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A night view of
Fukuoka City
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Mentaiko is a popular
condiment this part of Japan
A HUB FOR JAPANESE FOOD
Fukuoka is a haven for Japanese food,
perhaps even rivalling Osaka for the title of
food capital of Japan. Particularly popular is
the Hakata-style ramen, known commonly
outside Fukuoka as Tonkotsu ramen; a
specialty ramen served in hearty pork rib
broth. Like most Japanese cities, ramen is
served all over town, from famous chains to
independent local businesses. However, as
in the case of most places, the best flavours
are usually found in the smallest sizes. Some
of the most popular ramen in Fukuoka are
served in yatai; or mobile food stalls. These
iconic establishments spring up in the main
streets as dusk approaches, awaiting the
patronage of local salarymen. The Tenjin area;
the other centre of Fukuoka, is a hotbed for
yatai businesses. Even though ramen, yakitori,
oden, and beer are the norm, most yatai serve
a variety of dishes, even international cuisine!
The “one-bite” gyoza, or hitokuchi gyoza
is the perfect side dish to a bowl of hot
Hakata ramen. These pan-fried pork-filled
gyozas are known for being bite-sized and
are widely available in the city’s myriads of
eateries.
While ramen is undoubtedly the face of
Japanese cuisine, you’ve probably also tasted
mentaiko on your sushi before. Fukuoka
is also well known for its production of
mentaiko, or spicy cod roe condiment.
Mentaiko first entered Japan through Hakata
Port from Korea, becoming a household
Japanese condiment served with rice. Many
yatai serve traditional mentai egg rolls, but
you can also try unorthodox but flavourful
mentai pizza or pasta.top
A yatai in Fukuoka
Thanks to recent initiatives from regional low-
cost airlines, it is easier than ever to visit Asian
cities usually in the backdrop. With that, we’ve
witnessed the emergence of “second cities” in
Asia like Kunming, China, Da Nang, Vietnam,
and more recently, Fukuoka, Japan. More often
than not, these “second cities” offer much more
of an “authentic” experience for travellers.
Fukuoka is the largest city of Kyushu Island, a
popular subject of domestic tourism, but still a
little dormant on the international front.
Compared to much larger cosmopolitan
cities like Tokyo and Osaka, Fukuoka is a
lot easier to explore and navigate for first-
time visitors to Japan. That being said, it is
a modern, developed city in its own right,
equipped with an accessible subway system
and intercity transportations. Historically,
it was divided by the central river into two
separate cities; Hakata and Fukuoka, before
merging in 1889. Located right next to the
Hakata Bay, it has been an important harbour
city for centuries, and serves as a gateway
from Japan to mainland Asia.
Whilst the two cities have long become
one, the name Hakata is still widely referred
to pertaining its historical area. For example,
the main railway station of the city is still
named Hakata Station. This area is one of two
centres of the city of Fukuoka, and the heart
of increasingly popular cruise ship tourism,
especially with tourists from China.