When you hear the term Fukuoka food, what dish comes to mind? If you answered ramen, I’m sure you’re not alone. After all, Fukuoka is the birthplace of tonkotsu ramen, the broth of which is made from pork bones. It may be its most iconic food export, but there’s definitely more to Fukuoka’s food scene than noodle soup.
In this article, we’ll share ramen recommendations, and we’ll also give you a taste of some of the other local favorites not just in Fukuoka City but the rest of the prefecture, too. Note that this list is in NO particular order.
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Kenzo – Yatai (Fukuoka City)
For a country that has such an internationally revered cuisine, Japan’s street food culture is very quiet. But not in Fukuoka. Here, street food takes center stage and is probably the biggest attraction, as evident in the number of yatai in the city.
But wait, what exactly is a yatai?
A yatai (屋台) is a mobile food cart or stand stationed on the sidewalk. It usually opens in the early evening, serving patrons who have just gotten off work, and closes in the early morning. More than half of all the yatai in Japan can be found in Fukuoka. Here, the night is ushered in by the lights, aroma, and conversations seeping from dozens of yatai.
Most of them serve mouthwatering bowls of Hakata ramen! But other stalls offer a variety of other dishes like oden, yakitori, tempura, and seafood. You’ll find high concentrations in two areas: near Tenjin Station and in Nakasu, the small island between Hakata and Tenjin. Over the years, we’ve tried several yatai in these areas, hopping from one to another.
On our most recent visit, we landed at Kenzo, a yatai known for serving an impressively wide variety of Japanese dishes. Our top picks? The mentaiko (spicy cod roe) that perfectly captures Fukuoka’s local flavor, the horumonyaki (grilled offal) that’s chewy, smoky, and surprisingly addictive, and the ever-reliable yakitori skewers, crisped beautifully over charcoal. We also got to try two of their fried ramen dishes, and both were really good! We also had Hakata ramen, but we didn’t really enjoy it as much as the other dishes.
The best part? These are often affordable, at least compared to proper restaurants. Fukuoka’s yatai scene is proof that you can find world-class flavors in small, unassuming spaces at reasonable prices. It can get cramped, yes, but that’s where the beauty lies. A yatai is always intimate. Each can accommodate barely a dozen customers, and you sit and eat shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers next to you. Most recently, we were seated next to a shop-owner who shared that he had a Shopee page and that most of his customers were from the Philippines. Moments like these make a meal at a yatai both a dining experience and a social affair.
Tenjin Yatai Mune (Fukuoka City)
This is another yatai that I have fond memories of. My friend Irene, who resided in Fukuoka at the time, brought me to this humble food stall at the south end of Tenjin Station. It’s located right here.
This unassuming stall gave me the best cheap ramen I had in the city. The dish was very simple. It was just a bowl of Hakata ramen topped with thin slices of pork, red pickled ginger, and sesame seeds. But it was dynamite. Many of the ones I had tried before this was a bit bland for my taste, but this broth was rich and flavorful, and the sesame seeds added a nice finish. And it was only ¥700.
Fukuoka is also popular for mentaiko (salted or spiced pollock roe), which originated in Korea and was brought to Japanese shores in 1949 by Busan-born Toshio Kawahara. So just to have a taste of it, I ordered mentai tamagoyaki (¥900), which is basically several layers of rolled omelette with pollock roe at its core, served with greens and mayonnaise. The combination looks weird at first, but they all work together to create a light, well-rounded appetizer. (This was served before the ramen.) The roe added a briny burst to every bite of the soft and creamy tamago.
We ended the night with yaki-ramen or fried ramen (¥900), another local creation, usually cooked with vegetables and red pickled ginger. I have a thing for stir-fried noodles in thick soy-based sauce, so this one is right up my alley. The taste is a blend of sweet, salty and tangy. My only complaint was that because it was our last stop that night, I could not find enough space in my tummy for it, but I still managed to finish it. Because talent. LOL.
Operating hours: Mondays-Saturdays, 7pm – 2am
Nearest Stations: Tenjin Station
Chez Remy – Yatai (Fukuoka City)
Yes, a yatai serving French food! Who would have thought?
It’s located close to Tenjin Yatai Mune, just two stalls apart. Adding a French twist to the Japanese yatai concept, Chez Remy looks just like your ordinary food cart stationed by the side of the road, but it whips out plate after plate of French delicacies like garlic butter escargot (¥850) and mussels in wine (¥750), and French-Japanese fusion pieces.
