11 Must-Visit Izakayas in Fukuoka

Izakayas in Fukuoka

Fukuoka is known for its abundance of izakayas (Japanese gastropubs), many of which serve dishes unique to the region. Casual local specialties like motsu-nabe (offal hotpot), ramen, and mentaiko (spicy cod roe) are must-try menu items at any izakaya here. Motsu-nabe, in particular, is a Fukuoka specialty and offers an authentic flavor you won’t find in Tokyo or Osaka. Be sure to experience the rich culture of Japanese izakayas during your visit.

5 Top Luxury Izakayas in Fukuoka

1. Gohanya Hansuke (ごはんや 飯すけ) / Ohori-koen

Japan Restaurant Award, Best100 (2024)

Selected as one of the top 100 restaurants in Japan on a renowned gourmet review site in 2024, Gohanya Hansuke offers exquisite set meals and à la carte dishes featuring fresh, seasonal fish. The owner, a seasoned fish expert, carefully selects the highest quality fish from multiple suppliers according to the season.

Each fish is prepared with methods tailored to its type and size, using only minimal seasoning to highlight the natural flavors. The owner’s pride, the sashimi, is a specialty featuring both freshly caught and expertly aged fish. Crispy tempura (battered deep-fried delicacy) and customizable set meals—where you can choose your favorite fish and cooking style—are also highly popular.

The restaurant boasts a stylish, café-like interior with flexible seating arrangements that can accommodate groups of various sizes. A wide selection of Fukuoka local sake is available, including both chilled and warm options, each chosen to suit its ideal serving temperature.

2. Nishimuraya (西村や) / Tenjin

Nishimuraya is overseen by Chef Takahito Nishimura, the only Japanese chef to earn a Michelin star in the fusion category. Here, you can savor “Nishimura-men,” an inventive ramen, along with an array of exquisite dishes that transcend traditional genres.

The signature Nishimura-men features a unique soup blending Japanese dashi broth, bouillon, and several types of cheese, paired with original whole-grain noodles made with rye flour. This dish perfectly showcases the creativity and skill befitting a Michelin-starred chef.

The extensive drink menu features a curated selection of wines and champagnes, available by the glass or bottle. Through the OMAKASE platform, you can reserve from two full-course menus or opt for a more accessible mini-course.

The casual yet refined interior features both counter seating and spacious tables, allowing guests to enjoy exceptional cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere.

3. Sakebaro Fukuoka Nakasu (sakebaro 福岡中洲) / Nakasu

Sakebaro Fukuoka Nakasu is an exclusive, members-only dining bar where you can enjoy carefully selected Japanese sake and natural wines chosen by a sommelier. The bar has a particular passion for sake, sharing not only its flavors but also the stories of its makers and the traditions behind it.

Step through a discreet tin-plated hidden door, and you’ll find yourself in a tranquil, dimly lit space far removed from the bustle of the city. A rare tin mirror-finish counter reflects the spotlighted sake bottles, casting them in a beautiful, almost mystical glow. Here, traditional Japanese culture and modern design blend seamlessly, offering a truly authentic cultural experience.

Through the OMAKASE platform, guests can reserve an exclusive course featuring 13 small dishes paired with sake. An English menu is available, ensuring international visitors can enjoy their experience with ease.

4. Warayaki Mikan (藁焼 みかん) / Tenjin

Japan Restaurant Award, Best100 (2024)

Warayaki Mikan, named among Japan’s Top 100 restaurants on a prestigious gourmet review site in 2024, offers a vibrant dining experience that showcases the flavors of seasonal Kyushu ingredients and the dramatic flair of straw-fire grilling.

Chef Takuro Sueyasu honed his skills at Hotel Nikko and renowned Japanese restaurants in Kyoto. He sources premium ingredients not only from his native Fukuoka but also from trusted producers across Japan.

The restaurant’s signature Warayaki Katsuo features rich, seasonal bonito seared briefly over roaring straw flames, infusing the fish with a subtle, smoky aroma. This distinctive tataki offers a depth of flavor far beyond that of ordinary sashimi. The well-curated drink list complements the cuisine with an excellent selection of sake and wine, as well as a rare specialty—mikan (mandarin orange) liqueur.

The interior, reminiscent of a traditional Japanese house, radiates warmth through its wooden accents and heartfelt hospitality. From the counter seats, guests can watch the spectacular flames leap up as dishes are grilled right before their eyes.

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5. Seimon Barai (せいもん払い) / Hakata

Japan Restaurant Award, Best100 (2024)

Seimon Barai, a celebrated seafood izakaya, earned a place among Japan’s Top 100 restaurants on a renowned gourmet review site every year from 2021 to 2024. The restaurant specializes in the finest seafood from Fukuoka’s coastal waters, along with select catches sourced from across Japan. Thanks to its in-house tanks, fish are prepared straight from the water to the plate, ensuring unparalleled freshness.

A must-try local specialty is Goma Saba—mackerel so fresh it can be eaten raw, dressed with sesame and seasonings. Another standout is the Ika no Ikizukuri, featuring translucent slices of live squid prepared moments before serving. Beyond sashimi, the menu offers grilled and simmered fish, rolled omelets with mentaiko, and other flavorful dishes.

The drink list includes a wide selection of sake chosen to complement the cuisine, with the chance to discover rare labels. The spacious dining area seats 125 guests, with lively counter seating for an immersive view of the action and private rooms for a more relaxed experience.

