Cafes
Open 8am-8pm (Fri, Sat -10pm) daily.
Our favorite Oslo-based cafe serves coffee from their own Tokyo roastery, plus Norwegian craft beers and original cocktails. The light food menu features grilled sandwiches and desserts, and there...
Open 8am-8pm (Fri, Sat -10pm) daily.
Open 8am-7pm daily.
With its jungle of potted plants, high ceilings, and endless spreads of baked goods, this bakery-cafe is an appealing spot for a snack break. There's even an open hearth, where sausages are grilled...
Open 8am-7pm daily.
Open 8am-8pm daily.
It's all about the desserts at White Glass, as you might expect from a cafe run by Green Bean to Bar Chocolate. Among the tempting choices are fresh-baked apple pie, chocolatey tiramisu, rich and...
Open 8am-8pm daily.
Open 8am-8pm daily.
Named after Fukuoka's airport code, FUK Coffee is an airport-themed cafe that specializes in cafe latte as well as desserts and sweet drinks. They're especially popular for their latte art - for an...
Open 8am-8pm daily.
Open 11am-6pm. Closed Wednesdays.
Flanked by bookcases, this cozy cafe in front of the Asian Art Museum has the feel of a library reading room, and indeed you can sit and read the books here to your heart's content. There's art on...
Open 11am-6pm. Closed Wednesdays.
Open 10am-9pm (Sat, Sun from 9am) daily.
Living up to its name, the cafe plays a steady stream of mood-setting music over two giant JBL speakers. While you're here you can check out the latest art exhibition in their upstairs gallery.
Open 10am-9pm (Sat, Sun from 9am) daily.
Open noon-10pm (Sun 11-8). Closed Tuesdays.
Connect is well known for their intricate latte art, and they even hold classes for aspiring foam artists. If you're in the mood for something sweet you can try hot or cold drinks like Gingerbread...
Open noon-10pm (Sun 11-8). Closed Tuesdays.
Open 11am-9pm daily.
Chocolate bars, brownies and other chocolatey confections can be taken home or enjoyed in the shop's attractive cafe area. They also serve hot chocolate and cacao tea, and put together...
Open 11am-9pm daily.
Open 9am-1am daily.
Manu Coffee Roasters was a pioneer in Fukuoka's gourmet coffee scene, and their central Daimyo branch is an excellent place to try their Kurjira Blend or one of their single-origin coffees. You can...
Open 9am-1am daily.
Open 10am-8pm daily.
The very hip Carbon Cafe serves grilled-cheese (bacon, mozzarella, tomato, basil) and other hot sandwiches if you're in need of a pick-me-up. Drinks include cafe latte, salted caramel latte,...
Open 10am-8pm daily.
International
Open noon-2, 5-11pm (LO). Closed Mondays.
GohGan is a collaboration between two very talented, award-winning chefs, with innovative cuisine that combines French and Indian cooking techniques and seasonings. The kitchen turns out artfully...
Open noon-2, 5-11pm (LO). Closed Mondays.
Open 11:30am-11:30pm daily.
This Fukuoka branch of Wolfgang Zweiner's famous New York steakhouse features porterhouse and other steaks made with dry-aged USDA Prime beef. At lunchtime you can order premium-grade burgers or...
Open 11:30am-11:30pm daily.
Open 8:30am-8pm (LO; Fri-Sun -9pm) daily.
While they may be best known for their Australian-style gourmet breakfasts, Bills also offers an eclectic menu of modern, creative international cuisine. Cocktails are similarly diverse, with...
Open 8:30am-8pm (LO; Fri-Sun -9pm) daily.
Open 11am-11pm daily.
The Craft Bar & Grill is run by the Tokyo-based Huge restaurant group, known for their flashy dining rooms and wide-ranging menus. Drinks include craft beers from Yokohama's Number Nine Brewery and...
Open 11am-11pm daily.
Open 11am-3, 5:30-9pm (LO) daily.
In addition to preparing first-rate modern French fare, Michelin-starred chef Nishimura likes to dabble in haute-cuisine versions of ramen. He opened this casual spot as a place where diners can...
Open 11am-3, 5:30-9pm (LO) daily.
Open 5-10pm (LO). Closed Tuesdays.
