The highlight of being a salaryman, business trips! For weekday lunch, the best choice is a lunch izakaya located next to the office district. At night, it's a popular izakaya called "Ipponyari". For lunch, they are actively promoting their lunch izakaya business, catering to the salarymen. Just before 12 o'clock, right before it gets crowded, we managed to get in. The recommended dish is the "daily three-item plate". Today's lineup includes "Japanese-style hamburger", "miso stewed mackerel", "tofu", and "amberjack sashimi". So, following the mama's recommendation, we decided on the "daily three-item plate"! We requested the free extra-large rice campaign. The restaurant was bustling, but the service was very quick! The Japanese-style hamburger seemed pre-made. It was served with grated daikon radish and a sweet sauce, giving it a "Japanese-style" twist. The miso stewed mackerel and tofu were exactly as described! The mackerel was thick and delicious. The amberjack sashimi consisted of three small slices, but it was placed in the center of the plate, indicating it was a main dish. Before we knew it, the restaurant was fully packed! It seems like the regulars often order the "chicken nanban". Indeed, this is the go-to spot for salarymen working in Hakata. Thank you for the meal! Daily three-item plate 980 yen

Lunch visit. The lunchtime is always busy, but the restaurant is spacious so we have never had trouble getting in. The service is not slow despite the crowd. I ordered the "Pork Belly Ginger Stir-Fry Set" for 800 yen including tax. The small iron pot with pork belly has a good thickness. Considering its location near Hakata Station, I think it offers good value for the price.

[2023.05 Fukuoka Solo Drinking] I had a business trip to Fukuoka, and my subordinate told me to arrive early and hang out at the hotel in the morning because we had a morning appointment the next day. Even though I am technically the president, I couldn't go against my subordinate's instructions, so I attended a meeting at the headquarters until the evening and then arrived in Fukuoka on a late flight. I didn't have the energy to go out to the bustling downtown area, so I had a solo drink near the hotel. [Food and Drinks Consumed♪] □ Potato Salad (450 yen) □ Sesame Mackerel (850 yen) □ Grilled Chicken Hearts Skewer (400 yen) □ Vinegar Tripe (420 yen) □ Stone-grilled Yakisoba (680 yen) ▪ Draft Beer (580 yen x 2) ▪ 2 glasses of Shochu on the rocks (1,280 yen) Total bill: 5,300 yen per person The sesame mackerel was average, the potato salad was not to my liking, and the grilled chicken hearts skewer was deliciously chewy. If I have the energy early on, I might go back to the area near Hakata Station Bus Terminal. But if I'm feeling lively, I'll probably head somewhere along the Chikushi-guchi River rather than here. (≧▽≦) Location: Exit on the bus terminal side of Hakata Station, on the back of Ohorikoen-dori street.

Hakata Station is located about a 5-minute walk from the Hakata Exit on the Kamii Line, in a corner of the office district. The interior has counter and table seats, with tatami seating available on the second floor. They serve various lunch options during the day. Today's daily special was sold out, so I ordered the fried horse mackerel set meal for 850 yen including tax. The rice was served in a large portion. The horse mackerel was tender and crispy, served with tartar sauce. It was delicious. When I ordered a large portion of rice, it was a huge amount, but I was happy with the generous serving. The service from the staff was a bit unique.

This is an izakaya located a little away from Hakata Station North Exit (towards Gion). I have used it for lunch several times, but this is my first time using it at night. I was hungry and wanted to drink, so I started with a bottled beer and stew. I thought it was a taste of Kyushu. I also ordered a hearty teppanyaki bacon. It goes well with beer! The kiss tempura just before summer was excellent. The menu is rich, and there are various specialties such as fried horse mackerel and chicken nanban. Grilled conger eel and tempura are also excellent.

On the second day of my business trip in Hakata, after having motsunabe, tonkotsu ramen, and yakitori, I felt like having some regular grilled fish. I found a cozy izakaya-style restaurant near Gion Station and decided to try their mackerel set meal. The taste was just like what I would have in Tokyo, but the price was cheaper, around 700 yen. The miso soup had a sweet miso flavor that was delicious. The rice was average.

After finishing a task, I met up with a colleague in the afternoon and we headed to dinner. We wanted something quick due to the season, but I also wanted a drink, so we decided to go into a seemingly empty restaurant down the street. We ordered sesame mackerel to start and quenched our thirst. The foreign staff was very polite and I appreciated their service. The friendly veteran staff also made the experience enjoyable. We intended to keep it light, but ended up staying longer because it was half-price bottle night on Wednesdays. We had a variety of delicious seafood dishes and had a great time.

Located about a 5-minute walk from Hakata Station Hakata Exit, this izakaya offers reasonably priced set meals during lunchtime. There are 10 types of set meals available, ranging from 750 yen to 900 yen including tax. Extra rice is free. I ordered the "Daily Three-item Assortment" for 800 yen. The three items of the day were pork and egg in sweet and sour sauce, yellowtail sashimi, and horse mackerel fry. The yellowtail sashimi came in small portions of 3 pieces, while the horse mackerel fry had a thick batter. The pork and egg in sweet and sour sauce was delicious and warm. It could have been even better with a bit more pepper. From listening to other customers' orders, it seems that the Chicken Nanban Set Meal for 780 yen is a popular choice. I will try that next time.

