■ Fukuoka City has the most mentaiko stores in the country!
Needless to say, mentaiko (spicy cod roe) is a Fukuoka specialty, and the number of mentaiko shops in Fukuoka City is a testament to this.
How many mentaiko shops are there in Fukuoka City? (Comparing 21 major cities)
Of the 21 designated cities, Fukuoka has 82 stores, far surpassing the other cities . In Others, the annual expenditure on cod roe is 5,818 yen (per household of 2 or more people), the highest in the nation! After all, mentaiko is a specialty that Fukuoka is proud of.
■Mentaiko is a great supporting actor?!
What is your favorite way to eat mentaiko? We asked @Fukuinstafood followers (112 people, conducted in October 2021).
What is your favorite way to eat mentaiko? (Multiple answers allowed)
1st place: On top of rice
2nd place: Mixed with pasta
3rd place: On bread
4th place: As a salad
5th place: As a salad
The results were as follows. Everyone, mentaiko goes well with rice, pasta, and bread! In the acting industry, mentaiko is like a great supporting actor who makes the most of a staple food .
While the mentaiko industry is facing a tough situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a decline in souvenirs and other items, various initiatives, such as providing opportunities for people to come into contact with mentaiko , are being made and seem to be gaining attention.
■Mentaiko is hot! 8 Fukuoka mentaiko dishes
This time, I will introduce a restaurant where locals, Tourism, and business travelers can easily experience the deliciousness of mentaiko . It is a restaurant that specializes in mentaiko dishes, which I love very much!
Enjoy the unique flavors of Fukuoka along with @Fukuinstafood's "What we love about it!"
1. All-you-can-eat mentaiko! Mentaiko buffet "Hakuhaku Cafe" (Higashi Ward, Fukuoka City)
>> First, please watch this video
All-you-can-eat mentaiko! Thank you Fukuya...
This is Hakuhaku, a mentaiko museum run by Fukuya, a mentaiko manufacturer, located in Sharyo, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka City.
This is a facility where you can enjoy the whole day, with factory tours, mentaiko-making experiences, souvenir shops, etc. This time, I went to "Hakuhaku Cafe" located inside the facility.
This is the much talked about buffet that is only available on weekends and features all-you-can-eat mentaiko.
In addition to normal mentaiko, you can eat as much as you like of eight different kinds of mentaiko, which change daily, including granular mentaiko, herring roe mentaiko, baby mentaiko, and dokkara mentaiko! You won't be able to stop feeling excited♪
There is also mentaiko pasta. It's so nice to be able to make your own mentaiko pasta.
There was also a mentaiko French french fry, which I spread with mentaiko butter and popped in the oven. There was also a mentaiko hand-rolled sushi set, which made me feel way too excited (lol). There was also a mentaiko ochazuke set, which I decided to finish off with.
The all-you-can-eat mentaiko buffet is 2,000 yen for adults for 60 minutes, and is only available on weekends. It is very popular, so we recommend making a reservation in advance. (See the data below for details)
Here are some points I like
The basic rule of buffets is to take as much as you can eat! So when you visit this buffet, first, calm your excitement, look around, and understand where everything is.
After that, you can make the mentaiko dish you want to eat. You can serve a little on each large plate, or you can serve your favorite dish all on one plate.
[First round] I put mentaiko sauce on the salad, mentaiko cream on the tamagoyaki (rolled omelette), fried chicken, and croquettes, and mentaiko powder on the tempura, and then I place them on a large plate. I also choose a few of my favorite types of mentaiko, and since I have some rice, I put an appropriate amount in my bowl.
[2nd round] I ordered my favorite, mentaiko pasta for another serving, with mentaiko mayonnaise to taste!
[Third round] Put your creativity to the test! Try your hand at making mentaiko hand-rolled sushi!
[Fourth round] Finally, we finish off by putting squid cod roe, dokkara cod roe, etc. on top of rice and making mentaiko chazuke in a special broth.
Since it's mentaiko from Fukuya, the taste is guaranteed! What's more, you can create your own mentaiko dishes, which is very satisfying.
