Fukuoka City’s Finest Izakaya
Fukuoka is renowned across Japan for its food, including ramen, motsunabe hot pot stew and the local specialty goma saba (mackerel). Many of these dishes are best enjoyed at an izakaya together with alcoholic drinks.東京 SEO対策
Izakaya are casual drinking establishments that serve a selection of small dishes that can be shared at the table. They can be found throughout the city and are popular amongst workers after a day at the office.
1. Maedaya
Fukuoka City is famous for its Hakata ramen, a rich pork bone broth and perfectly cooked noodles. Indulge at a restaurant or one of the many yatai (street food stalls) that pop up after hours in Tenjin and Nakasu. Look for Futoppara, a local chain that serves a rare mash-up of ramen and somen called rasomen.
If you prefer a more intimate experience, head to Maedaya. This izakaya features personal booths and touch screen menus, perfect for couples or friends who want to talk over drinks. Be sure to order the potato gratin, which features firm skin-on spud chunks in butter with a cheese slick. Diners can also DIY their own sake with a selection of five color-coded sauces.
A visit to Fukuoka is not complete without a stroll through Ohori Park, an oasis of green in the heart of the city. For a unique perspective of the city, hike up to the summit of the Acros Fukuoka 010 Building for a skyline view. Those who love to read will be in heaven at Lamp Light Books, where you’ll find a collection of specialty publications. Outdoor enthusiasts will want to book a night or two at Snow Peak’s Aburayama campfield.
2. Oscar Bar
Oscar Bar is a cocktail izakaya with old-world class. Dry ice and homemade syrups don’t get a look in, but the staff are warm and hospitable and a soundtrack of smooth jazz hits the right note. There’s a good selection of drinks, including classics like daiquiris and whisky sours. And if you’re looking for something more original, try the ‘Four Leaf Clover’ (a heady blend of Midori liqueur and Hibiki whisky).
Located in the heart of Fukuoka city’s historic Daimyo area, this is one of the most popular izakaya in the area, where many movies and TV shows were shot. You can enjoy the local speciality of mizutaki, a chicken hotpot where you boil chicken bones to make a light soup and then add vegetables and meat. Then enjoy a bowl of thin noodles. You can choose the thickness of the noodles from yawa(soft) to kata(hard) and barikata or harigane(super hard).
For a night out where you can sit back and relax, this is definitely a place to visit. They serve great mentaiko pasta, which is basically cacio e pepe’s Japanese cousin. They also sell mentaiko rice balls which are fabulous with Kewpie mayonnaise or broiled on toast for a drunken 3am snack.
3. Fukuoka Craft
Fukuoka Craft is one of the best izakayas in the city that offers great hospitality and amazing food. They offer many kinds of menu including udon, sushi and deep fried dishes.
Located in the historic district of Hakozaki, it is known for their long history and traditional way of welcoming customers. When you walk in the door you are greeted with a sound of drum. This is a traditional way to show their appreciation for the guests.
It is also home to tonkotsu ramen (pork bone soup noodle), motsunabe hot pot and karashi mentaiko (pollack roe in spicy sauce) among other regional delicacies.
In addition to serving up tasty local fare, some yatais have special designs or colors that add to their appeal and draw in passersby. Telas & Mico, for example, is painted an electric blue and sits on the busy sidewalk of Gofukumachi Station on the Fukuoka munisiple subway Hakozaki Line.
Often lively and filled with chatter, izakayas offer seating at Western-style tables, a counter, low tables on tatami or a combination of the aforementioned. They serve a wide variety of domestic and imported alcoholic beverages, such as beer, sake and shochu. Some places even sell all-you-can-drink plans that include drinks and meals starting at 2000 yen for a set time.
4. Bar Kitchen
A izakaya that specializes in grilled meats and fish is a must for any Fukuoka foodie. In addition to yakitori, skewers of beef tongue and prawns are served along with rice balls and Tsubodai (boarfish) in mirin. If you’re not a fan of grilled foods, there are also other dishes to choose from including salads and deep-fried items. The menu is priced in the 4,000 yen range for drinks and food.
