I lined up 15 minutes before the opening, but there was already a long line. By the time they opened, the line had become incredibly long. There were quite a few people lined up in front of us, but since the restaurant was spacious with many seats, we were able to get in on the first turn. When we sat down, we were served tempura dipping sauce and salted fish roe. Then the rice arrived. (The photo shows the large portion) I was eating rice with the salted fish roe until the tempura arrived, and it was delicious enough on its own. I hadn't eaten salted fish roe without intestines much before, but it was refreshing with less salt than regular salted fish roe. The fact that it was all-you-can-eat was great! The tempura comes out one piece at a time. It was hot and crispy, freshly fried! I ate them right away, so there are not many photos, but they were all delicious. I especially liked the camembert cheese and conger eel that I ordered extra. I was surprised by how big the conger eel was! I think I liked the bell peppers among the vegetables. These bell peppers were also very large! The combination of plenty of grated daikon radish with the tempura dipping sauce and tempura was the best. With all-you-can-eat salted fish roe, rice, and tempura dipping sauce, it's a paradise for foodies. And it's less than 1000 yen, which is incredibly cost-effective! This type of restaurant is not found in Tokyo, so I would love to visit again when I'm in Fukuoka.

I visited during lunch break on a day off - there were about 20 people waiting! Ordered a set meal under 1,000 yen + a few a la carte dishes. As always, the taste was amazing and the wait time was worth it! The salted fish was delicious too. Personally, I recommend the "sasami" (chicken tenderloin) - it's very filling and great value for the price!! Thank you for the meal~

The popular tempura restaurant among locals is located just under 2 kilometers from the domestic flight boarding area at Fukuoka Airport, which may be a slight distance but not an issue for locals who drive. Arriving around 12:00 on a weekday, there was a line stretching outside the shop. Upon reaching the entrance, you purchase a meal ticket from the ticket machine. After purchasing, you wait inside the shop holding onto your ticket until your turn comes. The shop is set up in a counter style, making it easy to serve tempura. This time, I wanted to try the tempura with mentaiko (spicy cod roe) so I ordered the "Ebi定食" which included soft shell shrimp, delicious all the way to the tip. The hokke (Okhotsk atka mackerel) was a bit small but tender and tasty, the mentaiko and tsuputsubu were all delicious. The kabocha (pumpkin) was sweet and tasty, the nasu (eggplant) was a bit thin but juicy, the piiman (green pepper) was quite large and had a good texture. The ika (squid) was also a bit thin but quite large and satisfying to eat. They served the tempura hot and fresh one after another at this price point, so it's no wonder it's so popular. However, the wave of rising prices had also reached here as the popular "ika no shiokara" (salted squid innards) was no longer available for seconds.

I came to eat here for the first time in 10 years since high school! I waited for about 50 minutes with the same excitement as back then, but it was worth the wait! I added chicken thigh to the tempura set meal and the rice portion was just right to make me full! I am very satisfied! I would love to come back when I visit Fukuoka again!

A tempura restaurant located about a 15-minute walk from Fukuoka Airport. If you go 30 minutes before opening, there will already be about ten people in line. The restaurant is spacious, but it's best to arrive early. I ordered the assorted tempura set which included conger eel, shrimp, chicken breast, pumpkin, eggplant, green pepper, and squid tempura. Each piece was freshly fried and served as soon as it was ready, which was delightful. They were all delicious. The sauce was soy-based and not too sweet, which was refreshing. The best part was the squid sashimi served as a complimentary side dish. It had no fishy taste, and the citrus flavor in it made it very enjoyable. Highly recommended.

