Thursday, July 31, 2025

Exploring Tempura Culture in Fukuoka at Hakata Tempura Takao

 

Hakata Tempura Takao (博多天ぷら たかお)

       Last year, my husband and I had the pleasure of visiting Hakata, a vibrant district in Fukuoka. One of the highlights I was most looking forward to was indulging in the local cuisine—especially tempura. As I shared in A Tempura Lover’s Guide to Hakata: Two Must-Try Restaurants in Fukuoka, Japan, Fukuoka is home to an impressive array of tempura specialty restaurants. What sets these places apart is their unique serving style: a few pieces of freshly fried tempura are brought out at a time, allowing you to enjoy each bite while it's piping hot and perfectly crisp. I was thrilled to experience this for the first time during our visit.

Hakata Tempura Takao (博多天ぷら たかお)
     This time, we chose to enjoy tempura at Hakata Tempura Takao (博多天ぷら たかお), located in Canal City Hakata (キャナルシティ博多)—a sprawling shopping, dining, and entertainment complex in Fukuoka. Hakata Tempura Takao operates 21 branches across Japan, with four of them conveniently located in Fukuoka.


4th Floor Canal City Hakata
1-2-1 Sumiyoshi
Hakata-Ku Fukuoka City
Fukuoka

Hours: 11 an through 10 pm



Menu
Hakata Tempura Takao (博多天ぷら たかお)
Hakata Tempura Takao (博多天ぷら たかお)
Hakata Tempura Takao (博多天ぷら たかお)

       At the entrance, we purchased our meal tickets from a vending machine—a common feature in casual Japanese dining. Hakata Tempura Takao offers only counter seating, giving diners a front-row view of the tempura being expertly prepared right before their eyes.


Hakata Tempura Takao (博多天ぷら たかお)


        My husband opted for the Nikuten Teishoku (肉天定食), priced at 1,200 yen—approximately $8.27. The set meal featured pork tempura, chicken tenderloin wrapped in shiso leaf, two additional pieces of chicken tempura, three kinds of vegetable tempura, miso soup, and a bowl of white rice.



       I opted for the Takao Teishoku (たかお定食), priced at 1,200 yen. This set included pork tempura, shrimp tempura, two types of seafood tempura, three varieties of vegetable tempura, miso soup, and a bowl of white rice.


Hakata Tempura Takao (博多天ぷら たかお)


Hakata Tempura Takao (博多天ぷら たかお)
        At Hakata Tempura Takao, you can savor their signature Kombu Mentaiko (昆布明太子)—spicy cod roe blended with kelp—and a selection of pickled vegetables, all complimentary with your meal. They also offer Black Oolong Tea free of charge. The mentaiko and pickles were so delicious, it took serious willpower to resist and save some until the tempura arrived. The flavors were just too tempting.

Hakata Tempura Takao (博多天ぷら たかお)

         At Hakata Tempura Takao, tempura is served two pieces at a time, allowing diners to enjoy each bite while it's piping hot and perfectly crisp. Every piece we had was incredibly fresh—golden, crunchy, and irresistibly satisfying.

Hakata Tempura Takao (博多天ぷら たかお)

       We truly enjoyed the hot, freshly fried tempura—it was a delight from start to finish. We couldn’t believe how affordable such a high-quality meal was. If we have the chance to visit Fukuoka again, we’d love to explore even more tempura restaurants in the area.



There are my entries related to Fukuoka.






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Thursday, July 24, 2025

Exploring Hakata Noodle Street: Hakata Ramen Shin-Shin and Beyond

 

Hakata Ramen Shin-Shin

     As I mentioned in my previous entry, my husband and I visited Hakata, a district in Fukuoka, last year. Fukuoka is renowned for its rich and creamy tonkotsu ramen, and Hakata is one of its most celebrated ramen hubs.

      This time, we headed to Hakata Men Kaido (博多めん街道), also known as Hakata Noodle Street, located on the second floor of Hakata Deitos, just a one-minute walk from JR Hakata Station. This ramen haven features 12 different ramen restaurants, each offering a unique take on Hakata’s beloved noodle dish.


Hakata Ramen Kaido (博多めん街道)
Hakata Deitos 2F
1-1 Hakataekichuogai
Fukuoka 812-0012

Hakata Men Kaido (博多めん街道), Hakata Noodle Street

Hakata Ramen Kaido (博多めん街道) features a diverse lineup of ramen spots, including:

  • 博多醤油ラーメン 月や

  • 長浜ナンバーワン

  • らーめん二男坊

  • 麺や 兼虎

  • 元祖博多だるま

  • 博多川端どさんこ

  • 博多辛麺 狛虎

  • 博多らーめんShin-Shin

  • モヒカンらーめん

  • ラーメン海鳴

  • 博多一幸舎

  • 名島亭


Hakata Men Kaido (博多めん街道), Hakata Noodle Street

       With so many options to choose from, we ultimately decided on Hakata Ramen Shin-Shin. I’d seen it recommended in numerous YouTube videos, and it had quickly climbed to the top of my must-try list for our trip to Hakata.


