- Kombu pickled spicy mentaiko without coloring 177g ¥1620 x2 - Saba in rice bran ¥980 x2 - Recommended by locals, Mr. Kabata's kombu pickled mentaiko is a specialty. They also offer a local dish from Kokura, called "nukamushi." - I heard that my mother couldn't forget the nukamushi she had when she was young, so I decided to buy it without hesitation. I'm looking forward to hearing her feedback. - This place is located next to Fukusaya on the 1st floor of Amu Plaza. - Fukusaya kindly packed the items I bought from them in the same box for shipping, which was very helpful. - It was my first time trying nukamushi, and it was mild and delicious without any strong flavors. I would like to try the nukamushi at the restaurant on my next visit to Kokura. - And maybe I'll try to find a stronger nukamushi for my mother (she was very happy).

For some reason, "Kabata" always falls under the genre "Other," so the number of reviews doesn't increase. But well, I need to organize my photos, so I'm posting this. This time, I bought the sweet and salty tarako. It's like regular spicy cod roe with added sugar, so if you can't handle spicy food at all but still want to try spicy cod roe, this might not be the best choice (you might prefer other brands with a sweeter taste). Well, "Kabata" seems to be like a soul food for the people of Kitakyushu, so those who grew up with this restaurant's flavors might not even be looking for a sweet taste. Sorry, but I accidentally ate one before taking the photo. There's actually one more cluster left, so please forgive me.

One year ago, I started working on a project that will finally come to fruition this month! I am traveling to Tosu for a factory inspection of the finished product. I will meet my junior colleague (the client) at 11:00 in front of Kokura Station. Speaking of Kokura Station, there is a shop owned by my favorite "Kabata" there. The location is on the 1st floor of Amu Plaza West Building, just outside the south exit of Kokura Station. They sell Kabata's mentaiko at the souvenir shop right outside the station gates, but only the "kireko" is available at the direct store! I arrived at the Shinkansen station one hour before the meeting and first thing I did was to buy souvenirs (why did I come here for work? lol). I bought 4 packs for my family, son, daughter, and friends. They can also ship the frozen kireko via cool express delivery. I can't wait to try it! The kireko has arrived on July 20th. "Let's dig in!" But before that, let's enjoy the "privilege of the direct store!" The quantity in grams is quite generous for the same price. If you buy it at a local drive-in, you get 2-3 times more for the same amount. It's delicious as always. Thank you for the treat!

When you go to Kyushu, it's a must to buy mentaiko to take home. I also bought another one at Kokura Station. This is my favorite, and I always buy it when I come to Kokura Station. The price for this cut is really cheap! 340g for 1,000 yen is quite a deal. I bought the reassuring no coloring one. It has just the right amount of spiciness to make the rice go down smoothly! Be careful because you might end up eating more rice than you planned... (lol)

On September 28, I traveled to Minamata on the Kyushu Shinkansen for a business trip. We had a lunch meeting at Shin-Minamata Station. When it comes to business trips in Kitakyushu, my main goal is to get some delicious mentaiko (spicy cod roe) from Kabata. However, it's hard to find Kabata's mentaiko in the station area. After researching online, I found a souvenir shop in Hakata Station that sells it. I decided to buy some for lunch and for my family and friends. The mentaiko has a strong flavor of kelp broth and is perfectly marinated. It's a well-deserved treat after a tiring business trip. I'm savoring it little by little. Thank you, Kabata, for the delicious mentaiko. Looking forward to my next business trip to Kitakyushu!

I went on a business trip to Kyushu after a long time, and stayed overnight in Kokura today! The first place I headed to was "Kabata" inside the station building (^_^)ﾉ I bought some last time during my business trip and it was really "delicious"! Today, I bought 3 more, including for my son and daughter's homes. Since we prioritize quantity over appearance in our family (laughs), "kireko" is enough! Last time I bought souvenirs, but kireko has a lot more quantity! I have work in Kumamoto tomorrow, so I had it sent to my home frozen. ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ I had it yesterday and it was delicious. Kabata's mentaiko is not just spicy, but it also has a good flavor of kombu, and it's always "delicious~(o^^o)" whenever I eat it. I had it on top of white rice, and it was very satisfying (^^)v My wife also really liked it. Recently, famous shops in Kitakyushu are also sold at supermarkets near my house, so the value has decreased. But you can't find Kabata's mentaiko easily♪ Since it's a souvenir, it's nice to have something that is hard to find except at the local place! I recommend it for its taste and rarity.