It's been a while since I got seated without waiting in line! Lucky. It was a good timing to come on a weekday at 7 PM. After I got seated, about 10 people lined up. It's definitely popular. I had the okonomi set meal for 990 yen. It seems like it's finally reaching 1,000 yen. Prices have gone up. I also got some grated radish as an extra. First, I tried the white fish. Mmm, delicious! Oops, I forgot to take a picture. I started with the pork tempura instead. It was hot, crispy, and delicious! The pork tempura was delicious. The flatfish was delicious. The miso soup was delicious. The salted squid was delicious. It's a shame that the squid wasn't spear squid, but it was still tasty. Thank you for the meal.

It had been a long time since I last visited. There were a lot of changes, which surprised me. The line was still long as usual, no matter if I tried to avoid lunchtime or aim for a less crowded time. But the turnover is fast, so if you wait for about 20 minutes, you can get delicious tempura. One thing that changed was that there were partitions set up for each seat. Also, my favorite yuzu squid was now served one plate per person. I love Hirao not only for their delicious tempura but also for the yuzu squid, which was half the reason I came. It used to be all-you-can-eat, so my favorite thing was to eat rice with squid before the tempura arrived. But now that's gone. It's probably due to the rise in prices or anti-terrorism measures for dining out, but it's extremely disappointing. Previously, they also had pickled radish and pickled Chinese cabbage, but they were all gone. It's a shame. The tempura was still consistently delicious, freshly fried and irresistible. I sincerely hope it returns to its previous state soon. Thank you for the meal.

I decided to visit this place before heading from Fukuoka to Haneda as it seems that Fukuoka business trips will be paused for a while. I took the subway to Fukuoka Airport and then took a bus to get there. It's four bus stops away, and although I could have walked, it was hot and I was short on time, so I opted for the bus. I checked the menu on the bus! I arrived on Thursday at 6 pm. There was no line, so I entered smoothly. First, I purchased food tickets at the ticket machine. I ordered the colorful set meal (small) (960 yen), white fish (150 yen), and bottled beer (600 yen). I entered with my food ticket, and the long and narrow dining area was all counter seats. There were three frying stations, and I was directed to go towards the back. Each frying station had two chefs frying away. In addition to that, another staff member served tempura dipping sauce, rice, miso soup, and the famous salted fish roe. The bustling atmosphere of a busy restaurant was palpable. When I handed over my food ticket, I was served tempura dipping sauce, chopsticks, and an oil drain basket, and the beer arrived. Without delay, the salted fish roe, rice, miso soup, and tempura started coming out. The colorful set meal includes conger eel, shrimp, chicken tenderloin, squid, and three vegetables. First, the shrimp and conger eel arrived. Starting with the shrimp, the tempura dipping sauce was a dark-colored broth with a tablespoon of grated daikon radish. It was a sweet type, not too spicy or too sweet, just right. The shrimp was crispy on the outside and moist inside, freshly fried! Delicious! The conger eel had a thick flesh, satisfying to eat, and moist inside. There was no salt or shichimi (seven-spice blend). Only tempura dipping sauce and tempura were present. Next were the chicken tenderloin and pumpkin. The pumpkin was crispy, and the chicken tenderloin was tender. This is amazing! The salted fish roe bounced on top of the rice and revealed that choosing the small meal was a mistake. The salted fish roe is completely different from regular salted fish roe. It felt like a lightly pickled squid. The rice goes well with the salted fish roe. Next were eggplant and white fish. Ah, bliss. Finally, green pepper and squid. I forgot to take a picture, I was too engrossed in eating (laughs). As I ate, all that was left was the beer and miso soup. This place is more suited for eating tempura heartily with rice rather than savoring it while drinking alcohol. On the way out, I bought salted fish roe (large) (1,200 yen) and left the restaurant. Ah, it was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

This place is a must-visit. Fukuoka's soul food "Tempura Shop Hira" always has a long line. It's a fast food style counter-only restaurant. They serve freshly fried tempura, but my favorite is actually the salted squid. They use no preservatives or innards, and it has a yuzu flavor that you can eat as much as you want. It's sad that they no longer offer all-you-can-eat, but it's still the best. I buy a large amount to take home and eat! They even have a salted squid vending machine outside. Fukuoka residents are lucky to be able to buy Hira's salted squid 24 hours a day.

