Omurice @ Gokoku, Ropponmatsu, Chuo Ward, Fukuoka

 

Fried rice with egg does not sound very interesting at the beginning. But once it is called omurice, then the whole story changes. Like ramen, omurice is starting to have its own craze. With a jiggly egg omelet on the top of a bed of shiny fried rice, it does look as good as it taste. One such shop that does this to perfection is Gokoku in Ropponmatsu.  Gokoku is a tiny establishment located not far from the Ropponmatsu subway station. It has a very simple yet inviting decor, reminiscent of white cottage houses. And being an omurice specialised shop, that is the only main entre that they have! However, do not fret as variety is still in store. 

What elegance! 

The shop provides with customers a huge variety of choices. From the classic tomato based fried rice to sweet sukiyaki beef, there is something for everyone. But if you are uncertain on what to have, the best bet is to get their lunch set which stands at a very reasonable 900 yen. This set comes with a side of salad, a drink (a cup of coffee, tea or juice), the dessert of the day and of course a serving of omelet rice. But not just any plain fried rice, rather their specialty : the mentaiko rice. 

I told you it shines! 

Mentaiko is spicy preserved cod eggs, which is a specialty food in Fukuoka and the rice was jammed pack with it. However, it was not too overpowering. The rice was fried to perfection. There was a flood of milky after tones due to the use of butter in the rice and the egg. The mentaiko has provided the rice with a splash of tanginess, some seafood saltiness and a light dash of spiciness. Yet it tasted very harmonious. Having a spoonful of rice with some of the fluffy omelet was a unique pairing that worked well. The omelet was so fluffy, it is as though you are going into a serving of soufflé. It was that soft. 

The finishing touches to the meal. 

When it comes to the dessert, I was fortunate enough to have a slice of basque cheese cake. The cheese cake was smooth and creamy. It was not too heavy as well, which is sometimes a complaint I have when it comes to cheese cakes. It was a good finisher to the meal. And the coffee is really good too. Smoky and smooth yet a little crisp, it was the perfect cup for me. The only problem I had was the size. I eventually had another cup ala carte, which costs 350 yen. The price is not too bad honestly. 

Beefy

If mentaiko is not your type of flavour, then the sukiyaki beef can be an option for you. This is a must have if you like teriyaki inspired dishes. The rice was fried with alot of the sukiyaki broth, which is sweet and salty, with a hint of smokiness. The beef in the fried rice is quite generous and you may find some leeks hidden in the rice. I liked it but not as much as the mentaiko. Also, do note that the lunch set only caters for the mentaiko rice. Which means this has to be ordered a la carte. This beef fried rice stood for 870 yen. 

Look at that frosting!

Baked treats are also their specialty too. If you have your sweet tooth wanting, there are a variety of cakes to choose from. You can opt for an a la carte portion of the cheese cake that I had, which is a good choice. If you are a chocoholic, then may I suggest the choco-choco cake. It is essentially a brownie burnt cheese cake. It was rich, sweet, slightly bitter and was utterly sinful. Cakes at this joint ranges from 300 to 350 yen. 

Front of the house. 

This is a little cafe that goes big on flavour and value, well other than the size of the coffee. And that is my only gripe of this place. Other than that, this has my sincere recomemndation. Do note that this place is so popular that if you come at 12.30pm for lunch, get ready for a queue. So I do advise coming here early. Fancy a go? Then the address is as follows:

〒810-0044 Fukuoka, Chuo Ward, Ropponmatsu, 4 Chome−2−6 ＭＪＲ六本松