There is a mentaiko (spicy cod roe) shop at the Hakata Station souvenir market. Although there is also Shofuan at Kuuten, this shop has a better selection of souvenirs. I highly recommend the individually packed mentaiko. The mentaiko is conveniently packed in small portions, making it easy to eat. They also offer various flavors such as mild, spicy, and yuzu. If you are looking for mentaiko souvenirs, this would be a great choice that will surely be appreciated.

Hakata Agodashi (Hakata limited edition) 412 yen x 3 Iriko Dashi (Hakata limited edition) 412 yen x 3 Shobouan Kashiwa-meshi (Hakata limited edition) 756 yen Purchased as a souvenir at the Hakata Station Daimyo-cho Market on the 1st floor of Daimyo-cho Station, with the sales pitch that it is not available for online purchase as a Hakata limited edition (laughs). Bought for souvenirs. It was said to have a richer dashi flavor than usual. It had a premium feel and was well received. The Kashiwa-meshi (for home use) had a much stronger sweet and salty flavor compared to Kanto region, and was well received by the family. I made the leftovers into rice balls and froze them, but they disappeared before I knew it (laughs).

I continued to purchase and review spicy mentaiko (seasoned cod roe) (o´Д`)ｳﾋｰ Before buying from Chikage Sakae, I also bought spicy mentaiko here (lol) "Shobouan Hakata Station Date Store" This store sells the spicy mentaiko from Kyuhara Honten, famous for its dashi made by Chitose. I bought it when I came to Hakata at the end of the year before last, and it became my favorite store (´∀｀*) This time, I bought the "Agodashi Mentaiko" spicy mentaiko, 140g for 2,160 yen ☆d(´∀｀*) When I looked back at the previous review, it was a bargain at 1,080 yen for the large size (？) mentaiko. Well, I guess it's inevitable to pay this price for a larger size than the bargain one... This spicy mentaiko is also extremely delicious! Although it is labeled as spicy, it is not spicy overall, but there are parts where the ichimi togarashi (Japanese chili pepper) is solidified, making it spicy!! This is also a luxurious dish, but if you go to Hakata, I personally think you should definitely try it ☆d(´∀｀*) Well, if you are hesitant to buy something expensive right away, they also have small packs of "Barako" here, so it seems like a good idea to try various flavors first! Thank you for the meal!

