Hakata Yatai Yokocho / 博多屋台横丁

Today, my friends threw a small birthday gathering for me and Mikako. We've all wanted to check out this new place that opened in our neighborhood. The place is called Hakata Yatai Yokocho. Hakata is a city located in Fukuoka Prefecture in Kyushu. Yatais are food-stalls. So, this place features a variety of restaurants featuring the cuisine of Hakata. We had the course menu this evening along with an all you can drink menu.

今日、友達が僕と美香子の誕生会を開いてくれた。最近三軒茶屋にオーペンした店が気になって、そこに決定。店の名前は博多屋台横丁。福岡県の博多が代表する飲食店がずらり並んでる様な店。今日は個室でコース料理を食べた。もちろん飲み放題込みで。

The first item to be served was edamame. An excellent appetizer while drinking beer and usually served at any izakaya.

最初に出たのは定番のおつまみ、枝豆。ビールともってこいものですね。

Our waitress then brought in a couple of portable grills for the squid and clams. As I'm not a big fan of squid, I said the others could have my share.

次はイカとハマグリのグリル。自分はイカが苦手なので、友達にどうぞうと言いました。

The next items were pork cutlet skewers that were also served with onion rings. Just add some sauce to the meat and you will be in paradise.

その次が串焼き。オニオンリングもおまけにあったような感じ。ソースをかけたら、さらに美味しくなります。

We were also supposed to be served mackerel with some type of miso sauce but as the fish market was closed today, we served maguro in its place.

コースでサバの味噌煮みたいなものが出てくる予定だったが、魚の市場は今日休みだったので、変わりにマグロが出ました。

And no course would be complete without a salad.

コースで欠かせない物と言えばサラダですね。

Another meat dish was served. Grilled chicken with cabbage and garlic chips with a side of yuzu pepper sauce (at least that's what I think it was).

次はまた肉料理。鶏肉とキャベツ。にんにくチップとゆずこしょのソース付（ま、ゆずこしょと思いますが）。

Next was the big hit of the evening for me - tonkotsu soup gyoza (tonkotsu being a broth made with pork). Oh my, gyoza floating in tonkotsu soup, it doesn't get better than this.

次は僕に大ヒットの料理だ‐とんこつスープ餃子。わ～、たまりませんね。水餃子と違ってとんこつスープに入ってるのよ。最高！

The course meal ended with yakisoba that was served in a take-out package. Which means you could eat there or save it for later. We ate while still at there. The yakisoba was also had a tonkotsu flavor to it.

コースの最後の料理は焼きそば。それにお持ち帰り出来る様な形で出てきます。味もとんこつですね。

Not on the course menu but something I wanted to try was the tetsu-nabe gyoza. Gyoza made in an iron pot.

コースにはなかった料理で注文したのは、鉄鍋餃子。これも餃子ファンはハマりますね。

We were all getting full by this time, so my friend Nori ordered a plate of cabbage which also makes a great snack food when drinking beer and sake.

段々お腹がいっぱいになりそうな時、友達のノリがキャベツを注文した。これも酒に良いおつまみだ。

And the food is always enjoyed when kids are around as well.

子どもたちも行って結構賑やかな時間を過ごした。

Shoei and Rino / ショ君と梨乃ちゃん

My bud who organized today's little get together.

今日の企画を提案した友達。

And finally, after getting home, a picture of the presents we received.

一番最後に、今日私と美香子が貰った誕生日グッズ。

As always, I received one joke present (the mask of the beaten face), a cute little bento box which can also keep your food cool as well, incense (a favorite item of Mikako), toothbrush set (perfect to take with us when we head to the States next month), and frosted glasses to make your beer taste even better (which I used immediately).

ギャグのやつがあって（あの不気味な面）、可愛いベント箱、お香（美香子が凄い喜んでた）、とフロストのグラス（ビールがもっと美味しく飲めるって）。早速うちにあったベルギビールをこのグラスで味わった。

I enjoyed this Belgian beer called Duchess de Bourgogne with my new glass.

新しいクラスでベルギビールを楽しんで飲みました。