Fukuoka is famous among Japanese people for its many delicious foods. I grew up in Fukuoka, and after moving to Tokyo, I realized how good the food was in Fukuoka. Even now, when I go back to Fukuoka, I look forward to eating delicious food. I am such a big fan of Fukuoka. In this article, I will introduce 7 dishes you should eat on your trip to Fukuoka.
This article will answer to the following questions:
– What are the sights to see and food to eat in Fukuoka as a tourist?
Contents
Hakata Ramen
Hakata Ramen is one of the most popular foods in Fukuoka, and is so well known in Japan. Hakata Ramen is made with pork bone soup and thin noodles. Depending on the restaurant, the soup can range from rich to lightly flavored. I hope you will try Hakata Ramen at various restaurants.
Hakata Ramen is really Fukuoka’s soul food that the locals have been eating on a regular basis. When I was in high school, I used to eat Hakata Ramen on my way home from school. The ramen I ate back then was pork bone ramen made by an old man in a small store. The price was 450 Japanese Yen then. It was really delicious. I looked it up and found out that it is still in business. It’s a bowl of ramen I want to try when I go back to Fukuoka.
Here are the must-eat ramens in Fukuoka.
Motsu Nabe
There are many types of hot pot in Japan, but Fukuoka is famous for its Motsu-nabe. Motsu-nabe is a hot pot with beef mots, cabbage, and chives. The soup is either soy sauce or miso flavored. It is also popular among women as they can eat a lot of vegetables. I have actually eaten motsunabe myself, and it is delicious. Now, I sometimes eat motsu-nabe at home as well.
- [Nakasu Kawabata] Hakata Motsu-Nabe Ooyama HQ 博多もつ鍋 おおやま 本店
- [Nakasu Kawabata] Motsu Kou もつ幸
- [Gion] Kawano かわ乃 博多店
- [Nishi Nakasu] Motsu Nabe Syouraku HQ もつ鍋 笑楽 本店
Mizu-taki
Another hot pot in Fukuoka is Mizu-taki. Mizu-taki is a hot pot that I have eaten often since I was a kid. When relatives gathered at my parents’ house, it was one of the traditions to have Mizu-taki together. Mizu-taki is a local dish that originated in the Meiji era. It is said to have originated as a Japanese version of Chinese cuisine and consommé soup.
The meat and vegetables are simmered in a chicken-based soup and eaten with ponzu sauce. When the vegetables and meat are finished, it is best to add rice or noodles to soak up the soup before eating.
- [Daimyo] Iwatoya 岩戸屋
- [Nakasu Kawabata] Mizutaki Nagano 水たき 長野
- [Tenjin] Hakata Mizudaki Shinmiura 博多水だき 新三浦
- [Nakasu Kawabata] Hakata Hanamidori Nakasu HQ 博多華味鳥 中洲本店
Fresh Fish
Fukuoka is famous for its delicious seafood as well as ramen and hot pot. I really think this is true for me as well. When I went to Tokyo for the first time, I was surprised at how tasteless the sushi I bought at the Tokyo supermarket was. Sushi at supermarkets in Fukuoka is cheaper and tastes so much better. The secret of the delicious seafood is thanks to the sea that Fukuoka faces, the Genkai Sea. Because Genkai Sea is one of the best fishing grounds in Japan, it is easy to get fresh seafood in Fukuoka. If you want to enjoy seafood in Fukuoka, go for sushi or izakaya restaurants and order fish .
Also, each season has different fish to enjoy, so enjoy the freshest fish according to the time of year you travel. Here is a list of typical fish for each season.
- June – October : horse mackerel and cuttlefish
- October – November : sand crayfish and mackerel
- December – January : saw-edged perch
Here is the list of recommending restaurants.
- Hyotan no Kaiten Sushi ひょうたんの回転寿司
- Mawaru Sushi Hakata Uogashi まわる寿司 博多魚がし
- Kaisendon Hinode 海鮮丼 日の出
- Okiyo おきよ
Additionally next prefecture “Saga” is famous for squid. You can enjoy fresh squid in Fukuoka as well. The best way to eat squid is to go to Karatsu, Saga. However you can still fresh squid. This squid is very different from normal squids. I highly recommend to eat squid in Fukuoka or Saga.
Hakata Hitokuchi Gyoza
Hitokuchi gyoza is a popular food as soul food in Hakata these days. The size is 4-6cm, which is smaller than most gyoza. It is said that they were made so that impatient Hakata people could eat them.
Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve heard from adults that there are restaurants that serve delicious gyoza, but I never knew that the size of gyoza in Hakata was so small and so popular. Upon closer inspection, I found that there are many specialty gyoza restaurants in Fukuoka, including some that have been in business for over 70 years. In Fukuoka, gyoza is often eaten as a side dish to ramen, but be sure to try the gyoza from specialty stores.
- [Nakasu] Houuntei Nakasu HQ 宝雲亭 中洲本店
- [Daimyo] Temjin Daimyo branch テムジン大名店
- [Hakata Station] Asahiken Ekimae HQ 旭軒 駅前本店
- [Hakata Station] Hakata Gion Tetsu Nabe 博多祇園鉄なべ
Hakata Udon
It is said that Hakata is the place where udon was first introduced. For this reason, there are many specialty stores in Hakata, Fukuoka. Udon is said to have been introduced by the monk Seiichi Kokushi, who returned from China in the Kamakura period. Udon in Fukuoka is characterized by its soft noodles and toppings such as burdock tempura and round tempura. I have been going to udon shops and eating udon since I was a little girl. During the summer Obon season when my relatives would gather, we would all go to “Karo no Uron”, one of the most famous udon shops in Fukuoka. “Karo no Uron” has been in business for over 130 years. It’s a very famous restaurant in Fukuoka.
- [Nakasu Kawabata] Karo no Uron かろのうろん
- [Tenjin] Inaba Udon 因幡うどん ソラリアステージ店
- [Nakasu Kawabata] Miyake Udon みやけうどん
Yakitori
Yakitori is also available in other cities in Japan. Fukuoka’s yakitori is characterized by the fact that a pile of cabbage is served even without ordering it. And the cabbage is delicious. When I was a high school student, My mom took me to a yakitori restaurant for the first time and I was impressed by the deliciousness of the cabbage. Of course, the yakitori was also delicious. On weekdays, you can see people on their way home from work enjoying their yakitori while drinking beer.
- [Yakuin] Torikawa Kyosui とりかわ粋恭
- [Hakata Station] Yakitori Hachibee 焼き鳥の八兵衛
- [Nakasu Kawabata] Tenka no Yakitori Nobuhide HQ 天下の焼鳥 信秀本店
Summary
I have introduced seven dishes that you must try when you visit Fukuoka. Fukuoka is a gourmet city with seriously cheap and delicious food. Instead of spending a fortune in Tokyo, I would recommend that you go to Fukuoka and enjoy the fresh and delicious local food.