This time, I visited the original Hakata mentaiko restaurant located in Nakasu Kawabata. Known as the first mentaiko specialty store in Japan, this popular restaurant always has a line even on weekdays. The mentaiko rice bowl made with whole mentaiko, a local dish in Fukuoka, is especially popular here. As you enter the store, you can see autographs of famous people displayed everywhere. While I don't necessarily think that popularity equals deliciousness, I can understand that this restaurant is known for its buzz. This time, I visited early and luckily avoided the line. Of course, I ordered that popular menu item.

On the last day of the three-day weekend, I visited the original Hakata mentaiko donburi restaurant in the morning. I arrived at the restaurant at 6:20 AM to secure a good spot in line, as there were already about ten people waiting. The line quickly grew to over 30 people before the restaurant opened. I ordered the Rice and Noodle Set, which included mentaiko donburi, mentaiko noodles, and mentaiko simmered noodles. The mentaiko donburi was delicious with a nice balance of saltiness and spiciness. The simmered pork belly was also tasty. The noodles were thick and had a good chewiness, and the soup was flavorful with a mild aftertaste. Overall, I recommend the Rice and Noodle Set if you visit this restaurant in Hakata.

I visited the restaurant on a weekday night after 8:00 PM. There was a line with one group ahead of me, and I waited for about 10 minutes before entering. I ordered the rice and noodle set with a small amount of noodles (100g). I had been looking forward to it since seeing it on TV, and it did not disappoint. The Mentaiko (spicy cod roe) on the Mentaiko Rice Bowl was delicious! The combination of Mentaiko and rice with seaweed was excellent. The special sauce (slightly spicy) also had a perfect taste that stimulated my appetite. The Mentaiko Simmered Tsukemen had a rich flavor from using a whole piece of Mentaiko in the soup, and the Mentaiko bits added a delicious taste from the first sip. When eaten with the ingredients like tomatoes and shiitake mushrooms in the back, it had a creamy texture and was also delicious! The chewy noodles and flavorful soup were perfectly combined, making it another excellent dish. I think these are unique menu items that can only be enjoyed here in Hakata. Highly recommended!

I was really looking forward to going to this restaurant, and I made a reservation two months in advance because I heard they take reservations at night. When I arrived on the day of my reservation, there was a message card on our table, and just that made me so excited and happy about the thoughtfulness. The mentaiko (spicy cod roe) rice bowl was really delicious, and I finished it in no time. It was simple but so tasty. The authentic mentaiko, rice, nori seaweed, and sauce were all incredibly delicious. I will definitely go back to eat there again when I visit Hakata.

We stopped by during our trip. It was raining, so it was nice to be able to dine inside comfortably! The set menu had a good portion size, and I was very satisfied. It was a bit salty, so it seems like it would go well with alcohol. I would like to visit again.

I visited around 9 o'clock on a weekday and waited for about 30 minutes. After being seated, the food arrived in about 15 minutes. It was great that you could choose the amount of rice and the spiciness of the sauce. The atmosphere inside the restaurant was calm and dimly lit, with many foreigners. I had high expectations for this place during my trip to Fukuoka, and I was satisfied with the experience.

I waited in line for about 40 minutes to get in. Once inside, I was surprised by the more luxurious interior than I had expected. It was my first time trying mentaiko (spicy cod roe). There were four levels of spiciness: "basic," "slightly sweet and spicy," "medium spicy," and "very spicy." I tried the "medium spicy" one, which was just the right amount of heat for me. I ordered the tsukemen (dipping noodles) served hot. The noodles soaked up the broth well and were very delicious.

I waited in line for 30 minutes in the rain because it was highly rated and very crowded. I felt a little uneasy about the original menu and name. Besides the spicy sauce for flavoring, there were no side dishes or small plates included (although you could order them separately). The rice bowl looked empty. I was relieved when lukewarm tea was served. The square bento box was difficult to eat from. The taste was not good, maybe because too much sauce was added. The staff were not bad, but it was disappointing.

