Carrying on one of Hakata’s flavorful traditions
Mizutaki (chicken hot pot) is a simple local dish, but with the Toriden touch, it becomes a memorable experience. Take a sip of the delectable white broth before you add the Kyushu-bred chicken to the pot. Don’t forget the locally grown green onions. Toriden makes its own seasonings—a mild yuzu gosho paste and a mellow ponzu sauce—that you can either enjoy with each bite of chicken or mix into the soup. Next, add the tsumire, or minced chicken, to the pot. The cabbage, kuzu-kiri and carrots round out the soup with a hint of sweetness. Finally, add zosui (rice porridge) or ramen noodles to the remaining soup for the finishing touch. Owner Hirokatsu Okutsu worked in French cuisine before entering the world of washoku. After studying in France, he launched a number of popular restaurants in Tokyo and Fukuoka. It was here in the culinary mecca of Fukuoka where he decided to open a mizutaki restaurant. Toriden’s mission is to introduce travelers and locals to the wonders of mizutaki while keeping a Hakata tradition alive.
Toriden Hakata Honten
Address: 10-5 Shimokawabatamachi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka
Open: 11:30~23:00 (L.O. 21:30)
Closed: Never
Tel: 092-272-0920
Menu: Mizutaki course (appetizer, chicken wasabi salad, mizutaki, zosui or ramen) ¥3,800, Mizutaki à la carte (chopped and sliced chicken, tsumire, vegetables, kuzu-kiri, tofu) ¥2,800, Japanese fried chicken ¥850, Sesame mackerel ¥900, Sake ¥750~¥900/glass, Draft beer ¥580, Glass wine ¥550, Gyokuro green tea ¥800
Originally published in Fukuoka Now (fn192, Dec. 2014)
