At the second stop, we visited this amazing place where the all-you-can-drink option is really cheap. It's only 1000 yen for 2 hours, and you can even add beer and sake for 1500 yen. Plus, they serve drinks in mega-sized pitchers by default. They offer a wide variety of snacks, including dishes from Kitakyushu, such as lightly seared rare spicy cod roe and bite-sized Yawata iron pot dumplings that you can enjoy without any sauce. The finale, their "tile soba," is served on a large tile-shaped iron plate. The sweet and savory seasoned meat with crispy soba is just delicious. Despite being a cost-effective all-you-can-drink option, the food was tasty and suitable for a wide range of occasions.

A shop located a little away from the station. This is a great place for fish lovers as they offer a wide variety of fish dishes. You can choose from regular sashimi or seared sashimi, so it's nice to have options based on your preference. They also have a wide variety of alcohol, so even sake lovers can enjoy.

Opposite the mackerel specialty store is a Kitakyushu-style restaurant. There is a large tank with swimming mackerel. You can also enjoy fresh mackerel, which is a rare find in Tokyo. Their specialty dishes include a sweet miso stew called "dobu-ni" similar to oden, and a 5-piece assortment which includes thick fried tofu, egg, daikon radish, beef tendon, and ham cutlet. The ham cutlet was surprisingly delicious, like a miso cutlet. This is a mature restaurant with mostly strong-flavored dishes suitable for drinking. I recommend adding the all-you-can-drink option for great value.

I tried to go to the "Chi" event, but had to cancel due to pressure. My best friend sent me a help email, so I hurriedly went out. The restaurant had already been decided. I had always wanted to go here. I went down the long staircase to the underground area and was greeted by drums. I sat down next to the aquarium, feeling a quiet pressure. First, I ordered a drink. When I saw the beer menu, there was an option for a "special large size." I asked the waitress what it was, and she said it was just really big. So, I decided to try it. I also used a coupon for all-you-can-drink. It was a liter size! The price was a little over 1,000 yen. I had already decided what to eat. Due to the shortened operating hours, they didn't have live squid in stock. So, I opted for the "sesame mackerel" next to it. I really wanted to try it. It's a local dish that I couldn't find in Hakata. I ordered a live mackerel with sesame sauce. I also ordered the simmered sardines in rice bran. The menu didn't have spicy sardines, so I ordered "potato salad" and "chicken skin with ponzu" from the quick menu. The potato salad was self-served and had some eggshells mixed in, but it was good. The chicken skin with ponzu was tangy and flavorful. The simmered sardines in rice bran was delicious and made me crave rice. I want to have it as a snack. And then, the mackerel arrived. It was a lively one that had resisted being caught by the waitress earlier. But now, it didn't react to stimuli. I dipped it in the sesame mackerel sauce and it was delicious. The sweet and flavorful sauce made it a winner. The soy sauce was from Kyushu, which my friend used to dislike, but now she liked it. There were more things I wanted to eat, but due to the shortened operating hours, that was it. I'll come back again.

I visited during lunchtime. The nearest station is Shinjuku Nishiguchi Station, and the store is located on the basement floor. Despite being underground, the store is quite spacious and open. They offer a wide variety of lunch menus, including fish and meat dishes, all priced under 1000 yen including tax. When you order a lunch menu, it comes with a complimentary drink. The main dishes range from 600 yen to 800 yen, making it a relatively affordable option. I ordered the Miso Grilled Hormone Set (800 yen including tax), which includes miso grilled hormone, rice, takana (pickled mustard greens), and miso soup. It is said that the takana is a specialty from Kyushu. You can get a free extra serving of rice. The miso hormone was a bit chewy, like rubber, which was a bit disappointing, but the flavor was good with a slightly spicy miso sauce that went well with the rice. It was satisfying to eat takana, which is familiar in Kyushu, after a long time. Thank you for the meal.