Casime serves modern Middle-Eastern cuisine, featuring meaty dishes like Lamb Kofta and Ezo Venison grilled over blazing firewood in a brick hearth. Starters like their juicy Merguez Sausage (served...
Open 5-10pm (LO). Closed Tuesdays.
Open 11am-9pm (LO) daily.
Aux Bacchanales turns out reliable French bistro fare like Steak Frites, Salade Nicoise, galettes, quiches and baguette sandwiches. It's also a good spot for an afternoon tea or coffee break, with a...
Open 11am-9pm (LO) daily.
Open 11am-10pm (LO) daily.
This spacious, very lively restaurant serves very good paella, seafood stews and a wide range of other Spanish dishes. The drinks list features a few dozen wines starting at under Y5,000 per bottle,...
Open 11am-10pm (LO) daily.
Open 11am-10pm (LO) daily.
The wood-burning pizza oven occupies pride of place behind the main counter at this popular Italian spot, and the chefs keep it busy as they prepare nearly a dozen varieties. These include a special...
Open 11am-10pm (LO) daily.
Open 11am-2, 5:30-9:30 (LO) daily.
One of Fukuoka's most popular pizzerias, Da Gaetano prepares legit Neapolitan-style pizzas in a wood-burning oven. Pizzas are made from top-grade San Felice flour and topped with fresh mozzarella...
Open 11am-2, 5:30-9:30 (LO) daily.
Open 4-9:30pm (LO; Sat, Sun -9). Closed Sundays.
With more emphasis on food than your typical beer bar, Gastropub's kitchen turns out British pub classics like Shepherd's Pie, Roast Beef, Fish and Chips, and even scones.
Open 4-9:30pm (LO; Sat, Sun -9). Closed Sundays.
International budget
Open 11:30am-9pm daily.
This lively, stylishly decorated cafe serves burgers and desserts all day, plus steaks and pastas at lunch and dinnertime. Drinks include Brooklyn Lager beer, creative signature cocktails and...
Open 11:30am-9pm daily.
Open 11am-8:30pm (LO) daily.
The popular Hawaiian chain is a hit in Japan, serving decent sandwiches and toppings-heavy burgers, voluminous salads, soups and pancakes.
Open 11am-8:30pm (LO) daily.
Open 8:30am-7pm (LO) daily.
Run by the popular New York-based bakery chain, The City Bakery Bar & Burger Rubin offers a wide line-up of burgers and grilled sandwiches for here or to go. Their burgers are some of the best in...
Open 8:30am-7pm (LO) daily.
Open 5pm-3am (Sun 3-11pm) daily.
By far the hippest and most fun craft-beer bar we've found in town, Fukuoka Craft offers an excellent menu of casual Mexican cuisine along with a decent selection of Japanese and imported craft beers...
Open 5pm-3am (Sun 3-11pm) daily.
Asian
Open 11am-10pm (LO) daily.
Taiwan-based soup dumpling (xiao long bao) specialist Jin Din Rou is known for their Oolong tea dumplings, where the skin is infused with powdered green tea and the pork filling is flavored with...
Open 11am-10pm (LO) daily.
Open 11:30am-9pm. Closed Wednesdays.
Khao Man Gai is Thai-style chicken with rice, served with a thick, spicy sauce. It is the specialty of the house here, and in fact the only dish on the menu. You can choose boiled chicken, fried...
Open 11:30am-9pm. Closed Wednesdays.
Open 11am-3, 6-9:30pm daily.
The specialty of the kitchen here is Sri Lankan-style soup curry - like regular curry, but served in a bowl of fragrant, spicy broth to which you add mounds of rice to soak up the flavors. There are...
Open 11am-3, 6-9:30pm daily.
Open 11:30am-2:30, 5:30-10pm (LO). Closed Wednesdays.
This spacious restaurant near Yakuin Station offers a wide range of Thai standards. Numerous options are available at lunchtime, starting with classics like Khao Man Gai (chicken with rice), Thai...
Open 11:30am-2:30, 5:30-10pm (LO). Closed Wednesdays.
Japanese
Open 5-11pm (LO; Fri, Sat - 4am) daily.
