There is a mentaiko (spicy cod roe) specialty store in the market. I visited seeking the extra spicy mentaiko that I received as a souvenir before, which left a strong impression on me. If you go by car, you need to park at a nearby coin parking lot. This time, I decided to walk from my accommodation. It's nice that the market is open from morning until evening. The staff members were very friendly, and thankfully, they explained various things to me. They recommended trying the yuzu squid mentaiko with tea broth over rice, and it was amazing!! I definitely want to visit again. Thank you very much!

Original Store @ Fukuoka A shop that specializes in mentaiko made with skrei cod from Hokkaido. The mentaiko is made by soaking cod roe in a broth made from single-piece natural Rausu kelp, then marinating it in their original seasoning after draining the liquid, using a two-stage process of salt removal. This mentaiko, which cannot even be bought at airports in Hokkaido, is considered very precious! When asked for recommended ways to eat it, they said that eating it with hot steamed white rice is the best. When I actually tried it, I could feel the texture of the roe well, and it was evident that the flavor of the broth had soaked in thoroughly, making it very delicious! It was of such high quality that it would be a waste to use it in pasta!

The other day, I saw Kanjani Takayama introduce this at the Matsumoto family's holiday, so I decided to buy it. They let me try it and it was delicious! I immediately decided to purchase it. It goes better with rice than as a snack. It was delicious, thank you for the meal.

I have visited Fukuoka many times before, but I have never come across a spicy cod roe dish that made me think, "This is it!!" Famous chain stores like Fukuya, Fukusaya, and Kanefuku are decent. The homemade souvenirs from restaurants like Hirao Shoku to Sake Nakamuta are also quite good. However, I couldn't help but wonder if there was something I was missing out on. As time passed, I found out that a nearby store, Makino's Pirikichi Foods, had closed without me knowing. In the midst of all this, a local acquaintance told me about a place located in the Yatai Union Market, known as the "kitchen of Hakata." It is close to the Japanese sake bar Hakata Sakuniji, where I had a drink at the Sugawara liquor store before stopping by. Although it is not easily accessible by subway, the Yatai bus stop is located near Sakuniji, and buses to Hakata Station come every 10 minutes, making it convenient for those from outside the prefecture. This store in the market is the only one of its kind, standing out from chain stores that have outlets at airports and stations. According to the store's website, the secret to their delicious cod roe lies in the careful selection of cod roe from Hokkaido, which is salted at a designated factory with a unique salt concentration and aged in a freezer for over six months. The seasoning is made by extracting dashi from a single sheet of kelp (first dashi), then removing the salt from the cod roe. The salted cod roe is then marinated in a blend of kelp dashi (second dashi) from Rausu kelp, chili pepper, and unique seasonings. - Cod roe, large cut, medium spicy: ¥2,160 - Cod roe, large cut, spicy: ¥2,160 - Yuzu squid cod roe: ¥1,404 - Cooling bag: ¥200 The spicy version is so hot that even a spice lover like myself thought, "Isn't this a bit too spicy?" The medium spicy version is just right and delicious, as my wife devoured most of it and praised it highly. The yuzu squid cod roe is perfect as a side dish with alcohol. There is another store in the Yatai Union Market called Yukimura Eishoten, which also offers a combination of whale and cod roe, so I would like to try comparing the two next time.

The staff at the store let us try a little bit of each product and gave us detailed explanations. We will definitely visit again when we are in the area.

I received this from a colleague at work, but I was impressed by the authentic spicy mentaiko!!! Just rice and this make me happy~.

Fukuoka's mentaiko is special here. Yuzu squid mentaiko is the best.

Yuzu squid and spicy cod roe ramen is seriously the best!!!

