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Summarized by durumis AI
- Mentaiko, one of Fukuoka's famous dishes, was inspired by Korean spicy cod roe and developed to suit Japanese tastes. It can be enjoyed in various dishes, including mentaiju (mentaiko rice bowl) and mentaiko tsukemen (dipping noodles with mentaiko).
- At the original Hakata Mentaiju, you can taste mentaiju and mentaiko nikomi tsukemen (spicy cod roe simmered in broth dipping noodles), with four different levels of spiciness to choose from, allowing you to find the perfect flavor for you.
- Mentaiko, a must-try dish when visiting Fukuoka, offers a harmonious blend of savory and spicy flavors that pair perfectly with freshly cooked white rice.
I introduced motsunabe and tonkotsu ramen in the article recommending Fukuoka food, but what is the last one?
That's cod roe! In Japanese, it's called mentaiko (明太子). By the way, the original Japanese name for cod roe is "tarako (たらこ)".
It is a compound word of "mentai (明太)" meaning cod and "ko (子)" meaning roe. Mentaiko is a popular food among Japanese people, and even Japanese friends admitted that mentaiko is famous as a specialty of Fukuoka.
Naver Encyclopedia
Korea cannot be missed as a reason why mentaiko became famous. In 1949, the founder of "Fukuya" could not forget the cod roe he tasted in Busan when he was a child, so he embarked on cod roe development and finally commercialized it to suit the taste of Japanese people, which became the beginning of mentaiko in Japan. Since then, it has become a staple food for Japanese people by enjoying it in various forms such as mentaiko gyoza, mentaiko donburi, mentaiko ochazuke, and mentaiko baguette. I knew that cod roe was famous in Japan, but it started in Fukuoka. Cod roe is slightly spicy and salty, but it also has a nutty flavor, so it's so delicious that it's like a rice thief when eaten with freshly cooked white rice.
The food that Fukuoka people enjoy is mentaiju (めんたい重: cod roe rice bowl). You can enjoy various forms of mentaiko in Fukuoka to suit your taste. By the way, cod roe is said to have been eaten as fermented seafood by fishermen in Joseon Dynasty around the 17th to 18th century.
Famous dishes in Fukuoka using cod roe are mentaiju and mentaiko tsukemen. In addition, it adds a savory flavor to various dishes. I had a chance to taste it on kaisendon, which is a sashimi rice bowl I ate while traveling in Fukuoka, or on top of steamed eggs, and it was really delicious.
Mentaiju (めんたい重) is a cod roe rice bowl with large cod roe on a square lunch box. It is a Hakata specialty that is eaten with a whole piece of kombu-maki cod roe, which is marinated in kombu, on rice with seaweed laid on top. The seasoning for marinating cod roe contains various taste components such as kombu, which creates a rich flavor.
Mentaiko Nikomi Tsukemen is a dish in which chewy tsukemen is dipped in a simmered broth made with cod roe and 10 or more vegetables. It is said to have a savory flavor that bursts out like cod roe that is entangled in the thick noodles.
I recommend the original Hakata Mentaiju. This place is said to have mentaiju and mentaiko nikomi tsukemen as their signature menu.
Original Hakata Mentaiko Official Website
It is said that you can choose the taste of mentaiko here. You can choose the spiciness level with a wooden sign. There are four types of seasonings: regular, slightly spicy, medium spicy, and very spicy. They emphasize that the spiciness of the seasoning is not simply adjusted by increasing the amount of chili pepper, but they carefully select chili peppers that go well with cod roe and rice to create a seasoning that highlights the savory flavor even in spiciness.
Next is mentaiko nikomi tsukemen.
It uses plenty of savory cod roe and 10 or more vegetables. They use a rich tsukedare that is slowly simmered to bring out the umami to the maximum, and the chewy thick noodles have a savory flavor that bursts out like cod roe.
Original Hakata Mentaiko Official Website
I'll share the official website and address link.