As the name implies, meat sushi is the specialty of the house at Nikuzushi. Sushi by the piece comes with toppings like Iberico pork, foie gras, teriyaki chicken, beef tongue, and wagyu sukiyaki. ...
Open 5-11pm (LO; Fri, Sat - 4am) daily.
Open 11am-9pm (LO; lunch LO is 2pm) daily.
Momoyaki - Kyushu-style charcoal-grilled chicken thigh meat - is the delicious specialty at Bancho, and they do an excellent version of it using heirloom-breed Kirishima chicken from Miyazaki...
Open 11am-9pm (LO; lunch LO is 2pm) daily.
Open 11am-8pm (LO; Sun to 5 or earlier). Closed Wednesdays.
Located in the Bayside Place waterfront entertainment complex near Hakata Port Tower, this tourist-popular branch of Toyoichi sells very fresh fish at surprisingly low prices. You can order one of...
Open 11am-8pm (LO; Sun to 5 or earlier). Closed Wednesdays.
Open 11am-4, 5-10pm daily.
A popular tofu and yuba specialty restaurant, Ume no Hana serves full-course tofu-centered menus from Y4,000, with more deluxe kaiseki menus from around Y6,500. Take-out bento are also available.
Open 11am-4, 5-10pm daily.
Open 11am-1:30, 5-9pm (LO). Closed Wednesdays.
You'll find the freshest seafood and the most amazing prices at this popular shop located just across the street from Nagahama Fish Market. The big draw is the sushi buffet - sixty different kinds...
Open 11am-1:30, 5-9pm (LO). Closed Wednesdays.
Open 11am-11pm (LO) daily.
This lively izakaya in the basement of Kitte Hakata is a great place to explore premium sake from around Japan, with reasonably priced three-part tasting flights a popular option. The expansive...
Open 11am-11pm (LO) daily.
Open 11:30am-10:30pm (LO) daily.
In Fukuoka "yakitori" means more than just chicken, and popular items here at the city's most famous yakitoriya include everything from beef skirt steak to pig's feet. Hachibei's grilled butabara...
Open 11:30am-10:30pm (LO) daily.
Open 5-11:30pm (LO; Sun -10:30) daily.
This cozy neighborhood shop serves excellent Fukuoka-style yakitori with vinegared cabbage and an assortment of grilled skewers, not just chicken. Side dishes are well constructed, and there's a...
Open 5-11:30pm (LO; Sun -10:30) daily.
Japanese budget and "B-kyu" cuisines
Open 11am-11:45pm (LO) daily.
One of two Fukuoka-based ramen shops that have gone on to international fame, Ippudo serves thin, slightly chewy noodles in a pork-based broth ("red" or "white"), with or without extra chashu. You...
Open 11am-11:45pm (LO) daily.
Open 11am-10pm (LO) daily.
Based in Sendai, the home of beef-tongue cuisine, Rikyu serves good tongue-based set meals at very reasonable prices. The Rikyu Set - charcoal-grilled beef tongue, tongue curry or tongue stew,...
Open 11am-10pm (LO) daily.
Open 11am-10pm (LO) daily.
Ringer Hut is a popular Kyushu-based shop that specializes in two different regional ramen noodle dishes from Nagasaki. Sara-udon is made with crisp fried ramen noodles topped with vegetables, pork...
Open 11am-10pm (LO) daily.
Open 24 hours a day.
This 24-hour noodle shop is the flagship of Japan's most popular ramen chain, and one of Fukuoka's two internationally famous ramen brands (the other one is Ippudo). Ichiran is well known for their...
Open 24 hours a day.
Open 11am-9:30pm (LO) daily.
Anzu offers a good variety of tonkatsu-centered prix-fixe meals featuring soup, rice, pickles and various seasonal side dishes. Their signature dish is Tonkatsu Chazuke (pork cutlet with green tea...
Open 11am-9:30pm (LO) daily.
Open 11am-9:30pm (LO) daily.
Tokyo-based Motomura is the most popular of the numerous shops serving gyukatsu (deep-fried beef cutlet). Served rare in the middle with a thin, crunchy layer of breading around it, the lightly...
Open 11am-9:30pm (LO) daily.
Curry
Open 11:30am-1:30pm (LO) daily.
This lunchtime-only shop offers a wide assortment of "European-style" curries, made by simmering spices in a fond de veau-based roux. There are more than twenty curries to choose from, including...