[Hakuhaku Cafe All-You-Can-Eat Mentaiko Buffet]
■TEL: 092-621-8989
■Address: 2-14-28 Sharyo, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka City (inside Hakata Food and Culture Museum Hakuhaku) [MAP]
■Time: Saturdays and Sundays only 11:00-15:30 (last entry 14:30)
■Price: All-you-can-eat for 60 minutes; Adults (junior high school students and above) 2,000 yen per person; 4th grade and above 1,600 yen per person; 3rd grade and below 900 yen per person; Infants (preschoolers) 600 yen * Free admission for customers using only the buffet
■Reservations and details here
⇒The all-you-can-eat mentaiko buffet will end on July 30, 2023.
New menu items will be available at Haku Haku Cafe from now on.
For more information, please visit the Hakuhaku Cafe page.
2. Fresh pasta topped with a whole cod roe! "Marguetta" ( Chuo-ku , Fukuoka City )
>> First, please watch this video
Mentaiko x cream x pasta is the best!
This restaurant is "Marguetta" located in Tojinmachi, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City . Since opening in August 2021, it has been a hot topic in the local Fukuoka area.
This is a mentaiko specialty restaurant where you can eat homemade "fresh pasta" and "mentaiko fresh pasta" made with "a whole piece of mentaiko" from "Fukuya."
This time, I visited during lunch time. This is the most popular menu item.
The "Cream Marguetta" topped with a whole skewer of cod roe is 1,730 yen. During lunch time, it comes with homemade bread "Pinsa". There are many other dishes, including the "Pepero Marguetta" for 1,630 yen.
The "Cream Marguetta" served in a frying pan is visually appealing and makes for great photos! "Fukuya's 1-piece Mentaiko" will have your heart dancing.
Here are some points I like
Fukuya's mentaiko is firm and has a great taste. It is mixed with fresh pasta and mixed with cream while crumbling the mentaiko.
Mentaiko cream pasta mixed with fresh pasta is exceptionally delicious.
The saltiness of the mentaiko was low, and the combination with the cream was perfectly calculated. It was the best tasting mentaiko pasta I have ever eaten.
The chewy fresh pasta is also amazing.
[Mentaiko Fresh Pasta Shop Marguetta Tojinmachi]
■TEL: 092-707-2928
■Address: 1F, Caland Park, 1-10-1 Tojinmachi, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City [MAP]
■Opening hours: 11:00-16:00/17:00-21:00
■Closed: Tuesdays
■For more details, please click here @marugetta
3. Mentaiko and sea bream come together! Hakata noodles with sea bream "Shobouan" ( Hakata Ward , Fukuoka City )
>> First, please watch this video
This is a new way to eat mentaiko!
This restaurant is called "Shobouan" and is located inside the Kuten building on the 9th floor of JR Hakata City in Hakata Ward, Fukuoka City . This restaurant serves dishes that make generous use of "ago dashi mentaiko," a famous Fukuoka souvenir. This time, we went to try the lunch-only menu.
This is the menu item that is being called the new Hakata specialty.
Hakata Men Tai Mabushi (2,800 yen). Firm, well-fleshed sea bream sashimi and mentaiko (spicy cod roe) are served together. The Hakata style Men Tai Mabushi is a delicious dish that can be enjoyed three times in one♪
This lunch is also recommended! Hakata Mentaiko Kashiwaju (1,900 yen). The more you mix the chicken and mentaiko, the more delicious it becomes. It was an excellent dish.
Here are some points I like
[Step 1] Place in a rice bowl, add lemon and enjoy as is.
[2] Serve with a thick egg yolk dashi mix made with Kayanoya stock.
[Tip 3] Add some condiments and pour the special dashi sauce over it, and enjoy it like ochazuke. It's delicious in three ways.
The rice cooked in a triple-cooking pot brings out the deliciousness of the mentaiko even more!
