Cover Photo: Chapman Chow / Unsplash
Photo: Chapman Chow / Unsplash
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At the heel of Japan is a hip and happening city offering just as much excitement and enticement in food as the tourist-favourite Tokyo
Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hokkaido are probably the places in Japan a lot of Filipinos frequent. And though they all offer a vast variety of food, none has satiated my appetite quite like Fukuoka. It came as a surprise, even if a good number of Japanese friends have already confessed this city that sits on the northern shore of Kyushu to be their favourite when it comes to gastronomy. It’s actually their testimonial that convinced me to book a ticket, but I had to see—and taste—for myself why locals are raving about Fukuoka’s food.
And what a reveal that was! It may not have the energy and excitement of the country’s capital or the alluring aesthetics of Kyoto, but it more than makes up for its shortcomings with cuisine.
In case you missed it: A Food Lover’s Guide to Osaka, Japan
For ramen aficionados
Above Hakata ramen, gyoza and onigiri at Shin Shin
Hakata ramen, gyoza and onigiri at Shin Shin
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When in Japan, you’ve got to have a hot bowl of ramen. But when in Fukuoka, it is the Hakata-style that you should be searching and craving for. Originating from the district of the same name, hakata is a type of tonkotsu ramen with ultra-thin noodles and a deep-flavoured broth made of pork bones. If you want to up your noodle soup game though, go the extra mile and line up at Shin Shin. Compared to the traditional Hakata ramen, their version is more full-bodied in taste thanks to the medley of ingredients used to produce the soup every morning—pork bones from Japan, chicken from Saga, aromatic vegetables from Kyushu and mineral-rich groundwater. Each order comes with a generous portion of thin noodles, char siu, wood ear fungus, and green onions.
See also: These are the 6 best ramen shops in Tokyo, according to Tabelog
For a sampling of a Fukuoka speciality
Above Mentaiko with seaweed rice
Mentaiko with seaweed rice
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One of the prefecture’s most popular delicacies is the marinated cod roe or mentaiko. It may have originated from Korea, but Japan has produced a very notable interpretation of it and has used it to flavour many of their food items from mentaiko mayonnaise and convenience store onigiris to pasta and Ganso Hakata Metaiju’s bestseller, the deluxe set composed of a whole piece of roe covered in kelp and rice studded with seaweed. A sauce of varying spiciness comes with every order; a good reason to season and make the eggs a lot tastier. There’s almost always a long queue here, with customers lining up an hour before the doors open—and rightfully so, as the other much-loved dish, the mentai nikomi tsukemen where their signature mentaiko plus ten different vegetables make up a thick dipping sauce to dunk the noodles in, is a surefire palate pleaser.
In case you missed it: The best Japanese restaurants in the Tatler Dining Guide 2023
For an authentic casual meal to remember
Above A yatai open from 6pm to 2am
Above Yatai by the river
A yatai open from 6pm to 2am
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Fukuoka has a lot to offer when it comes to dining experiences. There are restaurants that specialise in hot chicken pot and skewers cooked directly on the grill as well as small sushi dens that can house only a handful of guests per night. What travellers definitely shouldn’t miss is the yatai, which are open-air food carts that line the streets come six at night. There are many of them scattered across the city, specifically at Nakasu, Tenjin and Nagahama, and most of them serve all-time favourites like yakitori and Hakata ramen. Aside from the food, what these izakayas offer is interaction as the tiny stalls encourage friendly conversations with the people sitting next to you and live entertainment as the proximity between the guests and the cook allows for a peek into their makeshift kitchen.
Related: 8 Restaurants for hot pot and shabu-shabu in Metro Manila
For an assortment of baked treats
Above Savoury sandwiches at Amam Dacotan
Above Amam Dacotan's beloved maritozzi
Savoury sandwiches at Amam Dacotan
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In Omototesando, Tokyo, people would wait long hours to grab a bunch of pastries from Amam Dacotan. In Fukuoka, where the shop originated from, though there still is a queue, it wouldn’t take as long to enjoy the baked goods from the same brand. Even so, the short wait will reward you with a barrage of bronzed beauties, both sweet and savoury. What makes them good is their dough, which is made with domestically produced wheat flour that has been fermented for 15 hours. The result is a chewy and buttery canvas for anything delicious. In Amam’s case, there’s a whole range of fillings and toppings, from mentaiko and ham with white sauce to bostock of banana and chocolate, and fresh cream with fruits, which they call maritozzi.
See also: Bread lovers, do you know the difference between a pâtisserie, boulangerie, and viennoiserie?
For a sophisticated nightcap
Above A citrusy cocktail at Bar Cherokee
Above Moscow mule at Bar Cherokee
A citrusy cocktail at Bar Cherokee
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When it comes to beer shops and craft cocktail places, Fukuoka is spoiled for choice. But if a loungey and elegant nightcap is what you are after, then Bar Cherokee can do it for you. A 50 Best Discovery that has an affinity for sherries and cigars, this hidden gem is tucked inside a plain building, a foil for its true character. Once inside, it delivers an elegant vibe emitted by the wooden bar, well-stocked shelves, dim lights and fuzzy sofas. Come here for smooth drinks like the frozen mango slushy with apricot liqueur.
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Special thanks to Cebu Pacific and Travel Warehouse Inc.