Kyuhara Honke (Chinoya and Shofuan) Hakata Station Deitos Store Fukuoka City, JR Hakata Station Area Established in 1941, Kyuhara Honke Group's condiment department specialty store. Popular for its chemical-free and preservative-free products, located on the first floor of Deitos in Chikushi-guchi. There are 5 stores in Fukuoka City and stores in major cities nationwide. The headquarters is in Kyuyama, Kasuya District, where they have a highly rated natural food restaurant called "Chinoya" on Tabelog. They also have a restaurant called "Gohan-ya Shofuan" in the restaurant area of JR Hakata City. They also have a strong online shopping presence. I visit Fukuoka once a month for business and use their products every time, so I will summarize my experiences here. On Tabelog, many people buy mentaiko (spicy cod roe) from them, but their main products include dashi packs for hot pot soup, rice seasoning, mentaiko, ramen, pickles, and tsukudani (preserved food). They offer tasting samples of various dashi packs in-store. Here are some of the products I purchased: - Mentaishumai (1080 yen): Large shumai with mentaiko filling, 6 pieces per pack. The dough is fluffy with plenty of mentaiko, giving it a crispy texture. It comes with ponzu sauce and mustard, but the flavor is already well-balanced. A unique shumai. - Takana stir-fry (648 yen): Takana (mustard leaf) is a popular pickle in Hakata. I like to put it on rice, sprinkle with roasted seaweed, and make a simple and delicious rice ball (also known as a lazy bento). It has a nice spicy kick without the use of chemicals, making it a refreshing side dish. - Ago dashi (5 packs): Limited to Hakata, this dashi has a rich aroma and sweetness. It's cost-effective, and I like that it's not too sour. - Niboshi dashi (5 packs): A light and clear broth, not low-sodium as far as I know. - Ago dashi tsuyu: A sweet Kyushu-style dipping sauce, perfect for soba noodles. It's compact and 4 times concentrated, making it easy to carry around and cost-effective. I've used other products such as chicken dashi, Chinoya, vegetable dashi, and men-tsuyu (in a bottle). They are all good, but personally, I prefer the Ago dashi series and keep repurchasing them. The vegetable dashi has a gentle flavor with a hint of vegetable sweetness. Chinoya and iriko (dried sardines) have a refreshing taste with a slight sourness, which some may enjoy. If you don't have time to simmer the dashi packs, you can open them and use the powder form (great for fried rice). The dashi packs are reasonably priced for trial purchases. The packaging also has a high-quality feel. They have been well-received for their delicious taste. On a side note, you can use the shopping ticket vouchers limited to weekends and holidays provided by JR Kyushu. It's only available for day-trip express tickets from Kitakyushu, but it's quite a bargain with a 1000 yen voucher included for around 3000 yen. It's close to the Shinkansen platform, making it easily accessible. It's a convenient way to make your daily cooking delicious and save time. Kyuhara Honke (Chinoya and Shofuan) Hakata Station Deitos Store: - Location: 2 minutes walk from Hakata Station 1st floor ticket gate (Chikushi exit Deitos 1st floor) - Hours: 8:00-21:00, No regular holidays (follows Deitos schedule) - Delivery available, Parking available with assistance based on purchase amount They are currently operating with shortened hours, so please check their official website for updates before visiting. JR Hakata City: https://www.jrhakatacity.com/

This is a shop affiliated with Chiyonosha, known for its dashi products. While Chiyonosha products can be easily found locally, this shop offers exclusive items from Hakata, making it a unique stop. The standout feature here is the high quality of the bottled squid products. While Chikaei's squid mentaiko is famous, the squid in these bottles has a firm texture and a taste closer to fresh squid. They even offer taste tests upon request, which is a nice touch. This is definitely a shop worth visiting every time you're in Hakata.

Yes, this is the mentaiko I was looking for after seeing the sign! "Shobouan (Hakata Deitos Store)" offers the famous brand mentaiko from Kyuhara Honke, known for Chiyonosha! Mentaiko marinated in dashi broth! Just imagining it makes it sound delicious♪ - Economical Karakuchi Mentaiko with Dashi Broth 1,080 yen - Kombu-Marinated Mentaiko with Dashi Broth (loose) 380 yen I also bought the Houjicha Dashi Tea-Marinated Mentaiko for 540 yen. I had the Karakuchi Mentaiko for dinner the next day, and it was incredibly delicious! This is the kind of dish where you can't stop eating rice! It has a gentle yet wild flavor that is perfectly blended with the spiciness of red chili pepper. It may be a bit pricey at 1,080 yen for three pieces, but it's a recommended mentaiko! The Kombu-Marinated Mentaiko with Dashi Broth (loose) is a small pack for a single serving. It's a size that you can easily finish in one sitting. I had it for breakfast the day after, and it was also very delicious, although not as impactful as the Karakuchi one. But at 380 yen, this loose type is more affordable. There were other flavors available as well, so it's a good option for souvenirs too. Thank you for the meal!

It is a sister store of Maeno-ya.

When it comes to Hakata souvenirs, the first thing that comes to mind is "karashi mentaiko." I often buy it as a souvenir, and one of my favorite shops at Hakata Station is Shofuan's Mentaiko Chika Sakae Hakata Station Deitosu Store. This time, I bought two types: spicy mentaiko for 1,080 yen and medium-spicy mentaiko for 1,080 yen. The spicy mentaiko had a strong salty flavor rather than just the spiciness of red pepper, while the mentaiko itself was firm and delicious. The medium-spicy mentaiko had a lighter touch of red pepper compared to the spicy one, and the saltiness was also lighter. Although I personally felt that the red pepper flavor could be stronger and the saltiness lighter, others found it delicious and appreciated the balance of flavors. Overall, despite my slight preference, I still think it's tasty and would buy it again.

