. Hamburg Steak Bento

📍 Purchased at: Hakata Imokkoya (博多いもっ子屋), Hakata Hankyu

🍱 Type: Bento (boxed meal)

Hamburg Steak Bento

Here’s a handy tip for depachika lovers: many delicatessen shops begin discounting items roughly 45 minutes to an hour before closing—perfect for a delicious dinner at a bargain. When we returned to Hakata Hankyu in the evening, we noticed several deli counters marking down their selections, and decided to pick up a few treats to enjoy back at the hotel.

One of our finds was this hearty Hamburg Steak Bento, marked down to just 432 yen (about $3 USD)—and I’m pretty sure the original price was more than double. The bento featured a juicy hamburger patty with a rich glaze, nestled alongside fluffy rice and a few classic sides. Enjoying it in the quiet comfort of our hotel room felt like a cozy reward after a day of exploring.

5. Tori Meshi Rice Balls (鶏めしおにぎり)

📍 Purchased at: Hakata Imokkoya (博多いもっ子屋, Hakata Hankyu

🍙 Type: Rice Balls

Tori Meshi Rice Balls

We also picked up a pack of three Tori Meshi Rice Balls (鶏めしおにぎり) for just 341 yen (about $2.35 USD)—another great evening deal, as the original price was likely more than double. These rice balls feature Tori Meshi (鶏飯), a savory blend of seasoned rice mixed with tender chicken and earthy gobo (burdock root). I’ve shared my own recipe for this comforting dish in an earlier post titled "How to Cook Tori Meshi – Savory Japanese Rice with Chicken and Gobo."It’s one of those flavors that always feels grounding—warm, slightly nutty, and deeply satisfying.

6. Deep-Fried Fugu (ふぐの唐揚げ)

📍 Purchased at: Sakana Doraku (魚道楽), Hakata Hankyu

🐟 Type: Deep-Fried Fish

Deep-Fried Fugu

We couldn’t resist trying deep-fried fugu, a delicacy that’s both uniquely Japanese and steeped in culinary tradition. Though often served in high-end restaurants as sashimi or in hot pots, this version was casual, crispy, and deliciously approachable. At Sakana Doraku (魚道楽), we picked up a portion for just 345 yen (about $2.37 USD)—a steal, especially considering it was likely priced at more than double earlier in the day.

The golden coating had a satisfying crunch, and the fugu itself was surprisingly tender with a subtle flavor that felt refined yet comforting. It was a wonderful way to experience this luxury ingredient in an everyday setting—no reservations required.

7. Croquette (コロッケ)

📍 Purchased at: Katsui (お肉屋のお惣菜肉処かつヰ), Hakata Hankyu

🥔 Type: Deep-Fried Snack

Croquette

We couldn’t resist grabbing a few croquettes from Katsui (かつヰ)—the aroma alone was enough to draw us in. These were just pulled from the fryer, filling the air with that irresistible crispy, golden scent. We picked up one original croquette for 108 yen (about $0.74 USD) and a cheese croquette for 183 yen (around $1.25 USD). Both were delightfully hot and crunchy on the outside, with warm, creamy filling tucked inside. It was the perfect savory bite to round off our food adventure.

Exploring depachika and souvenir shops around Hakata Station turned into one of the tastiest highlights of our trip. Depachika dining might just be my new favorite way to travel.

There are my entries related to Fukuoka.