tatsutora
Fukuoka City Hakata-ku commercial facility "Lalaport Fukuoka," I have visited several times and it is always crowded with people. With the relaxation of entry restrictions to Japan, it seems that there will be more visitors from overseas in the future. "Lalaport Fukuoka" is a commercial facility, so there are plenty of dining options, and I have already visited various shops. The shop I am introducing this time is the cafe "Ito En Cafe Lalaport Fukuoka Store," which is the first store in Kyushu to offer the popular tea in a PET bottle, "Ito En." The cafe offers both meals and sweets, making it a perfect place for a break when you're tired from walking around the Lalaport facility. Now, let me introduce the "Ito En Cafe Lalaport Fukuoka Store."
As the name suggests, the store is located in "Lalaport Fukuoka" (Nakaku, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka). Since it is a commercial facility, there is a parking lot, and there is also a direct bus from Hakata Station, making it convenient to access. There are also many bicycle parking spaces, making it easy for cyclists to visit. "Ito En Cafe" is located on the 3rd floor of "Lalaport Fukuoka." To get there, go up to the 3rd floor of "Lalaport Fukuoka," where there is a food court with many dining options. While there are many shops in the food court, "Ito En Cafe" is located outside the food court, so the seating area is inside the store. There is also a showcase in front of the store with a variety of food samples, including meals, sweets, and drinks. There is also a menu near the entrance. You need to order and pay at the register before taking a seat. The meal menu includes four types of rice bowls, and you can add drinks or desserts for an additional charge. During lunch hours (10:00-14:00), you can also get a drink with a single item order. The sweets include matcha parfait, anmitsu, and zenzai, with a focus on matcha sweets typical of Ito En. The drink menu also offers a variety of matcha-based options. Many items are also available for takeout. (All drinks are available for takeout)
On this day, I visited the cafe for a break, not for a meal. When "Lalaport Fukuoka" first opened, there used to be long lines outside the store, but now it's relatively calm. I was able to enter without waiting and took a seat. I ordered the "Uji Matcha Soft Serve Anmitsu" with a drink (iced coffee) set. My wife ordered the "Azuki Shiratama Matcha Parfait" with a drink (iced coffee) set. The prices may be a bit high. After paying at the register, we took our seats. Here is the view of the store from where we sat. The products are self-service, so you need to pick them up when your order is called. The products looked delicious as shown here. The "Uji Matcha Soft Serve" is rich in flavor with a perfect balance of sweetness and bitterness. When you eat it with the matcha sauce on top, the matcha flavor becomes even stronger. It's a dessert for adults. The other ingredients such as red bean paste and fruits were decent in taste, but the focus was clearly on highlighting the matcha flavor. Since it's in a commercial facility, it may feel a bit expensive for a casual tea break, but when it's not crowded, it's a nice place to relax compared to the food court. "Lalaport Fukuoka" is a place I can easily stop by, so I might visit again. If you're curious about this first store in Kyushu, why not visit "Lalaport Fukuoka" and check it out? That's all for now.