koutagawa
"九州 はかた 大吉寿司," which is produced by "河太郎" and "河庄," both of which claim to be the originators of "Ikano Namazuri," a famous specialty in Hakata, opened in July 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic was spreading. Despite the prolonged challenging business conditions, they opened their second branch at "lala port Fukuoka" in April this year. I decided to visit "BOSS E・ZO FUKUOKA" to see for myself. Since it is an entertainment facility, it tends to get crowded on weekends, but the food court at the neighboring "MARK IS 福岡ももち" was bustling, while the food hall here was empty. Despite it being lunchtime, the restaurant had only three previous customers, making it quite lonely.
In such a situation, there were no sushi plates circulating on a conveyor belt. Sushi orders were placed using a touch panel, and the sushi was delivered to the table on a special express lane.
First, I tried the "Nagasaki Hon Maguro Chu-toro Gunkan." It's labeled as being from Nagasaki, but it's likely from Goto Island. The slightly dull color is disappointing, but it's rich in flavor due to being chu-toro (medium fatty tuna).
Next, I had the "Madai no Yuzu Kosho Fumi." The fish was firm, and the thinly sliced sea bream had a yuzu kosho (yuzu pepper) sauce on top, creating a refreshing spiciness that complemented the mild taste of the sea bream.
Following that, I enjoyed the "Hakata Aomon Sammai (Aji, Kanpachi, Saba)." Bluefish caught in the Genkai Sea has firm flesh and is exceptional in quality. The beautiful shine on the skin of the fresh mackerel was truly remarkable.
Then came the "Nagasaki Maguro Akamonsammai (Otoro, Chutoro, Akami)." Encouraged by the chu-toro, I indulged in a trio of luxurious tuna delights – the melting otoro, flavorful akami, and the opportunity to savor both with the chutoro.
As a side note, I tried the "Tennen Tai no Tempura." I imagined lightly fried, plump sea bream slices, but it seemed to be the same as the sushi topping. It was a bit disappointing.
To conclude, I had the "Kawataro's Ika Sammai (Yari Ika, Aori Ika, Goma Ika Gunkan)." When you think of Kawataro, it has to be squid. So, I enjoyed the crisp texture of the Yari Ika (spear squid) and the subtle sweetness of the highest-grade Aori Ika (bigfin reef squid).
When dining alone, you may not be able to enjoy many items, but having many three-piece plates like this is a delight.