This is a restaurant review for Takahashi, a creative Japanese cuisine restaurant located in Tagamachi, Kokurakita Ward. The restaurant has a counter and sunken kotatsu seating. During this season, they are taking measures to avoid overcrowding. We enjoyed dishes such as fried cuttlefish, lotus root tempura, and chicken sashimi, but the highlight was the shabu-shabu featuring the first-ever pork brand in Kitakyushu, Kanmon Pork. The meat was tender and flavorful, and the set for two was only 1480 yen. We also tried the seafood pizza as a finale. Takahashi is currently offering takeout, including the Kanmon Pork shabu-shabu set for 1590 yen. Highly recommended!

◉ Genre: Japanese, Izakaya ◉ Area: Tagicho, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu City ◉ Access: About a 10-minute walk from JR Nishi-Kokura Station ◉ Parking: None (Coin parking available nearby) ◉ Credit card payment: Available ◉ Number of visits: 2nd time ◉ Number of reviews: 1st time On this day, I casually dropped by "Shokuryakuya Takahashi". ◇ Exterior and Interior Stylish exterior with elements of Japanese style. Upon closer inspection, it's not particularly distinctive. In other words, it's subtly tucked away without standing out too much. I've been here for the second time, but I remember being a bit hesitant on my first visit. The interior always has background music playing, creating a moderate level of noise with other customers' voices. ◇ Seating Counter seats, dome-shaped private rooms, and sunken kotatsu table seats. The restaurant is as cozy as you would imagine from the exterior. ◇ Menu Composition The menu is divided into daily recommended dishes and regular lineup. The menu selection is just right, not too much or too little. While there is a focus on Japanese cuisine, there are also non-Japanese options. The dishes I ordered were as follows: - Raw flounder sashimi (920 yen): Honestly delicious. While it may look simple, it was a remarkable dish in terms of gloss, freshness, and firmness. The quality of the ingredients must have played a part, but I believe the chef's expertise in handling fish is evident. It was truly delicious! I also ordered the spear squid sashimi, which was also tasty. It had the right thickness and perfect elasticity, and while I felt the soy sauce could have been a bit more, it was still enjoyable. - Simmered flounder (850 yen): Undoubtedly exquisite! The moment I put my chopsticks in, I could tell the quality of the fish. The simmering did not diminish the elasticity. The seasoning was just right. It was listed as the recommended dish of the day, and it truly lived up to it. While there was a slight hint of soy sauce spiciness, it was minimal. Normally, simmering can significantly reduce the quality, but that was not the case here. It would have been perfect with some tofu! ◆ Strong Points They have a fish-based sour drink called "Sakana-kka Sour" made with shiso and lemon, which surprisingly was easy to drink. They also offer Premium Malts draft beer for 500 yen, which is a great deal. Although I haven't tried many items on the menu, I would say the fish dishes are excellent! ◆ Service The service was very good. ◆ Summary Although my memory of the previous visit is a bit fuzzy, I am surprised at myself for not revisiting sooner. It was such a delicious restaurant. Perhaps it was because my previous visit was for a course meal. Nevertheless, I have found a great restaurant! I will definitely go back. Thank you for the wonderful meal! ^ ^

The sashimi of striped jack was incredibly delicious! It was fresh! They incorporate fresh ingredients of the day and seasonal items, so you can enjoy a variety. Every menu item has a generous portion size and the flavors are well thought out. Surprisingly delicious was the motsunabe (tripe hot pot). I usually prefer miso flavor, so I wasn't expecting much from the soy sauce flavor, but it had a rich taste with a strong garlic flavor. The tripe was large and chewy, and the noodles for the finale matched well with the soy sauce. It was a new discovery. The atmosphere of the restaurant is calm and you can enjoy your meal comfortably at both the table and counter seats.

Vegetable tempura is made with seasonal ingredients! I also discovered that this vegetable, when made into tempura, is delicious! It was very tasty.

