Dinner @ Kakuuchi Fukutaro, Tenjin Terra Building, Fukuoka

 

A slightly more modern take to the traditional izakaya, this is the place to be if you like to have your Japanese cuisine to have a bit of a modern flair. And seeing how the prices are here, it is actually pretty hard not to recommend such an amazing place. 

Welcome aboard!

Kakuuchi Fukutaro is a side project of the famous mentaiko company Fukutaro which introduces what the best that Fukuoka has to offer with a more contemporary twist. The chef behind the kitchen is actually French. And this leads to various dishes that taste specifically Japanese but still has an interesting mystique in its execution. I was introduced to this establishment by the principal of the Japanese language school that I have been attending. There is nothing better than the endorsement of a seasoned local. 

Anything but ordinary

Being the first time here, I let her pick her usual favourites. And being in Fukuoka, the first dish as to be goma saba sesame mackerel. However, its appearance is definitely not usual. Packed with avocado pieces and stacked into a tower, it reminds me of a tartare platter than the usual izakaya staple. The flavour itself did fit this interesting exterior. The flavours were really spot on. The fish was sashimi grade fresh, and the avocado gave an extra layer of texture and flavour to the overall dish. Topped with some floral jelly, and you have something that is really unique. And with an extra swig of sesame sauce, and you have something that was absolutely incredible. This stood at a modest 690 yen. 

The classic

The next dish was another classic in the form of bite sized gyoza dumplings. Accompanied with wings for its outer shell, this was another interesting flavour. Although not as far flung as compared to the goma saba, this was still pretty good. The wings gave an extra layer of crunch, while the filling was soft and juicy. The yuzu kosho paste was a great spicy condiment to elevate this dish even more and it was such a great follow up dish. The dumplings stood at 490 yen for a plate of 5. 

An interesting take on an old favourite

Needing something with a bit more substance, the dashi maki omelette followed suit. Served alongside with a serving of salty and spicy mentaiko, this was miles apart to the usual egg roll omelette you get from your usual sushi place. It was incredibly fluffy and packed with flavour. Topping it off with the spicy mentaiko gave it a salty and spicy edge that help transform what seems to be a regular egg dish to something rather unique. In think you will slowly realise a trend here. A serving of the omelette stands at a price of 590 yen. 

Crunchy good times

The fried food representative came not soon after. Specifically yam wrapped in saury. Although this seems like an odd pairing, it seems to work very well. The fish help hold the starchy yam together and a squirt of lemon help zest this thing up. The combination of various textures was surely ambitious. But it was indeed enjoyable. A small basket of 3 pieces stood at  590 yen. 

Sleeper hit

To balance off the deep fried part of this dinner, a basket of freshly steamed shumai came not long after. This was done really well. The outer skin was delicate, while the meat filling was toothsome and has great porky flavour. In fact, I dare say this could rival even decent Chinese restaurants as it was that good. A basket of 3 pieces stood at an outstanding price of 490 yen. 

Monster

Seeing that we would need some veggies to round out the meal, some pork belly wrapped in cabbage followed suit. And this was a great way to end the meal as a whole. Everything was packed tightly and looked like a gigantic lollipop. The brown sauce that topped it tasted like a combination of miso and oyster sauce, although I would not be surprised if it was actually a combination of different types of miso instead. This dish stood at 390 yen per skewer.

Amber hues

And since this is an izakaya after all, you cannot have a complete one without have something on the tap. Having said that, I was pretty surprised as to the variety that was in store. For starters I got myself the Tokyo Golden Ale, which was for very reasonable 390 yen. Although it is from Asahi, it tasted quite different compared to the regular Super Dry. This as a more crisp mouth feel and is not well, dry. There was a deep and woody flavour which I really liked. 

Powerful!

If you like something with a bit more punch, they do have a good variety of shochu and nihonshu for you to sample as well. I got myself a rice based shochu on the rocks from Kumamoto which was a great follow up to the fizzy beer that I had before hand. This being shochu, had a more intense flavour and also alcoholic level. This is something you would need to savour slowly. But if you are into spirits, then this is what I strongly recommend. This glass, and other types of shochu also comes at the price tag of 390 yen. 

The logo is actually quite cute

Long story short, this is a recommendation I did not take lightly but an easy one to give. The food is top notch, the ambience is fun, and the prices are reasonable. And once I took my leave, I realised more and more people were waiting at the front of the premises as the time passes. So I do recommend that you come early or make a reservation in the event you would like to give this place a go. And if this has caught your attention, then the address is as follows: 

3F Tenjin Terra Bldg., 5-25-18 Watanabe-dori, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka 

Front of the house, and the queue that is slowly but surely picking up.