Seafood Bowl @Fukumaru, Itoshima, Fukuoka

 

It has been awhile since I had some good and fresh seafood. So it came to me as a surprise that a seafood restaurant just opened near the new house I moved into. Tucked in the housing estate in Itoshima, Fukumaru is a new and unassuming shop that is more than meets the eye. 

An elevated tatami. Now that is character!

It looks relative simple on the outside. However, once you enter you are invited into a classic and cozy Japanese style eatery with lots of character. The menu is what you expect from such a place, tempura, some sushi selections and of course a seafood bowl.The seafood bowl called the Fukumarudon seems to be the ultimate recommendation and was placed directly at the first page of the menu. And with a price that stood for 1000 yen only, it seems like a pretty low commitment. 

What a display. 

Despite such a modest price, the bowl packs a punch. It was loaded with colour and was absolutely gorgeous. The variety of ingredients are minimal but that did not stop it from being such a tasty treat. It was loaded with snapper, roe and turban-shell snails.Now that is a rarity! Everything seems to work so well. The roe gave it some saltiness and pop, while the snapper and snail gave great texture and sweetness. 

Bountiful. 

The bowl also came with a sesame sauce, which is a common condiment around these parts. It gave the bowl a great deal of savouriness and helps bind all the ingredients together with the bed or rice at the bottom. A perilla leaf and shredded fried egg added a bit more texture into this great seafood dish. I really like perilla leaf a its tartness does cut away some of that seafood edge that is of course, abundant in this bowl. 

Cleaned!

It was a simple meal with little frills. However, sometimes when simple is done right, there is nothing to compare it to. This is highly recommended. As mentioned, there are also other dishes served in this great establishment. And I look forward in trying them all. In the meantime, feel free to visit the place if you are within the area. The address is as follows:

5 Chome-1-11 Takata, Itoshima, Fukuoka 819-1102

Front of the house.