When entering the restaurant, you are greeted with drumming, which is quite entertaining. We ordered two drinks, two servings of motsunabe, and a final dish of rice with egg, kanpachi, beef tendon skewers, nankotsu (cartilage) karaage. The service was slow, with the first drink not even being taken until much later. The motsunabe arrived before the kanpachi, and the portion size of the motsuyaki was small for the price. The miso seasoning for the motsuyaki was delicious, but the rice was too soft. The kanpachi slices were thin, but tasty. The nankotsu karaage was average, while the beef tendon skewers were okay. Overall, the cost performance and service were lacking.

I was able to indulge in some luxury. I had swim bladder prepared in various ways - yukhoe, sashimi, seared, sushi, and deep-fried. The chef's skills are undeniable. And the price is so reasonable, it's the best. If you were to pay the same amount at a chain restaurant nearby, you would surely be satisfied. I highly recommend trying this dish at least once.

I couldn't find the nearby soba restaurant, so I walked around and found a Kyushu cuisine izakaya! They specialize in serving swimming mackerel and squid. Unfortunately, they were out of squid so I ordered mackerel. I had a piece of it as sashimi and it was incredibly delicious. I also ordered teppanyaki dumplings and fried chicken, which were both delicious. They also had a dish called "dobu-ni" where beef tendons are simmered in a sweet and savory miso sauce, and it was rich in flavor but very tasty. The dessert ice cream was also good.

Around 6:30 pm on Sunday, I dropped by without a reservation and the restaurant was very lively, with voices so loud that you had to raise your voice to be heard! I used the following coupon from Tabelog: >Highball for 39 yen as a token of gratitude! >Conditions: Valid for the first Highball only. Cannot be used with other coupons. Please present the coupon when ordering. >Expiration date: February 29, 2020 (Saturday) *Otoshi x2 = 760 yen *39 yen Highball *Wakamatsu Mikan Umeshu (plum wine) 580 yen *Yahata Iron Pot Gyoza 580 yen The total was 2154 yen! It's nice that the Otoshi was pickled vegetables (*´ω｀*), but I can't help but feel that it's not very cost-effective to be charged 760 yen for two of those small dishes. As for the main dish, the iron pot gyoza, it was quite far from the real deal. The size was not small to begin with, and the fact that it was completely black was a bit concerning. Haha The Tabelog rating (as of February 2020) is 3.28!

Tonight, I had a casual drink in the Shinjuku Kotakibashi area! I finished work early today, but ended up having a meeting called "Nomunication" which was quite interesting. I was planning to go home quickly, but ended up discussing our upcoming trip to the Kokura Racecourse in Kitakyushu this summer. Due to various reasons like typhoons, we had to cancel the trip last minute. So, tonight we went to a bar called "Kitakyushu Sakaba" where there were many notebooks from high schools in Kitakyushu at the entrance. I wonder if they have gatherings here? We ordered all-you-can-drink beer and started with some delicious simmered eggplant as a side dish. The eggplant had a rich flavor with a good balance of sweetness and saltiness. We also had some akamoku (red seaweed) with ponzu sauce, which had a chewy texture and a refreshing taste. Next, we tried the grilled squid with butter, which was tender and had a rich buttery flavor. The miso-marinated mackerel was also delicious, with a crispy skin and a savory miso sauce. Overall, the dishes had a strong flavor profile but were well-balanced. To complement the rich flavors, we switched to barley shochu towards the end of the meal. The conversation about horse racing unexpectedly became lively, and before we knew it, two hours had passed! We realized we had only ordered three dishes, so we decided to end the night there. Perhaps we'll have some ramen as a final meal. All in all, it was a fun and enjoyable night out!

I went to the second restaurant, where when you go down the spiral staircase and enter, you see mackerel swimming in a tank. It was hard to order when you see the mackerel being taken away right in front of you. The menu had many new and unfamiliar items for Yuran, who doesn't know much about Kyushu. Since it was the second stop, I wasn't very hungry. The photos are from both visits. I didn't order much due to it being the second stop. The bright and clean interior occasionally echoing the sound of drums made the timid Yuran nervous. Despite writing a lot, Yuran doesn't remember much, so next time, I want to come from the first stop and enjoy it. Only providing photos for now.

