A Tempura Restaurant for Sake LoversLocated in Hakata Minami, Fukuoka, I visited this tempura restaurant for lunch on a holiday.The main access to Hakata Minami Station is limited to infrequent express trains or buses, so I took a taxi from Hakata Station, arriving smoothly with a fare of exactly JPY 4,000.There is a swallow's nest at the entrance of the restaurant. This year, the swallows raised their young twice, and it seems both times they successfully fledged.The interior is exceptionally simple, without any extravagant decorations, reflecting the personality of the chef.There are 9 counter seats and additional table seating.The atmosphere is quiet, with no background music.The restaurant is run by a chef and a hostess. The chef is taciturn, primarily explaining the dishes, and speaks softly. He doesn’t seem difficult to approach, but has a craftsman-like demeanor. As the last customer enjoying my drinks, he opened up and chatted with me. The hostess is attentive and creates a warm atmosphere.If you wish to take photos, you need to ask for permission in advance.Lunch starts at 12:00. Those who arrived later at 12:30 received different ingredients, suggesting that the course content may vary depending on the start time.The clientele is 100% Japanese, as they do not accommodate English speakers and only accept cash payments to prevent any issues.【Course】 (JPY 13,000)The course combines tempura with appetizers and sushi, perfectly paired with sake.We began with the appetizers and sushi:■ Ishidai (Stone Bream) and Iwa Mozuku (Seaweed)Enhanced with kombu.■ Natural Fugu (Pufferfish)A 1.8 kg fugu, with a crunchy texture and jelly-like consistency.■ Akamutsu (Red Sea Bream) with Kombu and Yariika (Spear Squid)Sushi.A melt-in-your-mouth combination of akamutsu and yariika, so tender you hardly need teeth.■ Takiawase (Simmered Dishes)- Tokishirazu (Young Sea Bream) Pickled in sake lees, with excellent fat content.- Natural Shima Aji (Striped Jack) Aged for depth of flavor.- Smoked Mehikari from Fukushima Flaky and tender, even the bones are soft.- Smoked Octopus from Shimane- Spinach■ Nagasaki Aji (Horse Mackerel)Sushi, served by hand.The rice is well-prepared, with a good balance of acidity, blended from three types of vinegar.■ Iki Natural Hon Maguro (Bluefin Tuna) NegitoroHand roll, served by hand.140 kg of bluefin tuna.■ Zuwai Crab Chawanmushi (Savory Egg Custard)Now, the tempura begins.Served with tentsuyu (tempura dipping sauce), grated daikon, salt, and rice malt, which can be used freely. You can even pair it with sake. There are no specific recommendations for what to pair with the tempura, allowing for a free style.The tempura batter is extremely thin, not adhering to the ingredients, creating a light and crispy texture.■ Kuruma Ebi (Tiger Prawn) Legs■ Kuruma EbiCooked rare.■ Amadai (Sweetfish)The batter is incredibly light!The flesh is fluffy.■ Freshly Caught Okra from Nakagawa■ Hamaguri (Clam) from KujukuriThick and meaty.■ IntermissionSimmered Mizuna and Tsubugai (Whelk).Mini tomatoes.■ Osaka Mizunasu (Water Eggplant)Super hot.A taste of summer with water eggplant.■ Isaki (Grunt)Hand roll, served by hand.Tempura styled like isobe.■ Nakagawa AsparagusThick and large.Crispy and tender.■ Tsushima Anago (Conger Eel)A large conger eel, making a light crunch sound.■ Nakagawa Brown Petika (New Potatoes)Sticky and tender.■ Hokkaido Beniharuka (Sweet Potato)Aged for two years in a snow room.Incredibly sweet!Meltingly soft.■ Isaki, Amadai, and Boiled Shirasu (Whitebait) Takikomi Gohan (Seasoned Rice)Fluffy with the essence of the fish.A few small bones present.■ Ochazuke (Rice with Tea)If you request a refill of the seasoned rice, they will prepare it as ochazuke.■ Akadashi (Red Miso Soup)■ Oshinoko (Pickles)Cucumber and kombu.■ Tea■ Palate CleanserDessert.White peach and mango.【Drinks】■ Gakki Masamune Bizen Omachi (Fukushima)Umami and sweetness.■ Gakki Masamune Banshu Yamada Nishiki (Fukushima)Acidity and umami.My stay lasted for two and a half hours.I was incredibly full.On the way back, I walked about 15 minutes to Hakata Minami Station and took the express train back to Hakata.