On the first day of my trip to Fukuoka, I visited Kawataro Honten, known for its fresh squid. Located in the alleyways of Nakasu's pink district, this long-standing restaurant features large tanks with live squid swimming inside. I enjoyed the fresh squid, famous mentaiko (spicy cod roe), and sesame mackerel. I ordered the whole squid sashimi (100g for 1,700 yen), sesame mackerel (1,200 yen), mentaiko (700 yen), chicken karaage, squid tempura, salt-grilled squid, and Hakata-style simmered clam (600 yen each), as well as squid dumplings (800 yen). The meal started with sesame tofu topped with salmon roe and wasabi. The mentaiko was unique with a hint of yuzu pepper, making it a great accompaniment to sake. The main dish, whole squid sashimi, was served while the squid was still alive, ensuring the utmost freshness. The squid was enjoyed with salt, lemon salt, and wasabi soy sauce in that order, with the wasabi soy sauce being the best match in my opinion. After savoring the sashimi, I also enjoyed both tempura and salt-grilled squid. The crispy tempura was delicious, and the squid dumplings were a unique and satisfying dish with a mix of chewiness and tenderness. This restaurant offers a taste of Hakata specialties and is truly a well-established spot in Nakasu.

We visited for lunch on a Saturday. When it comes to squid in Yobuko, it's all about the super premium brand squid. It was the highlight of this trip for us. Of course, we made sure to make a reservation. We were seated right in front of the live fish tank. There were two lunch options: the live squid set meal for 3,000 yen and the Kotoro Gozen for 4,500 yen, which includes a drink, porridge, and a sashimi platter, so we chose the Kotoro Gozen. We started with the sashimi platter, and as we were enjoying it, the squid catching began. The live squid set meal comes with 200g per person, while the Kotoro Gozen includes 150g per person. For two people, a large-sized squid is served to be shared, and for one person, a smaller-sized squid is served. Since we ordered the Kotoro Gozen, we received a portion of around 300g for the two of us. The tentacles and innards can be made into tempura at the end, so we used separate chopsticks to transfer the sashimi to our plates. The squid in Yobuko is incredibly delicious, with a crunchy texture and sweet taste. It's the best squid I've ever had. After finishing the squid, the Gozen was served, and the tentacles and innards were collected. The sweet and savory porridge was a perfect accompaniment to the meal. The chawanmushi had taro inside, which was a nice touch. And then the tempura arrived. It was perfectly fried and incredibly tender. Being able to eat Yobuko squid at this price, with the live tank experience, was so enjoyable and delicious.

We made a reservation with high expectations for the rumored squid sashimi. The atmosphere was filled with anticipation as we arrived at the restaurant. Inside, there was a tank with live squid, and we dined right beside it. The squid sashimi we came for had a transparent appearance, a crunchy texture, and a sweet flavor, making it delicious. Every dish in the course was also tasty. The staff's service was excellent, and we were very satisfied.

Salt, lemon, or wasabi, all are good choices to enjoy the live squid sashimi and squid tempura that can only be eaten in Hakata. When you come to Fukuoka, you must definitely try squid. This restaurant is one where I can confidently take my friends.

The taste was certainly good, and there was a nice performance of taking the squid from the live tank. However, it was disappointing that there was a limit of 100g of squid per person. I was planning to eat the equivalent of one squid (300g), so that was a downside. Also, the level of explanation of the dishes varied depending on the staff. I thought the whiskers of the deep-fried shrimp might stick in my cheek.

The best part of dining at Kawataro Hakata in Yobuko is their original live squid sashimi. The transparency and sweetness of the squid sashimi are exceptional! The freshness of the squid swimming in the tank right in front of you is skillfully prepared by the chef. The menu includes Yobuko live squid sashimi, a platter of Itoshima vegetables, squid dumplings, and squid tempura without hesitation.

I made a reservation by phone one month ago. I had visited the store near Hakata Station before, but this was my first visit to the Nakasu Honten store. Even though I knew the location, I was drawn to the new experience. On this hot day, I arrived at the store 30 minutes early and was told that I could be seated right away. Lucky me. I was seated in a prime spot in front of the tank where squid were swimming. There were many squid of various sizes swimming around. In the background, I could see the kitchen, giving off a high-class traditional Japanese restaurant vibe. I ordered the lunch set with live squid sashimi for 3,850 yen, and added the sesame mackerel for an additional 1,500 yen. After waiting for about 10 minutes, the live squid sashimi arrived. The sashimi was firm and tasted best with just a sprinkle of salt, not soy sauce. After finishing the sashimi, I called the server and requested tempura. The meal continued with rice, miso soup, and pickles. While waiting for the tempura, I topped the rice with the sesame mackerel. It was delicious. Eventually, the leftover squid legs were served as tempura. The oil in the tempura was a bit heavy that day, but it was still enjoyable with a sprinkle of salt. The whole lunch experience lasted about an hour for two people, costing around 9,500 yen. It's worth visiting Kawataro at least once a year. It's a great deal considering the round trip to Yobuko. It was a satisfying meal.

