Seafood @Uosho Ohara, Imazu, Nishi Ward, Fukuoka

 

There are a few things that can rival the Japanese. One of which is their seafood. It is easily second to none and probably the first thing when people think about Japanese cuisine, besides ramen. So how about having a seafood meal by the ocean? Now that is something else. 

Oh beach please...

Japan is blessed with a lot of beautiful beaches. Its an island nation after all. But that fact seems to be eclipsed by temples, cherry blossoms and volcanic mountains. I do recommend going out for a walk by the beach as it is one of the underrated things about Japan. One such beach is the beach town of Imazu. 

What a view...

Located at the western part of Fukuoka, this beach town has coconut trees, white sands and rock formations for you to get that beach feeling going. There is even a shrine, giving this place a mystical quality. It is a bit hard to get there as busses are irregular and there are no trains here but it is worth the trouble. 

Surprisingly cozy on the inside

And since we are by the sea, seafood seems like the best thing to have. One such restaurant is Uosho Ohara ( 魚庄 大原店). It is a simple local haunt that has a humble facade, but when it comes to the food, it pulls no punches. Then again, without the signs outside, you may just assume its a port side warehouse. 

What brilliant colours!

They serve a variety of seafood specialties and their number 1 dish is the seafood bowl aka the kaisendon. So it was a no brainer that I ordered it. What came forth was a feast of the senses. The seafood that was layered on top of a bed of hot vinegar rice was an oceanic rainbow. Various types of seafood items were on full display. 

So huge!

From tuna, salmon and amberjack, to sea urchin, octopus, caviar, this thing had it all. Each seafood item was fresh and it felt like a giant sushi was just served on my table. The killer was the portions of this behemoth, which included an entire scallop. 

Some magical stuff here. 

To top it all off, this bowl was served along side some sesame sauce, which was nutty, fragrant and just plain delicious. Together with some wasabi for some zing, this was a bowl of food that was easily demolished. The soup that came along with it was pretty good too. It tasted like a clear fish broth but spiked with some lemon. A little acid does wonder for seafood and this one shines perfectly. 

What a display of food. 

If you are into something more cooked, the restaurant has various other options too. For my second visit, I ordered a braised fish set meal. And just like the seafood bowl, this was a gigantic feast for the senses. The braised fish, which were two of them, were tender and flaky to the touch. It was sweet and savory at the same time, a common theme in Japanese food, 

That white wedge is a tofu sponge. Sounds strange, but its pretty good. 

They had a lot of small bones though. It made eating a little inconvenient, but still good. It came with some pickles and the previously mentioned soup. They served as good palate cleansers. Recommended for sure. 

The other side of the restaurant, where they ensure the freshness of their dishes. 

Price wise, I think this place deserves a mention. The seafood bowl was 1560 yen while the braised fish meal was 1620 yen. It feels a little steep, but the quality and quantity made the price tags justified. This restaurant also serves more elaborate meals and has a price range from fairly affordable rice meals to elaborate multi coursers which would raid your wallet. I would be coming back to try more. 

Literal meals for kings!

So if somehow you are having a lazy afternoon walking by the beaches of Imazu, why not give this place a go? And if you are afraid that a language barrier is a challenge too many, do not worry as the menu has a lot of pictures. The address is as follows: 

4430-1 Imazu, Nishi Ward, Fukuoka, 819-0165

Front of the house