Open 11:30am-1:30pm (LO) daily.
Open 11:30am-2, 6-11pm (LO; Sun -9). Closed Mondays.
For a small curry-specialty restaurant, Base Camp stocks a surprisingly wide variety of Belgian and international craft beers in their beer fridge. They even have an extensive selection of proper...
Open 11:30am-2, 6-11pm (LO; Sun -9). Closed Mondays.
Open 11:30am-2:40, 5-7:30pm (LO). Closed Tuesdays.
Okinawa meets South Asia at one-of-a-kind Japanese curry shop Qwachi Spice Yukuru. The exciting original curries here are built on premium Okinawan pork and other island ingredients, with...
Open 11:30am-2:40, 5-7:30pm (LO). Closed Tuesdays.
Open 11am-7:30pm. Closed Tuesdays.
This tiny shop prepares excellent curry, with a hearty roux base made from chicken and flying fish stock. There are three varieties - cheese, keema, and a monthly special - and a handful of optional...
Open 11am-7:30pm. Closed Tuesdays.
Open 11am-3pm (LO). Closed Wednesdays.
Kubo's colorful South Indian-inspired mixed-curry plate is a real tour de force. The three component curries are all quite distinctive, and the contrasting flavors and textures make for a delightful...
Open 11am-3pm (LO). Closed Wednesdays.
Open 11:30am-2, 6-7:30pm. Closed Sundays.
Vegetable-heavy, Hokkaido-style soup curry is the specialty of the house at this ten-seat counter, with your choice of chicken, bacon or sausage as the main ingredient. Soup curry with meat and...
Open 11:30am-2, 6-7:30pm. Closed Sundays.
Open 11am-3, 6-9:30pm daily.
The specialty of the kitchen here is Sri Lankan-style soup curry - like regular curry, but served in a bowl of fragrant, spicy broth to which you add mounds of rice to soak up the flavors. There are...
Open 11am-3, 6-9:30pm daily.
Gyoza dumplings
Open 11am-10pm (LO) daily.
Bite-sized gyoza, one of Fukuoka's best-loved local dishes, has been the specialty at Hountei since they first opened their doors in 1949. Popular dishes include crunchy yaki-gyoza dumplings,...
Open 11am-10pm (LO) daily.
Open 11am-2, 4-9pm daily.
You've got to love a restaurant called Unlimited Dumplings! The shop specializes in tetsunabe gyoza - crisply fried bite-size dumplings that are prepared in an iron skillet - and it's a convenient...
Open 11am-2, 4-9pm daily.
Open 11am-11pm (LO) daily.
Crispy, crunchy, one-bite fried mini-gyoza dumplings are one of Fukuoka's favorite foods, and Temujin is one of the most popular providers of them. They have several locations around the city, but...
Open 11am-11pm (LO) daily.
Bars
Open 7pm-1am (Fri, Sat -3am). Closed Mondays.
The innovative cocktail menu here was designed by World Champion Bartender Michito Kaneko along with four other world-class bartenders, with an emphasis on sustainable ingredients and delicious...
Open 7pm-1am (Fri, Sat -3am). Closed Mondays.
Open 3-11pm (Fri-Sun 1-11pm). Closed Mondays.
A very local sake brewery, Librom has an attached bar where you can try their newest creations. These cover the range from experimental sakes in flavors like mint and cola to more traditional brews....
Open 3-11pm (Fri-Sun 1-11pm). Closed Mondays.
Open 6pm-1am (Fri, Sat -2). Closed Mondays.
Petrol Blue is a laid-back bar serving craft beers (by the bottle), artisanal liquors and assorted liqueurs. The soundtrack of jazz, R&B, and Korean indie pop helps set the relaxed mood, and the...
Open 6pm-1am (Fri, Sat -2). Closed Mondays.
Open 5pm-2am (LO). Closed Sun, Mon.
The shelves above Citadel's bar are lined with jars of homemade liqueurs, a promise of the unique flavors that await. The talented owner-bartender is constantly inventing new experimental cocktails,...
Open 5pm-2am (LO). Closed Sun, Mon.
Craft beers
Open 11am-2am daily.