A true izakaya isn’t complete without a selection of drinks to choose from. Many of them serve a variety of domestic and sometimes imported alcohol from across Kyushu, such as beer, sake and shochu. If you’re not a big drinker, ask if they have an all-you-can-drink plan, which usually starts at 2000 yen for a set amount of time.
Most izakaya offer a wide selection of dishes that are perfect for sharing with friends over beers and yarning. One of Fukuoka’s most popular dishes is mizutaki, a chicken hotpot boiled for hours with vegetables and chicken meat. It’s a great dish to start the meal with as it is lighter than other nabe hotpot dishes and doesn’t have the strong alcohol flavor that can make you drunk early in the night.
5. Otsu
The Roppomatsu area of the city is a hub for food lovers as it is home to a variety of restaurants, izakaya, and specialty shops that are loved by local residents and visitors alike. From a fine-dining kaiseki experience to street-side eats like motsunabe hot pot and gomasaba (sesame sauce coated mackerel) you can find an assortment of culinary delights here.
Yakitori in Fukuoka differs from yakitori in other parts of Japan in that it is typically served with cabbage as a tsumami. This is because of a special technique called oshizushi, where the cabbage is wrapped around the meat and then sliced to reveal the skewer. This style originated in the city of Fukuoka and is also a popular way to serve cod roe, which is famous for its spicy taste.
Another unique dish to try in Fukuoka is hakata ramen, which features a tonkotsu (richly flavored creamy pork bone soup) and thin noodles. This ramen is so beloved that it has been given the honor of being featured in Michelin’s list of recommended ramen shops. To experience this dish, head to Robata Kaminaribashi and watch the chefs grill your meal in front of you.
6. Toriden
Located right on the waterfront, Toriden is one of the city’s most famous restaurants. Its long history of serving delicious udon has made it a household name in Japan. The restaurant features an impressive variety of dishes and sake, all served with their own unique hospitality.
In Japan, izakaya are casual drinking establishments similar to Spanish tapas bars. Customers order food and drink throughout their visit, paying only for the items they consume – this style of eating is called nomi-hodai or tabe-hodai. Typically, a picture menu is displayed on the wall and the tabletop, which allows patrons to choose from a large selection of foods and drinks.
During the day Fukuoka’s streets are lined with shops selling everything from souvenirs to fresh seafood, but at night the city comes alive as more than 100 street food carts, better known as yatai, erupt from their small homes. The carts, all clustered in the Nakasu and Tenjin areas of the city, offer a range of snacks and meals, from gyoza dumplings to chicken hotpot stew, often accompanied by ice-cold beer or sake. They’re also a chance to experience the warmth and hospitality of local residents. This is the heart and soul of Fukuoka’s food culture.
7. ShinShin
Fukuoka embodies the dichotomy of Japan, resolutely traditional yet unapologetically modern. It is a city of Hakata ramen and Karashi Mentaiko (spicy cod roe), but also a vital international trading hub with robust start-up culture.
The area around Hakata and Tenjin is known as the ‘yatai-gai’, with over 100 open-air food stalls better known as yatais set up on any given night, serving everything from hotpot to bite sized dumplings to unique local Fukuoka dishes like yakitori chicken skewers. It’s the ideal place to go yatai hopping or simply stop for dinner on your way home from work.
Udon is another classic dish for which Fukuoka is famous, and ShinShin serves up some of the best in town. The restaurant welcomes you with the sound of a drum when you arrive and provides a comfortable setting to enjoy a variety of Japanese and Western cuisine, including some a la carte items.
The menu features a wide variety of regional delicacies and some imported foods too, including French and Italian dishes. Seating can be at Western-style tables, a counter, low tables on tatami or in semi-private compartments. Izakaya are lively places where chatter is common, so they’re not suitable for quiet romantic dining. They serve a selection of domestic and sometimes imported alcoholic drinks.
