In the bustling Shinten-Cho shopping area of Tenjin is “Mitsusedori Honpo”. It’s a restaurant that specializes in a chicken breed from Saga called “Mitsusedori”, and also sells hot pot and samgyetang (Korean Ginseng Chicken Soup) soup base and frozen meatballs. The restaurant offers specialty dishes such as “Dobuzuke Chicken Karaage Set” which is fried chicken belly marinated in their secret sauce, and “Broiled Thigh Soup Curry” - all for a very reasonable price.

Soup for the “Hot Pot Set” is made by gently simmering an entire chicken for two and a half hours. The milky soup has a nice mouthfeel and with deep flavor - elegant, clean and void of anything extra. Take note of the jelly that’s served on the side - it’s pure collagen boiled from chicken bones and wing tips; add it to the pot before you start your meal.

The “Mitsusedori” flesh has perfect texture - not too soft, not too tough. The more you chew, the more umami seeps onto your tastebuds; the meatballs display a sort of sweetness that’s characteristic to this breed. Don’t forget to enjoy the vegetables with their house original ponzu sauce. It’s a very filling meal by itself, but if you’ve still got room in your stomach, there’s unlimited rice refills. You can easily make yourself some rice soup!