*Prices include tax.
Why is "Motsunabe" a Fukuoka specialty?
To help you enjoy motsunabe even more, let's take a look at its origins.
"Motsunabe" is a dish where you can enjoy plenty of beef and pork offal, as well as vegetables such as cabbage and Chinese chives. Its roots date back to after World War II. It is said that the origin of "Motsunabe" was a soy sauce-flavored dish made by cooking offal and Chinese chives in an aluminum pot, which became popular in Fukuoka. *There are various theories.
"Motsunabe" was originally a soul food for local residents, but it suddenly became popular nationwide around 2000. It attracted attention among young women, who thought "motsu is rich in collagen, and you can also get a good amount of vegetables, which is good for your beauty." Since then, it has become increasingly popular, and is now one of the local dishes that is loved by local residents as well as tourists from Japan and abroad.
"Motsunabe" first started out as a soy sauce flavor, but recently, a variety of flavors such as miso, salt, tomato, etc. have appeared one after another. We will introduce five such restaurants, focusing on the unique features of each restaurant.
Enjoy a luxurious meal in the "Hakata Motsunabe Oyama Miyako Hotel Hakata"
Miyako Hotel Hakata opened in 2019 as a new landmark in Hakata. The hotel is conveniently connected to Hakata Station and just a one-minute walk away, and inside it opened the popular restaurant Hakata Motsunabe Oyama, which has nine branches in Fukuoka. The luxurious, Japanese-modern interior, with a wood motif, includes private rooms, open seating, and booth seating, making it suitable for a variety of occasions.
Oyama's proud offal is made only from domestic beef. Only the plump small intestines of young cows with plenty of fat are carefully selected, so it melts in your mouth. "Motsunabe" is available in three flavors: "Mizutaki-style" with original ponzu sauce, "soy sauce flavor" with a mild taste, and the classic "miso flavor" (each 1,793 yen per person). The recommended flavor is the "miso flavor," which is a blend of several types of miso, including Kyushu miso and Saikyo miso, with Oyama's special sauce added. The collagen from the offal blends perfectly with the miso, creating a deep, rich and delicious taste.
There is a wide variety of a la carte dishes, so you will be overwhelmed! The most recommended dish is the "Hakata Wagyu Cold Roast" (2,508 yen), which is only available at the Miyako Hotel. Enjoy the roast beef, packed with the delicious flavor of wagyu beef, with a special sauce and wasabi.
In addition, the "Ooyama Course" (5,200 yen, can be ordered from two people) which consists of eight dishes allows you to enjoy the charms of Ooyama to the fullest, including not only "Motsunabe" and "Cold Roast Hakata Wagyu Beef," but also vinegared offal, mentaiko, and a platter of horse sashimi delivered directly from Kumamoto.
Hakata Motsunabe Oyama Miyako Hotel Hakata
address | : | Miyako Hotel 2F, 2-1-1 Hakata Station East, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture |
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phone | : | 092-411-5071 |
business hours | : | 12:00-23:00 (Food last order 22:00, drinks last order 22:30) *Lunch is served until 15:00 |
Closed Day | : | none |
access | : | Directly connected to JR Hakata Station |
web | : | https://www.motu-ooyama.com/ |
The key to success at Motsunabe Ichifuji Hakata is the unique blend of miso, which is made with great care.
Motsunabe Ichifuji has three stores in Fukuoka city. The Hakata store is particularly conveniently located, just a three-minute walk from the Hakata exit of Hakata Station.
After receiving an order, vegetables and tripe are simmered in a broth made from kelp and bonito to extract the flavor. Each pot is prepared over time to create a delicate flavor, which is the "Ichifuji style." The soup based on this is available in three varieties: the traditional "soy sauce," the "ponzu" which is light and garlic-free, and has a mizutaki-style flavor, and the "miso" which is a unique blend (each 1,694 yen per person).
