The 10 unmissable restaurants in Kyushu, June 2019 Discover Oishii Japan -SAVOR JAPAN -Japanese Restaurant Guide-

Update-date: May 16 2023

Author: SAVOR JAPAN

Categories: Fukuoka Hakata Kumamoto Oita Japanese Cuisine

The 10 unmissable restaurants in Kyushu, June 2019

Planning a trip to Kyushu and looking for something specific to eat? There are plenty of restaurants to suit every tastes. Discover the best places to eat here, from traditional meal and quintessentially comfort food to western-style dishes and varied ethnic cuisine.

See full listings of Japanese Cuisine restaurants found in and around Fukuoka, Hakata, Kumamoto, and Oita.

1. Yufuin Sansyouryou

Locally grown and harvested on the same day, the vegetables take center stage here at this restaurant. Each vegetable variety is carefully researched and prepared simply as to bring out the best flavor of the ingredient, from cutting, boiling, steaming, seasoning, and so on. They make sure that they don't just prepare the food and serve but also endeavor to connect with their customers and build a relationship with them. It is this sentiment, and the delicious food, that earned them recognition in 2018 from a world-renowned gourmet guide. The beautiful lunch box [Awasebako (Umi, Yama)] depicts the 4 seasons of Yufuin and is absolutely a must-have item! You can feel all of Yufuin in this dish, from the grandness of nature to the feelings and efforts of the farmers here. Dinner is especially recommended if you want to really savor each and every vegetable, but both lunch and dinner are great options for travelers!

Yufuin Sansyouryou

Open: [Monday, Tuesday, Thursday - Sunday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] Lunch 11:00 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:30 pm), Dinner 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm (L.O. 9:00 pm)
Closed: Wednesday
Average price: [Dinner] 7,000 JPY / [Lunch] 2,000 JPY
Access: 7-minute walk from [Yufuin Station]
Address: 2850-51, Kawakami, Yufuin-cho, Yufu city, Oita (Map)
More Details Reservation

2. Chargrill Magosaburo, Kagomachi branch

Chargrill Magosaburo, Kagomachi branch cuisine

Similar to how the flavor of a dish can improve after letting it sit overnight, beef becomes more delicious over time. Magosaburou has a dedicated meat drying cabinet to control temperature and humidity levels perfectly to offer guests dry-aged meat packed with savory flavor and aroma. Top quality dry-aged beef can be thoroughly enjoyed here for a reasonable price. The meat offered here ranges from American Angus Beef to cuts of Japanese Brown from Kumamoto Prefecture. Enjoy the wide selection of wines along with your meal in this relaxing casual dining setting. With private room seating and course meals available, it is perfect for banquets and group dining. Stop in to enjoy the specially made meat entrées.

Chargrill Magosaburo, Kagomachi branch

Open: Dinner 5:00 pm - 11:30 pm [Saturday, Sunday, Holidays] Lunch 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 4,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,200 JPY
Access: The first floor along the Kagomachidori street Please look for a large aging tank and a wine barrel
Address: 1F, Murakami Building, 1-8-13 Shimotori, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto

3. EM'S GRILLER

This is a hideaway Izakaya located on a back street. Its specialty is Chinese / Asian cuisine. Their menu ranges from classic Szechuan Mapo Tofu to their original creations, all of which are faithful to the authentic local flavor. Watch for the authentic Chinese dishes which have a hint of Western style. Particularly notable about the restaurant is that even the dishes with luxurious ingredients such as shark fins and Saga beef are still served at reasonable prices. Their gourmet dishes go well with the Californian wine "BREAD&BUTTER". You can enjoy spicy dishes with copious local ingredients with wine. The decor of the restaurant provides a relaxing and sophisticated atmosphere where you can take it easy and enjoy dining. Also recommendable for special occasions like dating or business meetings.

EM'S GRILLER

Open: 2:00 pm - 1:00 am (L.O. 00:00 am) (closed on irregular staff training days)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 5,000 JPY
Access: 3 minutes walk from [Watanabe-dori 1-chome] bus stop of Nishitetsu bus
Address: 1F, 1-22-24 Takasago, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka city, Fukuoka (Map)
More Details

4. Uogashi Kassui Fukuoka Tenjin Branch

Uogashi Kassui Fukuoka Tenjin Branch cuisine

Uogashi Kassui, which is located a 5-minute walk from Tenjin Station on the Fukuoka City Kuko Subway Line and a 5-minute walk from Fukuoka Station on the Nishitetsu Omuta Line, is a place where you can enjoy Kyushu's traditional local cuisine. The pride of the restaurant is the freshness of its ingredients. The fish is taken straight from the fish tank and is so fresh that it still moves on the plate. This is the place to thoroughly enjoy the freshness of fish, such as in ikizukuri of fresh squid from Yobuko. There is a selection of more than 30 sake (Japanese alcohol) from around the country that go well with the regional Kyushu dishes. The restaurant interior is bright and spacious with a warm wooden atmosphere. The semi-private table seating is perfect for dates and meals with friends, and the large tatami room with horigotatsu (sunken kotatsu table) is perfect for large parties. Inquire about courses that can be customized to fit budgets.

