Visit Fukuoka, Japan

The Food of Fukuoka

Japan is known for some delicious food, but Fukuoka has it's own local specialties. If you're in Fukuoka, you have to try these.

A delicious bowl of ramen. Source: Ivilinia, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Tonkotsu Ramen

Pronounced - Tone - koe - tsoo

Japan is known for 4 distinct types of ramen: Miso (miso paste), Shoyu (soy sauce), Shio (salt), and Tonkotsu (pork bone). Tonkotsu ramen originated in Fukuoka and is known for its particularly pungent odor. The broth is made by boiling pork bones and it is typically served with thick slices of pork.

Fukuoka hotpot Source: 徳永涼, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Motsunabe

Pronounced moh - tsoo - nah - beh

Motsu means offal, or intestines, and nabe means pot. As you can guess, this pot contains offal! But don't let that scare you, it contains many delicious vegetables and other cuts of meat as well. Motsunanbe is typically cooked in a big pot right on the table.

Okonomiyaki in Fukuoka Source: Alex Hampton

Okonomiyaki

Pronounced Oh - koe - no - me - yah - kee

Okono means 'as you like it', and yaki means 'grilled'. So Okonomiyaki is a type of Japanese food where you can make it however you please.

Ok, ok... Okonomiyaki is not from Fukuoka. It has two distinct styles originating from Osaka and Hiroshima. But while I'm on the subject of food in Fukuoka, I have to talk about my favorite restaurant. Bochi Bochi is an Osaka-style okonomiyaki restaurant owned by a husband-wife duo in the town of Kasuya. If you are in the area, try out their food, and tell them Alex sent you!