Ganso Hakata Mentaiju
Karashi mentaiko (pollock roe soaked in red peppers and sauce) is eaten with rice or added to pasta. While the name bears the term karashi (chili), it is not extremely hot but has a distinct spiciness that comes from the depth and flavor of the crushed mustard seed sauce used to soak the roe. There are numerous shops that sell karashi mentaiko, but just a few where you can order it as a meal. Ganso Hakata Mentaiju, Fukuoka’s first shop dedicated to mentaiko, is the place to go. Try the Mentaiju, the dish named after the shop, for a serving of rice topped with marinated konbu maki mentai (cod roe wrapped in seaweed). Diners can choose between regular and spicy cod roe. With the perfect match of the rich taste of cod roe and the seaweed rice, you would find yourself emptying your bowl quickly.