At Tempura restaurant "Hirao" - where you can learn about reality. Hirao is a popular Tempura restaurant in Hakata. It has the perfect combination of being delicious, affordable, and fast. It was featured on a TV show in the past. I was taken there after a long time. I bought the usual favorite set meal ticket and waited. Wait, what?! It was supposed to be all-you-can-eat but the container of squid salted guts that was on the table disappeared and was replaced with a small dish! It seems that this change was made due to the drastic decrease in squid catch. This is unavoidable. Global warming, overfishing, and various other factors have affected even a place like this. I hope it will be revived. It's disappointing because I was looking forward to it, but the deliciousness of the freshly fried hot Tempura was still there!

When you arrive in Fukuoka, be sure to visit here first! Head to the main store of Tempura Hirao. I lined up before the opening at 10:30. Since it was a weekday, I thought it wouldn't be too bad, but before opening, there was already a long line. You choose your favorite set meal from a vending machine. This time, I chose a set meal with a good balance of seafood and vegetables. It comes with a serving of salted fish roe, miso soup, and rice. The freshly fried tempura is placed on a tray one by one, so you dip it in plenty of grated radish and eat it with tempura dipping sauce. Everything is delicious, but the squid and eggplant were especially delicious. And the squid roe, tempura, and rice go really well together! I thought the rice portion might be too much, but I ended up eating it all in no time. The system of the restaurant is well organized, and the staff is efficient, so the turnover of customers is quick. Even if there is a line, you can surprisingly eat quickly. Ah, I'm satisfied. When you come to Fukuoka, you must visit this place. Thank you for the meal again this time!

Fukuoka Airport is a 20-minute walk away, or a 5-minute bus ride to Sekeya Kaikan bus stop, a 1-minute walk from the restaurant "Tempura Shop Hirao Main Store". This time, I purchased a meal ticket. Ordered the colorful set meal for ¥980. Arrived by bus around 10:50 on Saturday and found a long line! The line extended outside, but it moved fairly quickly at the counter seats. There are 2 ticket machines right after entering, and there are plenty of sofas with air conditioning. Most menu items are under ¥1000. I chose this place because I wanted to eat conger eel. All items are served with dipping sauce, not just salt. If it runs out, they will refill it for you. The set includes shrimp, chicken, squid, and 3 kinds of vegetables. The green peppers were really delicious. Maybe it's just me, but I feel like green peppers are delicious everywhere in Fukuoka. Another specialty besides tempura is the salted fish roe. It has a hint of yuzu and is quite delicious. I saw someone buying a large amount for takeout. It seems to be popular among fans. The portion size is decent and you will be quite full. It was a very satisfying lunch!

Every time I go back to Fukuoka, I feel like going to Hira-o. Friday at 12:30, as expected, there was a line. I waited while reading a travel magazine, and the hour passed quickly. Since all seats are counter style, most people eat silently without chatting, so the turnover is fast. The portion size of the salted cod roe was reduced to one plate per person, but it was still a satisfying amount. They have added a new set with mentaiko tempura!

I wanted to eat here before watching a soccer game. As usual, there was a long line, but surprisingly the turnover was fast and I was able to eat after waiting for about 20 minutes. I ordered the mackerel tempura set because I was craving mackerel. The fish, squid, vegetables, everything was freshly fried and crispy, and quite satisfying. Personally, the miso soup and squid shiokara were delicious. The quality of the shiokara was so good that I couldn't believe it used to be all-you-can-eat. There are many menu options, so I would like to come back when I visit again.

Whenever I go, there's always a long line! But the staff work so efficiently that the turnover is fast! Due to the coronavirus pandemic, they sometimes run out of side dishes, but it was still delicious! The salted squid was served in a small dish and it was so tasty! This place has the best salted squid! Salted squid makes a great souvenir.

