It's a style where you choose your dishes and pay at the counter. The timing was good, and the turnover of customers was high, so even with a 10-group wait, I was able to get in after waiting about 15 minutes. You can get refills of white rice and simmered dishes, but it's not a self-serve style, so you can't pile it on yourself lol.

I went to buy horse sashimi in Kurume and found a place on the way. It was full with a 2-group wait due to Golden Week. After a 5-minute wait, I was seated. It was a self-service style restaurant claiming to be the birthplace of Chikuzen-ni. They also offered refills. The horse sashimi looked delicious in color and glossiness. It was tender and tasty, making me want to have more. When I went for seconds, I was served a different, unappetizing-looking Chikuzen-ni stir-fried in a separate pot. Disappointing.

I stopped by this rural restaurant called "Minami no Sato" located in a peaceful place at a roadside station during my business trip to Hakata. You pick your favorite side dishes on a tray and pay at the counter. They are known for their local dish called Chikuzen-ni (simmered dish) and kamado-cooked rice. They use locally sourced ingredients from Echizen, and all the staff are mothers, creating a very pleasant atmosphere. Chikuzen-ni, hijiki seaweed, and miso soup all have a strong sweetness to them! This is because soy sauce and miso have a natural sweetness. In the Kanto region, we are not used to such sweetness in our food, but the quality of the ingredients is excellent and very delicious. And the rice... it is delicious. I had to eat quickly due to time constraints, but I wanted to savor it more. I couldn't resist getting a second serving of Chikuzen-ni. Total: 980 yen.

Simmered clams, vinegar-marinated horse mackerel, chicken and rice, miso soup with black miso - Choose your favorite side dish for the set meal. The rice cooked on firewood is refillable, whether you choose chicken and rice or regular white rice. Additionally, you can have unlimited refills of the simmered clams side dish.

This is a restaurant located inside Michi-no-Eki Chikuzen Minami no Sato. The service is self-service, where you can choose your favorite side dishes and then pay at the end. There are many side dishes ranging from 100 yen to 300 yen. Chikuzen-ni, also known as game-ni, is a local specialty dish in this region. Steamed zoni is a zoni soup with rice cakes, which is also a signature dish here. The Chikuzen-ni here was slightly sweeter than what we make at home. Since they are in collaboration with JA, the rice is also delicious. You can have unlimited rice and Chikuzen-ni refills.

I visit a local produce market with my family a few times a month. It is located in Chikuzen-cho, Asakura-gun, Fukuoka Prefecture, a town known for its thriving agriculture, particularly for producing Kurodamaru soybeans. Many farmers in the area grow soybeans and after the harvest, they also grow rice and wheat, utilizing their fields for double cropping. These farmers sell vegetables, fruits, and processed products directly to customers at the market. I heard that the market was recently registered as a roadside station and has a dining area in a separate building, but I never thought about having a meal there with my family. I prefer to enjoy lunch alone and take my time eating. I knew that the market reopened for business in June, so I decided to visit on a Saturday around 11 am. When I arrived, there was already a line of customers inside, waiting to pick their side dishes. The system was to choose side dishes first, then order rice and miso soup at the end and pay in advance. I selected mackerel simmered in soy sauce for 200 yen, homemade thick fried tofu for 100 yen, pickled onions and shredded dried fish for 150 yen, rice for 180 yen, and miso soup for 150 yen. I sat at an empty table, served myself some tea and water, and picked the mackerel dish with a shiny glaze, which tasted just right with a sweet and savory sauce. The homemade thick fried tofu made with local Kurodamaru soybeans was soft and fluffy, topped with ginger and soy sauce, providing a delicious flavor. The pickled dish included onions, bell peppers, cucumbers, and shredded dried fish, perfect for the season with a refreshing sweet and sour taste. The miso soup also used Kurodamaru soybeans, but I couldn't tell the difference from regular soybeans. It contained onions and plenty of seaweed, tasting quite ordinary. I decided to try the specialty of the market, kamado-cooked rice, which was slightly soft and sticky, with a sweet taste that spread in my mouth as I chewed. This rice paired well with the mackerel dish. I asked for a half portion of rice refill before finishing my meal, and returned the tray to the designated area. Families started coming in as I finished eating, having completed their shopping at the market next door. I managed to have a healthy meal within my budget, as long as I didn't overindulge in side dishes. The prices seemed reasonable for the quality of food. It's a place I would consider visiting again.