Uogashi Kassui Fukuoka Tenjin Branch

Open: [Monday - Thursday, Sunday, National Holidays] 4:30 pm - 12:00 am [Friday, Saturday, Day before National Holidays] 4:00 pm - 2:00 am
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 4,500 JPY
Access: 5-minute walk from [Tenjin Station]
Address: 2F, Otowa Bldg., 2-7-22, Tenjin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka city, Fukuoka

5. Hakata Motsunabe Hibiki Daimyo branch

Hakata Motsunabe Hibiki Daimyo branch cuisine

[Hakata Motsunabe Hibiki Daimyo branch], in Hakata, a town with many restaurants, is popular with its stylish interior and various exquisite menu. Their different seat types such as the counter, private room, and semi-private room can meet any of your need and occasion. The restaurant uses only very fresh motsu (innards) from Miyazaki prefecture to offer various original menus such as the [Lemon Pot], and they also offer a wide variety of alcohol, including shochu (Japanese liquor), sake (Japanese rice wine), and fruit liquor. There are many other popular menus such as [Hibiki-don (rice bowl)] (lunch-time only) where you can enjoy topping rare cuts of Miyazaki Beef as many as you want, and [Hakata Hibiki-dori Chicken], deep-fried wingette served in a half-frozen condition.

Hakata Motsunabe Hibiki Daimyo branch

Open: Lunch 11:30 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:30 pm) / Dinner 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:00 pm) Food L.O. 10:00 pm / Drink L.O. 10:30 pm
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 2,500 JPY / [Lunch] 1,500 JPY
Access: 6 minutes walk from [Nishitetesu Fukuoka Station] on Nishitetsu Line
Address: 2F, 1-14-26 Daimyo, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka, Fukuoka

6. Saeki - Beef Tongue and Soba

[Beef Tongue and Soba Saeki] has two specialties; [beef tongue] and [soba (buckwheat noodles)]. Enjoy the luxurious beef tongue, and Juwari Soba made with buckwheat flour from Hokkaido, together with various sake (Japanese alcohol). Aged beef used for [Thickly-Cut Beef Tongue] has an abundance of savory taste. For soba, this restaurant offers a wide variety, from standard to rare ones, such as [Hakata Motsu Soba (buckwheat noodles with a dipping sauce containing innards)] unique to Hakata. For sake (Japanese alcohol), they offer various seasonal ones so that you can enjoy different tastes along with the season. Inside the busy restaurant has a cozy and relaxing atmosphere. They are open until 4:00 am, which is also ideal when you feel like having another drink.

Saeki - Beef Tongue and Soba

Open: [Weekdays, Saturday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] 6:00 pm - 4:00 am
Closed: Sunday
Average price: [Dinner] 4,000 JPY
Access: 153 meters or 3 minute walk from [Nakasu Kawabata Station] on Fukuoka Municipal Subway Kuko Line
Address: 2F, Tasogare Bldg., 4-7-2 Nakasu, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka, Fukuoka

7. SARYO - SHIRAUME -

With a pleasant smell of wood, this restaurant offers a quiet atmosphere for you to enjoy a nice meal. The beams and tables it's furnished with are made of the same timber used for buildings in the late Edo period (1603 - 1868). It's only 1 minute away on foot from Dazaifu Station on the Nishitetsu Dazaifu Line. Located on the omotesando (the road approaching the front gate of a temple), [SHIRAUME] is a restaurant that many like to drop by after a visit to Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine. During the daytime, you'll find a sumptuous lunch and dessert menu. For dinner, enjoy the course meals containing traditional dishes prepared by an ex-sumo wrestler of the Isegahama stable, like the [Soep Taki Chanko]. This place is also recommended for all kinds of banquets, as the skilled hostess will assist you and your friends or family at the party. Note that it can handle parties for up to 30 people.