I searched for a place to eat live squid sashimi in Yobuko for a companion who wanted to try it. Although there are various shops in Hakata where you can eat it, I made a reservation at the original store. Personally, I'm not a big fan of squid sashimi, but I can eat the transparent and crunchy texture ones. We planned to eat lightly as we had other plans. The shop opened just 5 minutes before on a weekday night and there were about 4 groups already there, all seemed to have reservations. We sat at the counter seats with a live tank. The menu mentioned squid starting from 100g, but when I ordered 150g, they brought me 175g. It would have been better if they had written 175g from the beginning. I ordered the "Original Live Squid Sashimi 175g" for ¥4235, "Squid Dumplings" for ¥990, "Sashimi Assortment 5 Pieces" for ¥3300, "Sesame Mackerel" for ¥1650, "Draft Beer" for ¥715, and two "Complimentary Appetizers". The total bill was around ¥15,000. I forgot how many beers I had, maybe 5? While waiting, I watched the squid being skillfully prepared in front of me. The sashimi assortment was a complete mistake in hindsight. The squid was transparent and alive, with a crunchy texture. It seemed to have a light sweetness. I also tried the famous squid dumplings and sesame mackerel. There is a 10% service charge at night. Overall, the price, taste, and service did not match up. It was a pity as it is considered a long-established shop. The only impressive thing was the chopsticks! They were very pointed, making it easy to pick up the squid. If you visit this restaurant, I recommend trying the lunch set. Thank you for the meal!

It was my first visit. I was lucky to make a last-minute reservation due to a cancellation. I had been curious about this place for a while, so it was lucky. The most popular item, the squid sashimi by Koutaro, is a must-try. It was served about 10 minutes after ordering, and the squid was translucent, sweet, and crunchy, absolutely delicious. This time, I ordered a la carte, but I am interested in the course available on the day. I will visit again.

I visited for the first time in 2 years. The service was excellent during my previous visit in the midst of the pandemic, but this time it was a bit lacking, especially with the foreign staff. However, the food was undeniably delicious despite feeling that the prices and service did not quite match up. The lunch course was reasonably priced, but individual items such as fish and lobster were quite expensive. I think women would enjoy dining here, but personally, I don't think I will be returning. The restaurant has become popular, even appearing on YouTube, but I have mixed feelings about it.

I wanted to enjoy some clear and fresh squid sashimi at Kawataro, so I made a reservation. Unfortunately, due to the typhoon, they didn't have squid that day. Instead, they served me some delicious horse mackerel sashimi. Along with plump squid shumai, clear squid salted guts, squid fritters, mentaiko, and sake, I had a great time. The taste was impeccable. I definitely want to come back for the squid sashimi next time. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

Kawataro, famous for its fresh squid, had no squid in stock on the day of my visit. Despite that, I enjoyed various dishes such as sashimi, kawahagi, kanpachi, horse mackerel sushi, ikura, uni, squid dumplings, simmered dish, inari sushi, rice, and miso soup. Everything was delicious. Thank you for the feast.

I had the live squid sashimi set meal. The squid is delicious. In addition to sashimi, there are squid dumplings, squid cutlets, squid tempura, marinated squid, and more, all of which are delicious. The refreshing atmosphere of the restaurant is perfect for lunch. I would like to stay longer when I have time, but it's a shame that there is a time limit.

The photos may include different days, but here we have sesame mackerel, fresh sashimi of horse mackerel and squid. The squid is a big one, weighing around 400g, and it's said that the bigger the squid, the better it tastes. We shared one big squid between two people instead of each having one. I used to think squid was a tough, white food, not something that could be the star of the table. It's not a common custom in the Kanto region, so it might be useful when showing friends around. The horse mackerel was also very impressive. Maybe it's from Oita? There are many famous dishes in Hakata like ramen, motsunabe, sukiyaki, gyoza, yakitori, but the seafood here is truly delicious. The service at this restaurant is top-notch, with even foreign staff providing excellent service.