I'm at Hakata Station. After finishing my ramen at Shin-Shin Hakata Daimyo store, I'm finally heading to the airport by subway. I thought about buying mentaiko at the airport on my way back, but there are so many more options if I buy it here at Daimyo. How many stores in Hakata Station sell mentaiko? There are so many. Every time I pass by a store, an old lady always calls out to me. Among the many stores selling mentaiko from various manufacturers, I found a branch of Shofuan, the manufacturer. I'm lucky to have found it in this crowded souvenir market. I remember buying from Shofuan at Iwataya before, and I really liked it. Alright, I'll buy it here. The variety of products is amazing. I was indecisive, but I told the staff my preferences and got to try a sample. Mentaiko with kombu. This is good. The chances of finding the same thing at the airport aren't that high, so I was lucky. Kombu mentaiko 112g for 1080 yen. It's delicious. Mentaiko with hot rice.

This was a gift, but it was so delicious that I would like to introduce it. ◆ Ago-dashi mentaiko (Umakuchi) It's umakuchi, but it has a medium level of spiciness. The grains are firm, and the umami and spiciness of the ago-dashi spread in the mouth, creating a blissful moment. It was so delicious that I want to buy it myself. It was really tasty. Thank you for the meal!

During my business trip to Hakata, I had a list of shops I wanted to visit, and one of them was Kyuhara Honke. I often use Chionoya dashi at home and find it very delicious, so I was really looking forward to trying Kyuhara Honke's products. As soon as I arrived at Hakata Station, I went straight there and bought some items I had never seen before. I got some mixed rice seasoning for home use, and I bought about 10 packs of Hakata Yuzu Salt Ramen for both personal use and souvenirs. The Yuzu Salt Ramen had a clear soup with a strong yuzu aroma, and it was very delicious. My family and friends were very pleased with the souvenirs. Thank you for the wonderful meal!

Tasting comparison of mentaiko. Yamaya: Slightly tangy with a hint of yuzu, a bit of a unique taste. Fukuya: Simple salty flavor. Shobouan: Delicious without any strong taste. Fuku: Leaves a slightly bitter aftertaste. Among the ones tasted, Shobouan was the favorite. Not only for the taste but also for the friendly staff and careful packaging. They provided a cooling pack for 7-8 hours for free, which was reassuring. If buying again, I would choose to buy mentaiko from here.

They had been boasting about it for a while... saying how delicious it is... Could it be a scam to say they'll give it to you next time? Finally (laughs) I received it ♬ Let's see...♪*ﾟ【Agodashi Mentaiko】♬ When you peel off the film quietly... it has a nice scent~♡ The color is light and it doesn't have that overpowering spiciness of red pepper... It looks beautiful♬ Very elegant~✩.*˚ Suddenly in Japanese sake mode (๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵) Placing it on thinly sliced radish... like a canapé...♪*ﾟ The spiciness is mild...♪*ﾟ The umami of agodashi is effective♬ Yes! It's super delicious♬ Thank you for the meal~(*^ω^*)♡

- Squid Mentaiko - Squid with Koji and Yuzu - Mentaiko (Savory and Spicy) - Mentaiko with Pickled Mustard Greens - Kashiwa Rice - Pickled Mustard Greens and Dried Baby Sardines Rice I had a meal at Shobuan and besides the delicious Mentaiko, the squid dishes and Mentaiko with pickled mustard greens were also very tasty, so I bought a few items. Everything was delicious.

"Agodashi Mentai noodles"

I heard that this restaurant is famous for its dashi! I tried the mentaiko made with agodashi and yuzu flavor. The subtle fragrance of yuzu and the dashi were incredibly delicious!

Bought souvenirs on the way back from the business trip on June 17, 2016.