Hello, I'm Chi, a reviewer of various things. At the souvenir floor of Deitos, there is a shop called "Fukuya" in Fukuoka. There are so many different types of mentaiko that it's hard to choose a souvenir. I want my family to try not just the famous ones, but also the lesser-known flavors, for my own satisfaction. But when I suggest buying those, they always ask for the famous ones instead. It's frustrating because they say, "You can buy those in Tokyo!" and then expect me to buy them. I might just go back without buying anything out of spite. Today, I just did some window shopping and will buy something right before leaving. But I did find my favorite one! Maybe I'll have it as a snack at the hotel? If I don't eat it, I can just give it as a souvenir. I ended up buying the "Mentuna Kankankan" (spicy) in the end, and it's really delicious. It's spicy and makes you sweat due to the capsaicin, so when paired with tuna and alcohol, it's practically zero calories!

When it comes to souvenirs from Hakata, Fukuya is a must. Their mentaiko (spicy cod roe) is my favorite, and I also love their other delicacies. This time, I bought: Mentaiko seaweed (600 yen), Squid mentaiko (700 yen), Kazunoko (herring roe) mentaiko (700 yen), Umakamon (519 yen), Men tuna can can premium (371 yen). The mentaiko seaweed is perfect with rice. The squid mentaiko and kazunoko mentaiko are also delicious. Umakamon is a collaboration of mentaiko and takana (mustard greens). I also love the men tuna can can, as it allows for various arrangements. All of them go well with rice.

I arrived in Hakata during my summer trip to Kyushu, which was full of travel romance. When it comes to souvenirs in Hakata, mentaiko (spicy cod roe) is a must. There are hundreds of shops in Fukuoka Prefecture that sell mentaiko, including famous ones like Fukusaya, Yamaya, Kanefuku, Fukutaro, and Fukuya. The expiration date is about 2 months when frozen, and about 2 weeks when refrigerated. However, since my trip will continue for another week and I will be returning to Osaka without stopping in Hakata, I chose Fukuya's "Mentuna Kankan." Fukuya, the maker of mentaiko, which was the first to produce and sell spicy cod roe in Japan in 1948, created this flake-style canned tuna and mentaiko with a generous amount of marinating liquid. The can contains high-quality domestic bonito and mentaiko, and is called "Mentuna Kankan." This product has a shelf life of 3 years even at room temperature, making it safe to consume even in the summer. It is manufactured by Yui Canning Co., Ltd. in Yui, Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka City, and sold by Fukuya Co., Ltd. The content is 90g per can. The "Mentuna Kankan Full Comp Set" is priced at 1,550 yen (tax included). There are many spicy cod roe shops directly connected to Hakata Station in Ming, but you can also find Fukuya in Hakata Deitos nearby. I bought souvenirs for my mother-in-law and acquaintances together. The Full Comp Set includes 4 types of Mentuna Kankan and a Fukuoka limited edition Barigoma SP for comparison. The individual prices are as follows: Mentuna Kankan (Regular) - 300 yen (tax included), Mentuna Kankan (Spicy) - 300 yen (tax included), Mentuna Kankan (Premium) - 400 yen (tax included), and Mentuna Kankan (Barigoma SP) - not sold separately. The one I liked the most was the Spicy type, followed by Barigoma SP, then Premium, and lastly Regular. They are sold individually starting from 300 yen per can, except for Barigoma SP. If possible, you could buy fresh mentaiko and combine it with canned tuna to create your own favorite flavor. Enjoy your meal!

Returning to Hakata Station. I didn't have much time, but I hurried to buy mentaiko. At "Aji no Mentaiko Fukuya Hakata Deitos Store," they had regular mentaiko 300g for 3,000 yen (excluding tax). I chose the regular spicy version, but they also had extra spicy and sweet versions. I have a family of five, so I bought the 300g pack with 5 pieces. I chose the red one for its color and flavor. It can last up to 12 hours frozen, so I wrapped it in a towel and put it in my bag. When I got home, I put it in the fridge. The next evening, we had it with freshly cooked rice. A quarter of a piece was enough for one bowl of rice! If you want to save, an eighth of a piece is sufficient. It's quite spicy, but it's delicious and authentic. Even the skin was tasty! It was the perfect side dish for freshly cooked rice. Thank you for the meal!

