Fukuoka is known as a city where fresh Kyushu ingredients, including fish and meat, are gathered. As a place with such high-quality ingredients, the locals are very conscious about the taste. Here we introduce three popular restaurants that require reservations and are guaranteed to be a hit.

Lunchtime drinking at Tipsy Street inside Hakata Station [Sakanaya Shokudo Hakata Tatsuetsumaru]

When you have some time before waiting for your train, when you're feeling a little hungry, when it's lunchtime and you want to have a quick drink and some delicious food to talk about, when you want a quick drink on your way home from work...there is a store at Hakata Station that can make all of these wishes come true.

This seafood bar is located at the Chikushi Exit of Hakata Station. It is always crowded with commuters, domestic travelers, and people from overseas. The manager, Mr. Yasunaga, is an avid fish lover and will treat you to a menu that will make the fish taste even better. The menu boasts fresh fish and the prices are all because it is directly managed by a fishmonger.

There are always over 10 types of sake in stock, and recommendations change monthly to appeal to sake lovers.
The advantage of being a store inside the station is that you can drink during the day.

Left: Staff meal sashimi (sesame sauce) Top: Amberjack head (with collar) Right: Rolled omelet topped with mentaiko

Yasunaga's three recommended dishes are the "Sesame Sauce Makanai Sashimi 3 yen," which is made with large slices of salmon, yellowtail, sea bream, and sand lance sashimi, drenched in a rich, elegant homemade sesame sauce. Each piece is thick and filling. The sesame sauce brings out the delicious flavor of the fresh fish.

Besides sashimi, grilled fish and boiled fish are also recommended. On this day, I ordered the "Amberjack Head (with collar)" for 1200 yen. This big grilled fish is served with ponzu or soy sauce. The skin is crispy and the saltiness is just right. It's a dish that goes well with both rice and sake.

"Dashimaki with Mentaiko (590 yen)" is a delicate and well-seasoned dish. The mentaiko sauce adds an accent and makes it the perfect snack to go with your drink.

We asked him to select three recommended brands from Tatsuetsumaru's sake lineup.

・Junmai Hiyaoroshi Kaiun 180ml 630 yen
Shizuoka/Doi Brewery
Al 16% Yamada Nishiki 100% Rice polishing ratio 55%

The first bottle is a limited edition sake that changes monthly, "Junmai Hiyaoroshi Kaiun," and the name sounds like you'll be blessed just by drinking it. It has a fruity flavor, but is firm and elegant. It's a sake that goes well with rich sashimi such as dried bonito. Although it's a limited edition sake that changes monthly, it's so popular that it sells out in about three weeks.

・Hakata Ippon Shime 110ml 480 yen
Fukuoka/Takahashi Shoten Co., Ltd. (Shigemasu)
Al 16% Polishing rate 55%

The second bottle is "Special Junmai Hakata Ipponjime," one of the signature products, and has the rich flavor of Japanese sake, a thick mouthfeel, and a mellow taste. In the coming season of delicious hot pot, drinking it with the food will bring out the flavor of the food.

・Extra dry Junmai sake Hakata no Mori 110ml 480 yen
Fukuoka/Kobayashi Sake Brewery Co., Ltd.
Al15~16% 100% Yamada Nishiki from Fukuoka Prefecture Rice polishing ratio 60%

The last sake recommended was "Bandai Super Dry Junmai Sake Hakata no Mori," a classic sake brewed by Kobayashi Sake Brewery. With its classic mouthfeel and refreshing aftertaste, it's irresistible for those who like dry sake. It goes well with both fish and meat dishes.

▲From the left: Manager Yasunaga, chef Tsukinoki, and assistant manager Seto

Manager Yasunaga says, "I want to do fun things in the future, and above all else, I want to make sure that customers are satisfied. I'd also like to try my hand at more entertaining productions."

I was impressed by how energetic the staff were and how friendly they all seemed to be. It reminded me of a fish shop in an old shopping arcade. The lively voices and bustling customers tell you how popular the shop is.

*Due to rising prices, the listed food and alcohol prices may change.

■① Fish restaurant Hakata Tatsuyoshimaru
Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Hakata Ward, Hakata Station, 1-1, Hakata Daitos 1F, Tipsy Street
Business hours: 11:00-23:00 (last orders 22:00)
TEL: 092-441-9077

Many regular customers! A cozy izakaya [Hakata Taina, in front of Ninjin Park]

A 7-minute walk from Hakata Station. A small signboard is quietly placed in front of Ninjin Park to find "Hakata Taina." The friendly manager and the attentive staff are a soothing presence for people working in downtown Fukuoka.

When you enter the shop, you will be greeted by the bright, smiling staff. You will feel a sense of security and will find yourself saying "I'm home" without even thinking. Here, "standard service" is provided without hesitation. This is the very form of an izakaya, and it can be said that the Japanese concept of "omotenashi" (hospitality) is firmly alive and well.

The menu is dominated by their signature fish, sourced from a wholesaler, and home cooking. They don't go through a fishmonger, they source their fish directly from the wholesaler. Among the home cooking dishes on the counter, the recommended dish is satsumaage. They use minced fish from a kamaboko shop and are known for their large portions, which are topped with plenty of vegetables.

Surprise Meat and Potatoes 1,408 yen

The popular Nikujaga (beef and potato stew). Look at how shiny it is. You can tell that the potatoes, carrots, and beef cheeks are well seasoned. The sweetness of the rich soy sauce and the umami of the meat fill your mouth. The thoughtfulness of the knife and spoon provided so that you can make bite-sized pieces is also a nice touch.

