Fukuya Mentaiko — The Original Spicy Cod Roe

Mentaiko — spicy marinated cod roe — was essentially invented in Fukuoka. The story begins in the late 1940s when Toshio Kawahara, a Korean-Japanese entrepreneur, adapted the Korean kimchi-seasoned pollack roe (myeongnan-jeot) into a milder, more complex Japanese version seasoned with sake, mirin, and dried chili. His company Fukuya has been making mentaiko at the same location in Hakata since 1948.

Fukuya's mentaiko is bright coral-red, silky, and savory-sweet with a gentle heat that lingers. It is sold whole sac (tsubu mentaiko) or mixed (karashi mentaiko nori). The Tenjin flagship store has a tasting counter where you can try three or four varieties on plain rice — the best ¥200 you will spend in Japan. The product comes in temperature-controlled packaging designed for air travel.