In the second installment of the Miyawaka assignment series, there are few shops nearby so I drove quickly to a udon restaurant I spotted. I looked at the menu and couldn't decide between curry and ended up ordering the katsudon set. It arrived in less than 10 minutes. Isn't that fast? I thought as I took a bite of the udon - delicious! It's a thin, firm type of udon that I couldn't quite bite through with my front teeth. I took a bite of the katsu. Yummy! The seasoning was to my liking, but the katsu was just okay.

This is my second visit to Matoi-tei! It was crowded during lunch on weekdays, so I visited on a Sunday afternoon. My husband ordered kakiage udon and I had katsudon! The kakiage was freshly fried and crispy. The katsudon had a slightly strong seasoning, but it was delicious and I finished it all in no time due to its generous portion. I will definitely come back again.

I had the fried chicken set meal for the second time, and the fried chicken was delicious. The side dishes of pasta salad and steamed egg custard were also tasty. However, the white rice was not that great, and the price was a bit high. If these areas are improved, I would give it 4 stars.

After finishing my work, I had a meal. I ordered a tempura rice bowl and got one with egg on top and two shrimp. I also ordered a pork cutlet rice bowl for comparison! Both had the same broth. 😊

I passed by this restaurant countless times before, but this time, I finally decided to step inside. The place was crowded with plenty of seating available. I chose a booth seat. Inside the restaurant, there were chalkboard signs saying, "When in doubt, go for the Karaage Curry!" and "Highly recommended 1000 yen set meal - Katsu Tamago Don." There was also a signed color paper from the comedy duo Hanamaru-Daikichi on the wall, dated April of this year. I ordered the Matoi set meal, which included udon noodles, a side dish, kashiwa rice, and chawanmushi. The noodles were hand-made and had a slightly chewy texture, typical of Hakata-style udon. The broth was just right, not too salty or too bland. The kashiwa rice was fluffy and delicious. The chawanmushi was filled with ginkgo nuts, shrimp, kashiwa chicken, and shiitake mushrooms. The side dish was a vinegar-marinated okra and taro. I also tried the Gobo Tempura Udon, which had crispy and fluffy burdock tempura. The tempura was quite thick. The menu displays prices excluding tax, so be mindful of that when paying.

On the way to Munakata, we stopped for lunch. The menu included udon, fried set meals, curry, and rice bowls. The atmosphere was like a Showa-era drive-in. I ordered a pork cutlet bowl because the udon in Chikugo is usually not good. The taste was okay, not bad, but it didn't have enough charm to make me want to come back or recommend it. It might be okay if you treat it like buying a bento at a convenience store. The scrambled eggs were overcooked, which I didn't like. There is a fairly large parking lot so you don't have to worry about finding a spot for your car.

Near the Miyawaka IC, there is a restaurant where I used to eat regularly, around once a month, over 10 years ago. I always ordered the young chicken fried chicken set meal for 880 yen. I had the chance to visit the area recently and decided to stop by the restaurant. The place was just the same as before, with a spacious parking lot and the same interior layout with counter seats, table seats, and raised tatami seating. I sat at the counter as usual. The restaurant still had the self-service oshibori and tea. I ordered the young chicken fried chicken set meal as usual, and the kitchen staff took my order with a familiar "one young set meal" call. The fried chicken was still delicious, with a similar taste to the previous dragonfly-style fried chicken. The salad dressing was still the Southern Island flavor, and the parsley and cherry tomatoes were just as rustic. The chawanmushi still had ginkgo nuts in it, and the miso soup was still made with red miso. Everything was just like it used to be. The only difference was that I now take photos of the fried chicken set meal. I don't have many reasons to come to this area, but I would be happy to eat here again if I get the chance. Thank you for the meal today!

I went on a business trip to Fukuoka and was taken out by the director of the client company along with my colleagues. The day before, at an izakaya near Hakata Station, the burdock tempura was extremely delicious, so my colleagues and I ordered the burdock tempura udon set. The clients ordered the fried chicken set and the pork cutlet bowl. After about 5 minutes of waiting, the dishes arrived. The burdock tempura udon set came with a large burdock tempura on top of the udon, along with a side dish, flavored rice, and pickled vegetables. The udon had a bonito-flavored broth that was just right. The udon had a chewy texture when picked up with chopsticks, but when eaten, it was soft and had a good elasticity, very chewy. The burdock tempura had a nice crunch but was very tender, and went well with the udon. The flavored rice had the perfect level of seasoning for chicken rice, and was also delicious. There was also a chawanmushi included, so I was completely full. (920 yen) The clients' fried chicken set and pork cutlet bowl were both very generous in portion size. The fried chicken set came with five large pieces of fried chicken, a side dish, and pickles, all for a good deal at 880 yen. The pork cutlet bowl was also served in a large bowl with a delicious looking runny egg on top, for 750 yen. It was a long time since I had enjoyed such delicious udon. Thank you for the meal.

Located near Miyawaka Interchange, this is a place to visit when you want to eat a hearty meal. The exterior has a local drive-in feel, and it gives off an aura that you wouldn't visit unless recommended by someone (lol). Inside, there are unique handmade tables and chairs. I usually go for the safe option of ordering the fried chicken set. The juicy and large pieces of fried chicken, about 5-6 pieces, along with a side dish and my favorite chawanmushi, make it perfect for those who enjoy hearty meals. I will definitely visit again when I want to eat a lot.

Visited the restaurant for lunch. It was one of the places I had wanted to try for a while. The parking lot didn't have designated spaces, so I wasn't sure where to park my car. Inside, the counter was sideways with box seats on either end, a layout I hadn't seen before and felt quite strange. Looking at the menu, I thought the prices were a bit high. With about two-thirds of the customers there, they must be confident in their food. I ended up choosing the fried chicken set meal (a classic choice when unsure). It arrived in just 3 minutes, very fast. Visually, it wasn't very appealing. The presentation lacked color. The vegetables were average, with a side dish of eggplant and some kind of green beans. The cucumber pickles were a bit bland. The steamed egg custard was lacking in flavor and ingredients. The fried chicken didn't have a strong saltiness and the appearance wasn't appetizing, with dark spots. The meat was juicy but the seasoning was lacking. The rice was a bit too moist and compact, not fluffy. Despite the generous portion, the meal felt lacking overall. To my surprise, the bill was higher than I expected. The fried chicken set meal was 880 yen, but with tax added, it came to 950 yen. It seems like they increased the price due to the consumption tax hike. Quite disappointing.

Today's lunch was at Matoi-tei, a restaurant I often visit when working nearby. I ordered the chicken tempura set, and my junior colleague ordered the pork cutlet bowl. We arrived a little early, so we didn't have to wait long for our food to arrive. The chicken tempura set came with five large pieces of chicken tempura, salad, a side dish, steamed egg custard, pickles, extra rice, and miso soup. The side dish today was simmered radish, and the salad always comes with a cherry tomato. The miso soup was made with red miso. The chicken tempura was juicy and flavorful, with a strong garlic and pepper seasoning that made the extra rice disappear quickly! The pork cutlet bowl was also delicious, with a thick and large cutlet. All the dishes were generous in portion and left us feeling full. If there is a Matoi-tei nearby, I will definitely continue to visit regularly. It can get crowded during lunchtime, but the turnover is quick, so I think you can find a seat with a short wait. I will definitely be back when I'm in the area!