Looking at the lineup of sake, there are mainly Fukuoka brands but also local sake from Kyushu.
First, let me recommend Saga Prefecture.

・Saga/Junmaishu Toichi Glass 649 yen/869 cup XNUMX yen
Junmai sake 100% Yamada Nishiki rice, polishing ratio 64%, Al: 15%
Azumaichi is characterized by its smooth taste and crisp, delicious aftertaste.
The label has beautiful blue stripes, giving it a refreshing image.

・The second one is a modern type, also from Saga Prefecture.
Saga/Special Pure Rice Sake Super Dry Amabuki Glass 649 yen One cup 869 yen
Special Junmai Sake 100% Yamada Nishiki rice from Saga Prefecture Rice polishing ratio 60% Al:15%
When eaten with sea bream miso, they enhance each other's flavors even more. Although the sake's unique aroma is not too strong, its strong flavor and sharpness go perfectly with the meal.

・The third bottle has an eye-catching yellow label.
Iwate / Junmaishu Yoemon (Tori Yoemon) 649 yen per glass, 869 yen per cup
This sake from Iwate Prefecture has a modern style with a rich aroma, a light mouthfeel, and a clean aftertaste.
Personally, I was a bit taken aback by the strong impression made by the label, and the contrast with the delicate taste, but there's no doubt that it's a delicious drink.

Hakata Tina is confident in both its food and drinks, and is filled with a warm desire to please its customers, so it will no doubt continue to delight the palates of Fukuoka locals.

■②In front of Ninjin Park, Hakata Taina
Fukuoka City, Hakata Ward, Hakata Station, 4-11-13 Hana Building 1F
Business hours: Monday to Saturday 17:00 to 3:00, Sunday 17:00 to 24:00
TEL: 092-483-8125

Yakitori where you can enjoy local chicken from Kagoshima Prefecture [Chinpunkanpun Hakata Hanare]

This is a yakitori restaurant for adults, located an 8-minute walk from the Hakata Exit of Hakata Station. With no signboard and a mysterious atmosphere like a secret hideout, you can relax and enjoy your meal.

The restaurant has relaxing counter seats and private rooms. The atmosphere is unlike that of a yakitori restaurant, which heightens your anticipation for the food. They butcher and serve whole "Kisaki Jidori" chickens sourced from Kirishima, Kagoshima Prefecture, every day.

▲From the left: Tsukimi Tsukune, Tori Toro, and Dakimi (real wasabi) all 308 yen each

Choose from three classic and popular types of yakitori. All of them look beautiful, and are a testament to the delicate technique of the griller.
The most popular dish at the restaurant is the dakimi, which has crispy skin, a soft texture similar to chicken breast, and juicy meat juices. Fresh wasabi enhances the flavor even more.
The fatty tuna is skewered alternately with the bright green asparagus, and the light flavor and the stringy asparagus go perfectly together. It's a hidden dish that's not on the menu.
Tsukimi Tsukune has a firm meaty texture and thickness. You can taste the umami of the chicken, and dipping it in Tsukimi sauce gives it a mellow flavor. It is a satisfying dish with light yet rich meat juices sealed in.
Hakata residents will be delighted with the variety of chicken dishes that use rare local chickens to the fullest.

Of course, sake is a must, and they serve local Kyushu sake as well as sake from all over the country at the perfect temperature to go with the food.

The first one is a Japanese sake that goes well with yakitori.
・Mie Prefecture/ZAKU Junmai Gennochi 120cc glass 850 yen
Al: 15% Polishing rate: 60%
"ZAKU" is smooth and easy to swallow. It has no strong taste and does not interfere with the rich flavor of the yakitori.

The second bottle is "Hakurakusei" from Miyagi Prefecture, and the letters on the label show the brewer's attention to detail.
・Miyagi/Hakurakusei Special Junmai Sake 120cc glass 700 yen
Al: 15% Polishing rate: 60%
It's a slightly sweet drink to enjoy with meals, with a fresh, fruity aroma. It's easy to drink, so even people who don't usually drink sake can give it a try.

Lastly, there is Yamagata Prefecture's "Aka Fukusuke", an extra dry sake with an eye-catching red label that reads "Delicious sake that brings good fortune".
・Yamagata/Akafukusuke Special Junmai Kimoto Sake Extra Dry 120cc Glass 700 yen
Al: 15-16%, polishing ratio 55%
The taste felt modern, with a strong Japanese sake flavor and a clean aftertaste that made it the perfect drink to pair with chicken dishes.

Not only the yakitori, but also the snacks to go with your drinks are all carefully calculated to perfection. It's an exciting experience from the moment you enter the restaurant until you leave.

■③ (Incomprehensible) Hakata Hanare
Fukuoka On Building 2F and 3F, 3-22-7 Hakataekimae, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City
Opening hours 17: 00 to 25: 00
TEL: 092-600-2128

Writer: Shiva
Living in Fukuoka Prefecture / Nursery teacher, Web creator expert, IT instructor
After working as a local blog manager and company newsletter correspondent, she became a freelance writer. Her e-book "When I stopped worrying about my children, both myself and my children became independent" was ranked #1 in the Amazon Kindle career category. Her favorite alcoholic beverages are modern but still have the rich flavor of rice. Her hobbies are drinking at home, playing games, doing her favorite idol activities, reading, and traveling.