Fresh ingredients cooked right in front of you. The tempura dipping sauce is excellent. Each staff member has a different role, but their efficient movements and great teamwork are evident. I lined up outside the restaurant 45 minutes before opening, and I left feeling satisfied and happy. The food was delicious.

Fukuoka Bullet Tour Part 1: Tempura Hirao Main Store. It had been a while since my last visit. I didn't keep a log, but during the time of COVID, I was able to enter without much of a wait. This time, despite the dangerous heat that made me worry about heatstroke, there was a huge line! As usual, I was able to sit at the counter after about 40 minutes of waiting.

"Hiraoka," known as the soul food of Fukuoka, is a place I have been wanting to visit since seeing it on TV. I visited for lunch with a friend who lives in Fukuoka. When I requested "Hiraoka is good," my friend was surprised and said, "Is that okay?" It must be a part of daily life for locals. The restaurant had a long line inside and outside, but as everyone has mentioned, there are many seats and the turnover is fast, so we didn't have to wait long (about 15 minutes?). There was one disappointing thing - I was looking forward to the salted fish being all-you-can-eat, but it seems that from June, it is limited to one plate per person. It's a shame, but given the current situation, it's understandable. The salted fish had a strong yuzu flavor and no bones, making it easy to eat and refreshing. I wanted to eat more... I ordered the "Irodori set meal" for 990 yen, which includes conger eel, shrimp, chicken, squid, and three kinds of vegetables (today's were pumpkin, green pepper, and eggplant), along with rice and soup. The dishes are served hot one after another, which is nice. The batter is crispy. Since the food is fried quickly, it accumulates on the grill, but it's much better than all coming out at once. The conger eel and shrimp were delicious, and considering you get change from a 1,000 yen bill, the cost performance is quite high. I would like to visit again when I come to Fukuoka next time. Thank you for the meal!

I went to "Hirao," a tempura restaurant next to the airport after a long time. It's a popular place that is often featured on various national TV shows, so it's usually crowded and hard to get in. This time, around 6 pm, there seemed to be some available seats, so I decided to go in. It was delicious as always. However, the only disappointment was that the serving of salted squid was small, and you couldn't get seconds. It seems that there is a serious shortage of squid. In the past, they used to have a big plate of salted squid on the table for all-you-can-eat. I bought four packs of frozen salted squid from the vending machine on my way home. Oh, I forgot to mention the tempura itself. The tempura set included three types of fish (mackerel, kisu, white fish), three types of vegetables, and squid tempura, totaling seven items. The photo was taken after eating the white fish.

Hakata Airport's popular tempura restaurant, Hanao-san, lives up to its reputation with long lines. I waited for 50 minutes. The mixed tempura set included white fish, shrimp, pork, kabocha squash, eggplant, green pepper, and squid with a perfect chewy texture. The squid's aroma was outstanding! The tempura dipping sauce had a flavor that becomes addictive. Thank you for the delicious meal! #HakataGourmet #PopularRestaurantTaste

At 10:10 on a public holiday, under the scorching sun ❗️, it suddenly appears along the outer perimeter of Fukuoka Airport. There's nothing around, but there are already 10 people waiting. They say to buy meal tickets in advance, which is convenient because it's so hot. 😂 I added a set meal and kisu to my order. At 30 minutes, I entered the restaurant, which has 54 counter seats, but not everyone could sit on the first go-around, and there were about 50 people waiting. It was surprising to see around 100 people lined up. Rice, miso soup, and salted fish guts were served, and the salted fish guts were delicious! Then came tempura, one piece at a time: mackerel, spicy cod roe, soft-shell shrimp, pumpkin, kisu, bell pepper, eggplant, and squid. You can add tempura dipping sauce and grated daikon, and they also provide salt. Everything was fresh, crispy, and delicious. The best part is that it's cheap. But why here...?