Bagels and Coffee @ Rill Bagels, Kami kawabatamachi, Fukuoka

 

Despite being a country like likes bread and generally excels in baked goodies, it is actually somewhat incredible where getting a good bagel is a bit of a challenge. But after some looking about high and low, I found a great place worth your reckoning. 

Library vibes, but in a good way

Rill Bagel is located in the area between Nakasu and Hakata, pretty close to the Kawabata Shotengai. It is a cute and quaint shop located between the shops and apartment blocks in the area. So, it is not the easiest place to spot. But once you do find it, you are invited into a minimalist but cozy interior. 

A sight for sore eyes

As was lunch time, I thought of getting something more substantial so I got the bagel ham bagel sandwich which stood at 710 yen. I opted for the plain bagel but you can order the whole wheat one if you so fancy. There are also other bagel variations in store for most days, but most of them have been cleared out by breakfast time. It would be nice to have a look see at the other types though. My lunch order was tagged along with an iced americano which stood at 350 yen. It should be noted that the coffee was for 450 yen but you get a 100 yen rebate if you order a bagel alongside it. 

Hand held perfection? Not really but very close

And I got to say, this was very nice. The bagel had a soft pillowy texture but still had some density to it. Imagine a ramen noodle which is a bit soft on the outside but still had some bite. Similar to an al dente pasta, but in a round shape. Yeah, the texture is hard to describe, but trust me it was good. The flavour was also very nice too, with the typical nutty aroma from freshly baked bread and a slight sweetness tha follows. The fillings were reasonably generous. The ham was super top quality. I was thinking it would be some cheap deli slices, but prosciutto was layered inside it. I was indeed impressed. And with additional layers of fresh garden veggies, you got yourself a nice sandwich. It was not mind-blowing but it had a comforting soul to it. And it did leave me quite satiated. 

Time for the pick me up

The coffee was decent as well. Slightly smoky and has a bit of a fruity edge, it worked well with the salty ham. I personally prefer a more nutty coffee for most of my caffeine binges. However, for today, this fit the bill just nicely. 

Up the stairs and turn left. You can't miss it. 

Long story short, if you are looking for a good bagel joint, you have one more option to put into your list. It is a bit expensive, but I think you get what you pay for. I will come again to try the other options in the future. Probably for breakfast when most of the batch comes out from the kitchen. So if you fancy a go, the address is as follows:

〒812-0026 Fukuoka, Hakata Ward, Kamikawabatamachi, 9−35 １F