The sesame tofu appetizer was delicious! It was soft and had a great aroma. I wanted to get more. I had sea bream and striped jack sashimi. They were both in season and delicious. The prices are quite reasonable. The portions are generous, so it's good for sharing. I highly recommend this izakaya.

Today, I went to Takahashi-san at Tamachi intersection. I decided to order only the recommended menu for today. I tried the dance-eating of white fish. It seemed like it was meant to be enjoyed for its texture, but as a chicken-hearted person, I couldn't swallow it and felt guilty. I kept chewing and chewing. It's a shame I can't upload a video. The octopus sashimi with sesame oil was normal. But for some reason, octopus always tastes good to me. The bamboo shoot sashimi was delicious! I tried a slice... so good. The thin ones are tasty too, but the thick bamboo shoot has a milky flavor. A little wasabi and soy sauce added to it. Delicious again. The man next to me ordered the grilled dish, and it looked so tasty with steam rising from it. Oh, and in autumn, the saury sashimi here is incredibly delicious.

Rakushokuya Takahashi Theme: Kokurakita Ward I visited "Rakushokuya Takahashi" in Kokurakita Ward for lunch on October 28, 2012. I had seen various blogs about it and it seemed quite good, so I was looking forward to the visit. The restaurant is located in Kokurakita Ward, Tagamachi. To get there, you need to go straight from the street in front of Riverwalk in Nishi-Kokura towards Tobata, then turn left towards Yahata. Keep going straight on the street where places like "Inui" and "Grand Jour" are located (it's quite a distance), and you will find it on your left. There is a major road passing by at the intersection ahead, so it should be easy to spot. Upon entering the restaurant, I was told that they only serve the "Shokado Bento (1,050 yen)," so I ordered that. The interior of the restaurant was quite busy with customers, mostly elderly people. The atmosphere was calm and soothing with indirect lighting. The appetizers arrived shortly after ordering. The smoked duck with a salty flavor was to my liking. The orange jelly was refreshing and had a nice texture. The thickly sliced kelp with a rich flavor was slightly sweet. It was different from the usual chawanmushi as it had vinegar-like acidity and included mozuku seaweed, which paired well together. Then came the main bento. It was amazing. There were four tempura items (yam, white fish x2, eggplant) with a sweet sauce drizzled on top. The tempura yam was sweet and crispy, which I loved. The sashimi ham salad had a delicious dressing on top. The sashimi ham had a good amount of saltiness, and the tempura shrimp, konjac, daikon, and eggplant were all elegantly seasoned and cooked separately. The miso soup turned out to be a clear soup with red snapper bones in it. The rice was shiny and slightly soft, which I enjoyed. For dessert, there was a pear sherbet with occasional pear pieces that added a nice touch. I was very satisfied with the meal. It was a big hit after visiting some restaurants recently that were not worth mentioning in a review. The cost performance for 1,050 yen was impressive. The only downside was that the tempura was not freshly fried, but overall, the flavors were sophisticated and enjoyable. It might be a good idea to make a reservation as there was a note saying they serve only 20 meals a day. The view from the front of the restaurant is shown in the picture. It is located along a major street, so it should be easy to find, and there is a coin parking lot nearby for convenience. Restaurant Name: Rakushokuya Takahashi Genre: Japanese (Other) Phone: 093-563-2223 Address: 12-15 Tamachi, Kokurakita Ward, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, 1F Daimyo Building Access: Right in front of Tamachi bus stop, 938m from Nishi-Kokura Station Business Hours: 11:30-14:00, 17:30-22:30 (LO) Lunch hours Regular Holiday: Sundays and public holidays

Located in Tagamachi, Kokura Kita-ku, this restaurant is situated at a four-way intersection under the urban expressway. It's a great place to visit when you're unsure of what you want to eat, or when you're craving meat, sashimi, or Italian cuisine. Some recommended dishes include grated yam for 390 yen, Camembert cheese for 470 yen, cashew nut shrimp chili for 780 yen, and Japanese-style pasta. The menu rarely disappoints, offering delicious and reasonably priced options. The daily specials change with the seasons, providing a pleasant surprise for regular customers. Today's specials include red octopus for 580 yen, bamboo shoot sashimi for 780 yen, boiled edamame for 480 yen, seaweed shabu-shabu for 680 yen, and fried shrimp and taro in dashi broth for 480 yen. With moderate drinking, the total bill for two people came to 5,700 yen. Another satisfying meal, thank you for the feast!

