FUKU CAFE Fukuoka Kashii Hama-ten

Here, the rice balls are as much the star as the accompanying dishes: the set lets you try 4 varieties of rice in one meal. FUKU CAFE Fukuoka Kashii Hama-ten’s Basic Rice Ball Tasting Set comes with a colourful salad, miso soup, pickles and 3 small accompaniments for ¥1,500. It’s an easy choice if you want to focus on the rice or compare the differences between varieties.

For a more substantial meal, choose a set with a main dish. The chicken nanban set comes with an original tartar sauce made with rice, a tasting selection of 4 rice balls, salad, miso soup, pickles and 3 small accompaniments. Diners have singled out the generous portion of nanban, its tartar sauce and the pickles on the side. At lunchtime, rice ball refills are free, so you could try the first 4 varieties and then have more of the one you like best.

Rice ball refills are self-serve. One visitor noted that the first serving was warm, while the refill rice balls had cooled. The basic set puts the tasting front and centre; if you’d like a more substantial main, there are also sets with nanban, chicken tempura or fried chicken.

Fish is another option. The grilled salted mackerel set costs ¥2,000, while the grilled silver salmon with overflowing salmon roe set is ¥2,300. One diner described the salted mackerel as large and satisfying. Either could suit a hearty lunch or an evening meal with fish as the main dish. Set rice balls can be refilled free at lunchtime; in the evening, additional rice balls cost ¥30 for 1, so the way to order changes with the time of day.