Rakutenchi opened in Tenjin in 1977 and now boasts eight locations in Fukuoka. They specialize in motsunabe; a tripe hot pot served with a mountain of fresh chives and cabbage in a secret-recipe soup flavored with garlic and chili peppers. Add any combination of 11 seasonings from jars on the counter (aubergine pepper, black vinegar, wasabi, and more) and make yours a one of a kind! They offer lunch, a rarity among motsunabe shops, using less pungent garlic and serve specialty items like a hot pot using exclusively premium Saga Beef tripe. Finish with champon noodles as the locals do!
Menu (plus tax): Select Saga Beef motsunabe course ¥3,500 (aperitif, vinegared tripe or kimchi, select Saga Beef motsunabe, raw egg, champon noodles or rice porridge, dessert, coffee), motsunabe ¥1,090, Rakutenchi special motsunabe course ¥2,300 (vinegared tripe or kimchi, Rakutenchi special motsunabe, Hakata soft tofu, champon noodles) tripe croquette (3 pcs.) ¥600, draft beer ¥550, highball ¥450, shochu ¥430, club soda ¥250
*Foreign language menu: English/Credit cards accepted/Reservations: Possible/No smoking
Originally published in Fukuoka Now Magazine (fn253, Jan 2020)