The most popular item is the miso. The miso is carefully strained and blended in a unique way to create a rich, deep flavor not found in other restaurants. They also put a little extra effort into the garlic, which is essential to motsunabe. While many restaurants use sliced garlic, Ichifuji uses freshly grated garlic from Aomori Prefecture, considering how well it pairs with the miso. They are also particular about using only the small intestines of Japanese Black Beef. Quality is the number one priority, and they procure their offal in a fresh, raw state rather than frozen.
When you take a sip of the soup, the elegant aroma of miso spreads softly in your mouth. This is combined with the sweet fat of the tripe and the umami of the vegetables such as cabbage and burdock, making it an unforgettable taste once you have tried it.
Ichifuji's careful dedication to his work is also evident in a la carte dishes such as the "Vinegared Offal" (759 yen), made from rare cuts that are carefully thinly sliced to give them a pleasant texture, and the "Horse Liver Sashimi" (1,815 yen), freshly delivered from Koga Farm in Kumamoto.
Motsunabe Ichifuji Hakata branch
address | : | 2-4-16 Hakata Station, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture |
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phone | : | 092-451-7888 |
business hours | : | 17:00-23:00 *Fridays, Saturdays, and the middle days of three-day weekends - 23:30 |
Closed Day | : | Irregular (3-4 times a year, plus New Year's Eve and New Year's Day) |
access | : | About 3 minutes walk from JR Hakata Station Hakata Exit |
web | : | https://www.ichifuji-f.jp/ |
The ultimate spiciness and deliciousness that took two years of research! "Hakata Motsunabe Ichitaka Hakata Main Branch"
Hakata Motsunabe Ichitaka Hakata Main Store was opened in 2020 as a sister store of Motsunabe Ichifuji, a new brand. The delicious aroma of motsunabe wafts from the entrance, which is made of Oishiwara ware, a traditional Fukuoka pottery. The restaurant offers spacious loft sofa seats, counter seats recommended for small groups, and private rooms with sunken kotatsu tables that are popular with families.
There are three types of "Motsunabe" available. The popular "Miso" and "Soy Sauce" (1,694 yen per serving each) are Ichifuji's popular, and Ichitaka's original "Spicy Miso" (1,694 yen per serving). The "Spicy Miso" is a proud product that "we spent two years researching so that it would not become too strong even if it was left on the fire for a long time," and is made by adding spice to a carefully made stock, blending several types of spicy miso and chili peppers. The spicy and rich flavor will make you want to drink it down to the last drop, but don't forget to finish it off! We recommend finishing off the "Spicy Miso" with curly noodles and rice cakes instead of champon noodles.
Also, Ichitaka's "Motsunabe" takes about 15 to 20 minutes to be served, as it is carefully prepared step by step after the order is placed. In the meantime, you can enjoy the horse dishes, which are just as popular as the "Motsunabe". You can enjoy Ichitaka's proud flavors, such as "Red Meat Top Horse Sashimi" (1,375 yen) and "Sakura Yukhoe" (1,485 yen), which show off the freshness of the ingredients. In addition, there are other a la carte dishes unique to Hakata, such as "Hakata Spicy Mentaiko" (550 yen) and "Sesame Amberjack" (1,188 yen).
Hakata Motsunabe Ichitaka Hakata Main Branch
address | : | 2-4-14 Yamato Building 2, 1F, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka |
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phone | : | 092-409-7399 |
business hours | : | 17:00-23:00 *Fridays, Saturdays, and the middle days of three-day weekends - 23:30 |
Closed Day | : | Irregular (3-4 times a year, plus New Year's Eve and New Year's Day) |
access | : | About 5 minutes walk from JR Hakata Station Chikushi Exit |
web | : | https://ichitaka-f.jp/ |
Hakata Motsunabe Fukuro: Light soup and special grated yam for a rich flavor
If you want to experience a unique and original taste that sets you apart, head to "Hakata Motsunabe Fukuro." Although it is a hideaway-like restaurant quietly located in a residential area, it is a popular restaurant that is visited by many celebrities, and its signature dish is the "Fukuro Yukimi Nabe" (1,680 yen per person).
