If you go to Fukuoka, you must eat at Honkichiya's eel, my mother said. I really wanted to go to the main store in Yanagawa, but this time I didn't have time because of other plans, so I decided to visit here right near Tenjin Station. There are only 4 seats because it's in the basement of a department store, so it's not a main dining area. When I arrived, it was full, so I was told that I could wait anywhere if they gave me a number. After about 10 minutes of looking at sweets in the basement, I received a call and was seated! I ordered the special steamed eel for 5,000 yen. The eel was fluffy and delicious. The rice was also delicious, soaked in sauce.

I wanted to eat eel steamed in a bamboo steamer, which can only be found in Fukuoka, so I visited this restaurant. I had the eel steamed in a bamboo steamer. The eel had a chewy texture rather than being soft, with a firm and bouncy flesh. The rice was soaked in a sweet sauce, making it delicious. There was also clear soup and pickles, which served as a nice break between bites. Personally, I think it tastes even better when sprinkled with plenty of sansho pepper. The portion of rice was generous, and I left feeling satisfied. Whenever I come to Fukuoka, I always crave eel steamed in a bamboo steamer for some reason.

"Located in Iwataya, the representative restaurant for steamed eel in Yanagawa, 'Honmachiya,' can be found. Surprisingly, there is an eat-in corner with just three seats. If there is a seat available, you can eat right away. For lunch on the last day in Fukuoka, I had the steamed eel here. According to my wife, who has eaten at the main store, it is just as good. The rice soaked in sauce, combined with the deliciousness of the eel, is irresistible. We also enjoyed a nice cup of tea, leaving us fully satisfied. I rated the atmosphere a bit low, but considering the unique feature of having an eat-in area, this score should not affect the overall rating. I would definitely want to eat here again when I return to Fukuoka in the future."

I came to Hakata after a long time and wanted to eat eel seiro steamed at Yanagawa-ya, but found out that they are using eels from Taiwan due to a situation with young eels. I thought it would be okay with Taiwanese eels, but I found a place in Tenjin where I can eat domestic eels online. I came to the eat-in at the department store, which has 4 seats, and arrived around noon but there were still seats available. You can choose between 4 pieces or 5 pieces, so I ordered the 5-piece eel seiro steamed. It comes with liver and pickles as a set. The seiro arrived in less than 10 minutes. The heat and aroma when I opened the lid were amazing. I felt so happy. I immediately ate the hot eel with crispy skin that smelled of charcoal. It was delicious. I mixed it with the sauce, steamed rice, and shredded omelette. The hot combination was amazing. As I kept eating, the fifth piece of eel was hidden between the rice. It was a pleasant surprise. It had been a while since I had eel seiro, but I devoured it quickly. I wanted more rice and a whole eel, but I was very satisfied with the seiro after a long time. Located on the 2nd floor of Iwataya department store, directly connected to Tenjin Station, it is a convenient location. It is also close to the airport, so the access is excellent. It is an eat-in area, but you don't have to worry too much about the foot traffic. It is smoke-free as it is in the basement of the department store, and you can fully enjoy the aroma. You may also buy it as a souvenir for home, but I still prefer having it steamed at the restaurant. Thank you for the delicious eel seiro. I will come again!

Founded in the first year of the Shotoku era (1681), the original Honkichiya, the originator of steamed eel in a bamboo steamer in Yanagawa, has a branch at the Depachika of Fukuoka Tenjin Iwataya. On the midsummer day of the ox, tempted by the fragrant smell of eel everywhere, I planned to take it home and stopped by. I was going to take out grilled or boiled eel, but I couldn't resist the smell coming from the back kitchen and decided to eat in the corner instead ♫ Steamed eel 3905 yen (with liver and side dish) I thought it would take a long time to steam, but it was served in about 5 minutes. The eel is crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, very delicious ♡ The rice soaked in the secret sauce is dark in color but not too heavy, it's delicious. When I was a child, I was satisfied with just the rice with this sauce. It was a shame that I couldn't experience the atmosphere of the main store in the Depachika eat-in area, but in this day and age, it was just right for a quick meal.

Before my evening flight, I decided to do some last-minute sightseeing in Hakata, starting from the Senbonmon Gate to the Shotenji Temple where I saw the monument marking the origin of udon and manju. I also visited the Mermaid Mound, Kushida Shrine, Maizuru Park (site of Hakata Castle), and Gokoku Shrine on a temple and shrine tour. For my final lunch, I wanted to try steamed eel, so I went to Honkichiya Eat-in at the Iwataya underground food market. As always, the steamed rice was piping hot and soaked in the delicious flavor of the eel and sauce. The eel steamed rice dish may be more about savoring the flavor of the eel-infused rice than enjoying the eel itself. Thank you for the taste of Fukuoka.

The eat-in area at Iwataya's basement. There are only 3 seats, so I was lucky to find a seat!

Since I came all the way to Fukuoka, I decided to indulge in a luxurious meal starting from lunch. I had the special seiro steamed dish for 4,290 yen. I wonder how many years it has been since I last had it - it was very delicious. Thank you for the meal.

Quite ordinary...

Once-a-year health check-up is done. I gained a little weight compared to last year, but still within a safe range. It was tough this time with overlapping presentations. So, I treated myself to lunch at the "Original Motoyoshiya" in Iwataya Basement. It's a well-known eel restaurant in Yanagawa. The eel bowl costs 2900 yen. It comes with two pieces of eel and liver. It may seem a bit pricey compared to before. The rice is covered in sauce, and I enjoyed it with some sansho pepper sprinkled on top. I finished it deliciously. It's been a while since I had eel. There are only four seats at the counter, but they also provide explanations in English. Seems like they have many foreign customers, mostly from Asia. Bon appétit. Not sure when I'll be able to eat it again. Enjoyed the meal. **Restaurant Information** Original Motoyoshiya Phone: 092-721-1111 Address: Iwataya Honkan B2F, 2-5-35 Tenjin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka

In the Depachika (department store basement) of Tenjin's Iwataya main store, while browsing around, I found a shop called Motokichiya from Yanagawa, where Matsunaga Shuzo used to go before tennis matches in his student days! They are known for their steamed eel, but I chose the grilled eel for 4,301 yen. When dipped in sauce and eaten, the flesh is fluffy, the skin is crispy, and the best part is the area between the flesh and the skin. My eel-loving sister also had a blissful expression on her face.