Now, I'm going to move to Oita~ I'm thinking about what souvenirs to get~ I wanted something to go with alcohol, so I bought this! I don't eat mentaiko (spicy cod roe) regularly, but I sometimes crave it~ Even people from Hakata don't eat it all the time! (☝︎ ՞ਊ ՞)☝︎ This mentaiko with salmon trout, ikura, sweet shrimp, and squid is a juicy seafood side dish. Especially the sweet shrimp mentaiko has a sweetness that is fresh and delicious. It's great for snacking too! I might end up buying this again! Thank you for the meal~

When I went to Fukuoka, there's no way a fan of mentaiko would leave without buying some! After finishing a meal with a friend, I quickly went to explore souvenir shops. My friend with a sweet tooth disappeared again when buying a certain snack (´Д｀) Luckily, we have cell phones nowadays, so it's not a big problem. I was set on buying mentaiko! On the taxi ride back, I got into a conversation with the driver about mentaiko, and he mentioned "Fukuya." I understood! I must buy that! So I searched in the store at Deitos, but there was a "mentaiko corner" but no Fukuya! Could it be that Fukuya is the clear winner here!? I found Fukuya located a bit further away, and they let me try some samples (；∀；) They had a medium and spicy version. Oh, such refined flavors. No fishy smell, and the umami spreads nicely. Plus, the texture of the fish roe spreads smoothly in your mouth. It's a strange sensation. I usually eat the cheaper ones, which have a more sticky feeling. The spicy one has a spicy kick that hits your mouth later on. The lingering umami and spiciness. This would go great with alcohol. So, I bought the medium one. As expected, it's a bit pricey. One box costs over 2000 yen. Since it's frozen, it can be kept at room temperature for up to 8 hours. When I opened it at home, I was surprised to find only 5 pieces inside (laughs). Even though they're large clusters, this is definitely a luxury item. It better be delicious to justify the price (laughs). A rare treat of mentaiko! Only when you go to Hakata! Thank you for the meal (人´∀`)♪

Fukuoka specialty "Karashi mentaiko" has become a popular dish with various types available. The origin of the pickled type Karashi mentaiko can be traced back to a certain shop in Fukuoka. I visited the shop to purchase some as a souvenir and chose the regular flavorless mentaiko and the "reprint" version which replicates the original flavor. The reprint version is smaller in size but offers a rich and balanced taste of chili pepper and salt. Comparing the two, the reprint version has a more intense flavor, but the regular version is also good considering the price difference. Personally, I prefer the mentaiko from other shops like Chikaei Hakata Station Deitos Store and Shobouan Hakata Station Deitos Store. It's all about personal preference, so it's worth trying different options to find your favorite.

"Fukuya" is famous for its mentaiko (spicy cod roe). Sometimes I buy mentaiko as a souvenir, but this time I found something for home use as well. It's called "Mentaiko Nori." The seaweed is from Ariake, and it is made at a factory in Kurumeguchi-cho, Kumamoto City. I had it with hot rice at home. There are small grains in the seaweed. These grains give a spicy kick from the mentaiko. The seaweed tastes sweet. Is this the taste of Ariake seaweed? It was a delicious combination with the spicy kick that goes well with rice, so I bought more for home use and souvenirs later on.

Parents, it's been a while since I returned to Kyoto... Honestly, I'm not really feeling it (laughs) as I wait at Kyoto Station's Hachijo exit to meet up with my parents. Oh, hello parents. That's as far as I got with the pleasantries... "I bought mentaiko at Fukuoka Station!" my father exclaims. Yeah, thanks, but he's so loud... My dad's boisterous energy. No matter how old he gets, he remains annoyingly loud... (laughs) And my mom keeps talking non-stop... Who's the subject? What are you trying to say? As I grow older, I understand less and less... I can handle it when I'm alone, but when both of them are together, it's unbearable. Why do you both start talking at the same time... It feels like different songs playing from left and right speakers continuously. The whole conversation with you two is like a V shape... Talk one at a time... Let's form a triangle!! I think to myself as we enter a yakiniku restaurant called Juju near Hachijo exit. I feel a bit relieved, but it's short-lived... My dad orders various things without much thought... Stop, think a little before ordering... The meat arrives and both my parents... slap the meat on the grill! Grill! Grill! And then they leave it unattended... Both talking! Talking! Talking! I have no choice but to grill the meat, and then feed them... Amidst all this, I manage to eat a bit... We chat a bit? (laughs) Then my mom says, "Are you eating!? Eat properly!!" The reason why her son can't eat... Just once is enough, think a little bit, mom... (laughs) There are no reviews for this restaurant. With broken W speakers in tow... We finish our meal and say goodbye♪ Maybe leave quickly (laughs) Feeling exhausted, I bid them farewell... I return home and oh... Mentaiko. I remember it and open it... This one looks bigger than usual... Anyway, I put it in the fridge◎ Time to sleep♪ The next morning, I open the fridge and... Mentaiko... I open it and prepare rice and miso soup, no matter what they say, I like this◎ And as expected, it tastes great in the morning (>▽<) It's different... The rice goes down smoothly☆ Father, mother, mentaiko... The winner is... Mentaiko☆ (laughs) A clear victory◎ But well... No matter what, as always, sorry for the trouble, thank you very much~◎ Ah... I should have called my sister, I really regret it... Thank you for the meal♪