The soup has a light flavor that combines the umami of seafood that has been carefully prepared with natural Okinawan sea salt. It is luxuriously topped with a special grated yam that is a blend of several types of yam. The large sweet motsu that is procured through a unique route is made from beef small intestines. The firm texture of the motsu is mixed with the fluffy and creamy texture of the yam, creating an addictive taste.
Other dishes include "Hakata Mentaiko Tororo Nabe" (1,980 yen per person), which is a Yukimi Nabe topped with Hakata's specialty mentaiko, "Fukuro Miso Nabe" (1,680 yen per person), which is a blend of several types of miso imported from various regions, "Fukuro Shio Nabe" (1,580 yen per person) made with seafood-based broth, "Fukuro Kazan Nabe" (1,680 yen per person) with its irresistible spicy flavor, and "Fukuro Shoyu Nabe" (1,680 yen per person) made with chicken broth and finished with a sweet flavor using seafood broth and special soy sauce. There are six types of "Motsunabe" in total. Additional ingredients such as meatballs with cartilage and chicken thighs are also available, so you can enjoy it in a variety of ways. There are also courses that include motsunabe and all-you-can-drink plans.
We also recommend the "Motsu Gyoza" (650 yen), which most customers order with their "Motsunabe." With one bite, the juices from the motsu fill your mouth, and the more you chew, the sweeter it gets. Try adding yuzu kosho, a popular accompaniment to gyoza in Hakata, to enjoy the change in flavor.
Hakata Motsunabe Fukuro
address | : | 3-25 Susakicho, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture |
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phone | : | 092-282-7887 |
business hours | : | 18:00-23:00 (L.O. 22:30) |
Closed Day | : | Irregular (New Year's holidays) |
access | : | Approximately 5 minutes walk from Exit 3-6 of Nakasu-Kawabata Station on the subway |
web | : | http://www.fukurou1106.com/ |
"Motsunabe Nagamasa Hakata Main Branch" - A perfect balance of salt and offal from Nagasaki
The "Motsunabe" at "Motsunabe Nagamasa Hakata Main Branch," which serves local cuisine from all over Kyushu, comes in two flavors, miso and salt, made with the first dashi stock carefully extracted from bonito and kelp (1,815 yen per serving). The "Miso," made from a blend of Saikyo miso imported from Kyoto and several kinds of miso from Kyushu, with a strong hint of garlic, is rich and appetizing.
"Salt" is popular among a wide range of generations, and is made by carefully selecting Goto salt from Nagasaki among many different types of salt. The salt sharpens the gentle Japanese broth, giving it a light flavor. Another point is that by adding a little green chili pepper, you can enjoy a refreshing spiciness.
The main ingredient, motsu, is made only from the small intestines of Japanese black beef, and the different texture brings depth to the flavor. Another feature is that it is carefully prepared to reduce fat so that it balances with the flavor of the soup.
Nagamasa is extremely particular about the freshness of its ingredients, especially its motsu. After the motsunabe, the next must-try is the live squid tentacles, which are served with the ikizukuri squid (priced according to market price). The spear squid caught that day is kept alive in a tank and is only cut up after an order is placed, so the freshness is truly outstanding. When you bring the squid tentacles (still moving) to your mouth, the crunchy texture and sweetness fills your mouth, making it irresistible.
In addition, they also carry local specialties from not only Fukuoka but all over Kyushu, such as Kumamoto's "karashi lotus root" and Oita's "toriten," which will surely get you in the travelling mood.
Motsunabe Nagamasa Hakata Main Branch
address | : | Burg Hakata Station 1F North, 3-18-8 Hakata Station, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture |
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phone | : | 092-431-0002 |
business hours | : | 17:00-23:00 (L.O. 22:30) |
Closed Day | : | none |
access | : | Approximately 7 minutes walk from JR Hakata Station Hakata Exit |
web | : | http://nagamasa-hakata.com/ |
There are still many attractive motsunabe restaurants in Fukuoka, including long-established restaurants that continue to preserve traditions and up-and-coming newcomers. Find your favorite flavor and become a motsunabe connoisseur.
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The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.