Hakata Ramen Shin-Shin (博多らーめんShinShin)

Hakata Ramen Shin-Shin


Menu

Hakata Ramen Shin-Shin

Hakata Ramen Shin-Shin


Abura Soba (油そば) + Onsen Tamago (温泉たまご)

      My husband ordered Abura Soba (油そば), a soupless ramen dish, priced at 860 yen. He added an onsen tamago (温泉たまご)—a soft-boiled egg with a silky texture—for an additional 160 yen, bringing the total to 1,020 yen(approximately $7 USD). It was his first time trying Abura Soba, and he was pleasantly surprised by its thick noodles and bold, salty flavor. He thoroughly enjoyed the dish.





Shin Shin Ramen with Nitamago (煮玉子入りらーめん) 

      I ordered Hakata Shin Shin Ramen with Nitamago (煮玉子入りらーめん) for 970 yen, which is approximately $6.68 USD. In Fukuoka, it’s customary to be asked your preferred noodle firmness when ordering ramen—a detail that adds a personal touch to the experience. I opted for Barikata (バリカタ), a very firm noodle style boiled for just 20 seconds.

Here’s a quick guide to noodle firmness levels in Fukuoka:

Firmness Level Description Cooking Time
Yawa (やわ) Very soft noodles 60 seconds
Futsu (普通) Standard firmness 50 seconds
Katamen (かためん) Slightly firm 40 seconds
Barikata (バリカタ) Very firm 20 seconds
Harigane (ハリガネ) Extra firm 10 seconds
Nama / Konaotoshi (なま / 粉落とし) Nearly raw noodles 3 seconds

Shin Shin Ramen with Nitamago (煮玉子入りらーめん) 

      I thought it was true Hakata Ramen (博多ラーメン)—featuring a tonkotsu broth that’s rich but not overly oily, paired with thin, straight noodles. I really liked it. If I had ramen of this quality in the U.S., it would easily cost around $25 USD, roughly four times the price of Shin Shin Ramen.

     During our taxi ride, the Japanese driver was surprised to hear that many ramen shops in Japan now charge over 1,000 yen per bowl. He recalled that a few decades ago, ramen typically cost about 500 yen. He mentioned that some places in Hakata, like Hakataya (はかたや), still offer ramen for just 290 yen—a rare find. When we told him ramen in the U.S. can reach nearly 4,000 yen per bowl, he was genuinely shocked. That’s why we make it a point to eat ramen only when we’re in Japan.


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Thursday, July 17, 2025

Breakfast at Sukiya: Delicious Beef Bowls for Under $4


      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. Rather than sticking with the hotel’s breakfast buffet, we decided to head to Sukiya instead. If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you already know I have a deep love for Japanese beef bowls—gyudon (牛丼), as they’re called in Japan. Whenever I’m in Japan, I make it a point to visit popular gyudon chains like Yoshinoya (吉野家), Sukiya (すき家), and Matsuya (松屋). Even back in the U.S., I’ll grab frozen Yoshinoya gyudon from Japanese supermarkets when it's on sale—something I’ve mentioned in earlier posts. So for this trip, we went with Sukiya for breakfast. It was just a short, two-minute walk from our hotel, making it a super convenient choice.


      One thing I appreciated was the ordering tablet placed right at the table—it made the process much easier, especially for travelers who don’t speak Japanese. You could select your preferred language from Japanese, English, Chinese, or Korean, which was incredibly helpful and inclusive.



Sukiya Breakfast

        Sukiya’s breakfast menu is available from 5 a.m. to 11 a.m., making it a great option whether you’re up with the sunrise or easing into the day.

納豆まぜのっけ朝食 + 牛小鉢

      My husband ordered the natto breakfast combo (納豆まぜのっけ朝食), priced at just 390 yen, and added a mini simmered beef side dish (牛小鉢) for an additional 180 yen. Altogether, the meal came to 570 yen—roughly $3.90—which is impressively budget-friendly. The combo itself was surprisingly well-balanced: it included natto, green onions, okra, an onsen tamago (soft-boiled egg), bonito flakes, miso soup, and white rice. It was a nourishing mix of protein, fiber, and fermented goodness, perfect for starting the day with a taste of traditional Japanese flavors.



牛たまかけ朝食

       I chose the beef and egg breakfast combo (牛たまかけ朝食), priced at just 420 yen—about $2.89. It came with a flavorful lineup: simmered beef, a raw egg, kiriboshi daikon (dried and rehydrated daikon strips), nori, miso soup, and white rice. For my version, I placed the simmered beef over the rice, then poured the beaten raw egg on top and finished it with a generous sprinkle of shredded red pickled ginger. Simple, savory, and exactly the kind of breakfast I love. 





