Fukuoka Restaurants & Food
Experience Local dining
Hanamidori (Hakata Ekimae)
3-23-17 Hakataekimae, Hakata-ku | ON Bdg 1F, Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture 812-0011 , Japan
+81 92-432-1801
Just outside the Hakata station (about two minutes by foot) is local restaurant Hanamidori, serving up a local favorite: Mizutaki.
Mizutaki, a native dish of Hakata consists of a home made secret chicken soup, filled with veggies. Mizutaki is accompanied with pieces of chicken and ponzu dipping sauce (deep and sour).
The prices of the set meal varies, with the entry level being 3200yen each and up as far as 5200yen.
Karonoron
2-1 Kamikawabatamachi, Hakataku, Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture 812-0026, Japan
+81 92-291-6465
Located just outside the South side of the Kushida Shrine you'll find a little inconspicuous udon shop. This place is the real deal and not a tourist spot, a local udon shop popular with the locals but unknown to foreigners.
All of the udon variants are good, which ever you end up choosing, make sure you get some slices of beef thrown in.
Karonron also has the rare bonus of having a fluent English-speaking chef! So you can find out exactly what they have and what you want!
Chikae Fukuoka
2-2-17 Daimyo, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture 810-0041 , Japan
+81 92-721-4624
Touted by many as the 'best place for seafood' in Fukuoka, the Chikae gives one very high hopes indeed. Best or not, it certainly offers excellent sea food, which customers choose from live tanks, which is then prepared before their eyes. So you get a little show and diner.
Highlights include the sushi, sashimi and tempura. It does not come without its price however, be prepared to spend 3,000 yen per person.
Chikae is just a 2 minute walk South of Akasaka Subway Station.
Ichiran
2-1-57 Daimyo, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture 810-0041, Japan
+81 92-713-6631
A two minute walk West of Nishisetsufukuoka Station on Tenjin Nishi Dori, stands a deceivingly innocuous ramen shop. The Ichiran is set up in the 'cubical' style where customers sit up at the bar and have partitions between eachother, so all they see is there little spot. The partitions are separatable should you and your fellow travelers wish to do so.
The ramen itself is top notch, serving up Fukuoka's claim to fame 'tonkotsu' ramen: a ramen variation where pork bones are cooked for a minimum of 12 hours in order to make the creamy, potent white broth.
You can choose the thickness of your noodles, the extent that they are cooked to, and of course any toppings. (We recommend putting in a little crushed garlic).
The Ichiran is fast, delicious and very inexpensive. You'll want to come back.
Hakata Ippudo Sohonten
1-13-14 Daimyo, Chuoku, Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture 810-0041, Japan
+81 92-771-0880
Located just around the corner from rival ramen shop Ichiran is what many have argued to be the best tonkotsu in the region: Ippudo.
You can order a bowl of tonkotsu ramen for about 800 yen, which is just slightly above average. Like Ichiran you can choose the thickness of your noodle and the extent to which it is cooked. Make sure you get a side of gyoza along with your ramen in order to perfect the experience.
Is it the best ramen in town? Is it over-rated? There's only one way to find out. After eating at Ichiran you will certainly want to make the comparison.