I went to a restaurant near the food stall street that had tatami rooms and a second floor, it was a large and nice place. I'm not a fan of squid, but I tried it here. It was better than usual, but not particularly delicious. It had a crunchy texture. The sashimi was entertaining with the live preparation. You can also enjoy the squid tentacles and legs grilled or tempura style. Although the horse mackerel was expensive, it was tasty and they even made miso soup with the head and tail, which was satisfying. I ended the meal with a steamed egg custard. It takes about 10-20 minutes, so be sure to plan ahead when ordering. It can get crowded on weekends, and there may be a time limit of 2 hours for courses or 1.5 hours for a la carte orders.

A long-established restaurant in Nakasu with private rooms along the river, the location is perfect. There were customers taking photos in front of the shop, showing that it is a special place even among locals. The origin of live squid preparation. Yariika is rare this season, and we enjoyed delicious mackerel sashimi, kawahagi sashimi, and sake. The room still has traditional sliding doors with a nostalgic atmosphere, making it a great dining experience. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

I reserved a restaurant along with my Fukuoka trip plan! Tables were placed around a fish tank, and we enjoyed live squid sashimi, assorted sashimi, and red tilefish! Everything was incredibly delicious and the seasoning was also wonderful. By the way, the tomatoes from Itoshima were also amazing!

I wanted to eat delicious squid, so I went to Kawataro Nakasu Honten for dinner! Since I had sushi for lunch and wasn't very hungry, I asked for a small portion of squid. I started with salt, then added salt and squeezed lemon, and finally enjoyed it with soy sauce. The squid from Genkai is always fresh and delicious no matter when you eat it. This is a restaurant I always want to visit when I go to Fukuoka.

In Hakata, there is a famous fresh transparent squid, but the origin is in neighboring Saga Prefecture, specifically in Yobuko. Kawataro is one of the long-standing establishments there. I was planning to go to Yobuko, but guess what, it's in Nakasu! Lunch is only available from 11:45 am, and reservations are accepted. The restaurant was fully booked. The sashimi squid was so fresh that its tentacles were still moving energetically. After devouring the sashimi, I was completely satisfied with the portion and taste of the tempura squid tentacles.

Known as the famous restaurant Kawataro in Yobuko, but personally I think the sesame mackerel is absolutely delicious, the number one in the restaurant. I couldn't visit the restaurant for a while, but today is the day I reserved last month to go to Kawataro, haha. No matter what you order, it's a restaurant where you can't go wrong. I want to come back next week... There are too many menu items that I couldn't finish eating today, and the hospitality that makes me want to come back again. I'll be back. Thank you for the meal.

Thank you for viewing. I visited the famous "Kawataro Nakasu Honten" for lunch, known for its fresh squid dishes in Yobuko. The restaurant is located in a deep area about 8 minutes walk from Nakasu Kawabata Station and 5 minutes walk from Kushida-jinja-mae Station. Kawataro also has a branch near Hakata Station, both of which are popular and often require reservations. On this day, since they also serve dinner, I opted for the "Original Squid Sashimi" to keep it light. They have a live tank so you can enjoy fresh squid. It would be quite popular with families with small children. The fresh squid was still lively and twitching when it was brought to the table. It had a good texture and was delicious. It's great that you can enjoy this squid in Hakata without having to go all the way to Yobuko. I would love to visit again if I have the chance. Thank you for the meal.

I visited my hometown in Fukuoka City, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka Prefecture for a quick visit. Although I may not look like it, I am actually a boy from Kyushu. This time, I had some business to attend to with my father, so it was a short trip, but I decided to return to Fukuoka after a few years. Of course, if you come to Fukuoka, you have to eat something, right? So, I decided to visit a famous squid restaurant that I had made a reservation for in advance. The main attraction was the squid sashimi, starting from ¥2,200 for 100g, with tempura included. We also ordered sesame mackerel for ¥1,650 per person and squid shumai for ¥900 for 3 pieces. The squid was huge and delicious! It was sweet with a great texture and transparency. We also enjoyed the sesame mackerel, which had no fishy smell and was full of umami flavor. The squid shumai was also a must-try, with chunks of squid inside adding to its flavor and texture. Overall, it was a great start to my short trip to Fukuoka, enjoying the best seafood dishes. I have been trying out various foods since arriving. This meal at Kawataro in Nakasu-Honten was a delightful experience. Kawataro Nakasu-Honten 1-6-6 Nakasu, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture *Please confirm the business hours and closures before visiting.