Tabelog ratingKawa Taro Nakasu Honten (河太郎 中洲本店) is built around a single, dramatic experience: live squid sashimi. The centerpiece of the restaurant is a large, active tank—the ike-su—from which your meal is plucked moments before being served. This is the home of ika no ikizukuri, where the squid is so fresh its sashimi is nearly transparent.
Diners consistently praise this signature dish for its firm, sweet flesh and the visual spectacle of its preparation. After the sashimi course, the remaining parts of the squid are taken back to the kitchen and returned as a second dish, typically crisp tempura or grilled with salt. While the squid is the star, other popular items include the ikashumai (squid dumplings) and goma saba (sesame mackerel). Many reviewers note that the lunch sets offer better value than dinner.
However, the experience can be inconsistent. Some guests find the restaurant pricey, with squid priced by weight leading to small-feeling portions. Service is a common point of criticism, with reports of it being slow, brusque, or unwelcoming to foreign visitors, and some diners have faced strict, unannounced time limits on their table. On some nights, the live squid may even sell out.
Expect to pay around ¥3,000–¥3,999 for lunch and ¥8,000–¥9,999 for dinner. Reviewers recently paid around ¥1,700–¥2,420 per 100g for the live squid sashimi, while a lunchtime ika teishoku (squid set meal) was reported at ¥4,180. Kaiseki courses were cited at ¥6,600 and ¥8,800. Note that dinner may include a cover charge of around ¥500.
- Booking: Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for the popular counter seats overlooking the tank. Booking is essential for lunch, which is served in one-hour slots.
- Getting There: The restaurant is in the Nakasu district of Fukuoka. It's a 5-minute walk from Kushida Jinja-mae subway station or a 10-minute walk from Nakasu-Kawabata station. Be careful not to confuse it with the branch near Hakata Station.
- Payment: Major credit cards (Visa, Master, JCB, Amex, Diners) and PayPay are accepted. Electronic money is not.
- Seating & Guests: The restaurant has 220 seats, including private rooms. Children are welcome.
- Practical Notes: The entire restaurant is non-smoking. There is no parking. Live squid can sell out, so consider visiting for lunch for a better chance. Service can be inconsistent; while some staff speak foreign languages, it's wise to be prepared for Japanese-language service. Squid is priced by weight; confirm the portion and price before you order.
