Fukuoka Motsunabe: Rakutenchi vs. Sendo Honest Review 2026
Can't decide where to eat motsunabe in Fukuoka? We tried Rakutenchi and Sendo to give you the real scoop on atmosphere, taste, and experience.
Are you wondering where to go for Motsunabe
on your upcoming Fukuoka trip?
Last November, as I was preparing for our Fukuoka adventure
with my husband, I did a ton of research to find the best
Motsunabe restaurants in Fukuoka.
After personally visiting and trying two different spots,
I realized it's far more important to choose based on the vibe and style you're looking for,
rather than just heading to the most famous place.
So today,
I'm going to give you a candid comparison of
Rakutentchi VS Sendo,
based on my direct experiences at both locations.
Comparing Fukuoka's Best Motsunabe Spots
Category | Motsunabe Rakutentchi Imaizumi Main Branch | Motsunabe Sendo Hakata Sumiyoshi Branch |
Location | Near Tenjin Station | Near Hakata Sumiyoshi |
Atmosphere | Bustling market vibe Many foreign tourists | Local Izakaya Many Japanese locals |
Recommended for | First-timers, famous spots | Authentic local feel, specific ambiance |
Fukuoka Motsunabe Spot ①: Rakutentchi
One-Line Summary ✒️
Ordering à la carte offered decent value, but the taste was just okay.
A tourist-centric spot.
Surprisingly difficult to order.
On the evening of our third day in Fukuoka,
while exploring Tenjin,
we visited the famous Fukuoka Tenjin Motsunabe restaurant,
Rakutentchi.
We took off our shoes and headed upstairs,
and the interior was much more chaotic and bustling
than we expected.
Ordering was done via QR code, but the connection was spotty,
and the staff seemed incredibly busy,
making it really hard to get our order in.
Thankfully, some Koreans at the next table helped us out,
telling the staff to take our order,
and we finally managed to place it.
Here's a general overview of Rakutentchi's menu:
Course | À la carte | |
Price per person | 3,390 yen | 1,610 yen |
Contents | 1.5 servings of Motsunabe Mentaiko (spicy pollack roe) Tofu Champon noodles | 1 serving of Motsunabe |
Difference | Plump beef large intestine only! | Mix of 6 types |
The Rakutentchi Motsunabe course costs
3,390 yen per person, but the price felt a bit steep,
so we opted for the à la carte option.
The à la carte dish came with a mix of various types of offal,
including plump beef large intestine.
Honestly, we thought this combination was pretty good.
With the Motsunabe, two beers,
and added noodles and tofu,
the total came out to about 5,620 yen.
Approximately 2,800 yen per person!
Rakutentchi's Motsunabe was soy sauce-based,
and for my taste, it didn't really hit that "wow, this is amazing!"
feeling. We were really looking forward to experiencing what Motsunabe would taste like,
but honestly, we were both a little disappointed.
That's why we decided to try Motsunabe again the next day,
but this time, a different style.
Fukuoka Motsunabe Spot ②: Motsunabe Sendo
One-Line Summary ✒️
Satisfied with both the atmosphere and the taste!
A restaurant with authentic local vibes
But, unfortunately, it's a smoking-permitted restaurant..😢
The next day, we visited
Motsunabe Sendo,
located near our accommodation.
This place definitely had a different vibe right from the start.
It strongly evoked the izakaya atmosphere where
Japanese local office workers come to
unwind with a drink after work.
Sendo's biggest advantage is
that you can choose your broth!
🍲 Soy Sauce
🍲 Salt
🍲 Miso
🍲 Spicy Miso
Sendo's pricing is
relatively straightforward.
Motsunabe was 1,800 yen per serving,
and typical of Japanese izakayas,
an otoshi (seating charge) of 500 yen per person is added.
So, you can generally expect about 2,300 yen per person.
We chose the miso paste base,
and the white foam rising on top of the broth created
an impressive, creamy-soft visual.
The miso flavor wasn't too strong,
and it was generally light and clean,
giving a completely different feeling from what we had the day before!
As we ate, I found myself curious about the spicy miso version too.
The carbonara rice we had
at the very end, in particular,
was surprisingly a hidden gem.
Additional Menu Items 🐟
At Hakata Sendo,
we were able to try Gomasaba,
another specialty of Fukuoka.
While Sendo's Gomasaba was
quite delicious,
personally, I was more satisfied with the one I had
previously at Hyotan Sushi.
📍 Motsunabe Rakutenti Imaizumi Main Branch
日本 〒810-0021 Fukuoka, Chuo Ward, Imaizumi, 1-chōme−19−１８ 楽天地ビル ２階
📍 Motsunabe Sendo Hakata Sumiyoshi Branch
日本 〒812-0018 Fukuoka, Hakata Ward, Sumiyoshi, 2-chōme−4−７ レジデンス博多 １F
There are so many great Motsunabe restaurants in Fukuoka that
it's not about finding one single 'right answer,' but rather
choosing one that fits your travel style.
Recommended for these types of travelers:
Famous Restaurant / First-time visit 👉 Rakutenti
Atmosphere / Local Vibe / Variety of Flavors 👉 Sendo
Sendo has also become quite well-known lately,
and the number of Korean tourists is increasing,
so it's good to keep that in mind.
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What are the per-person prices and components of the Motsunabe course and à la carte menu at Rakutenshi Imaizumi Main Branch?
The Rakutenshi Motsunabe course is ~$2 per person and includes 1.5 servings of motsunabe, mentaiko (pollock roe), tofu, and champon noodles. The à la carte menu is ~$1 per person and consists of 1 serving of motsunabe with 6 types of mixed offal (including plump beef intestines).
What types of broth can be selected at Motsunabe Sendo Hakata Sumiyoshi branch, and what is the estimated cost per person?
At Motsunabe Sendo, you can choose from four types of broth: soy sauce, salt, miso, and spicy miso. Motsunabe is ~$1 per serving, and due to the nature of Japanese izakayas, an additional otoshi (table charge) of ~$0 per person is added, so you can expect a total of approximately ~$2 per person.
How do the atmospheres of Fukuoka Motsunabe restaurants Rakutenshi Imaizumi Main Branch and Sendo Hakata Sumiyoshi Branch differ?
Rakutenshi Imaizumi Main Branch has a bustling market-like atmosphere and attracts many foreign tourists. In contrast, Sendo Hakata Sumiyoshi Branch has a strong izakaya vibe, frequented by local Japanese office workers after work, with a majority of Japanese locals.
What difficulties might one encounter when ordering at Rakutenshi Imaizumi Main Branch, and what should be noted when using the self-service bar?
At Rakutenshi, the QR code ordering system may not connect well, and staff might be busy, making it difficult to place an order. Additionally, there is a self-service bar, but you might not be informed about it, and its stock and hygiene management might not be properly maintained.
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