This article is based on a visit in 2012.
A little while ago, we held a welcome party for a friend.
The venue was a restaurant called “Hakata Hyotei”.
The place had a great vibe, and they served both live squid sashimi and motsu nabe… which made it an easy choice. But the quality far exceeded our expectations!
Hakata Hyotei – A Refined Entrance Like a Traditional Ryotei
This was the entrance before the move. You could easily miss it if you weren’t looking carefully.
As of 2024, the restaurant has relocated to the Daimyo area, so the entrance and interior are likely different now.
The sign for “Hyotei” was clearly displayed.
A long path leading to the entrance, making it feel like you’re entering a luxurious residence or a traditional ryotei.
Here’s the entrance. It looks so upscale that I wondered if we were even allowed to go in…
I forgot to take photos of the interior, so please check the official website below.
Beautifully Presented and Delicious Dishes, Including Live Squid Sashimi
We chose a course featuring fresh squid from Yobuko and salt-based motsu nabe, with a 2-hour all-you-can-drink plan for 4,300 yen.
The first dish served was an appetizer and sashimi.
The freshness was obvious at first glance! Enjoyed it with sweet Kyushu-style soy sauce. Delicious!
Live squid sashimi—its body was still transparent and twitching.
A satisfyingly crunchy texture!
What really blew us away was this unexpected delight—tempura made from corn.
Absolutely amazing!
Though a bit blurry, you can see how the kernels were tempura-fried individually.
So sweet and delicious. Worth ordering even if it’s not part of the course.
The squid tentacles were served as tempura, too.
They offered a “black tempura” option made with squid ink batter—so I tried that.
It looked a bit burnt, but it was just regular tempura with a unique appearance.
The sashimi-to-tempura transition was a perfect combo.
Rich Dashi-Flavored Salted Offal Hot Pot, Finished with Champon Noodles
The main dish—salt-based motsu nabe!
Unusually for Fukuoka, this one didn’t include garlic chives.
The vegetables softened nicely—ready to eat.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from “salt motsu nabe,” but it was fantastic.
More than salty—it was full of umami from the dashi.
While soy sauce is the standard for motsu nabe, this salt version had excellent flavor.
And the offal was plump and tender.
Needless to say, the finale was champon noodles!
Hakata Hyotei – A Stylish Spot for Enjoying Fukuoka’s Local Cuisine
I liked it so much I went back with a friend later and ended up spending about 7,000 yen after 4 hours of eating and drinking…
(We did drink quite a bit, and I ordered the chef’s recommended fish without checking the price.)
It was delicious and totally worth it, but if you’re watching your budget, choosing a course meal with a drink plan might be a good idea.
That said, the quality of the food and the refined ambiance make it suitable even for business dinners.
It’s just about a 10-minute walk from Tenjin Station—definitely worth a visit!
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