Harahetta

Once the hot pot arrives on the tabletop burner, the staff carefully attend to it, keeping a close eye on the heat to bring everything to the ideal simmer. The signature offering at Kinshicho Motsunabe Harahetta Honjin is the 'Kuro' (Black) beef motsunabe, built around a deep, richly flavored broth prepared by simmering over ten ingredients in sweet Kyushu soy sauce from Fukuoka. Tender, springy beef offal, cabbage, and Chinese chives soak up the savory, fragrant soy sauce base, making each bite remarkably appetizing. For a mellower flavor profile, the 'Shiro' (White) beef motsunabe is another standout, blending slightly sweet rice miso with miso crafted from Fukuoka-grown soybeans, finished with aromatic sesame.

Distinctive Broths to Nagasaki Champon and Risotto-Style Final Courses

Beyond the classic soy sauce and miso, the menu offers a tempting lineup of broths, including the 'Aka' (Red) beef motsunabe loaded with spicy cod roe sourced directly from Hakata, and the 'Kin' (Gold) beef motsunabe featuring three types of melted cheese. Once the ingredients infuse the broth with concentrated savory depth, you can round out the meal with finishing additions like noodles from a Hakata noodle maker, champon noodles shipped directly from Nagasaki, or a classic rice porridge set. If you opt for the white or red hot pots, concluding with a risotto-style porridge topped with cheese, mochi, and black pepper comes highly recommended.

Slow-Cooked Small Plates and a Relaxing Wood-Toned Setting

The à la carte appetizers served while the hot pot prepares are equally well-crafted; the chicken white liver sashimi-style dish, cooked low and slow at 63 degrees Celsius for 40 minutes, yields a rich, velvety texture reminiscent of foie gras. A robust selection of drinks-friendly side dishes includes french fries tossed in house-made anchovy garlic butter and low-temperature-cooked chicken hearts served with garlic oil. The dining room features a relaxed, calm ambiance defined by warm wood tones, and booking a table in advance is a smart step when planning an evening meal.