This is an izakaya located on the west side of Shinjuku Station, which focuses on dishes from Kitakyushu. At the entrance of the restaurant, there are notebooks from many schools in Kitakyushu where customers can leave comments about their alma mater. The recommended dishes include sliced mackerel, mackerel simmered in nuka miso, dobu-jiru (pork and vegetable miso soup), iron pot gyoza, and a trio of pickles. The most impressive dish was the mackerel simmered in nuka miso, a unique Kitakyushu dish that goes well with alcohol. The fact that you can enjoy this dish in Tokyo alone is worth a return visit. The iron pot gyoza, however, was not as crispy as expected, and the trio of pickles was different from what was anticipated. Despite these small disappointments, the restaurant is still worth a repeat visit just for the mackerel simmered in nuka miso.

I consumed a large amount of fatty food during the day and felt a bit uneasy in my stomach, but still decided to start a drinking party! Thinking of trying something I don't usually eat, we chose "Kitakyushu Sakaba" for the night. The restaurant had a spacious and nice atmosphere. We sat down and toasted with a mega pitcher of Premium Malt's beer! It was delicious, especially on a hot day! From the menu, we ordered dishes like Dobu-ni (simmered pork and vegetables), fresh sesame amberjack sashimi, iron skillet gyoza, chicken liver hot pot fried chicken, and rolled omelette with spicy cod roe. We kept pouring beer and highballs into our mega pitcher, enjoying every dish with its rich flavors. The simmered daikon radish in the Dobu-ni was especially amazing! We also had a few lemon sours to cool down quickly. The staff was friendly and provided attentive service, making our drinking experience very pleasant. I definitely want to come back to try the Dobu-ni again. Thank you for the wonderful meal!

This restaurant is located a 6-minute walk from the west exit of JR Shinjuku Station, towards Nishi-Shinjuku, just across the Ome Kaido street in the basement of a tenant building. It is the first officially recognized restaurant to support the city of Kitakyushu, where you can enjoy the charms of Kitakyushu. When you pass through the entrance adorned with many white lanterns displaying the menu, the staff will strike a drum to announce the arrival of guests. The spacious interior of the restaurant utilizes one floor with various seating options such as tables and tatami mats. - Swimming mackerel sashimi (2019.7.18) The reason for choosing this restaurant was the availability of fresh mackerel. The mackerel with excellent fat content melts in your mouth. It is best enjoyed with tamari soy sauce. - Hachiman iron pot gyoza (2019.7.18) Ten gyoza dumplings are served in a hot round iron pot. The chewy skin and meaty filling overflow with juices in your mouth. - Mortar-pounded potato salad (2019.7.18) Potatoes, boiled eggs, bacon chips, and mayonnaise are placed in a mortar. Crush the ingredients with a pestle to your liking. The chunky texture and satisfying bite make it delicious. - Oyster fry (2019.7.18) Large oysters make for a luxurious presentation. The rich and solid flavor is best enjoyed piping hot. - Homemade dashimaki tamago with mentaiko (2019.7.18) Mentaiko (spicy cod roe) is wrapped in egg and grilled. The combination of egg dashi flavor and the salty and savory mentaiko is delightful. - Otoshi (2019.7.18) Served with spicy pickled mustard greens and grated radish. Refills are free. Grated radish is versatile and pairs well with various appetizers. - Kitakyushu sour (2019.7.18) Made with Kitakyushu's sake "Tenshin," mixed with soda and plum. The mild acidity of plum and the fizzy soda make it refreshing and easy to drink. - Square highball (2019.7.18) Made with super-strong carbonated soda chilled to 1°C just before freezing. The refreshing fizziness is excellent for a satisfying Kitakyushu gourmet experience. Thank you for the delicious izakaya time.

