Lemon Steak @ Kouta Akasakamon, Maizuru, Fukuoka

  

Japan is loaded with many great beef dishes. However, one of my favorites sometimes do not factor into the conversation. I do understand that lemon steak is somewhat of a rarity outside Nagasaki. As such, it was pretty interesting to find a shop that does this amazing treat when I was on my way getting some visa stuff done in the immigration office. 

Oh darling, I missed you!

Kouta Akasakamon is an izakaya which does grilled food as their specialty. Lucky for me, I was there during lunch time and when I saw lemon steak on the menu, I almost immediately went in. It has been a few years at least since I had my first lemon steak. So finding one so close to me was a serious opportunity not to be missed. Right off the bat you can smell the intense aroma of meat being grilled. You have been warned you have to go somewhere else after your meal as you may smell like what you had for lunch earlier. 

What a display. Also the salad was not in frame. 
But as it was quite average I decided not to take a photo of it. 

Originally sourced from Saga prefecture, the lemon steak came in a very hot and sizzling cast iron pan where the very fragrant and molten lemon sauce can be seen bubbling away. Served alongside some pasta, rice and a side salad, this lunch combo stood at a modest 1200 yen. Since it has been a long while from when I had my last lemon steak meal, I was more than ready to pay any priced. Still, 1200 yen was quite modest. Indeed anticipation is a great condiment to a meal. But the meal itself still has to carry its weight. Fortunately for me, it did. 

What a close up

The zesty lemon infused soy based sauce coated the meat perfectly. It provided a sweet, sour, salty and slightly spicy taste than only lemon steak can provide. With the beef being very fresh and sliced finely, the sauce really penetrated the muscle fibers, making it simply a strong explosion of flavours. I did have to be careful not to burn my lips and tongue. The rice that was served was a great conduit in helping all the flavours intermingle. I consider it a receptacle instead of some carb for the meal as the sauce was able to cling onto the grains perfectly and help temper the overall flavour just a bit. I do like the sauce very much, but just having it on its own is a serious sodium overload.  

Magical!

Speaking of carbs, there was actually a bed of spagetthi underneath all that beef which was surprisingly very tasty. Then again, this should not be surprising as the rendered beef fat with that glorious sauce provided so much flavour any basic pasta would just be some incredible flavour explosion waiting to happen. Fortunately I was at the time of the meal when everything was a bit cooler so I slurped in everything with reckless abandon. Well, with enough care that I do not smear my shirt. 

A peek to a part of the dining area after the lunch rush. 
 Lets just say many customers left satisfied

Long story short, this has been a great reintroduction to one of my long lost favourite beef dishes. I am just so curious as to why this is not more popular in the other parts of Japan. There are various restaurants in Nagasaki that serves this delicious beefy treat, but in terms of Fukuoka, this is my only one that I have found so far. Well, I hope I can find more or if the itch returns, I can just come back here to Kouta Akasakamon. So if you would like to give it a go before I return, then the address is as follows:

〒810-0073 Fukuoka, Chuo Ward, 1−1 Maizuru３丁目１−２２ 萬翠ビル 1F

Front of the house