When it comes to cuisine in Hakata, mentaiko is a must. And when you think of mentaiko, Fuku-ya comes to mind. I really like the company culture at Fuku-ya! Their mentaiko products mixed with seafood are perfect as a side dish with rice or as a snack with drinks. The lineup includes shiokara mentaiko, squid mentaiko, and scallop mentaiko, among others. I tried the jellyfish mentaiko, which has a unique crunchy texture that goes well with the popping sensation of the mentaiko. The jellyfish is cut into small pieces for easy eating, but its texture is still distinct and adds a great touch to the mentaiko. It's delicious on its own, but it's also recommended to mix it with cucumber for a vinegary side dish. Fuku-ya's products are well-known nationwide, making them a great gift option. Thank you, Fuku-ya Hakata Deitos store, for the delicious mentaiko!

In July 2016, a friend who went to Fukuoka and Yamaguchi brought me a souvenir. It's a 120g regular mentaiko from "Aji no Mentaiko Fukuya" located on the first floor of Hakata Deitos at Hakata Station. It's been a while since I had mentaiko from Fukuya. The excitement is real! The description of the regular mentaiko (from the store's website) is that it always maintains its deliciousness no matter how many years pass. Each grain of whole cod roe bursts with a plump texture, allowing you to fully enjoy the flavor of the ingredients. I quickly tried it on top of warm rice. The subtle spicy kick and unique texture of mentaiko are just delightful. Rice goes down so easily. There are many types of mentaiko from different stores, but personally, as long as it's from Hakata, all of them taste great to me. There may be slight differences, but they all make rice taste even better. Thank you for the meal!

On the 3rd day of my trip on July 17, 2016, I arrived at Hakata Station at 2 pm after transferring from Yanagawa to the Nishitetsu Omuta Line and the Subway Airport Line. With over 2 hours before my reserved Shinkansen, I enjoyed a giant burdock tempura-topped "Hakata Udon" and got the new specialty of Hakata, "Menbei". I made a quick stop at "Ajino Mentaiko Fukuya Hakata Deitos Store" on the 1st floor of Hakata Deitos near the Chikushi Gate where the Shinkansen platform is located. I grabbed ◆ Mentaiko Regular 120g for 1080 yen (tax included) ◆ Mentaiko Dokkara 120g for 1080 yen (tax included). When it comes to Hakata souvenirs, you can't miss out on "spicy mentaiko"! The "Mentaiko Regular" is a souvenir for my friend. The spicy mentaiko, made by marinating cod roe in chili seasoning, was originally created by Fukuya's founder Toshio Kawahara in 1949, inspired by Korean "Myeongranjeot". The "Mentaiko Dokkara" is a product developed for home use, using irregularly shaped or misshapen cod roe (cut-off pieces), making it a very cost-effective option. Dokkara is made extra spicy, with more seasoning liquid than the regular version. It's perfect as a topping on hot rice, and I even used it to make "Mentaiko Pasta". While I usually use cheap supermarket spicy mentaiko, the taste and richness of the authentic Hakata spicy mentaiko are incomparable. I also made "Lotus Root Mentaikinpira" using the leftover seasoning liquid, which goes perfectly with rice and makes a great side dish for drinks. I even mixed it with "Tamagokake Gohan" for a luxurious breakfast. Bon appétit!

