G‐G-MOMOCHI
Located in Fukuoka City, Chuo Ward, right in front of the "Genkai Sea" and offering fresh seafood from the "Japan Sea" and "East China Sea," the Fukuoka City Central Wholesale Market Fish Market, also known as Nagahama Fish Market, is one of the top seafood markets in the country. On the 13th floor of the market's office building, there is a food court where you can find a Japanese restaurant called "Ikkai Ikkuei." Opened in Heisei 25, the restaurant is currently run by the second-generation chef, Masaya Fujita, along with two other chefs and female staff members. They offer a variety of seafood dishes, with their most popular dish being the "seafood bowl" served with an original soy sauce-based sauce with honey as a secret ingredient. The restaurant caters not only to market insiders but also to the general public, and is open from 8 am to 10 pm, with continuous service, including Sundays. The restaurant has become popular among tourists from both within and outside the prefecture, as well as overseas visitors. They have a wide selection of fish dishes, including fried, grilled, and simmered options, to cater to those who may not enjoy raw fish. By incorporating the needs of inbound tourists, the restaurant has become very successful, with up to 600 visitors a day when cruise ships dock in Hakata Bay. I have been a frequent visitor to this restaurant since its opening, and it is the most convenient among the seven shops in the 1st-floor food court of the market office building, as it is open year-round and offers continuous service from morning till night. Today, I visited the restaurant for lunch and decided to try their tempura dish. The restaurant has a cozy interior with a long counter facing the kitchen, a couple of tables, and a spacious tatami seating area at the back. The staff welcomed me warmly, and I ordered their tempura rice bowl. The dish was served with a generous portion of tempura on a bed of rice, including shrimp, fish, vegetables, and eel with a flavorful sauce. The set also included sashimi, a side dish, miso soup, and pickles, all of which were delicious. Overall, it was a satisfying and enjoyable dining experience.