I received an invitation from a local reviewer to visit a restaurant in the Wakamatsu area. The restaurant, called "Ryotei Kinonabe," is located in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka. The building itself is a cultural heritage site, with a traditional and beautiful appearance. The reviewer had made reservations and took care of everything for us. Upon arrival, we were led to a room on the second floor called "Ashihira no Ma," named after a local novelist. The room had a traditional tatami floor but was equipped with tables and chairs for a comfortable dining experience. We started with drinks, and I ordered a beer. The lunch course consisted of various dishes, including appetizers, sashimi, a hot pot, rice, and dessert. Each dish was beautifully presented and delicious. The hot pot dish, in particular, was prepared at the table by the hostess, adding to the overall experience. The atmosphere of the restaurant, along with the quality of the food and service, was top-notch. The building and interior design were impressive, reflecting the history of the Wakamatsu area. After finishing our meal, we chatted with the hostess and learned about the challenges of maintaining such a historic building. Overall, it was a fantastic dining experience, and I look forward to returning to try their beef hot pot course in the future.

We visited the restaurant for lunch on the second day of our business trip with three people. The building is registered as a cultural property and has a long history. It flourished during the peak of the Chikuhō coalfield, and they used to cook dishes in a golden pot. We had a course meal for lunch. The chef prepared a beef hot pot in red miso. The soup with white miso and clams was also interesting. It was very delicious. Thank you for the meal.

I had my first beef hot pot in a historic wooden house, and it was delicious. I had imagined thin slices of meat like in sukiyaki, but the meat was thick and satisfying. The Japanese sake served in a gold pot at the end had a different, mellow flavor compared to drinking from a small cup.

- Drinks ◎ Hitachino Nest Beer White Ale (Kounosu Brewery, Ibaraki Prefecture) You can faintly sense the spicy hop aroma of coriander, but at the same time, you also feel a light fruit sweetness. Overall, it has a soft touch and is easy to drink. ◎ Junmai Daiginjo Tenshin Seiya no Gin (Mizogami Brewery, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture) The moment you take a sip, it releases a rich aroma and has a soft and light taste, but the aftertaste is a powerful flavor that spreads all at once, revealing a wild side. Despite being a junmai daiginjo, it has a masculine and solid presence. It's a robust sake that allows you to enjoy different flavors. - Beef Hot Pot Course ◎ Appetizers All of them have a gentle and rounded flavor, with the trout sushi being particularly good. ◎ Sashimi (Sea bream, tuna, yellowtail, amberjack) Since it's in Kyushu, the sashimi is of high quality. There are no shortcomings. ◎ Beef Hot Pot Sukiyaki's predecessor, beef hot pot. This dish has been a signature menu item that has been preserved for over a hundred years since its founding. It's quite emotional to be able to taste the civilization and enlightenment that was loved by literary figures from the Meiji era. It consists of sliced Imari beef sirloin steak, grilled tofu, and shiitake mushrooms simmered in a miso-based broth. It is then dipped in beaten egg. The seasoning is slightly sweet and savory, slightly on the richer side. The taste of the Imari beef is exceptional and not overshadowed by the miso. The Kyushu-style meat has a robust flavor with a hint of fat, but no strong aftertaste. The udon served at the end is also excellent. The firm noodles are well infused with the miso sauce and the richness of the beef fat, creating a perfect combination. ◎ Rice, Miso Soup, Pickles The rice and pickles are gently seasoned and refreshing. The pickles have a taste reminiscent of a traditional Japanese restaurant. ○ Chawanmushi ◎ Dessert (Raspberry Sorbet) ★ Exquisite ◎ Very delicious ○ Delicious △ Hmm... Additional Information: - The building is designated as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) by the Agency for Cultural Affairs. - It may be relatively easy to make reservations on weekdays. - It is conveniently located a 3-minute walk from JR Wakamatsu Station. Thank you for the meal! (^^)!

I visited a rarely visited restaurant for my nephew's first birthday party. Although there were acrylic plates placed neatly, we decided to remove them so we could all enjoy the food together. The staff were very attentive and the dishes were beautifully presented and delicious. We will definitely consider using this restaurant for future celebrations. I got drunk.

Nuka-nuki set for 3240 yen. Includes 4 pieces of sardines [Energy 236kcal Carbohydrates 18.5g] / 100g, mackerel (180g) [Energy 283kcal Carbohydrates 12.9g] / 100g, blackthroat seaperch (130g) [Energy 231kcal Carbohydrates 11.3g] / 100g, and dried baby sardines (150g) [Energy 172kcal Carbohydrates 12.9g] / 100g. You can buy it online, but I decided to go to the store. When I opened the door, a woman who seemed to be the owner greeted me. I asked for the Nuka-nuki set, and she said it would take some time to pack. I was fine with that and waited on the sofa. Then she suggested replacing shiitake mushrooms with blackthroat seaperch to speed up the packing process. I agreed, and it didn't take more than 10 minutes. I paid for it, received the Nuka-nuki set, and left. Unopened, the Nuka-nuki set has a long shelf life of over 3 months from the purchase date. The taste is a bit sweet, but it goes well as a sake snack or with rice. The most delicious was the blackthroat seaperch. The dried baby sardines were also interesting. I've had sardines and mackerel many times before, so that might be why.

