Fukuoka, Yakuin: Hakata Mentaiko Lunch and Kyushu-Ingredient Kaiseki at Yamaya So-Honten
Yamaya So-Honten, the flagship restaurant operated by Yamaya-one of Fukuoka’s best-known mentaiko brands-is a standout gourmet spot in the Yakuin area.
In a refined, museum-like space, you can enjoy freshly made Hakata karashi mentaiko and dishes prepared with seasonal Kyushu ingredients.
From lunch between sightseeing stops to dinner on a special night, it is sure to elevate your Fukuoka food experience.
If you come to Fukuoka for sightseeing, it is a spot you should definitely visit.
What Is Yamaya So-Honten Like?
Yamaya is a mentaiko maker that originated in Fukuoka, known for its quality and flavor and widely recognized nationwide.
In 2023, Yamaya opened Yamaya So-Honten in the Shirogane area of Fukuoka.
Inside are two dining spaces: the cafe restaurant Yamaya So-Honten Shirogane Komichi and the high-end Japanese restaurant Yamaya So-Honten ZEN, offering different ways to enjoy the venue depending on the time of day and your purpose.
The building is designed as a rebuilt Showa-era traditional house, featuring beautiful architecture where tradition and modernity are in harmony.
A corridor runs around the central courtyard, and the layout lets you view the garden from any seat.
This beautiful space won the GOOD DESIGN AWARD 2023, and many people visit for the architecture itself.
Access to Yamaya So-Honten
Yamaya So-Honten is located in Shirogane, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City.
It is about a 7-minute walk from Yakuin Station, served by the Nishitetsu Tenjin-Omuta Line and the Fukuoka City Subway Nanakuma Line.
It is also close to the Tenjin area, making it easy to stop by while sightseeing.
What Are the Highlights of Yamaya So-Honten Shirogane Komichi and Yamaya So-Honten ZEN?
福岡薬院にある「やまや総本店」には、明太子を使ったカフェレストラン「やまや総本店 白金小径」と、九州食材の旬の味わいを堪能できる高級日本料理店「やまや総本店 膳」がある。
ここでは、それぞれの魅力を紹介していく。
Yamaya So-Honten Shirogane Komichi｜A Cafe Restaurant to Enjoy Hakata Karashi Mentaiko
Yamaya So-Honten Shirogane Komichi is a cafe restaurant that mainly serves gozen (Japanese set meals) and sweets featuring mentaiko.
It opens at 11:00 am and is popular with travelers for lunch or a cafe break.
Its biggest feature is the chance to taste "dekitate mentai"-mentaiko that is served without going through a freezing process after being aged.
Compared with regular mentaiko, it has a firmer texture of the roe, with a mellow saltiness and a pronounced yuzu aroma.
You can fully enjoy mentaiko's natural flavor and distinctive texture.
The dishes make generous use of Kyushu-grown vegetables, seafood, and meat, offering flavors that change with the seasons.
The cafe menu is also extensive, making it perfect for tea time after a meal.
3 Popular Menu Picks at Yamaya So-Honten Shirogane Komichi
Yamaya So-Honten Shirogane Komichi is a cafe restaurant where you can enjoy dishes made with high-quality mentaiko and Kyushu ingredients.
In particular, here are three signature items you should try.
1. Hakata Mentai Ori: Gozen
A luxurious gozen set with 13 beautifully arranged small dishes, offering both substance and satisfaction.
Each small dish is carefully prepared, using "dekitate mentai" along with seasonal Kyushu vegetables, Kyushu meats such as chashu made from Kagoshima Chami Pork, and fresh seafood.
It is a representative menu item that lets you enjoy the essence of Fukuoka all at once.
2. Hakata Mentai Ori: Seafood Rice Box
A seafood rice box topped with a large shrimp at the center that immediately catches your eye.
It is a gorgeous dish, colorfully garnished with "dekitate mentai" and fresh Kyushu seafood.
Sea delicacies such as sea bream and ikura harmonize exquisitely with the saltiness of mentaiko, and the savoriness spreads with every bite.
Another highlight is that partway through, you can pour on the special dashi and enjoy it as a light ochazuke (rice with tea or broth), changing the flavor.
Because you can enjoy it without getting tired of the taste, it is ideal for lunch or a lighter meal.
3. Frying-Pan Pancake
A fluffy frying-pan pancake, carefully baked after you order.
It is lightly fragrant on the outside and moist and tender inside, with an airy texture that seems to melt in your mouth.
