A food crawl through Fukuoka 🍜

Foodies: add Fukuoka to your travel list ✍️

View in browser     PICTURE YOURSELF IN… Fukuoka Yatai hop with us in Fukuoka An ever-growing list of places to travel is one of the job hazards of being an editor here at Lonely Planet. When I read the first draft of Stephen Lyman’s itinerary for our 2023 Best in Travel selection of Fukuoka, Japan, I knew I needed to yatai hop at some point in the future.  Stephen was nominated for a James Beard award for his English-language book The Complete Guide to Japanese Drinks and also hosts a podcast called Japan Distilled dedicated to Japan’s indigenous spirit called shochu.   I was thrilled that Stephen agreed to share his love for the flavors of Fukuoka this week since if you know the good places to drink, you probably also know the best places to eat, too.  Warning: after reading this, you’ll probably add Fukuoka to your list as well.         Melissa Yeager Senior Editor                     Featured Story Eat your way through Fukuoka Come during Stephen’s favorite time of year –  late summer/early fall – and use these recommendations for where to eat and drink during your four-day visit.  Read more What to eat in Fukuoka ✍️  Take note: here are a few ways to sample food and drink in Fukuoka.     Line up for hakata ramen: an addictive, rich pork-bone-broth noodle soup. Steps north of Tenjin Chikagai is one of the city’s most famous ramen shops, Shin Shin. Unless you’re there before noon, there will be a line.      Book Restaurant Sola. You’ll need a reservation for this spot operated by Chef Hiroshi Yoshitake, a native of neighboring Saga prefecture who trained in Paris and earned a Michelin star for his Parisian restaurant of the same name.     Try motsu-nabe, or gut stew.  I’m not going to sugarcoat it: it’s a dish of vegetables and cow intestines long simmered in a miso broth – and it’s absolutely delicious. I recommend Maedaya.     Drink honkaku shochu. You must try this craft spirit, which must be made with koji, the national mold of Japan (yes, there is a national mold here).     Yatai hop. Dotted around Tenjin are dozens of yatai (seen in the photo above), food stands that are assembled each evening then taken down at the end of each night. Yatai usually have eight to 12 stools, with guests rotating out pretty quickly.  Fukuoka Located at the tip of northern Kyūshū, friendly and sunny Fukuoka has a coastal location on a bustling trading route that has historically made it a popular choice to visit in Japan.  Read more Ask an Insider I chatted with Stephen Lyman about why he decided to move to Fukuoka and what you can’t miss when you visit. What kind of “vibe” does Fukuoka have compared to the rest of Japan?  Fukuoka is where people from Tokyo come to eat and drink. It's relaxed, affordable, friendly, with the energy of a youthful population and start-up initiatives. Many other popular destinations feel more traditional and buttoned up. You said you came to Fukuoka and thought, “I want to live here.” Do you remember what parts of the city made you think that?  I was walking around the Daimyo neighborhood where there are hundreds of bars and restaurants with unbelievable energy every night of the week.   What drew you into writing and advocating for honkaku shochu?  I originally visited Fukuoka because it's the capital of Kyūshū island, where more than 90% of honkaku shochu is made. I fell in love with these traditional handmade indigenous distilled spirits due to their unique flavor profile and how they pair with food. What has captured me is knowing the families that make these drinks and immersing myself in the culture that revolves around them.    “Fukuoka is where people from Tokyo come to eat and drink.” – Stephen Lyman Do you have one or two restaurant recommendations that top your list as favorites?  Restaurant Sola is one of my favorite restaurants in the world, so that would be my favorite – but it's also expensive and can be difficult to book. Some of my favorite nights in Fukuoka have been spent in kaku-uchi, particularly Koba Saketen.  Any strategies for a yatai hop?  Seats turn pretty quickly so even if a place is full and there is no line, you won't be waiting long. If the one you want to visit is full, wander down the street and find one with seats. By the time you finish a bite and a sip there, your hoped-for spot may have opened up.   Love travel inspiration in your inbox? Share with a fellow travel-lover by forwarding to a friend. Did someone share this email with you?  Subscribe by clicking here.  This email was sent to you by: Lonely Planet Publications Ltd. | 1101 Red Ventures Drive, Fort Mill, SC 29707 © 2022 Lonely Planet Unsubscribe | Privacy Policy