The birthplace of spicy mentaiko is Shimonoseki in Yamaguchi Prefecture, but it has become a popular souvenir in Hakata since the opening of the Sanyo Shinkansen. The people of Fukuoka are good at business. Kabata-san is popular for their kombu pickled spicy mentaiko. Mentaiko is popular, but there is also a product called "Mayonnaise + Mentaiko = Meyonnaise" (540 yen). It's a simple addition. The kombu-flavored mentaiko enhances the taste. When you put it on like mayonnaise, it's deliciously spicy. It goes well not only with vegetables, but also with fried foods. I got completely hooked and it's now a permanent resident in my fridge. I try to be mindful of not putting too much for the sake of my health.

Today, as a souvenir from my business trip to Kitakyushu, I bought some "mentaiko"! Although this place is not Hakata, you can't go wrong with mentaiko, right? Lately, you can easily find authentic mentaiko from shops like "Fukuya," "Yamaya," and "Kanefuku" even in Kansai without having to go all the way to Kitakyushu. But since I crossed the Kanmon Strait undersea tunnel today, I thought, "I want to buy some from a shop I've never tried before." I found a shop called "Kabata" at the station's souvenir store. They had both "regular" and "no artificial color" options. Of course, I bought three boxes of the "no artificial color" mentaiko for my son's house, daughter's house, and my house. I couldn't wait to try it! When I got back home, I immediately tasted it. "This is delicious!" The difference from the famous shops in Kansai is that it is so fresh! It's not like eating mentaiko, but the texture is like eating "fresh cod roe" itself! And it's deeply marinated! The flavor of the konbu seaweed is also infused! For someone from Kansai like me, it's irresistible! Kabata, you're really something! It was my first time trying it, but I regret not discovering it sooner! I'm enjoying it with a drink right now, and even just a little bit on my chopsticks brings happiness!

It's been a while since my business trip to Kyushu. On the way back from Kokura, I always stop by to buy mentaiko at the usual spot, Amu Plaza on the 1st floor. I purchase mentaiko for home use and for relatives. I always buy the sliced mentaiko that comes in a great value pack. Honestly, the sliced pieces that are all separated make it easy to eat and it feels like the food goes down smoothly. The slices are just the right size to put on top of warm rice... I end up eating more rice than I should. There is also Fukusaya at Amu Plaza, and I have a hard time choosing between the two because they are both delicious. Lately, I have been buying one pack of each to compare the flavors. It's hard to decide which one is better, they are both equally delicious.

When it comes to specialties in Fukuoka, many people would think of mentaiko (spicy cod roe). Famous places like Yamaya and Chikaei are well-known for their mentaiko, both of which are brands from Hakata. However, when it comes to representing the local Kitakyushu, there is no one quite like Kabata. I bought some as a souvenir on my way back from a famous sushi restaurant in Kokura this time. The mentaiko I purchased for myself this time was the one without artificial coloring, finished with kombu (kelp). There are also beautifully colored mentaiko available, but I have always preferred to buy the one without artificial coloring. The umami of kombu goes really well with mentaiko, so I prefer to buy the one with a strong kombu flavor. When I tried it, it went perfectly with freshly cooked hot rice. This is the ultimate happiness for me. As I eat, I realize once again how much I love white rice. It may not be the healthiest choice, but it's my favorite mentaiko.

I always struggle with choosing a souvenir of mentaiko (spicy cod roe)… You can easily buy it in Osaka too. This time, I tried Kabata's mentaiko. It has a mild flavor with a hint of kelp. The roe is small but when lightly grilled, it tastes delicious. It goes well as a side dish or with ochazuke (rice with tea poured over). "Ika Mentai" paired perfectly with cold sake. Both were delicious. Thank you for the meal.

I visited my favorite mentaiko shop, "Kabata," located on the 1st floor of Amu Plaza, directly connected to Kokura Station. I arrived around 12:15 pm during Golden Week and there were only a few people, so I was able to pay quickly. Today, I bought the spicy mentaiko with kombu (Kirekko) for 1,080 yen for my family back home. If it's not for souvenirs, I recommend the Kirekko because the taste is the same but you get more (134g to 167g). There are many famous brands like Fukuya, Yamaya, and Fukusaya, but Kabata's mentaiko, enhanced with kombu, is definitely addictive. I enjoyed it with white rice until the very end.

I felt like eating mentaiko onigiri, so I came here after a long time. I also bought a chestnut onigiri along with a salmon onigiri. The chestnut onigiri had big chestnuts on top and was really delicious. It made me feel the autumn season. The salmon onigiri had a large piece of salmon, using the same salmon that I sometimes buy here, so it had a consistently good taste.