Fall in Asia 2025: Fukuoka

[Google_Gourmet]

Our last meal in Japan was also the BEST!!

？？？？？？？？　博多店

A Yakitori specialist restaurant. The atmosphere was 100% Izakaya. Incoming guests are greeted with a HEARTY Irasshaimase!!! Very enthusiastic staff hustling around like poetry in motion, belting out boisterous chatter and making for a fun convivial time.

We both ordered the Set meal. The All You Can Drink option was ¥2,000 (USD$13.20) P/P. We were walk-ins without reservations, and were seated with the caveat we can only have the table for one hour. This restriction was quickly rescinded, once they realized that we were very appreciative eaters and drinkers.

Hi-Ball for me, Sake for the wife to start. We kept the staff busy throughout our visit with refills.

Otoshi of Bell Pepper with a Miso Yuzu Dip.

Then a wonderful warm Hokkaido Milk Bread with creamy Ricotta Spread. Excellent!!

Kanpachi (AmberJack) Sashimi.

Pâté, also on Shokupan.

Then the Skewers started rolling in.

Soft tender Daikon, Preboiled in Dashi (ala Oden style), then lightly Breaded and Deep Fried. With a single perfect Shishito. A wonderful dish, we both agreed.

Stewed Wagyu Tendon, Chinese influence?

That was the end of our regular scheduled program. Wife was ready with the ADD ONs

She ordered wisely, each and every dish was proudly presented with a smile, a thumbs up, and a nod of approval.

Chicken Kidney

Chicken Intestine and Soft Bone (Cartilege)

A Garlic encrusted something, Sake’s starting to melt away the memory.

Chicken Hearts - Always a fan favorite

The joint was hopping. We were happy campers.

I noticed quite a bit of activity around one of the refrigerator/walk-ins. looking closer, turns out to be the entrance to another private dining room.

The staff was wonderful, and treated us Gaijin so very nicely. One and all happy to smile and pose when they notice whenever I pointed my camera. This gentleman let us out with a warm farewell. We’ll be back!!

[PedroPero]

Eating like champs like always!!

[klyeoh (Peter)]

Everything looked amazing! Japan has such amazing produce.

[GretchenS]

Fabulous report, as always!!!

[Jackalope (Jack Chavez)]

Okay, this is quite a coincidence. This is one of my top places bookmarked to try for Fukuoka. I was in town on 10/21 but didn’t manage to make it over there. AFAIK, there are 3 Chinpunkanpun restaurants in Fukuoka, and one in Futsukaichi near Dazaifu.
Chinpunkanpun [珍紛漢紛] translates as roughly something like “gobbledygook”, 'it’s all Greek to me" or simply “I don’t know”, which I suppose is where the “???” comes from. It’s basically a tease. Each one features a kind of speakeasy theme with a dining room hidden behind a wall.

That’s the academic stuff. Based on your excellent report, it looks like it really is worth a visit and we’re setting aside several days to visit Fukuoka next time so we should be able to work it in. As much of a reputation that Osaka has for food, I think Fukuoka is just as good/rich.

(BTW, the text editor won’t display more than 3 question marks in row, so I was unable to replicate the name on the website exactly.)

[Google_Gourmet]

@Jackalope

Each one features a kind of speakeasy theme with a dining room hidden behind a wall

We dutifully followed Google Maps to the posted address, but no signs of a restaurant on the street level. We finally asked a couple of restaurants guys taking a smoke break in a nearby alley. They directed us around the corner, and down some stairs.

We descended the stairs, looking for some signs of a restaurant. There were none.

This is the picture I took as we were leaving. When we arrived, there was not a person in sight and no restaurant signage whatsoever.

We finally went through the utilitarian glass door on the left, which we found out later was the employee/delivery entrance. Ooopsss

We’ve had great times and eats in Fukuoka. We stayed in Fukuoka for almost 2 weeks a couple of years ago, and will definitely be back again.

[Google_Gourmet]

Walked out one morning with the vague plan to check out a local market we had found on our previous visit. Still early, so mostly neighborhood ladies shopping for their daily groceries.

Fish Cakes and a beer at 10am. Sure.

Some shop ladies relaxing before the afternoon crush.

I’ve been on a Green Tea kick lately. Stocked up from a very nice gentleman.

Ramen Time.

Cozy. Three stools at the counter, a 2-top of sorts tucked under a stairway. Ramen Master cranking out some real food.

We figured his specialty was Chicken.

Always love these indie noodle joints. Cheap, fast and delicious.