In the Tokyo area, when it comes to mentaiko, YamaYa seems to be more famous. YamaYa has 17 stores in the Tokyo area, offering all-you-can-eat mentaiko and rice for lunch, and I have been a frequent customer at the YamaYa Hamamatsucho store to the point of getting extra servings of mentaiko pot (lol). However, when it comes to Hakata mentaiko, Fukuya is the go-to place. So, I decided to visit the Fukuya store at Deitos in Hakata Station on a certain day in June 2016 around 10 am. I was surprised to find out that Fukuya also sells mentaiko in tubes, which I didn't know about. What surprised me even more at the store was the variety of 11 types of tube mentaiko they offered. I initially thought, "Who would eat mentaiko with grated yam?" but as I tried the 11 varieties, I realized that they had options that would go well with baked baguette or pasta, which was a great idea. On the other hand, I noticed that the regular mentaiko sold in the typical "lobes" or "slices" can only vary in spiciness. A female staff member approached me. Staff: How can I help you? Me: There are so many different tubes, it's amazing. Staff: We have 11 varieties, would you like to try some samples? Me: ♪~ I was about to try the taste of something called Olive Oregano flavor when they brought me rice topped with grilled cod roe skin, causing a moment of hesitation in my choice! (lol) Eventually, I ended up saying, "I'll try the Mild sample, please." (crying) So, I ended up buying the Regular one (laughing uncontrollably). In the evening, as a late-night snack after drinking heavily, I went to FamilyMart to buy rice and a cup of Japanese sake "Tenzan" and made mentaiko rice at home. Yum♡♡♡ As expected, Fukuya's mentaiko is delicious♪ And it goes perfectly with the Saga local sake "One Cup Tenzan" which is labeled "Home of clear water and fireflies, with a famous sake". It's amazing~. Being a little drunk, before I knew it, I had finished one whole tube of mentaiko. Oh no, this is why drunk people are the worst, I grumbled, and then fell asleep in bed.

(2014.10.29 visit) I had a morning walk to Hakata Station after having a fancy breakfast! When you go on a business trip, you always buy souvenirs on your way back, right? However, since I am heading to Yamaguchi, I can't buy anything that won't fit in my bag. I searched around and found some stylish items at the store "Fukuya", so I decided to get one. It's called "Tubu tube" and there are 7 different flavors: - Spicy Habanero - Spicy Black Pepper - Plain Regular - Plain Mild - Sesame Flavor - Olive Basil Flavor - Olive Oregano Flavor The price for each is 864 yen (tax included). I purchased the "Tubu tube Plain Regular" for 864 yen. I went for the standard option (laughs). Inside, it was spicy cod roe. It's convenient because you can squeeze out the right amount from the tube. Although I always thought cod roe was a luxury item, it loses some of its appeal when it's in a tube (laughs). However, thinking about how they fill the tubes makes me lose my appetite (laughs). I bought it thinking it was unique, but when I gave it to my family, their first reaction was, "Huh? Just this?" I learned that souvenirs are better received if they are a certain size or have a certain volume. Maybe I should have bought 7 tubes instead! The floor where souvenir shops line up is quite lively with people calling out to attract customers. Maybe this Fukuya store is a directly managed store? They had a very polite attitude when explaining the takeaway time. I suddenly wondered... which place has the most delicious cod roe? Thank you for the meal!

When my family and I went on a trip to Fukuoka, we bought souvenirs like mentaiko for our family and friends on the first day and sent them by mail. We enjoyed delicious motsunabe and tonkotsu ramen with a relaxed feeling, and fully enjoyed the city of Fukuoka. The next day, while getting ready to leave at our hotel, we got drawn into an interesting drama on TV that we had never seen in Kansai. It seemed to be a rerun of a drama called "Mentai Piriri," based on the founder of Fukuya's mentaiko. Of course, on our way back, we bought more "Fukuya's mentaiko" without saying a word.

I couldn't stop eating the Chicken Soboro and Cod Roe from the Gohan ga Tomaran series. I found this series for the first time and decided to buy it. The slightly sweet chicken soboro with spicy cod roe and ginger flavor as an accent. It goes perfectly with warm rice or rice balls.

HKT48 x JR Kyushu's Everyone's Kyushu Project aims to complete the digital stamps for Fukuoka, Saga, and Oita prefectures on a year-end trip. Heading towards Oita as the final destination, there was some time to spare at Hakata Station, so I decided to choose a souvenir. I couldn't resist looking for limited edition items or something unique. That's how I ended up with a set of 3 cans of Attack on Titan spicy mentaiko tuna. It was quite pricey, but the contents were just regular mentaiko tuna cans. I enjoyed it by putting it on rice or mixing it into salads. I had heard it was quite spicy, but it turned out to be just the right level of spiciness.

Just outside the Shinkansen ticket gate. It's on the souvenir street. There were many mentaiko shops, but of course, this one had the longest line. I decided to go with the classic, mild mentaiko and the reliable, delicious sujiko mentaiko, which I've never tried before! Jellyfish mentaiko - looking forward to trying this one! The staff recommended it too. Bringing it home to have with rice. The sujiko mentaiko was also delicious! A must-buy souvenir from Hakata. Thank you for the meal ♡