It has grown on me!

Thursday, December 26, 2024

Sukesan Udon in Fukuoka: Affordable and Delicious 24/7

Sukesan Udon (資さんうどん)

As I mentioned in my previous entry, my husband and I visited Japan in October this year and stayed at a hotel near Fukuoka Airport. We woke up around 4 am (we were such early birds in Japan!) and decided to have breakfast near our hotel. We arrived at Sukesan Udon (資さんうどん), a popular udon noodle restaurant chain in Fukuoka, at 5 am. Can you believe this restaurant is open 24/7? I watched many YouTube videos about this restaurant, and that made me want to try it.

Sukesan Udon (資さんうどん)

At the entrance, the restaurant displays impressive food models. These models clearly show what dishes you can expect to enjoy, making it easier to decide what to order.

Sukesan Udon (資さんうどん)

This was the models of the dish (Shiawase Set, しあわせセット) I was going to try here.

Shiawase Set, しあわせセット

Shiawase Set (しあわせセット), priced at 880 yen, includes a bowl of udon noodles, a rice bowl, and a mini bota mochi.

You can choose from the following udon noodles:

・Mini Niku Goboten Udon (ミニ肉ごぼう天うどん): hot mini simmered beef and burdock tempura

・Mini Niku Goboten Bukkake Udon (ミニ肉ごぼう天ぶっかけうどん): cold mini simmered beef and burdock tempura

・Mini Kashiwa Goboten Udon (ミニかしわごぼう天うどん): hot mini simmered chicken and burdock tempura

・Mini Kashiwa Goboten Bukkake Udon (ミニかしわごぼう天ぶっかけうどん): cold mini simmered chicken and burdock tempura

You can choose from the following rice bowls:

・Mini Katsu Toji Don (ミニカツとじ丼): mini deep-fried pork cutlet with eggs over rice

・Mini Tare Katsu Don (ミニたれカツ丼): mini deep-fried chicken cutlet with sauce and cabbage over rice

・Mini Katsu Curry (ミニカツカレー): mini deep-fried pork cutlet over curry and rice

・Mini Ten Don (ミニ天丼): mini vegetable and shrimp tempura over rice

　 They also offer various kinds of rice balls.

Their bota mochi (ぼたもち), also known as ohagi (おはぎ), is very popular. It's a Japanese sweet rice ball made with glutinous rice and sweetened red bean paste, and it costs only 160 yen.

Breakfast Menu

Their breakfast menu is available from 5 am to 10 am. The breakfast combo is very affordable.

Shiawase Set, しあわせセット

We ordered the Shiawase Set (しあわせセット) for 880 yen. Our choices were Mini Niku Goboten Bukkake Udon (ミニ肉ごぼう天ぶっかけうどん), which is cold mini simmered beef and burdock tempura, and Mini Ten Don (ミニ天丼), mini vegetable and shrimp tempura over rice.

Shiawase Set, しあわせセット

Even though it's a mini size, it was just the right portion for breakfast. The goboten, or burdock tempura, was perfectly crunchy, and the simmered beef was sweet and tender.

Shiawase Set, しあわせセット

I’ve always loved tendon, and this mini version included shrimp, squid, and kabocha tempura.

Shiawase Set, しあわせセット

My husband loved the botamochi. The sweetened red bean paste had just the right amount of sweetness. He enjoyed the combination of the sweetened red bean paste and sticky mochi rice. He told me he wants to visit again just for their botamochi.

Toriten (鶏天) and Mentaiko Onigiri (明太子おにぎり)

I also ordered two pieces of Mentaiko Onigiri (明太子おにぎり), rice balls filled with spicy cod roe, for 230 yen. My husband wanted to try their Toriten (鶏天), chicken tempura, for 300 yen.

Mentaiko Onigiri (明太子おにぎり)

When I visited Fukuoka two years ago, I really enjoyed the mentaiko onigiri served for breakfast at the Hilton Fukuoka. That’s why I was excited to try the mentaiko onigiri at this restaurant too. And it didn’t disappoint—I loved their rice balls. I couldn’t believe they were as affordable as the ones sold at convenience stores.

Toriten (鶏天)

The toriten was absolutely fantastic. Served nice and hot, the chicken was juicy on the inside and perfectly crunchy on the outside. It was so delicious. We’d definitely order it again.

