Yakiniku @ Hachi Hachi Yakiniku, Hakata, Fukuoka

 

With charcoal fire and a whole lot of fresh ingredients, this intense barbecue experience is something worth sweating for. And for this time, we will go to somewhere that is a bit more spartan as compared to my previous yakiniku experience at One Karubi (click here, if you would like to read more about my previous visit to One Karubi, which was still good though). 

Stove prepped and ready!

Hachi Hachi or 88, is a yakiniku establishment that specializes in yakiniku barbecue that is charcoal powered and has its ingredients being sourced within the local Kyushu region. With those two factors into play, it provides for a pretty satisfying meal. There are 3 outlets in Fukuoka and my friends and I have opted for the branch that is within the Hakata area. They do not serve their wares via a buffet style, but rather meats are provided ala multi-course meals.  We opted for the middle range course which stood for 3000 yen, and topped up with an all-you-can-drink option of 1500 yen. 

Beefy french kiss

The first entrée for the said course started the night with a big bang. The seasoned beef tongue was the first to be served on our table and it was absolutely delicious. As the beef tongue is generally hard to source, this was a welcomed sight. It was slightly chewy and was seasoned with a bit of salt and lemon, it provided for a tangy start. 

The classic

The next serving of meat was a combination of fatty pork shoulder and chicken thighs. They are standard fare for a barbecue like this, but still satisfying. Simple but always reliable, they fill up every meal with little difficulty. Next came the proper cuts of beef, and one of my favourites came soon after. And that is the short ribs or kalbi. 

The star of any barbecue 

The marbling of fat on the short ribs were incredible, like scattered stars on a canvas of beef. The charcoal also provided a depth of flavour no gas-powered stove can provide.  But the best was yet to come, as soon after, the wagyu followed suit. 

Sinful!

The wagyu was absolutely intoxicating and is what you would imagine a fatty piece of beef would be. the marbling was stunning. If the marbling of fat on the shortribs is akin to scattered stars, then the wagyu has a marbling akin to the milky way. It was almost all white and the fat rendered almost immediately when the pieces of beef hit the fire. 

Killer combo

To finish the meaty part of this meal, the final plate was a combination of tripe and pork belly seasoned in a red gochujang marinade. The vibrant and slightly spicy marinade provided a palate refresh after the intense and fatty wagyu experience earlier. But that is not to say the horumon and pork are slouches, they are pretty heavy on flavour themselves. And to end on a sweet note, each patron is served with a serving of sorbet which comes in either yuzu or raspberry flavour. 

Burn burn burn!!!!

It should be noted that this course also comes with unlimited rice and a serving of various vegetable side dishes. As such, this experience is not just a carnivore's cornucopia. Pretty close though. And the all-you-can-drink options are pretty good too.  There are a wide variety of shochu, cocktails and soft drinks that are available to compliment your meaty escapade. For a total of 4500 yen, this was a pretty good deal. 

 

Classic set up

This was a pretty satisfying meal with a group of friends to finish off a Saturday night. There are a few things to note though. Firstly, get ready to smell like your meal. Then again, if you are not ready for that, any barbecue will be a hard sell. Secondly, the charcoal, although will make your meat more flavourful, it leads to a slower cooking experience. these two points are not negatives per se, but just a few points to be mindful of. In any event, this place deserves a thumbs up. And if you fancy a go, then the address of the branch that I have been to is as follows:

3 Chome-12-20 Hakataeki higashi, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka, 812-0013

Front of the house.