Looking at these pics makes want to hop on a 17 hour flight and do it all over again. Fukuoka was our first stop in Japan after an epic eye opening visit to Seoul Korea. But the biggest highlight of my Fukuoka Japan food tour here just might surprise you too.
The Vitals:
the spot: Ramen Stadium 1 Chome-2 Sumiyoshi, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka, 812-0018, Japan
the eats: Hakata Ramen, Gyoza, Pork Belly rice
the bucks: $
the full nelson: Ramen Stall eatin’
Situated on the fifth floor of the Canal City Hakata Cinema Building, this “stadium” is really a stylish food court hosting eight celebrated ramen stalls from across Japan. Expect everything from Hakata and Kurume tonkotsu to Tokyo-style shoyu and even tomato-based broths.
We were limited to which stall we could visit because of my son’s peanut and tree nut allergy. So our experience was unfortunately limited to one ramen stall. The pork belly bowl was the highlight but the ramen on this day was a little lackluster.
The Vitals:
the spot: Softbank Hawks Mizuho PayPay Dome 2-2-2, Jigyohama, Fukuoka Shi Chuo Ku, Fukuoka Ken, 810-0065, Japan
the eats: Yakitori, chicken wings, beer
the bucks: $
the full nelson: Baseball stadium grub in Japan
We had our hearts set on seeing a baseball game when were in Seoul Korea but sadly the game was sold out. So we moved heaven and earth to make sure we caught a game in Japan. Apparently the Softbank Hawks are one of the best teams in Japan and they laid down a whooping the day we showed up.
Eating at a baseball game in Japan is a trip. They had a KFC in there but I was gonna stick to more one of a kind types of foods. The yakitori was surprisingly cold and felt like I was at a Konbini(convenience store aka 7-Eleven) but it was still unique and tasty. The chicken wings were about the same: good but nothing special. But hey . . you are at a baseball game and the Hawks won!!
The Vitals:
the spot: Sushi Kappo Nishimura Japan, 〒812-0018 Fukuoka, Hakata Ward, Sumiyoshi, 1 Chome−5−3 プラスワン 1F
the eats: Sushi set
the bucks: $$
the full nelson: Solid low key family sushi spot
Being my second visit to Japan, my rose colored glasses are a little less tinted. Generally speaking, the fish is always going to be very good at any sushi place compared to the US and you always get good bang for your buck. But elite sushi experiences still take a skill level that is met at a higher price point.
Whereas a $10 ramen has the potential of blowing you away . . . mind blowing sushi usually comes with a higher cost. Sushi Kappo Nishimura isn’t mind blowing but its darn solid and was open late(we went after the baseball game). It’s listed as mom n pop in Trip Advisor reviews and after getting a selfie with the grandma who owns the joint, I’d say that tracks.
I have fond memories here. We sat on the ground as is tradition, we were inundated with a heavy cigarette smoke odor(that surprisingly wasn’t a deal breaker)and the sushi hit the spot. Getting the selfie with the old lady was frankly the cherry on the sundae.
Some people might say “fine but I would never go back”. I might agree because there is probably better sushi out there but the place has its charm.
The Vitals:
the spot: Grand Hyatt Fukuoka 1 Chome-2-82 Sumiyoshi, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka, 812-0018, Japan
the eats: Grand Club lounge
the bucks: $$
the full nelson: Sbest hotel food I have ever had and some of the best food of the trip
It almost feels like a cop out to crown the food at the club lounge at the Grand Hyatt the best food we had in Fukuoka but it was. Our trip was built on points which is not only how we got our room at the Grand Hyatt but how we got access to the club.
Each morning for breakfast I would get a bowl of sashimi over rice(Kaisen don) and it was excellent. The fish was superb and so was the rice. And it was a freaking buffet. The egg dishes, bacon, sausage, cured meats, smoked salmon: all of it was excellent.
We only hit the cocktail and hors d’oveurs once but Ill leave you with this: they had bottles of Japanese single malt scotch out for you to pour at will. I also want to highlight they featured local delicacies as well like mentaiko which is a sauce/dip made from fish roe and very similar to the Greek Taramosalata. They also served this velvety green sauce that is a special of the hotel. Both were incredible.
Fukuoka has a reputation for food because it is where tonkotsu ramen originated. But beyond ramen, which one can find everywhere these days, were the lesser known delicacies like the Mentaiko sauce. And there was more: Motsunabe and Mizutaki – hot pots that hotel serves towards the final third of their cocktail and hors d’oveurs service.
I know there is far more to dig into when it comes to the food scene of Fukuoka but I would go back to the Grand Hyatt and hit the Grand Club lounge in a heartbeat. It was some of the dining I think I will ever have in a hotel.
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