In conclusion, I can't believe how affordable and delicious everything was at this restaurant. Plus, the fact that it's open 24/7 makes it even more convenient. We'll definitely be coming back for more!

Yakiudon (焼きうどん)

When I visit Sukesan Udon next time, I would like to try Yakiudon (焼きうどん). 😋

These are my previous entries related to Hakata's restaurants.

■A Tempura Lover’s Guide to Hakata: Two Must-Try Restaurants in Fukuoka, Japan

■Hakata’s Udon Gems: Two Must-Try Udon Restaurants in Hakata, Fukuoka

■Top 3 Seafood Restaurants to Visit Around Hakata

■Best Breakfasts in Hakata: 3 Must-Try Restaurants

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Thursday, December 19, 2024

Daichi No Udon: Hakata's Must-Visit Udon Spot

Daichi No Udon (大地のうどん)

As I mentioned in my previous entry, my husband and I visited Japan in October this year and stayed at a hotel near Fukuoka Airport. We were really keen to try udon noodles because it's believed to have originated in Hakata, Fukuoka. In my previous entry, "Hakata’s Udon Gems: Two Must-Try Udon Restaurants in Hakata, Fukuoka," I wrote about some udon restaurants located in Hakata. That's why when we were around Hakata Station, I knew I had to try Daichi No Udon (大地のうどん), an udon noodle restaurant conveniently located just a three-minute walk from JR Hakata Station.

Daichi No Udon (大地のうどん)

2nd Basement Floor Asahi Building

2-1-1 Hakata Ekimae

Hakata Ward, Fukuoka

Open: 10:30 am to 4 pm and 5 pm to 9 pm

Daichi No Udon

In front of the restaurant, there was a menu with illustrations. This made it easy to choose our dishes before even stepping inside.

Ticket Vending Machine

First, you can purchase food tickets through a vending machine that only accepts cash. If you cannot read Japanese, it might be quite challenging. According to the vending machine, the most popular cold dish is No. 12 Kakiage Bukkake (かきあげぶっかけ), and the most popular hot dish is No. 21 Nikugoboten (肉ごぼう天).

Ticket Vending Machine

These were our food tickets. My husband chose Kakiage Bukkake (かきあげぶっかけ), the most popular one! I opted for the Daichi Set (大地セット). After we took our seats, a waiter collected our tickets and took them to the kitchen.

Food Tickets

Kakiage Bukkake (かきあげぶっかけ) 750 yen

This was Kakiage Bukkake (かきあげぶっかけ). We were amazed by the size of the kakiage! Kakiage is a Japanese dish of battered and deep-fried vegetables and seafood. This one even had a large shrimp! You pour udon soup over the noodles. When I saw my husband’s udon, I wished I had ordered the Kakiage Bukkake too! It tasted incredible! The kakiage was freshly deep-fried and crunchy, and the noodles were nice and chewy. I couldn’t believe it was only 750 yen, which is about $4.93 (1USD = 152JPY)!

Daichi Set (大地セット) 700 yen.

This was the Daichi Set (大地セット) that I ordered for 700 yen, which is about $4.60 (1USD = 152JPY). It includes a bowl of udon noodles and two pieces of inari sushi.

Inari Sushi / Inarizushi (いなり寿司) in Daichi Set (大地セット)

Inari sushi is a popular Japanese dish consisting of sushi rice stuffed inside seasoned, deep-fried tofu pouches. It's a delightful combination of sweet and savory flavors, perfect as a side dish.

Niku Goboten Udon with Wakame Seaweed in Daichi Set (大地セット)

I really wanted to try Niku Goboten (肉ごぼう天), the most popular hot dish. Goboten (ごぼう天) is burdock root tempura. The udon in the Daichi Set was Niku Goboten with wakame seaweed.

Daichi Set (大地セット)

I really enjoyed their thin and translucent noodles! The goboten was perfectly crunchy and crispy. It paired wonderfully with the rich, flavorful broth, making each bite a delight.

We definitely want to return to this restaurant when we visit Hakata again. While we were there, we noticed many people ordering No. 11 Yasaiten Bukkake (野菜天ぶっかけ), and I’ve already decided that I’ll try that one next time.

No. 11 Yasaiten Bukkake (野菜天ぶっかけ) 750 yen

These are my previous entries related to Hakata's restaurants.