A shop where you can easily enjoy creative Japanese cuisine with attention to detail. The interior has a counter, tatami seating, and circular private rooms that resemble caves. I tried the lunch special at Matsukado for 1,050 yen, and was surprised by the elaborate Japanese dishes offered at this price. The menu included the following: - Appetizers: Bonito Tataki, Ume-pickled vegetables, Candied chestnuts - Chawanmushi (savory steamed egg custard) - Sashimi - Tempura (shrimp, lotus root, fig, white fish) - Nimono (simmered dish with shrimp, eggplant, taro, okra) - Smoked salmon salad - Rice - Soup - Yuzu sherbet When I sat at the counter and was told they only had the Matsukado bento, I expected a square box but was presented with an elongated oval plate with three appetizers and chawanmushi. The chawanmushi even had mozuku seaweed! And tempura with figs!? Overall, the flavors were slightly on the sweeter side, but for 1,000 yen, I couldn't believe the quality of the food. I wonder what they serve for dinner. It felt like a luxurious lunch to have in between work. ///// Revisited in December 2018 (photos of dishes uploaded) ///// I returned for lunch after a while. It was a rainy day, so there were fewer customers. The menu was the same as last time but with seasonal ingredients, so the dishes were slightly different, yet all delicious. For 1,050 yen, such high-quality food is a rare find, so I highly recommend trying it. The standout dish was the "crab miso tofu?" appetizer. It was a small tofu-like dish made with crab miso, a unique and tasty experience. The chawanmushi was also full of ingredients, with a light and elegant taste from the ponzu and soy sauce dashi, very delicious. The main dishes were all meticulously prepared and of high quality. There was no compromise even with the rice (refills allowed) and soup. Located a bit away from the bustling area, this hidden gem can get fully booked with reservations. If you want to enjoy a leisurely and slightly indulgent lunch, this is the place to go. Overall rating increased (★★★☆3.5→★★★★4.0)

I recommend this place for those who want to enjoy delicious Japanese food on individual small plates instead of a large shared platter. We visited in July 2010 and ordered the 3,150 yen course menu (+300 yen extra). The meal included three appetizers, a sashimi platter, eggplant gratin, sweetfish and shrimp tempura, chilled heart-shaped tofu soup, beef steak, green tea soba, and ice cream for dessert. Since it was summer, everything was refreshing and lightly seasoned, perfect to pair with a cold beer. We sat in a tatami room with 8 people, but the space could accommodate up to 12 comfortably. There are also private rooms for 4 people and a counter for smaller groups. The restaurant has a cozy atmosphere, perfect for leisurely dining and enjoying conversation over food and drinks. The drink selection was diverse, and having Ebisu draft beer was a nice touch.

Since the opening, I have been dining at this restaurant run by owner Satoru Takahashi, who trained at a famous hotel. He has a very charming and actor-like appearance. His wife is also very beautiful. Now, onto the food... The Matsuhana-do lunch is indeed as many people have written, a great value. "Don't just think of it as a simple lunch!" It is a high-quality lunch. I have often been unable to eat without a reservation. If you want to try this lunch, I think it's best to make a reservation. And then there's dinner. For dinner, they serve carefully prepared dishes that match the season. For example... fried burdock root and seasonal vegetable salad. If you visit during the season, you might understand the taste of this restaurant! Also, I recommend sitting at the counter. The reason is, go there and sit down to find out. (Note: The chairs are just normal.) (laughs)