This is a restaurant chosen by a friend living in Fukuoka to eat Hakata specialties. We occupied a raised tatami area with 7 people for a party. We entered the restaurant as soon as it opened at 5 pm. The restaurant seemed to have only raised tatami seating, all of which were reserved. A couple with a baby who came without a reservation were unfortunately turned away. We started with a toast with draft beer, and then 7 types of appetizers were served, one for each person. There were dishes like whale bacon and sea snails, which were very appealing and caused a bit of a fight as we couldn't share them. One of the highlights was the "sesame mackerel" dish, with mackerel sashimi covered in plenty of ground sesame and garnished with green onions. Mixing it all together and tasting it was delightful, with the fresh mackerel slices melting in the sweet sauce. The aroma of sesame was wonderful, making us crave more alcohol. Surprisingly, my friend was already drinking alcohol. They were enjoying a sake called 5038, which is an original sake from the restaurant "Hajime no Ippo". It paired perfectly with the sesame mackerel and was delicious. Another highlight was the "squid" dish, which we had requested when making the reservation. It was a large live squid sashimi, and it was amazing. The squid was so fresh and the texture was perfect, especially when dipped in rich Kyushu soy sauce. The squid tentacles were also deep-fried and tasted delicious when dipped in tempura sauce. We paired this dish with "Kojiya" junmai ginjo sake, which was from a sake brewery in Yame City. We also enjoyed dishes like grilled fish, fried chicken, fried horse mackerel, and fried taro, all of which were delicious. The meal ended with a tea-infused rice dish topped with large chunks of mentaiko (spicy cod roe). Overall, all the Kyushu specialties were delicious, and we definitely want to visit this restaurant again to try the live eel sashimi we missed out on this time.

⭐️The restaurant was really bad, possibly it used to be popular and delicious in the past. There were many pictures and autographs of celebrities displayed, but the service and food were all disappointing, so I left feeling unpleasant. It was really unfortunate. If I had paid around ¥15,000, I could have gone to a much better restaurant in Fukuoka. I trusted the recommendations of someone who had suggested a few good restaurants in Fukuoka, so I had high hopes even for the ¥3,000 sashimi (pictured is for 2 people)… It was a shock. Perhaps the skilled chef had left… I don't know the reason. I hope they update their ratings with recent information. Even the complimentary 'tokoroten' and the mackerel sashimi were disappointing. I reluctantly ate the 'gomasaba', but I wish they would improve their service and attitude. The other staff members were similar. It felt like they lacked consideration… I gave up and left the restaurant. To avoid feeling like this while on a trip, I hope they update their outdated information and make improvements. 🙍‍♀️

I visited for lunch. The lunch set seemed to be the main option, but since I had eaten breakfast not long ago, I asked if I could order individual items. They kindly informed me that they could prepare a menu for that. I ordered sesame mackerel, sesame amberjack, and fried taro, and all the dishes were delicious. It's a bit unfortunate that lunch cannot be reserved by phone, but I think it's a wonderful restaurant. Thank you for the meal.

The weekday lunch prices have increased by about 200 yen, but for 1,200 yen, I am completely satisfied with the taste and portion size. Maybe the cost performance was too good before. I was planning to have the sea bream tea rice bowl for lunch, but they didn't have sea bream available today. Today's tea-marinated rice bowl featured yellowtail and tuna. I was told that you can also have the tea-marinated rice bowl with the yellowtail, but not with the tuna because it would make it too acidic. So, I enjoyed the tuna as it is in the rice bowl and half of the yellowtail in the rice bowl and the other half as tea-marinated. Tempura, chawanmushi, pickles, and various side dishes were also included. Completely satisfied. Thank you for the meal.

I ordered the following dishes: - Squid sashimi (recommended) - Sesame mackerel (recommended) - Deep-fried taro - Deep-fried red snapper - Conger eel rolled in broth - Simmered collar of amberjack The last order was a bit early, but it was a very satisfying izakaya experience.

There was a long line even before the store opened, and those without reservations were not allowed in. It seems like they were fully booked. I had reserved a private room seafood course. There was an additional fee of about 2,000 yen for the private room, but it was worth it considering how busy it was. The sesame mackerel sauce was delicious, so I bought just the sauce as a souvenir. The squid sashimi was also delicious with a nice texture. I later had it made into tempura, which turned out to be a generous portion. Even the ochazuke at the end was satisfying in terms of flavor and portion size. However, I felt that the overall taste was a bit strong, and the prices seemed geared towards tourists.

When traveling to Fukuoka, be sure to visit this restaurant and try the local specialty dish "Goma Saba". It is recommended to make a reservation in advance. The staff here is friendly and efficient. Must-try menu items include Goma Saba and live squid sashimi.