SARYO - SHIRAUME -

Open: Lunch 11:30 am - 3:30 pm (L.O. 3:00 pm), Dinner 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm (L.O. 8:30 pm) *Wednesday's [Chanko Katsurakuni] is only available upon reservation
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 2,500 JPY / [Lunch] 1,000 JPY
Access: Walk 1 minute from Nishitetsu [Dazaifu Station]. It's along Dazaifu Tenmangu Omotesando.
Address: 2F, UEDA Bldg., 3-2-62, Saifu, Dazaifu-shi, Fukuoka

8. Taiwan Mazesoba Hanabi Tenjin Daimyo branch

Taiwan Mazesoba Hanabi Tenjin Daimyo branch cuisine

[Taiwan Mazesoba Hanabi Tenjin Daimyo branch] is popular for serving the original taste of [Hanabi], the origin of [Taiwan Mazesoba (mixing noodles)] which is Nagoya's new soul food. Enjoy the exquisite [Taiwan Minced Meat] with aromatic garlic and spicy red peppers, together with chewy noodles. This meat with a stimulating taste goes perfectly with egg yolk. It is recommended to mix them quickly to spread the egg yolk through the entire dish. You can also select the spice level from 1-10. For those who like very spicy foods, level 10 is the recommendation. Inside of the stylish restaurant, there is a space with only 12 counter seats. Relax and enjoy your meals in the spacious restaurant. This place is also suited for casual dates.

Taiwan Mazesoba Hanabi Tenjin Daimyo branch

Open: [Everyday] Lunch 11:00 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:50 pm) [Monday - Thursday] Dinner 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:50 pm) [Friday - Sunday] Dinner 5:00 pm - 1:00 am (L.O. 12:50 am) At dinner time, we will be closed as the noodles are sold out.
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 900 JPY / [Lunch] 900 JPY
Access: 5 minutes walk from [Tenjin Station] on Nishitetsu Tenjin Omuta Line
Address: 2-1-12 Daimyo, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka city, Fukuoka

9. Karin

With a focus on eating for your health and beauty, Karin mixes French techniques into creating healthy Japanese food that you can enjoy to your heart's content. There are 3 types of courses on the menu to choose from, all packed with flavors of the season. The dashi (broth), which is a necessity of Japanese cooking, is made every day with charcoal grilled flying fish, Oita hana donko (high-quality shiitake mushrooms), and Rishiri konbu. The owner-chef then takes the carefully selected ingredients, pins down when they're in season, and draws up a menu that changes daily. The [Nama Uni] is made from the highest grade ingredients available in that season, such as the Kitaura red sea urchin or the Hokkaido Konbumori bafun sea urchin. You can enjoy extravagant ingredients such as this, along with rank A5 Saga beef and red sea bream, all under one roof! At this restaurant, you'll be able to spend a fantastic night indulging in exquisite sounds, presentation, and smells!

Karin

Open: [Weekdays, Saturday] Dinner 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm *Open on Sunday and National Holidays upon reservations.
Closed: Sunday, National Holidays
Average price: [Dinner] 6,000 JPY
Access: Head towards Nakagawa from [Tenjin-minami Station] for around 5 minutes on foot. It's on the 2F of Bay Hill Court Bldg.
Address: 2F, Bay Hill Court Bldg., 3-19, Nishi Nakasu, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka city, Fukuoka

10. HAKATA CHIKUSAI

This hideaway-like [HAKATA CHIKUSAI] is illuminating in front of Reisen Park. This sophisticated space was designed by Mr. Kengo Kuma, a world-renowned architect. They serve exquisite Japanese and teppanyaki (grilled on an iron griddle) dishes in our relaxing dining with the soft lighting coming through Japanese paper. At a counter seat, you can fully enjoy carefully-selected Japanese black beef from Kyushu, while enjoying watching the chef's light movements. Relaxing private rooms are also available where you can receive the attentive hospitality, which is suited for entertaining your clients and special occasions such as an anniversary date and weaning ceremony. Their flexible services with small surprises following the dinner occasion are also highly received. Please visit this special restaurant to satisfy your five senses with the seasonal banquet and teppanyaki dishes in the sophisticated space.

HAKATA CHIKUSAI

Open: Lunch 11:30 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:00 pm) / Dinner 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm (L.O. 9:00 pm)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 8,000 JPY / [Lunch] 3,000 JPY
Access: 4 minute walk from exit No.5 of the [Nakasu Kawabata Station] on Subway. On the first floor of Chowa Bldg, across from Reisen Park. 4 minute walk from Kushida-jinja Shrine and Hakata-za
Address: 1F, Chowa Bldg., 4-8 Tenya-machi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka city, Fukuoka

Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.