■A Tempura Lover’s Guide to Hakata: Two Must-Try Restaurants in Fukuoka, Japan

■Hakata’s Udon Gems: Two Must-Try Udon Restaurants in Hakata, Fukuoka

■Top 3 Seafood Restaurants to Visit Around Hakata

■Best Breakfasts in Hakata: 3 Must-Try Restaurants

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♥5 Best Delicious Souvenirs from Fukuoka

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Thursday, December 12, 2024

Hotel Room Tour and Review - Hotel Front Inn Fukuoka Airport

Hotel Front Inn Fukuoka Airport

As I mentioned in my previous entry, my husband and I visited Japan in October this year. After checking out of Hotel Villa Fontaine Grand Haneda Airport, which is conveniently connected to Haneda Airport, we flew to Fukuoka Airport and stayed at the Hotel Front Inn Fukuoka Airport, the closest hotel to Fukuoka Airport, for one night. We walked from the airport to the hotel, which took about 15 minutes, but on the way, we encountered a pedestrian bridge with stairs, so if you have heavy luggage or it's summer, you might want to take a taxi. The good news is they offer a free shuttle bus to the airport after checkout.

Hotel Front Inn Fukuoka Airport

2 Chome-18-1 Befu, Shime,

Kasuya-gun, Fukuoka

Convenient Location

Sukesan Udon Restaurant

Location: Around this hotel, you’ll find a Lawson convenience store, a TRIAL discount store, an AEON supermarket, a DAISO, and more. We visited Sukesan Udon (資さんうどん), a very popular udon noodle restaurant chain in Fukuoka, which is just a four-minute walk from the hotel. The area is convenient for travelers who want to grab a quick meal or pick up any essentials.

Hotel Front Inn Fukuoka Airport

We arrived at the hotel at 4 p.m., and the staff were very pleasant. They asked if we wanted to use the free shuttle bus to Fukuoka Airport the next day. This thoughtful service made our travel plans much more convenient.

Essential Amenities (1F)

These days, it's common for Japanese hotels to provide essential amenities near the front desk, allowing guests to take what they need. At this hotel, the amenities are conveniently placed next to the front desk and include:

Body washing towel

Hair comb

Shower cap

Makeup remover

Keshosui (Japanese lotion)

Nyueki (Japanese emulsion moisturizer)

Lounge (1F)

Next to the hotel front desk, there’s a lounge where you can enjoy a welcome drink. They have a Franke coffee machine, so you can savor freshly brewed coffee.

Franke coffee machine

Welcome Drink

Hours: 6:30 am to 10 am / 3 pm to 11 pm

You can enjoy a drink in the lounge or take it to your room.

Welcome Drink Information

Many Kinds of Tea

There are also many kinds of tea to choose from. When you visit Fukuoka, don’t miss out on trying Yame green tea (八女煎茶), which is famous in Fukuoka. It's known for its rich flavor and smooth finish.

Franke Coffee Machine

My husband went for the iced coffee, while I opted for the matcha latte. The freshness and flavor of both drinks were just what we needed.

Welcome Drinks

Moderate Double Room (14 m² / 150 sq)

Moderate Double Room

We stayed in a Moderate Double Room. It was compact but perfectly comfortable for two people. The room had everything we needed for a pleasant stay.

The long desk with a bright light and mirror was very useful when I put on makeup. It was also great for enjoying snacks we bought at the nearby convenience store. We just wished it had two chairs.

There were two sanitizing wipes available.

There were two bottles of complimentary water, as well as some tea and instant coffee. These little touches made our stay even more enjoyable.

We had a mini fridge where we kept the drinks and desserts we bought from the nearby supermarket. It was a great addition to our room.

The bathroom was pretty basic. Since you can grab essential amenities near the front desk, the bathroom only had a toothbrush, hand soap, body soap, shampoo, and conditioner. This arrangement allowed us to choose exactly what we needed.

The soap and shampoo are from POLA, one of Japan's most famous skincare companies, known for their popular Pola Wrinkle Shot Serum.

Smart TV

In the room, there was an air purifier and a smart TV that showed the current crowd level at the public bath.