Today I went to Ichimonji in Hakata for a drinking party. I used to go there often when my workplace was nearby, but it had been a while since my last visit. The first floor had table seats and the second floor had tatami mats. I arrived a bit late, and the early birds were already drinking beer in huge jugs. I opted for a medium-sized jug. We had several dishes and eventually had motsunabe. I got a bit tipsy halfway through and didn't take many photos, but I had a great time drinking at Ichimonji after a long time. Thank you for the meal.

Affordable Lunch at Ipponyari (Hakata, Fukuoka) Visited Ipponyari on July 6, 2019 (Saturday). This place is located on one of the streets east of Ohoridori, which stretches straight from Hakata Station. Next to Gyushin, I found a restaurant serving delicious set meals. The interior of the restaurant is very spacious, with a seating capacity of 170 people. It would be suitable for evening parties as well. Now, what should I eat? I decided to order the recommended Daily Special Set Meal for 800 yen (tax included). Even though they offered free extra rice, I opted for a regular portion. The Daily Special Set Meal arrived, consisting of chicken cutlet, amberjack sashimi, and simmered beltfish. The sashimi was cute and had a traditional Japanese feel, although the portion was small. The chicken cutlet was satisfyingly generous. I later found out that this restaurant is a subsidiary of Gyushin. That's why it was located right next to Gyushin. Address: 1-14-2 Hakataekimae, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City Closed on Sundays

The daily special set meal is served unusually fast, but the highly recommended dish is definitely the fried horse mackerel set meal. It is fluffy and satisfying with three half pieces to fill you up. Unfortunately, there is no photo as it was eaten up after finishing it.

Lunch at this place is quite good and affordable. I want to try the Nanban set meal for 720 yen and the steak set meal for 800 yen.

In Fukuoka, next to the hotel where I stayed for the World Masters Swimming Championships, there is a izakaya recommended by the hotel receptionist. I was alone, so I ordered a 1-liter draft beer and three side dishes, and I was full. For those who like shochu, it might be worth going on Wednesdays for a good deal. I would like to visit again.

It was delicious. And it's cheap.

I visited this restaurant for the second time. There are many foreign staff members, but they are more efficient and friendly than the Japanese staff. I found the food and drinks to be average. There wasn't anything particularly special about this place, but I had a pleasant time drinking here.

There is a lively auntie at this shop.

Deep-fried cod roe tempura is excellent.

豊通 is a great restaurant with delicious food and friendly service. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fantastic dining experience.

After finishing work, I decided to stop by "Ipponsaki" for a drink on my way home today. It's located about a 5-minute walk from Hakata Station, in a convenient location. The exterior has a somewhat traditional feel to it. Upon opening the door and entering, I was greeted by another door... which I opened to enter the restaurant. Since I was alone, I took a seat at the counter and ordered a draft beer. As I looked through the menu, I noticed a note on every page saying "Prices displayed include tax." I started with some appetizers - the classic Hakata dish "sesame mackerel" and "fried oysters." The sesame mackerel was tender, but the texture seemed a bit off, possibly due to pre-preparation or freshness issues. I hope people from other prefectures don't try this and think it represents Fukuoka fish. The fried oysters were nicely shaped and likely store-bought rather than homemade. They were delicious, though. During my visit to the restroom, I found that the larger stall had a traditional Japanese-style toilet, adding to the nostalgic feel. I also ordered the "fried pig trotters" as an additional dish. It was a disappointment - not actually fried, but more like pan-seared with only two sides cooked. The lack of browning and minimal vinegar sauce drizzle left much to be desired. Feeling a bit unsatisfied, I left the restaurant. Thank you for the meal.

From Nagasaki to Hakata. My usual accommodation was fully booked, so I ended up staying at a different hotel. I wanted to go to a fish restaurant nearby, but it was also full, so I came here instead. The staff were friendly and seated me at the counter. I ordered a draft beer, grilled salted saury (which I wanted to eat), and a Caesar salad to make up for the lack of vegetables during my long business trip. I also ordered seared mentaiko. First, the seared mentaiko arrived. It had a semi-raw texture, but it seemed like it had been prepared in advance and was waiting to be served. It was cold for something seared, and the outside was not crispy, but rather hard. Next was the Caesar salad, which was delicious as usual - it's hard to go wrong with a salad. Finally, the highlight - the grilled salted saury. I ate it enthusiastically, starting from the head, through the organs, and down to the bones. It was satisfying, but when I looked at the price, it was around 700 yen. Expensive! Is it due to a shortage of saury or is it just a high-priced item? I was surprised by the high price, as it's not a common dish for the general public. This is Hakata after all. Maybe it's a normal price? For the price, the taste was just average. There were many foreign customers and the staff were friendly and easy to talk to, but maybe it's a cultural difference that they place the dishes down in a somewhat careless manner. They have a wide variety of menu items, so it might be a good place to relax and enjoy a drink. If I have the chance, I might come back again.