After quickly leaving Toriichizu, I came to this place feeling a bit tired and full. I decided to stroll along Kotaki Bridge Street while looking for the next restaurant. When I came to this side where there seemed to be izakayas, I was surprised to find myself in Kitakyushu!! So, I decided to stick to Fukuoka for today and entered this place. The interior was clean and spacious, which was a relief. I toasted with a Mega Beam highball and ordered the Aijima mackerel sashimi. Despite being an izakaya, the quality was quite good! The skin was seared, giving it a fragrant and delicious taste. Although it was thinly sliced, the flavor was nice! I only had this dish, but they played a lot of songs that I like, so I feel like I could come back here again! Thank you for the meal!

The squid center was full, so I saw fresh squid on the menu and decided to try it. The storefront and atmosphere looked nice, but it was quite busy on a Friday and the service was lacking. Unfortunately, they were out of fresh squid priced at 2980 yen. I ordered fresh sesame mackerel for 1280 yen, grilled beef skewers, and a sashimi platter with 3 types of fish. The grilled beef skewers and sesame mackerel were delicious. The sashimi platter had tuna, salmon, and yellowtail. The tuna was a bit tough and not the best quality. The sesame mackerel had a very sweet sauce, which was a bit too much for my taste. I also ordered a large beer for 890 yen and a mega highball for 680 yen. Overall, the prices were lower than expected, so I was somewhat satisfied.

Here in Tokyo, in Nishi-Shinjuku, at the entrance of Kotakibashi Street towards the Shinjuku New City Pedestrian Bridge, just turn right past the Ibis Hotel. Today we tried the "Goku" course. - Akamoku seaweed, with a chewier texture than mozuku. This is good. - Dobu-ni style miso oden, with a stronger sweetness. Not bad. - Mackerel, unfortunately not very fresh. - Stir-fried offal, with a slightly Korean flavor. Average. And then we had porridge. There were also other ordinary dishes like salad. There were few customers, which was concerning. Some dishes were unfamiliar to those from Kitakyushu who were with us.

The other day, I went to a izakaya in Kitakyushu! I had shirako (milt) with ponzu sauce, shirako tempura, scallops with butter soy sauce, and vegetables including yamaimo (mountain yam) - they were so delicious that I ordered them twice! I also had vegetables, takenoko (bamboo shoots), beef tendon skewers, spicy mentaiko (marinated cod roe), assorted sashimi, chikuwa (tube-shaped fish paste), isobe-age (fried fish cake wrapped in seaweed), and mentaiko dashimaki tamago (rolled omelette with spicy cod roe). The prices were reasonable and the vegetables were especially delicious, which is why I ended up ordering them twice! All the dishes were tasty and I highly recommend this izakaya. I was also very satisfied with the shirako. It's conveniently located near Shinjuku Station and I look forward to going back again! The menu is extensive and next time, I want to try the swimming squid.

This is a rather calm izakaya despite being located quite far from the bustling center of Shinjuku. It opened in September 2018, so the interior is clean and the food is not bad. We used it for a New Year's party. It's a certified shop in Kitakyushu City. The taste varies depending on the menu you choose, with some dishes being very delicious. I personally recommend trying the "Akamoku Ponzu." Although it's not a private room, the partitions provide a sense of privacy. The staff, mostly young, provided excellent service, and the prices were reasonable even after drinking a lot. Overall, very satisfied.

I visited a restaurant with a lively atmosphere for the first time! When it comes to Kyushu, you think of seafood!!! The "assorted sashimi" is undeniably delicious ✨ Unusual super healthy ingredients like "red seaweed with ponzu sauce" and "bamboo shoots of Gama" have a nice taste of the ingredients. The bold flavor of the "offal teppanyaki" is a strong taste that connects to tomorrow's energy! The "meat udon with devilish ginger" that I had as the finishing touch is made with my favorite soft udon from Fukuoka, and the generous amount of ginger seems like it could prevent colds in this season. The lively atmosphere of the staff in the restaurant, the lively sound of the drum, and the fact that they have "swimming squid sashimi" make me want to go back for a rematch!❣️