On a recent business trip to Fukuoka, I came across a restaurant that I consider to be the place to go for Motsunabe in Hakata! The fresh, crispy, elastic, fatty, and tasty motsu, and the mild miso-based Motsunabe with the sweetness from the vegetables. Here is a report on the Miso motsunabe at Hakata Motsunabe Yamanaka Hakata Branch, which is both rich and tender at the same time!
A unique Motsunabe restaurant with an oriental atmosphere
I have eaten at a number of restaurants, and while each restaurant has its own specialties and characteristics, I have never been able to decide on my favorite Motsunabe restaurant. The other day, I finally found a restaurant that I can attest "This is the place to have the best Motsunabe"! This time, I would like to report on my meal there!
However, I had already researched in advance that there was a Motsunabe that could be enjoyed by one person. When I asked the waitress about that, she recommended "The Yamanaka course," so that is what I ordered.
"The Yamanaka course": Enjoy Motsunabe all by yourself until the end of the course.
Please take a look.
The Yamanaka course Menu
・Senmai
・Karashi-Mentaiko (Spicy Cod Roe)
・Sweetened beef cheek
・Motsunabe (you can choose one from Miso, Shoyu or Shabu-shabu style)
・Additional vegetables and beef offal
・Finishing dish (one of Chanpon, Udon, or Zosui)
・Dessert (one of the following: apricot bean curd, green tea ice cream, or Amaou Strawberry ice cream)
4,680 yen per person
From the additional vegetables and motsu to the finish, you can enjoy motsu nabe anyway you like, alone, at any pace you like.
Several a la carte dishes appear as appetizers, and it is very nice that each is portioned for one person. It is difficult for one person to order many kinds of dishes, both in terms of quantity and price!
Then comes the long-awaited "Miso Motsunabe"!
I thought I would be able to taste the miso flavor at first, but surprisingly, the miso flavor was not pushed to the forefront. There is no doubt that it is the miso that gives the soup its depth and richness, but it seems as if the flavor of the miso is kept to a minimum in favor of harmony with the overall dish.
The sweetness from the vegetables and the flavor of the fat that is melted out of the fish are added to the dish. What is noteworthy is that no one flavor or aroma stands out, and everything is well-balanced and harmonized.
I think "mellow" might be a better word to describe it, but that definitely does not do it justice. It is light but deep, rich but gentle.
You can feel the taste warming your body gradually.
Less pungent, excellent flavor garlic
When eating garlic as it is, it usually feels a pungent sensation on the tongue, but with this grated garlic, I did not feel any such sensation at all. Yet the garlic flavor was strong, and its presence as a condiment was outstanding.
I had never encountered garlic like that before, so I was curious and asked the waiter about it.
She replied, "We try many kinds and use the one that goes best with our soup. In fact, we use the same garlic for all of our motsunabe.
Listening to this story, I realized that the mild and gentle impression I had when I was impressed by the soup earlier was also due to this garlic.
Now to the finishing dish
I've eaten my fill of the additional vegetables and offal, and I am headed for the final carbohydrate, the best part of the hot pot.
After all, I ordered a classic chanpon…
……
………
…………But, I was not satisfied with just chanpon, so I had a bowl of rice porridge as well.
After the meal, I spoke with Ms. Namise, who once again greeted me, and she told me that even while working at the restaurant, "I can clearly feel that each and every ingredient is chosen for Yamanaka.
The "Miso Motsunabe" is full of passion to deliver delicious food to customers and can be enjoyed even by a single customer.
If you are going to eat Motsunabe in Hakata, you should definitely visit Yamanaka. (Of course, you don't have to be alone!)
Hakata Motsunabe Yamanaka Hakata Branch
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 5,000 JPY
Access: 3 minutes walk from the Chikushiguchi exit of JR Hakata Station
Address: 2F, Hakatabe Bldg., 2-4-6, Hakataeki-higashi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka Map
More Details Reservation