When it comes to specialties in Fukuoka, mentaiko (spicy cod roe) is a must-try. Fukuoka Airport and Hakata Station have mentaiko corners with a surprising number of different brands. Preferences for mentaiko may vary from person to person, but many use cod roe from overseas. In search of mentaiko made with domestic cod roe, I visited Yanagibashi Rengou Market. Known as "Hakata's kitchen," this market is conveniently located and compact, making it easy to visit between plans. The Haraguchi Shoten shop near the entrance of Yanagibashi Rengou Market is run by a friendly owner who is great at selling his products. When I visited with a friend for the first time, we were able to try several samples. This mentaiko uses cod roe from Hokkaido, which is salted and matured in the freezer for over 6 months. I used to think fresh mentaiko was better, but I learned that if it's frozen during processing, there's not much difference in taste even if you buy frozen products. This mentaiko is salted with the first dashi from Rausu kelp, then marinated with the second dashi, red chili pepper, and seasonings. It has a delicate flavor compared to other shops. Not only the seasoning, but also the texture of the grains is delicate and soft. While Chuka Ei's mentaiko is also delicate, I find this one to have an even softer mouthfeel. Personally, I have a slight concern about the use of amino acids, but since mentaiko without additives is very rare, it's understandable. They also offer affordable packs for home use, making this mentaiko highly recommended.

Every manufacturer or store seems to have mentaiko mayonnaise, which is mayonnaise with a mentaiko flavor, not mentaiko with a mayonnaise flavor! Even here, when mixed with pasta, the presence of mentaiko is not strong. It would be great if they could double the amount of mentaiko! By the way, a while ago, this restaurant was featured on a cooking show for their special ingredient, mentaiko.

Fukuoka Trip Memo: Souvenir Edition After eating tempura, I need to walk alone for two hours to avoid getting hungry. I visited "Haraguchi Shoten" for the first time to try their recommended gourmet food, "Yuzu Squid Mentaiko." It is a product where mentaiko is marinated in kelp dashi, bringing out the umami flavor of the kelp. It was recommended by the TV show featuring Fukuoka-born comedian Kannin Takayama (according to my partner's research). The shop is located in the Yanagibashi Rengou Market, where I also wanted to visit another shop. It wasn't too far to walk, so I decided to buy from both shops. Despite the hot weather, I decided to visit the shops as I didn't want to get hungry. The Yuzu Squid Mentaiko was delicious and perfect as a side dish for rice. I should have bought more. Thank you for the meal!

I had asked a friend familiar with Fukuoka for recommendations beforehand. One of the recommendations was this Haraguchi spicy mentaiko. There are various types available, with the sliced version being quite affordable. When I asked the vendor, they said that the large grain special selection is the most delicious. I see, the size of the grains affects the taste. I purchased it in a frozen state, with ice packs and a cooler bag. By the end of January, it was frozen solid. I let it thaw naturally in the refrigerator. There were five large pieces of spicy mentaiko. It looks quite spicy, with visible chili pepper grains. I think there were sweet, medium spicy, and spicy versions, but the sweet one doesn't use any chili peppers at all. So, I bought the medium spicy one. When you put it in your mouth, the spiciness comes first, followed by the umami flavor. I thought it must contain the umami of laus kelp, as mentioned on the package. It pairs perfectly with rice, making you want more rice.

I am from Fukuoka prefecture. I buy food from various places, but this is my first time here. The food is really carefully made. It is the most delicious and luxurious taste I have ever had. My husband and I enjoyed it saying "it's delicious".

I wanted to watch TV and ordered this right away, but it took a while to arrive. Finally, it came today - Yuzu squid and mentaiko with yuzu and mentaiko cob. It's delicious with a bit of spiciness! Goes well with rice. I will definitely order again. Yuzu squid and mentaiko from Haraguchi Seafood Specialty Store is so tasty! #Hakata's kitchen #Haraguchi Seafood Specialty Store #Yuzu squid and mentaiko #Mentaiko

I received "Hakata Karashi mentaiko" from a friend who visited Kyushu! The Karashi mentaiko from Haraguchi Shoten is delicious for a reason. They select cod roe caught in Hokkaido, salt it with their original salt content, and age it in the freezer for over 6 months. For seasoning, they use high-quality kombu to make dashi, then desalinate the cod roe. Next, they marinate the desalinated cod roe in kombu dashi, red chili pepper, and their original seasoning blend. They spare no effort in finishing it, resulting in our proud Karashi mentaiko. It's convenient to have plenty of it frozen, and it's delicious whether eaten raw or used in various dishes. Thank you for the meal!