Kanabe is a grateful restaurant name for a traditional Japanese restaurant. The building is registered as a tangible cultural property of the country. You take off your shoes at the entrance and go upstairs to the tatami room. The place is spacious enough for large groups, making it great for banquets. The staff, including the hostess, are very friendly. The waitstaff, mostly young beautiful women, serve dishes like assorted sashimi and sea bass hot pot. Then, the hostess brought out a "gold pot" in a wooden box! Apparently, in the past, you could buy three houses with just this gold pot. The restaurant used to have nine gold pots, but they were all confiscated by the government during the war. After the war, this restaurant bought back the gold pots and now owns them. Trying the sake first and then pouring it into the gold pot, the taste magically changes! The sake in the gold pot becomes smoother and mellower. It's amazing!

In Kitakyushu, there was a town that thrived during the old coal mining era. It seems like the old families were really wealthy back then. The atmosphere was charming, with wooden tags for managing shoes at the entrance. We were greeted by the busy landlady and led to a famous room on the second floor. The sukiyaki course started with sashimi and appetizers, followed by delicious chawanmushi. The sukiyaki made by the maids was excellent, made with Saga beef that wasn't too fatty. When dipped in the egg, it was incredibly smooth and tasty. I will definitely come back for more! ( ^ω^ )

Reunion with a friend in Fukuoka after several years. They said, "I'll treat you," so I was looking forward to it, but it turned out to be a restaurant called Kanonabe. Kanonabe has been in business since the Meiji era, over 120 years ago. The main building is designated as a tangible cultural property and exudes the glory of the past. It is said that former Prime Minister Yoshida Shigeru and others used to be regular customers. Passing through the historic entrance, creaking corridors, and climbing stairs, we reached the third floor where we found the "Yanagi no Ma" room, where Yoshida Shigeru used to dine. Fortunately, it was available that night, so even though there were only two of us, we were able to use it. The antique furnishings were abundant, and I felt embarrassed for not being able to fully appreciate their value. I left the dishes entirely up to my friend. First, we had beef hot pot. We sat facing each other with a golden pot in front of us. When we lifted the lid, we found miso sauce with green onions floating in it. Shortly after, a young waitress in a cute apron appeared. She had something like a skewer in her hand, which turned out to be normal. Next, we had sashimi with North Pacific giant octopus, sea bream, and amberjack. It was delicious, but nothing extraordinary. The main event was the beef hot pot that followed. It consisted of 8 slices of sirloin, 4 shiitake mushrooms, 4 burdock roots, and grilled tofu (for two people). The cute blonde waitress from earlier served it to us. The beef hot pot was served on a plate with beaten eggs. It wasn't bad, but it was just average. However, eating beef hot pot in this historic building in Wakamatsu, with the cute waitresses serving us, was truly amazing. We finished it so quickly that we ordered an additional sukiyaki. When sukiyaki arrived, a different waitress took over. All the waitresses here are so cute. The sukiyaki meat was quite good. It's definitely better when served by a cute waitress. It was a bit disappointing that the meat seemed a little frozen. When I went to the restroom and descended to the lower floor, I saw everyone having a great time. It's amazing that such a historic building is still thriving.

I can only come here when entertaining customers, but there is entertainment as well. Literally a gold pot, but there's a difference between drinking alcohol normally and drinking it from a gold pot. The taste becomes milder when drinking from a gold pot. Also, the beef hot pot was really delicious. I can't come here often, but I wonder if I'll have another chance to come again?

