Lunch @ Hakata Sakaba Yokatai, KITTE, Hakata, Fukuoka

 

To think that I have explored the entire Hakata Station complex, only to find a new place which is slowly but surely becoming one of my favourite spots in getting a good lunch! As such, it is my great pleasure to introduce to you Hakata Sakaba Yokatai, or just Yokatai in short. 

A small menu, but I have no complaints when everything is done right

As the name suggests, its a sakaba, or Japanese style tavern that opened very recently next to my usual Thai spot in the Hakata station complex. Despite being relatively new, I have been coming here more often than I realised. This is because the food here although relatively simple, is pretty good value for money and comes in lightning fast. If you are not convinced, then let me show you. 

Hefty!

The first thing I got here was its grilled pork set which came at a very modest 1280 yen. This entire set also comes with goma sama, which is sesame mackerel, a slice of  tamagoyaki, a side of miso soup, some salad, pickles and a nice bowl of rice. Last but not least, mentaiko mixed with fish. This whole set is the real deal. But despite being quite reasonable, the quality is pretty good too.

Glorious

The pork was sweet, salty and fatty. glazed in a light teriyaki sauce, this was such a stunner. it was a bit strong in terms of flavour when eaten on its own. But when paired with rice, this was such a godsend. the gomasaba was also very good. The fish slices were quite fresh and the nutty sesame sauce just went down like a charm. You can order the mackerel as part of a main in a set. However, it does stand at 1280 yen too, which I feel is not much of a bargain as compared to this porky and fishy combo. 

Crunch time!

If you like something else, their karaage set was also something I really enjoyed in another visit. The outer shell was crispy and crunchy to the touch. A little swig of mayonnaise then complimented the experience. The mentaiko and fish paste was a great condiment too. But then again, condiments are useless when the base item is just average. So how was the gondeln fried bits? The chicken was also pretty fresh and juicy. I am not kidding when I mean juicy.

Decadence!

As I gobble a piece down,  I can feel torrents of flavourful nectar just oozing out. Of course, the rice was a great companion in absorbing all that moisture and was a good tag team partner in taking down all the grease that entails. The chicken set stood at 1100 yen, which is a serious steal considering where we are. There are other options too that are more seafood specific where I have tried. The tuna set which stood at 1380 seems tempting but I honestly believe the meat dishes are way better. Still, if that is your preference, it is still quite decent. 

 

A shot when they just opened. You cannot miss it. 

Overall, you cannot go wrong with this new spot. I have yet to try their dinner offerings yet. But looking at what they can provide for lunch thus far, I think it will be great as well, so if you would like to try some of the things I have shared, or would like to try their dinner dishes, their address is as follows: 

Japan, 〒812-0012 Fukuoka, Hakata Ward, Hakata Station KITTE Hakata B1F