Biryani @ Hela Ajiya, Hakata Ekiminami, Hakata, Fukuoka

 

Now here is another off the beaten track that deserves some attention. It sometimes amazes me as to how hidden gems like these are tucked in some residential place o industrial site, relatively unnoticed. This is one of those spaces that needs your dire attention. 

Quaint

Hela Ajiya is located in the residential side of Hakata, which is the area between Hakata Station and Lalaport. They serve classic South Asian dishes and their spicy curries and one of their specialty. That was my intention to beign with, as I heard some rave reviews about this place. But once I saw biryani on the menu, I know I have to get this.  I have to admit that it is a bit hard to get to, but the journey was worth it. 

Decision made!

A plate of this delicious rice dish stood at a mere 1100 yen, which to me is a bargain, since you do pay a certain premium for Indian food in Japan. I mean my usual dosa in Tenjin is 1500 yen (a topic for another day). And despite the reasonable price point, this really packs a punch. Firstly, it really looks like actual biryani and smells like it too. 

Golden beauty

Basmati was used for this and you can see each grain beautifully separated from each other. However, the hues of yellow and brown due to the spices provided some uniformity to it. The fragrance was intense. And there were so many things going on in the aroma department, it feels like you are at some back alley spice market. The taste, well, it was as good as the appearance of this thing, just spot on. . 

What a close up!

The rice was salty enough, that you can eat it on its own, and I gobbled down this very very fast. The slices of raw onion provided some sharp kick and freshness to it. And the cashews inside the rice provided a nice crunch which help compliment the dish. The colours may not make it obvious, but it is actually loaded with a decent amount of chicken which is nice. The spices were in your face throughout the experience. Hints of cumin, cinnamon and aniseed would just assault your senses in some form of twisted yet blissful glory. And there was some heat on this too. The chilli level was just nice for me, although I do think the average Japanese customer may find this a bit of a tricky meal to consume. In any event, I enjoyed this. 

Front of the house. 

Full and frank disclosure, I been to this place at least 2 more times before writing this. And every time I ordered this wonderful treat, the quality is consistent. Granted, you will smell like you just came out of a spice rack. But if you are alright with that, then you should just give this a try. It is not easy to find authentic Indian/ Sri Lankan dishes in this part of Japan. So this place is a wonderful surprise. I did try some of their curries, but nothing can top the biryani. If you fancy a go, then the address is as follows:

6 Chome-14-40 Hakata ekiminami, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka, 812-0016