[Mentaiko cuisine Hakata Shobouan]
■TEL: 092-409-6611
■Address: 1-1 Hakata Chuo Hakata ku, Fukuoka City JR Hakata City 9F (inside Kuten) [MAP]
■Opening hours: 11:00-16:00 (LO 15:30) / 17:00-22:00 (LO 21:00)
■Click here for details
4. You'll be amazed by the variety of mentaiko breads! Mentaiko Bakery "Fukutaro" ( Chuo-ku , Fukuoka City )
This is a bakery opened in 2021 by mentaiko manufacturer "Fukutaro" under the theme "Fukutaro bakes bread." I heard that it will be available at the Tenjin Terra store in Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City from October 2021, so I went there right away.
When it comes to mentaiko bread, the first thing that comes to mind is "Mentaiko France," but it seems that this shop has more than just that.
Here are the mentaiko themed breads.
The store has a wide selection of mentaiko-themed breads, including mentaiko French bread, mentaiko croissants, mentaiko potato butter bread, menbei curry bread, and mentaiko thick egg sandwiches.
As far as I know, this is the only store that carries such a wide variety of mentaiko breads all in one place.
I definitely want to try it! Mentaiko French 1 skewer 280 yen. The amount of mentaiko used in the mentaiko French at Mentaikoya is incredible. It's luxurious yet at this price. Great value for money.
Here are some points I like
Menbei curry bread, 250 yen. This was the first time I'd ever had such a crunchy and chewy curry bread, and the spicy flavor combined with the Menbei was also great. I was hooked on this bread, which is unique to Fukutaro.
Plus, here's some hearty side dish bread.
Mentaiko potato butter bread (200 yen). The combination of baron potatoes, mentaiko sauce and butter was undoubtedly a delicious dish.
The mentaiko bread from this mentaiko manufacturer is also great value for money. You can eat the bread you purchase with coffee in the eat-in space inside the store.
It's also perfect as a souvenir ♪
[Fukutaro Tenjin Terra Store]
■TEL:092-713-4441
■Address: 1F Tenjin Terura Building, 5-25-18 Watanabe-dori, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City [MAP]
■Opening hours: 11:00-19:00 (Eat-in space 12:00-15:00)
■Click here for details
5. A must-have when touring Dazaifu! Mentaiko grilled rice balls "Fukutaro" (Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, Fukuoka Prefecture)
This shop is the Dazaifu branch of the mentaiko manufacturer "Fukutaro," located near the approach to Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine in Dazaifu City, Fukuoka Prefecture. The shop is popular on Instagram, especially among Tourism.
When you think of Dazaifu, you think of Umegae mochi, but I personally think that these grilled rice balls can rival it.
Mentaiko grilled rice balls are 200 yen (the photo shows the rice balls with shiso and mentaiko toppings for 250 yen). These fragrant rice balls are generously coated with Fukutaro's mentaiko and grilled one by one on a hot plate like ume-gae mochi.
The reason for its popularity is that it is grilled between two hot plates, making it easy to eat without spilling.
Here are some points I like
You can take photos in a modern-looking building. The finished product will have a nice crispy texture to it.
Furthermore, the characters are so cute that the packaging alone stands out.
In addition to grilled rice balls, the store also has many souvenirs. Why not pick one up as a Tourism on your next trip to Dazaifu?
[Fukutaro Dazaifu store]
■TEL: 092-924-0088
■Address: 1-14-28 Saifu, Dazaifu City , Fukuoka Prefecture[MAP]
■Opening hours: 9:00-17:30
■Closed: None (Closed on December 31st)
■Click here for details
6. Mentaiko on all kinds of pasta! "Mentaiko Base" ( Chuo-ku , Fukuoka City )
This shop is "Meitai Base", a mentaiko pasta specialty store run by "Yamaya", a mentaiko manufacturer. It is located in Mark is Momochi in Chuo-ku , Fukuoka City .
This is the pasta from a mentaiko pasta specialty store.
Mentaiko Spicy Arrabiata 1,080 yen. The special sauce packed with the umami of mentaiko and chili peppers creates a spicy taste. The sweetness of the tomato is also great.