I used to underestimate this shop as just a place for tourists, always with long lines and paying over 2,000 yen for mentaiko rice seemed excessive. However, when I visited with a friend during my trip to Fukuoka, we were able to get in quickly as there was no line that night. I thought mentaiko would be delicious anywhere in Fukuoka, but it was even better than I expected. Also, the mentaiko tsukemen was too delicious. That dipping sauce, it's so good... I want to go back again for the tsukemen.

Arrived at 8:50 am on Sunday, the line was all the way to the public restroom. Waited for exactly 1 hour to get in. It would probably be even longer during lunchtime. The mentaiko simmered tsukemen costs 1,848 yen (tax included). You can choose the amount of noodles from large (300g), medium (200g), or small (100g), and the photo shows the large portion (300g). As you can see in the photo, the noodles are smooth and the dipping sauce is rich. The quality as tsukemen is very high. In addition, the dashi broth with mentaiko is a great combination. However, I must say it's a bit pricey. Considering the price and wait time, it gives the impression that locals might not frequent this place. The atmosphere of the restaurant is really nice, so it might be a good choice when friends from out of town visit. Thank you for the meal.

I visited the restaurant for breakfast at 7:00 am to avoid the long line. Even though I arrived around 7:10, there were already more than 10 groups waiting in line. I was able to be seated before 8:00, so the wait wasn't too bad. Since the restaurant was in the shade and not sunny, the wait was bearable. I thought I wouldn't be able to eat much in the morning, so I confirmed if sharing was okay, and it was. My friend and I shared a set of noodles and rice. You can choose the spiciness of the sauce, so we went with the normal level. It was delicious, especially when we added mentaiko to the noodles. The noodles had mushrooms in them and were very tasty. Even after finishing the noodles, we drank the broth because it was so good. If you're getting takeout, you can enter the restaurant without waiting in line.

I had been really curious about it even before going to Hakata. When I arrived at Hakata Station by Shinkansen, I went straight there. Upon arrival, there was a long line and I waited for about an hour and a half, it was hot. Now, the much-anticipated mentaiko (spicy cod roe) rice bowl. I chose the premium mentaiko rice bowl, which had two pieces of mentaiko on top, and you can choose between grilled and raw. I chose both. There is also a sauce that you can pour over, but I didn't need it, I ate it all up in no time.

I started lining up around 9:45 after hearing there was a line since 7:00 in the morning, and I was able to enter the shop in about 15 minutes! The seaweed and cod roe were very delicious! The broth was okay. The tsukemen had very delicious toppings! I highly recommend it! Great for souvenirs too!

For breakfast, I had a single serving of mentaiko on rice. The spicy cod roe was delicious, with a hint of kelp dashi. You can choose the size of the rice portion, and I chose "medium," but considering the balance with the mentaiko, I should have chosen "large." It came with a sauce, which helped maintain the flavor until the end. It's a popular place, so I was prepared to wait, but I arrived at 7 o'clock and the weather was a bit gloomy, so I was able to enter without much of a wait.

I arrived before 6:00 PM, but there was already a long line... I understand that lunch reservations are not accepted, so it's expected to have a line, but I didn't realize there would be such a long line even at night. I was completely caught off guard... It started raining while I was waiting, which dampened my mood. The restaurant staff provided umbrellas for customers who didn't have one. The wind was strong, and the rain was pouring down, making my clothes and bag completely soaked, but I persevered and waited for my turn. After waiting for over an hour, I finally made it inside, but I was shivering from the cold air conditioning, probably because I was wet from the rain. I ordered the "mentaiju set" which included mentaiko rice and mentaiko soup, and added toppings of sliced raw fish and grated yam with a soft-boiled egg. The mentaiko rice was so delicious that it made me forget about the fatigue from waiting in line! The toppings of grated yam and soft-boiled egg matched perfectly and made it even more delicious! I can understand why people would line up for this. The mentaiko soup had tofu at the bottom, and eating it by scooping it up was a gentle and satisfying experience. It goes perfectly with the mentaiko rice. I also ordered the limited edition Nakanakasu ryotei pudding, and it was amazing! It was so delicious! The caramel jelly on top was exquisite! It had a hint of bitterness that wasn't from being burnt, but it added to the overall flavor and made it really tasty. I will definitely visit again when I'm in Fukuoka, and I'll make a reservation next time. Thank you for the wonderful meal!