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Thursday, July 10, 2025

Koga Sengyo Seafood Restaurant Around Hakata – Fresh from Market to Bowl

 

Koga Sengyo (古賀鮮魚)

     As I mentioned in a previous post, my husband and I visited Hakata in Fukuoka last year. One of the things I was most excited about was enjoying the local cuisine. In Top 3 Seafood Restaurants to Visit Around Hakata, I shared how Hakata is famous for its fresh seafood—thanks to its close proximity to the Genkai Sea’s rich fishing grounds and vibrant markets like Nagahama Fish Market (長浜鮮魚市場) and Yanagibashi Rengo Fish Market (柳橋連合市場), which guarantee a steady supply of fresh catch each day.

     The area is filled with exceptional seafood restaurants. This time, we made our way to Yanagibashi Rengo Fish Market (柳橋連合市場), just a 20-minutes walk from JR Hakata Station. 

Yanagibashi Rengo Fish Market (柳橋連合市場)


Koga Sengyo (古賀鮮魚) at Yanagibashi Rengo Fish Market (柳橋連合市場)

       In Yanagibashi Fish Market, there are many seafood restaurants to choose from, and we decided to try Koga Sengyo (古賀鮮魚), which is both a fishmonger and a restaurant—meaning the seafood they serve is incredibly fresh, often sourced straight from their own stall. 



1-6-4 Haruyoshi
Fukuoka Chuoku
Fukuoka

Open Monday through Saturday
Hours 10 am through 3 pm (Last Order 2:30 pm)

Koga Sengyo (古賀鮮魚)

      Koga Sengyo (古賀鮮魚) is one of the most popular spots in Yanagibashi Rengo Fish Market (柳橋連合市場), but when we visited on a Thursday at 2 p.m., it wasn’t crowded at all. The quiet midafternoon setting made it feel like a hidden treasure tucked within the bustle of the market.


Koga Sengyo (古賀鮮魚)
       The walls of Koga Sengyo were lined with a wide array of handwritten menus, giving the restaurant a lively, local charm. According to the staff, their most popular dishes include Kaisen Don (海鮮丼), Tuna Don (マグロ丼), Assorted Deep-Fried Seafood (海鮮ミックスフライ), Deep-Fried Horse Mackerel (アジフライ), and Assorted Sashimi (刺身盛り合わせ).

Koga Sengyo’s Top 5 Dishes:

  1. Kaisen Don (海鮮丼)

  2. Tuna Don (マグロ丼)

  3. Assorted Deep-Fried Seafood (海鮮ミックスフライ)

  4. Deep-Fried Horse Mackerel (アジフライ)

  5. Assorted Sashimi (刺身盛り合わせ)



Koga Sengyo (古賀鮮魚)

Menu

Koga Sengyo (古賀鮮魚)
Koga Sengyo (古賀鮮魚)
Koga Sengyo (古賀鮮魚)
Koga Sengyo (古賀鮮魚)
Koga Sengyo (古賀鮮魚)
Koga Sengyo (古賀鮮魚)
Koga Sengyo (古賀鮮魚)



Kaisen don (海鮮丼)
Kaisen don (海鮮丼)

        My husband ordered the Kaisen Don (海鮮丼), which cost just 1,100 yen and came with wakame seaweed soup and a few side dishes. It’s no wonder Kaisen Don is their most popular dish—it truly delivers on quality, flavor, and value. It had the vibrant slices of tuna, salmon, squid, and shrimp are beautifully arranged on rice, creating a feast for both the eyes and the palate. The sashimi was incredibly fresh and of impressive quality—we couldn’t believe it was only about $7.50! For this kind of seafood bowl in the U.S., we’d easily expect to pay over $50. If you visit Koga Sengyo, the Kaisen Don is an absolute must-try. 

Kaisen don (海鮮丼)



Makanai don (まかない丼)
Makanai don (まかない丼)

       I ordered the Makanai Don (まかない丼) for just 900 yen, which also came with wakame seaweed soup and a few side dishes. The bowl was topped with a generous variety of fresh fish, including tuna, salmon, sea bream, and ikura (いくら), or salmon roe. I had seen this dish recommended by several Japanese YouTubers, and now I understand why—it felt like a hidden gem. At only 900 yen (about $6.20), it was an absolute steal for the quality and variety it offered.

Makanai don (まかない丼)


Deep-Fried Horse Mackerel (アジフライ) Half Size
       We also ordered a half-size portion of deep-fried horse mackerel (ちょっとアジフライ) for just 350 yen. I had originally planned to visit Shokudo Hamakani (食堂はまかに), a restaurant known for its seafood dishes—especially horse mackerel (鯵, アジ)—but it happened to be closed that day. Thankfully, we still got to enjoy this dish at Koga Sengyo, and it turned out to be a delightful surprise. The horse mackerel was soft, fluffy, and perfectly fried.  


        Koga Sengyo left a lasting impression—not just for its friendly atmosphere and unbeatable prices, but for one unforgettable Kaisen Don that captured the true flavor of Hakata.





There are my entries related to Fukuoka.






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