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Stop by Hakata Station, and you’ll likely be hit with a strong, buttery smell of freshly-baked croissants before you even step out of the ticket gates. il FORNO del MIGNON is Fukuoka’s cult-favorite croissant specialty shop, and you’ll often find tourists and locals lining up to get bags of this stuff.
Today, I finally decided to give it a go and find out if it lives up to the hype. So what are the available flavors? Is it any different from the other bakery shops around? And is it worth the visit? Let’s get to it. How Good is il FORNO del MIGNON Actually?
–Pricing System–
–Original Croissant–
–Chocolate Croissant–
–Sweet Potato Croissant–
–Other Flavors & Baked Goods–
–Verdict–
–Getting There–
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💵 Pricing System 💵
il FORNO del MIGNON prices their croissants by weight. To order, simply tell the staff how many pieces of each mini-croissant you’d like. Then they’ll bag it up, place it on their digital scale, and calculate your total price.
Here’s the baseline cost for each of their three signature flavors:
🥐 Original (¥226 per 100g / ~4 Pieces)
🍫 Chocolate (¥248 per 100g / 3~4 Pieces)
🍠 Sweet Potato (¥259 per 100g / ~3 Pieces)
Do note that this store only accepts cash and IC payment (no credit cards.)
Side Note: While you can technically buy just a single piece, do consider buying more than you think you need at the moment. With how more-ish these croissants are, chances are you’ll be down a few by the time you reach the hotel or give them as a souvenir to someone!
Side Note: As for how long you can keep the croissants, it should last about a day at room temperature, and about 3-7 days in the fridge/freezer.
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🥐 Original Croissant (¥226 per 100g) 🥐
Starting with the original, though the texture applies to all of their croissants, il FORNO del MIGNON’s mini-croissants lean heavily towards a softer, chewier, slightly flaky profile compared to the ultra-flaky and airy French croissant – though it retains all the usual rich, buttery, fermented aromas of a well-made pastry.
Other than the pastry dough itself, MIGNON also tops their croissants with a fragrant syrup-based glaze the moment they exit the oven. Slightly sticky when eaten fresh, and gets absorbed through the croissant layers when left to set – giving it a characteristic, pleasantly sweet, ‘Japanese snack-like’ finish.
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🍫 Chocolate Croissant (¥248 per 100g) 🍫
Rather than a simple chocolate core, MIGNON’s Chocolate Croissant swaps out their regular pastry for a cocoa-flavored one, and fills it with a single chocolate baton.
Flavor and texture-wise, the chocolate pastry dough isn’t too different from the original. Instead, the real draw lies in the filling. Compared to the smooth chocolate interior of a French pain au chocolat, MIGNON’s bake-stable chocolate batons melt into a sweet, rich, slightly crumbly core that delivers an incredibly satisfying bite.
I’m usually a plain croissant fan, but these chocolate ones are incredibly addicting, and a contender for my overall favorite of the entire lineup!
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🍠 Sweet Potato Croissant (¥259 per 100g) 🍠
Rounding out the trio of il FORNO del MIGNON’s classic lineup is their Sweet Potato Croissant, the highest price-point of the core three.
I didn’t get to try this today, as it sold out right before I got to order… (the ones in the photo were literally the last pieces of the day) But considering that these were the first to sell out, that alone should speak volumes to how popular they are. If you’re around and still see them on offer – make sure to grab some!
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🥐 Other Flavors & Baked Goods 🥐
Outside the main three, MIGNON also sells other types of croissants and baked goods, ranging from mentaiko, almond, and custard croissants, to apple pies, sesame balls, and bread loaves.
These items are available at a separate counter, physically split from 95% of the crowd. If you’re only here for MIGNON’s other flavors, you can simply walk up to this register and skip the line entirely!
Side Note: Some items on this side are priced per piece rather than by gram, so make sure to double check before placing your order!
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⭐VERDICT⭐
So how good is il FORNO del MIGNON actually? Incredibly so! I really try not to overhype popular shops, but this place hits all the spots for a fast, cheap, highly-satisfying snack. The croissants are well-laminated, chewy, and carry a really nice sweetness to them. Obviously a very different style compared to a traditional French croissant, so it won’t hit the same spots if you’re looking for that. But as a quick grab-and-go option, the combination of quality, flavor, and cost is incredibly hard to beat!
So if you’re looking for a quick, highly addictive, and wallet-friendly snack while in Fukuoka, il FORNO del MIGNON is exactly the place to visit!
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🚗 GETTING THERE 🚗
il FORNO del MIGNON is located right inside Hakata Station’s main concourse.
From Hakata Station (JR, Kuko, Nanakuma Lines), exit via the Central Gate, and the shop should be right around the corner.
And if you’re walking to the station, you’ll find the shop around the middle of the concourse.
il FORNO del MIGNON
🌏 Location
Japan, 812-0012 Fukuoka, Hakata Ward, Hakataekichuogai, 1-1 JR Hakata Station, 1st Floor (Near Hakata Station’s Central Ticket Gates)
🗺 Map 🗺
https://maps.app.goo.gl/GaEuLa1gPWrT5MRQ6
⏰ Opening Hours ⏰
7 A.M. to 11 P.M.
💻 Website 💻
https://mignon-mini-croissant.com/
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