Gomasaba set meal~! I finally got to visit the restaurant I've been curious about for a long time ^_^ When it comes to taking the first step, it has to be the gomasaba, so I ordered the gomasaba set meal~ It didn't have any fishy smell, but it was lacking the soft and chewy texture that I was expecting. The set meal included tempura, fried taro, sashimi konjac?, chawanmushi, miso soup, all of which were delicious, but not outstanding. The chawanmushi was quite cold, which was disappointing. I had high expectations when I went, so I was a bit underwhelmed by the overall experience. It was a weekday lunch so it was easy to get in, the service was great, and the food came out quickly, which were all nice points!

I visited "Hajime no Ippo" for lunch near Hakata Station, about a 5-minute walk away. This seafood izakaya has been loved for over 30 years. They have their own fish tank in Tsushima and deliver directly to Hakata to ensure freshness. - Store: The restaurant is located on the first floor of a building a little off the main street. When you open the door, the staff greets you warmly. The interior has many raised tatami seating areas, with sunken kotatsu-style seating. Calm music plays in the background. The hallway is filled with autographs of famous people, including a photo of Director Hara in his younger days, giving a sense of the restaurant's 30-year history. I arrived at 12:50 pm and got seated immediately without waiting. - Menu: I was interested in the weekday special daily set meal. It includes a choice of tempura or menchi-katsu, rice bowl steamed egg, pickles, and a small dish for a surprising 1200 yen! This time, I decided to go for the ★Seafood pickled rice bowl set meal (without fried food) for 990 yen. It arrived in about 5 minutes. - Seafood pickled rice bowl: Thick slices of amberjack that are incredibly fresh and firm! It's amazing. When you take a bite, it's so tender and bouncy! The slightly sweet sauce has soaked in just right. The sesame here is delicious! It's generously sprinkled and has a fragrant taste. A perfect balance of flavors that brings out the umami of the fish. Of course, it ends with a tea-soaked rice. - Rice bowl steamed egg: It's nice that it comes out piping hot. The ingredients include shiitake mushrooms, imitation crab, and Mitsuba. The broth is a bit mild, with a gentle seasoning. - Miso soup: Ingredients include daikon radish, wakame seaweed, and green onions. This miso soup is quite delicious. The broth and miso have an exquisite balance. I was a bit surprised because many places in this area tend to have a stronger broth, but this was perfect for me as someone from the Kanto region. - Pickles: Soy sauce pickled radish? A palate cleanser. - Side dish: Cold tofu. Just regular tofu. Overall, I think it's amazing to be able to enjoy such high-quality amberjack for under 1,000 yen. The staff's service is also pleasant. I'm curious about their dinner menu as well. Thank you for the meal.

I thought I wouldn't go back, but I ended up going to this restaurant that my colleague had reserved as a last-minute replacement. The drinks took too long to arrive and were expensive. The price of the drinks was simply too high. If the drinks had arrived faster, it would have been even more expensive. I don't think this is a restaurant where you should pay 25,000 yen for three people.

On the first night in Fukuoka, full of expectations, we headed to "Hajimeno Ippo". We had made a reservation for 5 pm, so the restaurant was still quite empty when we arrived. However, by the time we left, it was completely full. The interior had a warm and cozy traditional Japanese tavern atmosphere. We started with a toast of sweet potato shochu soda. The first dish that appeared in front of us was fresh squid sashimi. The transparent flesh had a firm texture and a sweet aroma that filled our mouths. It was a truly impressive experience that we rarely get in Tokyo. Other highlights included the sesame mackerel, grouper, bluefin tuna, and sea urchin sashimi, all of which were exquisite. It was a perfect start to our culinary journey through Kyushu. While the bill was not cheap, considering the quality and satisfaction we received, it was well worth it.

On the first day of my business trip to Hakata, I made a reservation at a restaurant near Hakata Station for a social gathering with clients. I recommended the live squid sashimi and sesame mackerel from Tokyo. It was a big hit. I regret not ordering a little more now. I left the food ordering to the Fukuoka staff. We had sashimi platter, mentaiko omelette, bamboo shoot tempura, delicious sake, and we were satisfied. Since I had a bit of room in my stomach, I moved to Nakasu area!

I had my first visit at this place and ordered a sashimi platter with sesame mackerel and sesame amberjack, among others. The sashimi was of high quality, especially the famous sesame mackerel and sesame amberjack, which were beautifully arranged. Since there was a two-hour time limit, I didn't have a chance to try any rice dishes, but I would like to try them next time if I have the opportunity.