Public Bath (1F)

Public Bath (1F)

The reason I chose this hotel was for its public bath. Whenever I visit Japan, I always try to enjoy a hot soak. A hotel with a public bath is perfect for my preference. Being able to check the current crowd level from the room meant it was never crowded. In fact, I was often the only person in the public bath. The bath was well-equipped with body soap, shampoo, and conditioner. The powder room also had moisturizer and beauty serum.

Public Bath Hours

5 am to 9 am

4 pm to 1 am

Free Shuttle Bus to Fukuoka Airport

Free Shuttle Bus

We caught the free shuttle bus to Fukuoka Airport, which was a big help since we had heavy luggage. The service made our departure stress-free.

Overall

Overall, we had a great time at this hotel. The public bath was excellent, and the drinks in the lounge were amazing. We also appreciated the convenience of being able to buy items from nearby shops to prepare for our hikes on Yakushima Island, where we would fly from Fukuoka Airport the next day. The hotel's location was perfect for our needs. Although we didn’t try the hotel breakfast this time, it seems quite popular. We’ll definitely consider staying here again if we have the chance.

While we were staying at this hotel, we visited Tenjin and Hakata. The hotel’s location made it very convenient to travel to the biggest cities in Fukuoka. I’ll write about the restaurants we went to next time.

These are my entries you might like.

♥Hotel Room Tour and Review - Hotel Villa Fontaine Grand Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Japan

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Thursday, December 5, 2024

What I Ate at Haneda Airport Terminal 1 - Ringer Hut Ngasaki Champon

Ringer Hut in Haneda Airport Terminal 1

My husband and I visited Japan last month. As I mentioned in my previous entry, we stayed at the Hotel Villa Fontaine Grand Haneda Airport, which is conveniently connected to Haneda Airport Terminal 3. After checking out, we moved to Terminal 1 to catch our flight to Fukuoka. Before our flight, we decided to have lunch at the airport. Initially, we wanted to go to Marugame Noodle (丸亀製麺), but we realized it was located in Terminal 2. Instead, we opted for Ringer Hut (リンガーハット) on the Basement Floor of Terminal 1. Ringer Hut is a Japanese fast-food chain specializing in Nagasaki dishes like Champon and Sara Udon. We had previously visited another branch in 2017, as I mentioned before.

Food Models Displayed at Ringer Hut Restaurant

At the entrance, there are impressive food models displayed in front of the restaurant. These models make it easy to see exactly what dishes you can expect to enjoy, which helps in deciding what to order.

Ringer Hut Menu

My husband ordered the Sara Udon with extra vegetables (野菜たっぷり皿うどん) for 900 yen. Sara Udon (皿うどん) is a Japanese dish featuring crispy deep-fried noodles topped with stir-fried vegetables and a thick soup. If you'd like to try making it at home, check out my previous entry, How to Cook Sara Udon, Japanese Crispy Deep-fried Noodles with Stir-fried Vegetable And Thick Soup.

Sara udon with extra vegetables (野菜たっぷり皿うどん)

Indeed, it had a lot of vegetables! The deep-fried noodles were completely covered by an extravagant amount of vegetables. The contrast between the crispy noodles and the soft stir-fried vegetables created a delightful mix of textures that made the meal truly enjoyable.

Ringer Hut Menu

I ordered the Nagasaki Champon (長崎ちゃんぽん) for 800 yen. This hearty dish features a savory broth loaded with a variety of fresh seafood, tender pork, and crisp vegetables, all served over thick, chewy noodles. It’s a popular choice for its rich flavors and satisfying texture.

Nagasaki Champon (長崎ちゃんぽん)

Our lunch at Ringer Hut was truly satisfying. The blend of flavors and textures in each dish was impressive, and the entire meal cost only 1700 yen, making it very reasonable and fulfilling. Having visited Ringer Hut many times in Japan since my childhood, it was nostalgic to return after more than seven years and find the food as delightful as I remembered.

These are my entries related to what I ate in Haneda Airport

■What I Ate at Haneda Airport - Kamukura Ramen at Haneda Airport Garden

■What I Ate at Haneda Airport Terminal 3 - Saryo Itoen, Matcha Green Tea Cafe

■What I Ate at Haneda Airport Terminal 3 - Yoshinoya, Beef Bowl Restaurant

■What I Ate at Haneda Airport Terminal 1 - Matcha Ice Cream Float at Haneda Sanchokukan

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