Mentaiko cream pasta with a hint of cheese (1,080 yen). The cream sauce brings out the umami of mentaiko and goes perfectly with cheese.
Mentaiko pasta with perilla pesto (1,080 yen). The homemade pesto is mixed with mentaiko for a refreshing taste.
Yamaya's mentaiko is very easy to eat, and it is a mentaiko pasta specialty restaurant that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and genders.
Here are some points I like
Mentaiko French Double Cheese 450 yen. Regular mentaiko French is topped with a double amount of mozzarella and cheddar cheese.
You'll definitely become addicted to the rich, creamy texture.
This oven-baked French bread has a crispy outside and a juicy inside. Try it with pasta.
[Mentai BASE Mark Is Fukuoka Momochi Store]
■TEL: 092-836-8000
■Address: 2-2-1 Jigyohama , Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City , Mark Is Fukuoka Momochi 3F [MAP]
■Business hours: 11:00-16:00/16:00-22:00 (LO 21:00)
■Closed: Same as Mark Is Fukuoka Momochi
■Click here for details
7. A whole mentaiko roe packed into the bento box! "Original Hakata Mentai-ju" ( Chuo-ku , Fukuoka City )
This restaurant, "Original Hakata -ju," is located in Chuo-ku , Fukuoka City , and has long lines of Instagram girls waiting for it.
It is especially popular with women with smartphones in hand. For Fukuoka people, mentaiko-ju is soul food.
This is the signature dish, "Original Hakata Mentai-ju."
Original Hakata-ju (1,848 yen) This is an elegant and luxurious dish in which a whole skewer of homemade, carefully marinated kelp-wrapped mentaiko is placed on top of rice in a bento box and topped with a special sauce.
Here are some points I like
I always choose the basics.
In addition to the mentaiko bento, you can't miss the "Mentaiko Nikomi Tsukemen" (1,848 yen), which also uses a whole stalk of mentaiko!
[Original Hakata Mentai-ju]
■TEL: 092-725-7220
■Residence: 6-15 Nishinakasu, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City [MAP]
■Opening hours: 8:00-22:00
■Closed: None
■Click here for details
8. [Closed] All-you-can-eat mentaiko lunch! "Hakata Motsunabe Yamaya" ( Hakata Ward, Fukuoka City )
This restaurant is " Hakata Motsunabe Yamaya Hakata Branch" operated by mentaiko manufacturer Yamaya, located in Hakata Station Chuo-gai, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka City . Hakata Hakata is a specialty, but the lunch where you can add as much mentaiko as you like is so popular that there are long queues.
Here is the all-you-can-eat mentaiko dish.
Lunch set meals start from 1,300 yen. You can eat as much mentaiko as you like at Yamaya, which is so luxurious. You can also eat as much rice as you like.
What's more, you can eat as much mustard greens as you like!
Here are some points I like
Gameni set meal
The lunch menu includes Hakata specialties such as stewed fish, fried chicken with mentaiko flavor, and motsunabe (offal hotpot). It is highly recommended for people visiting Fukuoka on Tourism or business trips.
[Hakata Motsunabe Yamaya Hakata Branch]
■TEL: 092-412-0888
■Address: 1-1 Hakataeki Chuo Hakata Hakata , Fukuoka City [MAP]
■Opening hours: 11:00-15:00 (LO 14:00) / 17:00-22:00 (LO 21:00)
■Closed: None (New Year's holiday)
■Click here for details
—-
What did you think of Fukuoka's mentaiko cuisine?
Being able to enjoy such a variety of mentaiko dishes is something you can only experience in Fukuoka. If you visit Fukuoka, it might be a good idea to not only buy some as souvenirs, but also to actually try eating mentaiko.
What I felt after visiting the restaurants this time is that mentaiko in mentaiko dishes in Fukuoka is no longer a supporting role but the main one. Please go and experience the "mentaiko love" of the people at mentaiko restaurants in Fukuoka.
▶If you would like to receive updates on "Fukuoka Food" articles from @Fukuinstafood via LINE, click here♪
*This article is current as of November 18, 2021.