This was my second visit. I was planning to have a drink with sesame mackerel, but it took a while to place an order. I ordered the sesame mackerel, but the table next to us got their order before us! The sake that came was only a small serving for the table, so I finished it quickly. Since we were short on time, we decided to leave. I understand that the restaurant was busy.

Visited this place on a Fukuoka tour. Made a reservation and arrived before 5 pm. Waited a bit and entered at 5 pm. The weather was nice that day, and they had fresh squid and sesame mackerel. They were incredibly delicious! And the mentaiko (spicy cod roe) was amazing. It was the best I've ever had. The alcohol paired well and made it a fantastic night.

I arrived at lunchtime, so I waited a bit at the entrance before entering and being seated. I ordered the sashimi assorted set meal (1200 yen), which came with sashimi, tempura, rice, miso soup, pickles, and a small side dish. It was a generous portion and reasonably priced. I would definitely want to visit this restaurant again when I come to Hakata.

When I went to Hakata, I really wanted to eat mackerel, but many places were fully booked for dinner. I searched on Tabelog and found this place for lunch. The sesame mackerel set meal costs 2178 yen. It comes with sesame mackerel, tempura or minced cutlet, and several side dishes. The items other than mackerel were decent, nothing special. The sesame mackerel is not a specific type of fish, but rather mackerel sliced thinly and marinated in a sesame and soy sauce dressing. It's a common dish in Fukuoka, often found in izakayas. It has a chewy texture and tastes fresh. It goes well with rice. It's delicious! However, there was too much rice, and it became a bit overwhelming towards the end. I think it would be better to come at night for some sake with the sesame mackerel.

Fukuoka is a restaurant located about a 5-minute walk from Hakata Station. It seems to be an izakaya in a quiet location, but it stands out with a large sign that says "Gomakampachi/Gomasaba". During lunchtime, it gets crowded with nearby office workers. It's recommended to arrive early as there may be a line. The lunch menu offers many attractive options. This time, I ordered the popular Gomasaba set meal. The main dish is sesame mackerel and tempura, accompanied by two small side dishes of mentaiko and taro, chawanmushi, rice, and miso soup. The tempura is brought to you freshly made. The sesame mackerel is delicious with a fresh taste and a nice texture. It's generously topped with green onions and soy sauce, and you can also enjoy it as ochazuke at the end. It's a good place to have a peaceful meal before indulging in Fukuoka's many gourmet experiences.

I have never seen such beautifully prepared live squid and sesame mackerel before! The squid was fresh and sweet, as you can see in the photo, and the mackerel had a crisp cut with plenty of sesame, green onions, and a slightly sweet soy sauce that complemented it well. The mentaiko tamagoyaki was fluffy and delicious. This time, I had to rush to eat within 1 hour and 30 minutes of the restaurant opening, so next time I will make a reservation and take my time to enjoy the meal. The menu is really enticing! It was truly delicious, thank you for the meal!

About a week ago, I made a reservation for one with sesame mackerel and fresh squid at a counter seat in a raised tatami area. The sesame mackerel arrived promptly, but I had to wait about 5 minutes before I could ask for a drink menu as the staff seemed busy and I wasn't sure if I could call out to them. Eventually, I got a Red Star beer and started my meal. The sesame mackerel, even though it was meant for two people, was easily manageable for one. I was anxious about the price of the squid until the bill came, which was 3410 yen plus tax. The appetizer was some kind of whale dish (I forgot the name) with spicy vinegar miso, which I enjoyed as I like that flavor. I made a mistake by ordering mostly fried foods like sand lance and taro along with the tempura I had planned. I had high hopes for the squid after being impressed by the one I had in Hakata, but unfortunately, it didn't meet my expectations. Some reviews mentioned that the staff seemed indifferent, but I found them busy yet not overly stressed, which was reassuring. I think this place is better suited for locals having gatherings rather than travelers like me.

Before returning to Kyoto, I had lunch at Goma Saba Yasan. It's about a 5-minute walk from Hakata Station Hakata Exit. The interior of the restaurant has a traditional Japanese feel with mostly tatami seating. Since it was crowded, I sat at the counter. Surprisingly, the Goma Saba set meal was sold out even though it was still early afternoon. However, they had Goma Saba donburi available, which was a bit strange. The quality of the mackerel itself was decent, but nothing particularly outstanding. I personally didn't enjoy the fact that the rice with the Goma Saba on top was warm. The set meal was priced at around 2000 yen, which seemed quite expensive for Fukuoka. While there were many autographs of famous people, including baseball players, on the walls, indicating that it's a well-known restaurant, I don't plan on visiting again.