It has just the right sweetness and pairs perfectly with coffee or tea.
Loved by many, it is an ideal sweet for dessert after a meal or a quick rest while sightseeing.
Souvenirs and Takeout Are Also Abundant at Yamaya So-Honten Shirogane Komichi!
At Yamaya So-Honten Shirogane Komichi, you will also find a wide selection of souvenirs and takeout items that let you casually enjoy Fukuoka flavors, starting with mentaiko.
Along with the classic "dekitate mentai", the special dashi, mentai senbei rice crackers, and pewter chopstick rests are also popular.
You can also take out the reservation-only "Hakata Mentai Ori: Seafood Rice Box", so you can enjoy Fukuoka flavors at home as well.
Also recommended as a souvenir is an original chopstick rest with gold-leaf detailing, created in collaboration with Nousaku, a casting manufacturer in a traditional industry.
Basic Information
- Name in Japanese
- やまや総本店 白金小径
- Postal Code
- 810-0012
- Address
- 1-5-5 Shirogane, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Google Maps
- Telephone
- 092-406-8087
- Business Hours
-
11:00am - 6:00pm (L.O.5:00pm)
Café time: From 3:00pm (L.O.5:30pm) - Closed
- New Year’s holiday period.
- Budget
- From 2,000yen
- Official Website
- Official Website (Japanese)
Yamaya So-Honten ZEN｜A High-End Japanese Restaurant Where You Can Savor Seasonal Kyushu Ingredients
Yamaya So-Honten ZEN is a high-end kappo (fine Japanese dining) restaurant open only at dinnertime.
It serves kaiseki cuisine (multi-course Japanese cuisine) built around seasonal Kyushu ingredients.
The cuisine is supervised by Zaiyu Hasegawa, who has earned high praise in Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants.
Head chef Taishiro Abe carries on that refined technique while crafting each dish with care.
In a quiet, high-quality setting, you can slowly enjoy dishes that reflect the season, making it a great choice for anniversaries and meals with someone important.
3 Commitments at Yamaya So-Honten ZEN
The heart of Yamaya So-Honten ZEN is its luxurious course menus.
Here are three key commitments that support its exceptional cuisine.
1. Diverse Course Menus to Savor Kyushu Ingredients
At Yamaya So-Honten ZEN, under the concept of "Made in KYUSHU", it values Kyushu's abundant ingredients and culture.
Using carefully selected seasonal ingredients from across Kyushu, it delicately expresses flavors unique to that time of year.
Its attention to detail extends to every element, including the use of a custom-made Arita ware donabe from Anraku-gama for cooking rice.
From appetizers and sashimi to grilled and simmered dishes and donabe rice, each plate is designed so you can feel Kyushu's climate and food culture.
2. A Gourmet Experience Filled with Craftsmanship and Care
Yamaya So-Honten ZEN is a high-end Japanese restaurant that brings out the best of seasonal Kyushu ingredients.
Under Zaiyu Hasegawa’s direction, chef Taishiro Abe offers course menus that draw out the appeal of each ingredient.
With donabe-cooked rice and delicate plating, dishes infused with craftsmanship and care deliver a gourmet experience to every guest.
3. A Refined Space and Thoughtful Hospitality
The interior of Yamaya So-Honten ZEN is a refined space where the warmth of wood harmonizes with calm lighting.
It also features reclaimed materials, such as decorative transom panels and gates from an old residence, creating a distinctive space where history and newness coexist.
Along with explanations of each dish, flexible, personalized service and attentive care reach every detail so guests can enjoy their meal in comfort.
Basic Information
- Name in Japanese
- やまや総本店 膳
- Postal Code
- 810-0012
- Address
- 1-5-5 Shirogane, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Google Maps
- Telephone
- 092-406-8087
- Business Hours
-
11:00am - 6:00pm (L.O.5:00pm)
Café time: From 3:00pm (L.O.5:30pm) - Closed
- New Year’s holiday period.
- Budget
- From 2,000yen
- Official Website
- Official Website (Japanese)
Wrap-up
Yamaya So-Honten in Yakuin, Fukuoka is a gourmet spot where you can experience the appeal of Kyushu from multiple angles, starting with mentaiko.
In the daytime, enjoy an elegant lunch at Yamaya So-Honten Shirogane Komichi, and at night, savor luxurious omakase (chef’s choice) cuisine at Yamaya So-Honten ZEN.
Taste, space, and hospitality, all of it will make your travel memories even richer.
When you visit Fukuoka, it is a spot you should definitely stop by.