Hakata Mentaiko

Spicy mentaiko is the signature flavor of Hakata - a food originating in Hakata made by marinating walleye pollock roe in a chili pepper-infused seasoning liquid. Fukuya is considered the founder, and today dozens of mentaiko makers in the city are competing fiercely. At the directly operated stores in Hakata Station and Tenjin, you can enjoy tastings and comparisons of freshly made mentaiko, with creative menu options like mentaiko rice balls and mentaiko pasta also readily available. As a souvenir, it enjoys enduring popularity, and part of the fun of a Hakata trip is sampling the different flavors from each maker and discovering your personal favorite.