This Mentaiko (spicy cod roe) rice bowl is different from others. The richness and spiciness of the Mentaiko generously piled on top of the rice is exquisite, spreading its flavor in your mouth with every bite. The rice is cooked fluffy and pairs well with the Mentaiko. The crispy seaweed served on the side adds a nice touch and stimulates your appetite. This dish is a must-try for Mentaiko lovers.

The mentaiko soup is normal. The mentaiko donburi is big on mentaiko, but still normal. The mentaiko simmered tsukemen has a mild simmered flavor with plenty of mentaiko packed in, which is really good!! I was suggested to try soup splitting, but I refused because I got hooked on the flavor of the soup soaking in!

It was a regular day, so I waited for about 10 minutes to enter the restaurant. I had the tsukemen and the popular mentaiko rice bowl. The mentaiko rice bowl was incredibly delicious. I was impressed by how simple ingredients like mentaiko, seaweed, and rice could taste so good. I would love to visit again.

■Menu: Rice and Noodle Set for 2,880 yen ■Waiting Time: Around 5 groups waiting on weekdays around 2 pm, waiting time is about 15 minutes ■Impressions: The mentaiko (spicy cod roe) was wrapped in seaweed, providing a nice texture. The taste was honestly average. The dipping noodles had plenty of ingredients like shiitake mushrooms and vegetables in the soup, which was good, but I felt that it didn't quite match well with the mentaiko. By the way, the main store has long lines, but the Ikebukuro branch where you can only eat tsukemen (dipping noodles) is empty.

Fukuoka Bullet! Arrived in search of Hakata mentaiko rice bowl ^ ^ The weather at that time was suspicious, with a cloudy sky and a chilly wind blowing. Just as we were lining up, it suddenly started pouring rain - a sudden downpour! The staff lent us an umbrella, but with the thunder roaring, we just wanted to get inside quickly! After about 10 minutes, we made it inside the shop. That was a close call. This time, I ordered the second level of spiciness for the mentaiko rice bowl, along with tsukemen and a limited edition pudding. The mentaiko wasn't perfectly centered, slightly off. A small flaw, but maybe a premium feature? The taste was still great, so no worries! I personally enjoyed the stronger spiciness. The tsukemen had firm noodles that were almost sticking together when served. The dipping sauce was amazing! It was generously mixed with mentaiko, and when you mix it with the noodles, it's like mentaiko pasta. Delicious! Lastly, the pudding was also delicious. The caramel sauce with a hint of brandy aroma paired well with the rich pudding. They also served tea, so we could enjoy it all. There were many young people and foreign visitors, so it must be a popular spot for social media photos! ^ ^

In July 2023, I visited a restaurant for breakfast. I arrived at Fukuoka Airport before 10 a.m. and headed straight to Nakasu Kawabata Station. I wanted to try a lot of different foods, so I was grateful that there were restaurants open early in the morning. I had heard that this place usually had long lines during lunchtime, so I was nervous when I went, but luckily there were only a few groups waiting. I was able to be seated inside without waiting for more than 15 minutes, so the timing was perfect. I decided to try the mentai rice bowl (¥1848) this time. You can even add extra mentaiko on top. Since it was my first visit, I kept it simple. You could choose the spiciness level of the special sauce. The mentai rice bowl is made with a whole piece of meticulously handcrafted mentaiko wrapped in kelp, which is considered a good luck charm. The kelp flavor is quite strong due to the kelp wrapping. It may be a bit intense for non-Japanese people, but overall, it was delicious. The amount of rice was just right, and warm tea was served after the meal. This rice bowl is made with the wish for happiness to come to everyone who eats it, and it is created with care. The concept is wonderful. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

I lined up for about an hour from 11 am on a regular day. While waiting in line, I was given a parasol and water. The popular restaurant really showed consideration. I ordered the 4000 yen course after entering. The mentaiko rice bowl, tsukemen, and soup were all delicious. It was seriously amazing. Highly recommended.