I started using Tabelog a year ago and was invited to the 2015 year-end party of the North Kyushu Reviewers Association as a newcomer. The event was titled "Celebrating the World Cultural Heritage Registration! (The city of North Kyushu with World Heritage Sites) 2015 Tabelog North Kyushu Special Year-End Party" and included over 20 people, including those from Tokyo and Hiroshima. Despite having only interacted online, we were all meeting for the first time. In the elegant and refined atmosphere of a 120-year-old traditional restaurant, I nervously introduced myself as "Matagoro@." To my surprise, someone exclaimed, "I thought you were a man!" I chose between "Gyunabe" (beef hot pot) and "Tsukikaiseki" (seasonal multi-course meal). Although the restaurant was famous for its beef hot pot made with Hachimiso, I opted for the Tsukikaiseki as I am not confident in consuming a lot of meat. The Tsukikaiseki cost 7,560 yen and included various dishes such as raw octopus, sashimi, grilled Imari beef, blowfish sashimi, sea urchin chawanmushi, tempura, sea urchin rice, clam soup, and sweet potato ice cream. The elegant landlady and servers in kimono with white aprons served and explained each dish with meticulous care. The ingredients were of high quality, beautifully presented, and showcased with elegance. The dishes were pure, refreshing, and flavorful, focusing on the natural taste of the ingredients. It was truly delicious. We were also allowed to bring in high-quality alcohol by the restaurant, thanks to a senior reviewer. The atmosphere, food, and encounters with senior reviewers on that day have become the foundation of my reviewing journey. Thank you.

I visited Wakamatsu Wakato Ohashi four times because I wanted to try the beef hot pot under the bridge. The hot pot, with a miso base and steak-cut meat floating in it, is delicious without being too sweet. It is all made by the landlady. I want to cherish this local restaurant and definitely want to go back again.

I couldn't take photos because it was a meal. The food was very delicious (kind).

We had 2 servings of sake, 6 bottles of non-alcoholic beer, and the final course of delicious mushroom rice and dessert. It was enjoyed by all 6 of us. The total cost was 61,952 yen.

"Kanabe" is a longstanding traditional Japanese restaurant registered as a tangible cultural property in the country. It is rare to find a building with such a long history in Kitakyushu city. The restaurant upholds tradition and flavor backed by its rich history. I have had the pleasure of attending several company-related gatherings here. Upon entering, we remove our shoes and receive shoe tags before heading to the second floor tatami room. The room is spacious enough for around 15 people, and the hostess and staff are all very pleasant. The dishes offered include kaiseki courses, hot pot courses (with a variety of 9 types of hot pots), and banquet courses tailored to different budgets ranging from around 5,400 yen to 8,000 yen, with the most expensive being around 10,800 yen. The taste of the dishes is well worth the price, and being close to the sea ensures that the sashimi is always fresh. When visiting Kitakyushu, don't forget to visit "Kanabe" in Wakamatsu, in addition to exploring Kokura and Kurosaki."

I started working in China in 1992. At that time, there were quite a few Japanese companies planning to move their factories to China, so I traveled between Japan and China several times a year. My usual route was between China, Tokyo, and Fukuoka, completing the trip in a week. During one of my visits, I went to visit a customer near Wakamatsu and got so engrossed in our conversation that it ended up running late. I was invited to have dinner, and without hesitation, we went to this restaurant called Kananabe. We arrived by taxi and I was impressed by its old-fashioned yet dignified appearance. Living in China, there were hardly any Japanese restaurants at the time, so I usually brought travel snacks like dried rice balls. We were guided to a private room in the back by the waitress. We had a fugu course and beef hot pot, along with plenty of alcohol. I have had fugu dishes before, being familiar with them due to my origins in Chikuhou, but the food at Kananabe was on a whole other level. By the end of the night, I was so full from eating and drinking. I really want to visit the wonderful Kananabe restaurant again. Thank you!

The lunch was quite expensive.

I had a meal with a customer at Yaginoma on the 3rd floor. We enjoyed sashimi, king crab, beef hot pot, chawanmushi, Tessa, fugu, crab miso soup, and sea urchin rice. Everything was delicious and satisfying. We had a special dining experience in a wonderful atmosphere.

I was most looking forward to dining with my two reviewers at the ryotei Kinkama during this Kitakyushu expedition. I first learned about Kinkama on this site a while back. I immediately wanted to go, but dining at a ryotei alone is quite daunting. Eventually, I forgot all about its existence. This time, dining with akii and junko0120 was a delightful experience. It was a paradise with all women in the room, including the young waitress who took care of us and the beautiful proprietress who continues to uphold Kinkama's tradition. We first had lunch at Goryotei Matsuyama and then traveled to Wakamatsu by ferry, enjoying the beautiful view of the bridge from below. Upon arrival, we were impressed by the grand building of Kinkama, a designated cultural property. We were led to a room named Ashidaira, where we were served a delicious course meal. We started with a toast with beer and enjoyed various dishes like shrimp, tofu, and fuki, followed by sashimi. The highlight was a rare sake brought by akii, which we all enjoyed. The main course was a beef hot pot with Imari beef sirloin, mushrooms, carrots, and tofu in a miso-based sauce. The meal was beautifully presented, and the beef was incredibly tender. We also had a steamed egg custard and got to see a gold pot, a family heirloom of Kinkama. We compared the taste of sake in a regular cup and in the gold pot, noticing a magical transformation in the latter. It was a unique experience that made the meal even more special.