Gobo (burdock root), indispensable ingredient for Hakata’s dishes
Zoni no Sekitei restaurant is located close to Zhotenji Temple with the monument commemorating the origin of Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival. At the climax event the festival floats run in front of Zoni no Sekitei, a 50-year old restaurant where you can enjoy zoni (Japanese traditional soup dish for New Year) all year around. Popular Hakata zoni is a bowl of ago-dashi (soup stock extracted from flying fish) with many vegetables and pieces of yellowtail. The restaurant successfully got granted a patent for making the flagship dish into a frozen package. As shredded gobo is used in Sekitei’s zoni, the vegetable is requisite for Hakata’s food culture; from udon noodles with gobo tempura to seasoned rice with chicken, motsunabe hot pot, and chikuzenni (boiled vegetables) gobo, is a necessary item for so many dishes.

THoughts on Hakata Old TOwn
“Our zoni has plenty of gobo. The gobo tea and gobo tea karinto have been created as gobo food culture is distinct. They are just perfect for souvenirs of Hakata and I hope to increase recognition of the Hakata Old Town.” the shop owner Seki says.

Quality gobo is supplied from the producing areas nationwide to fill the consumption. Here at Zoni no Sekitei, new products such as gobo tea and gobo tea karinto (a deep-fried sweet snack) have been developed as a new souvenir.