If you’re looking for the best mentaiko rice bowl in Fukuoka, Japan, Ganso Hakata Mentaiju is one of the city’s most famous picks. Here’s what the wait was like, what we ordered, and whether the signature mentaiko rice bowl and tsukemen were actually worth it.
I booked this Hakata hotel in a rush for a last-minute summer trip to Fukuoka, and thankfully it turned out to be a great choice. If you want a clean, compact, well-located stay near Hakata Station with thoughtful amenities, this one is worth a look.
This was my very first meal in Fukuoka, and I went straight for one of the city’s most famous specialties: motsunabe at Ooyama in KITTE Hakata. From the horse sashimi platter to the rich, bubbling hot pot, it was a satisfying first taste of Fukuoka—especially with zero wait at 3:30 p.m.