After shopping at the attached direct sales store (Minami no Sato), we decided to have lunch here. It was around 12:20. The restaurant was full, so we had to wait for about 10 minutes until a table became available. However, since the dishes were buffet-style, once we were seated, we were able to start eating promptly. <Selected dishes> * Main dish plate with grilled mackerel and shrimp fry - 300 yen * Sweet and sour pork - 300 yen * Chikuzen-ni (stewed vegetables, refillable) - 250 yen - Chikuzen-ni used seasonal vegetables (mainly locally sourced) and surprisingly, it used regular potatoes instead of taro. But it was still delicious! I thought about trying to make it at home. * Tofu with toppings - Price unknown (forgot) * Pickled burdock - Price unknown * Simmered hijiki seaweed - Price unknown * Kinpira burdock - Price unknown As the title says, I found the Chikuzen-ni and tofu with toppings delicious. The service of having unlimited refills of rice cooked in a hearth is also great. Since it's a buffet-style, it's important to be careful not to pile up too much food and end up with a hefty bill (I'm a foodie!). But overall, I would consider using this place again if the opportunity arises. Thank you for the meal!

Chikuzen Town Farmers Market, a rural restaurant located in Minamino Village, offers traditional, gentle dishes made with local vegetables from Chikuzen Town. Their specialty Chikuzen stew and rice cooked in a feather pot are famous for being all-you-can-eat. Currently, they are operating with reduced hours due to the impact of COVID-19 (11:00-14:00, last order at 13:30). The spacious restaurant has tatami seating and operates on a system where you choose small dishes and pay at the end (priced between 150-300 yen). Some recommended dishes include the Chikuzen stew (250 yen), eggplant tempura with chicken and bell peppers (150 yen), assorted grilled mackerel, tempura, hijiki seaweed, and fried chicken (300 yen), and various small dishes (150 yen each). The Chikuzen rice, cooked in a feather pot, is delicious with a sweet flavor. The atmosphere of Chikuzen Town is tranquil and allows for a meaningful dining experience.

On this National Foundation Day, we strolled around Chikuzencho, Chikugo, and Ogori City and once again visited our favorite Chikuzencho Farmers Market Minami no Sato. They offer a variety of food and dishes, not just junk food, but hearty meals. We enjoyed a meal at the rural restaurant Chikuzen, where you serve yourself and choose your side dishes. The rice cooked in the hearth was delicious! They served a variety of dishes such as Chikuzen stew, simmered mackerel, sweet potato tempura, fried chicken, fried fish, and pork miso soup. It was a satisfying meal.

There were about 3 groups waiting at 12:30 on a regular day. It's a self-service style, so it's easy to get lost and end up ordering too much. I didn't order it, but the volume of the miso soup was quite generous. You can get refills of simmered dishes and white rice. I left with a very satisfied and full stomach. I will definitely visit again.

This is a cafeteria where you can eat incredibly delicious Chikuzen-ni. They have a variety of side dishes lined up, and you can choose your favorites to put on your tray. Among them, the mackerel nanban-zuke, Chikuzen-ni, and simmered eggplant are exquisite. You can also enjoy freshly cooked rice from a feather pot. The dishes are prepared by women in their 50s to 70s, but the seasoning is truly delicious. It's more like simple, nostalgic, and very delicious home-cooked meals rather than delicate high-end cuisine. This restaurant is so popular that it fills up as soon as it opens! If you have any business in Asakura, be sure to visit. Thank you for the meal. ᐡ-ﻌ-ᐡ

When I went back home for a visit, my mother took me to lunch at a restaurant located inside a roadside station. We arrived around 11 am on a Saturday, but it was quite crowded. The restaurant had a style where you could choose your favorite side dishes and create your own set meal at the end. I don't usually go to this type of restaurant because it tends to be expensive, and I prefer buffet-style meals. The taste can be hit or miss with this kind of restaurant. If you get lucky and choose the right dishes, it can be very delicious, but unfortunately, the ones I picked were a bit disappointing. The rice was freshly cooked and very tasty, so I would like to give it another try and hopefully have a better experience next time.

Be sure to try the Tsukishima-style monjayaki. Thank you for the meal.

Breakfast options: Miso soup, rice cooked in a traditional stove, choice of two side dishes. Choose your favorites.