We had various dishes and drinks for around 7000 yen with our family. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was nice, but the menu was a bit limited. It would be great if they had more options like chicken sashimi or tsukune, or if they offered more variety of cuts. The egg over rice was surprisingly delicious! I would consider revisiting if I feel like it.

As autumn approaches, the weather is quite pleasant. It's a great day to sweat by the irori (traditional Japanese hearth) and enjoy charcoal-grilled food. I visited with a friend and we had made a reservation in advance, which was fortunate because the restaurant was almost full within 30 minutes of opening. Despite being full, they were mindful of infection prevention measures such as distancing and disinfection. The vegetables were served separately. The chicken was marinated in two types of sauce, one with a high-grade soy sauce and the other with salt, each using a different type of chicken. We were taught how to grill the chicken and started grilling right away. We grilled the surface in the center of the grill, cut it with scissors, and grilled it again before eating. The sauce had a nice texture, while the salt version was tender. Personally, I preferred the sauce version for its texture and flavor, which paired well with rice. The vegetables also tasted better when grilled with the sauce. The salt version was a bit too salty. As we finished grilling, rice, egg, miso soup, and pickles were served. The egg over rice was delicious, made with tasty eggs. The rice, cooked in a clay pot, was fluffy and went well with the egg and soy sauce. The miso soup was comforting, slightly sweet, and the pickled vegetables were also tasty. We enjoyed it thoroughly, especially when combined with the egg over rice. The service at the restaurant was excellent, creating a pleasant dining experience.

(2021.05.16) Just a 5-minute drive from Zendoji Station on the Kyudai Main Line, there is a restaurant known for its delicious locally-raised chicken grilled on a hearth and rice cooked in an earthen pot. Celebrating its 3rd anniversary on May 8th, this restaurant feels almost like a cafe with its beautifully grown garden trees. The spacious interior with well-maintained wooden floors exudes a sense of warmth and tranquility. Each table is equipped with a hearth for grilling chicken, which is made from "Momiji Chicken" raised in Kumamoto's Kikuchi area. However, on weekends, they also offer the limited "Sazanami Jidori" raised in Kurume, Fukuoka for comparison. Starting with the "Sazanami Jidori" marinated in salt sauce, including breast meat, thigh meat, tenderloin, and chicken skin, the rich umami flavor of the chicken is enhanced by the salt sauce. When dipped in "garlic pepper" instead of yuzu pepper, the flavor is further enhanced by the green chili pepper's freshness and spiciness. Next is the "Momiji Chicken" marinated in soy sauce, featuring only thigh meat. It offers a stronger elasticity compared to Sazanami Jidori, and sprinkling shichimi spice on top adds a delightful aroma. Accompanied by rice cooked in an earthen pot and a raw egg from the Momiji Chicken, the egg over rice is a must-try. The freshness of the egg can be felt from the plumpness of the egg white. The glossy and sweet rice complements the dish perfectly, but the only downside is that refills are not available. It would be even more satisfying if they could serve a pot of rice cooked per person, allowing for refills and enhancing both the visual appeal and satisfaction of the meal.

I was taken to a local chicken restaurant in Kurume for dinner. The restaurant is called "Akaiba" and has a spacious interior with multiple hearths. When I visited, it seemed like they had just opened and everything was very clean. I ordered the recommended chicken set with both salt and sauce. The sauce was delicious, but the salt was definitely the best! The presentation was beautiful, with rice, miso soup, and a raw egg included in the set. Of course, I finished off the meal with a Tamago Kake Gohan (raw egg over rice). It was a delicious meal. Highly recommended!

On Sunday, we went to a restaurant that caught our eye with two people. The name of the place is "Irori no Omise Akai Happappa". It is located in Zendoji Kizuka. If you head east on National Route 210 towards Ukiha, turn right at the intersection (without a signal) about 4-500 meters before "Michi no Eki Kurume" towards the Minami-Aso mountain range. There is a large sign, so you won't miss it. We arrived at 11:30. There is a spacious gravel parking lot next to the restaurant. We took off our shoes at the entrance and put them in the shoebox. The staff immediately appeared and guided us to a 2-person sunken hearth table near the entrance. Inside, there were three 2-person tables in the front and about three rows of 4-person tables with hearths lined up in the back. All were occupied, creating a lively atmosphere. We ordered two servings of "Grilled Chicken Thigh Set Meal (1,650 yen, tax included)" from the menu. Then, we were offered a choice between sauce and salt. We decided to try both, which was a great suggestion! A fire was lit in the hearth. We waited for the fire to spread throughout the charcoal. There was a guide on how to grill delicious local chicken and vegetables next to the hearth, so we studied it while waiting. The chicken and vegetables were brought to us. The staff asked if we wanted them to grill it for us, but we decided to grill it ourselves. (Since it was a set meal, rice, miso soup, and pickles were included, but you could ask for them later and they would bring them at the right time.) We started grilling while nibbling on the cute cold tofu that was served first. We learned from the staff's explanation that the chicken marinated in sauce was "Kikuchi-produced Momiji Chicken" and the salted chicken was "Kurume Sazanami Chicken". When we tried them, we could taste the rich flavor of Kikuchi-produced Momiji Chicken as we chewed, and the juicy and tender texture of Sazanami Chicken. The sauce and salt were used to differentiate the flavors. When we had about 80% of the meal, we asked for the set of rice, miso soup, pickles, and egg. The fluffy rice was cooked in a clay pot. Dipping the grilled chicken in raw egg was also a delightful taste experience. Lastly, we had "Tamago Kake Gohan" (egg over rice). The staff was kind and attentive. We enjoyed a delicious and leisurely meal. Thank you for the meal.

After finishing a solo lunch, I stumbled upon a restaurant specializing in grilled local chicken. They had a takeout sign outside, so I decided to buy some to bring home. The restaurant was located in a spacious area in Kurume, Fukuoka, with a calm and relaxing atmosphere. It was past noon on a weekday, and there were no other customers inside except for two staff members in their 50s, presumably the owners. I ordered the "Takana Jidori Meshi" for 432 yen including tax, which the owner prepared in a pack to take home. The rice was sourced from a farm in Ukiha, Asakura City, Fukuoka, and cooked in an earthenware pot. The chicken meat used in the dish was a brand called "Momiji Chicken" from Kikuchi, Kumamoto, which I had never heard of before. The staff explained all these details to me before handing over the packed meal. When I opened the pack at home, I found half of it filled with white rice, with chicken thigh meat on the left side and oil-stir-fried takana on the right side, along with boiled eggs in the middle. The texture was amazing, and the slightly sweet flavor was well-infused into the dish. Despite not being a fan of spicy food, I enjoyed the takana, which was not too spicy. It seems that the person I bought it for really enjoyed the meal, as they happily finished every last bit. I might consider buying these bento boxes as gifts occasionally if they bring such joy. The receipt was left on the table, but I didn't get paid for the meal. As a reference, the restaurant also offered dishes for dining in, such as "Grilled Chicken Thigh Set Meal" for 1500 yen (excluding tax) and "Grilled Chicken Thigh" as a single item for 1200 yen (excluding tax). I didn't inform the person I bought the meal for about these prices, as they might insist on going to the restaurant, and I definitely don't want that to happen!

I got takeout from a charcoal grill restaurant near my parents' house this time, and the chef specially cooked it for me! He even tasted it and it was delicious! I brought it back for my family and they were happy too, so it was great!