Open since March 2024, this all-day, late-night standing bar is a joint venture from two of Fukuoka's craft breweries. Draft beers come in three sizes and are reasonably priced; you can also choose...
Open 11am-2am daily.
Open 5-10:30pm. Closed Mondays.
Brewers feels like an old-school bar for craft-beer enthusiasts, with its wood-heavy decor, its pub-style menu and the classic Japanese-bartender garb (white shirt and black vest) of the proprietor. ...
Open 5-10:30pm. Closed Mondays.
Open 10am-9pm (Sat, Sun from 9am) daily.
Living up to its name, the cafe plays a steady stream of mood-setting music over two giant JBL speakers. While you're here you can check out the latest art exhibition in their upstairs gallery.
Open 10am-9pm (Sat, Sun from 9am) daily.
Open 5-10pm. Closed Sundays.
A pioneer on Fukuoka's craft beer scene, Beer Paddy has been open since 2006, dispensing a rotating roster of a half dozen or so craft beers and ciders. The kitchen turns out simple bar food like...
Open 5-10pm. Closed Sundays.
Open 11:30am-2, 6-11pm (LO; Sun -9). Closed Mondays.
For a small curry-specialty restaurant, Base Camp stocks a surprisingly wide variety of Belgian and international craft beers in their beer fridge. They even have an extensive selection of proper...
Open 11:30am-2, 6-11pm (LO; Sun -9). Closed Mondays.
Open 5pm-3am (Sun 3-11pm) daily.
By far the hippest and most fun craft-beer bar we've found in town, Fukuoka Craft offers an excellent menu of casual Mexican cuisine along with a decent selection of Japanese and imported craft beers...
Open 5pm-3am (Sun 3-11pm) daily.
Open 4-9:30pm (LO; Sat, Sun -9). Closed Sundays.
With more emphasis on food than your typical beer bar, Gastropub's kitchen turns out British pub classics like Shepherd's Pie, Roast Beef, Fish and Chips, and even scones.
Open 4-9:30pm (LO; Sat, Sun -9). Closed Sundays.
Open 3pm-midnight. Closed Tuesdays.
A popular standing bar in trendy Yakuin, Esperanza dispenses beers from breweries like Repubrew, Vertere and Craft Rock from its eight taps. They also stock a wide and varied canned selection. The...
Open 3pm-midnight. Closed Tuesdays.
Jazz clubs and cafes
Open 7pm-2am daily.
One of Fukuoka's longest-running, most nostalgia-inducing jazz clubs, this tiny venue hosts live performances most nights, occasionally reverting to a jazz cafe when there's no one scheduled. The...
Open 7pm-2am daily.
Open noon-11pm. Closed Sundays.
Fukuoka's oldest jazz kissaten, JAB has been serving coffee and playing jazz since the 1980s. The vinyl collection is especially strong in swing jazz.
Open noon-11pm. Closed Sundays.
Open 7pm-midnight. Closed Sundays.
In business since 1974, this live venue hosts nightly jazz performances, often with no music charge. You can order beer or soft drinks along with prepared snacks like potato chips.
Open 7pm-midnight. Closed Sundays.
Open 7-11pm. Closed Mondays.
Hear live jazz every night and choose from more than 100 cocktails and 200 kinds of whiskey at the bar. There are three or four 30-minute performances over the course of the evening (8:30-11), with...
Open 7-11pm. Closed Mondays.
More Fukuoka
Open 8am-5pm. Closed Sundays.
This historic outdoor market dates back more than a century, and it's still a popular shopping spot for both individual consumers and restaurant kitchens. Around forty individual shops sell fish and...
Open 8am-5pm. Closed Sundays.
Open 10am-8pm daily.
Stretching a couple of city blocks, the sprawling basement food hall at Mitsukoshi is a worthy sightseeing stop on any tour of Fukuoka. Ready-to-eat prepared foods cover a wide range, from kushiage...
Open 10am-8pm daily.
Open 1-9:30pm (last entry; Sat, Sun 11:30am-) daily.
Fairly spacious by cat-cafe standards, Keurig provides ample table and counter space for visitors and a stimulating environment for the resident cats, with lots of climbing and perching...
Open 1-9:30pm (last entry; Sat, Sun 11:30am-) daily.
See venue map
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