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Fukuoka’s Top 2 Budget-Friendly Izakayas

6. Yokatai Sohon Ten (よかたい) / Hakata

Just a two-minute walk from Hakata Station, Yokatai Sohon Ten is a lively, budget-friendly izakaya where you can enjoy a variety of Kyushu specialties—such as Goma Saba, Motsu-nabe, and Motsu-ni (offal stew)—at very reasonable prices. Opening from 11:30 a.m., it’s also a popular spot for those who want to start drinking early in the day.

Signature dishes include Tebasaki Karaage—crispy, golden-fried chicken wings prepared using a time-honored recipe—and Hakata Hitokuchi Gyoza, bite-sized dumplings with delicately crisped skins. The extensive drink menu features Kyushu’s celebrated shochu, as well as sake, wine, and cocktails. For those wishing to fully enjoy the experience, a two-hour all-you-can-drink course is also available.

The spacious interior offers counter seats for solo diners, plus a range of table and private room options (available from 5:00 p.m.) for groups of any size. It’s the perfect place to experience Fukuoka’s soul food in a relaxed, casual setting.

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7. Kagonma (かごんま) / Hakata

With over 50 years of history, Kagonma is a long-established izakaya in Fukuoka specializing in the regional cuisine of Kagoshima, the owner’s hometown, and expertly grilled skewers cooked over charcoal.

A standout specialty is Kibinago Sashimi—fresh silver-stripe round herring from Kagoshima—served only when the day’s catch meets the highest freshness standards. Another favorite is the Buta Bara Kushi, skewers of Kagoshima pork belly prized for their light, sweet fat and satisfying bite. A secret house sauce, passed down for generations, adds depth and a savory aroma to the skewers.

The drink menu features a curated selection of shochu and sake, with a special emphasis on Kagoshima’s famed sweet potato shochu. Guests can even enjoy it in the traditional style, served warm in a kurojoka earthenware vessel.

With its calm atmosphere, attentive service, and welcoming vibe, Kagonma is an inviting choice—even for solo diners.

4 Top Izakayas in Fukuoka Serving Exceptional Motsu-nabe

8. Motsu-nabe Senmon Ten Ganso Motsu-nabe Rakutenchi (もつ鍋専門店 元祖 もつ鍋 楽天地) / Hakata

Founded 48 years ago, Ganso Motsu-nabe Rakutenchi is a well-established specialty restaurant with 150 seats, making reservations relatively easy to secure. An English menu is available, ensuring international guests can dine comfortably.

The star ingredient is a mix of six cuts of fresh Kuroge Wagyu beef small intestines, delivered immediately after slaughter to guarantee exceptional freshness—so fresh they can even be enjoyed semi-raw. Excess fat is carefully trimmed to reduce greasiness, allowing the rich flavors of the secret soy-based broth to shine. All accompanying vegetables are locally sourced from Kyushu, enhancing the dish’s authenticity.

The set courses include a variety of side dishes and feature unlimited chanpon noodles (thick wheat noodles served as a hot pot staple) to finish the meal. The drink selection is well-stocked with popular chu-hai (shochu mixed with flavored soda or juice). Relax in spacious hori-gotatsu (low table with a sunken floor) seating or comfy sofa areas while savoring their signature motsu-nabe.

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9. Hakata Motsu-nabe Ooyama Hon Ten (博多もつ鍋おおやま) / Hakata

Hakata Motsu-nabe Ooyama Hon Ten specializes in motsu-nabe made exclusively with small intestines, offering a carefully crafted experience. Alongside the classic miso broth, diners can enjoy variations such as a soy sauce broth or a refreshing mizutaki-style (clear, mild) broth served with grated ponzu.

The motsu primarily features domestically sourced small intestines from the premium Kagoshima Kuroushi (black beef) brand, deliberately excluding large intestines and hearts. Both the meat and vegetables are cut to an optimal size after extensive refinement to enhance flavor and texture. The signature broth blends multiple miso varieties—including Kyushu and Saikyo miso—with a closely guarded special sauce and blended garlic, creating a rich, distinctive taste.

The drink menu highlights a selection of imo (sweet potato) shochu from Kagoshima and mugi (barley) shochu from Fukuoka, perfectly complementing the dishes. The interior features a calm, wood-accented atmosphere with all seats designed as hori-gotatsu seating. The second and third floors are dedicated exclusively to private rooms. An English menu is available to ensure comfort for international guests.

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10. Hakata Motsu-nabe Yamanaka Hakata Ten (博多もつ鍋 やま中) / Hakata

Established 41 years ago, Hakata Motsu-nabe Yamanaka is the birthplace of miso-based motsu-nabe. Conveniently located just a 3-minute walk from Hakata Station, it’s a popular choice among international visitors. An English menu is available, ensuring guests can dine with confidence.

Their signature motsu-nabe uses only fresh, domestic small intestines, deliberately excluding other parts to avoid any off-flavors. The intestines are cut to a satisfying size that retains a pleasant texture. Vegetables are carefully selected for their firm textures to complement the intestines perfectly. The secret miso broth blends several types of Kyushu miso using a proprietary method, with the recipe kept strictly confidential. Local sake and shochu from Fukuoka pair exceptionally well with the dishes.

The interior boasts an oriental atmosphere blending Asian and European influences, creating a luxurious yet welcoming space where guests can savor traditional motsu-nabe in style.

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11. Ganso Hakata Menmotsu Ya (元祖博多麺もつ屋) / Tenjin

Ganso Hakata Menmotsu Ya is a motsu-nabe specialty restaurant designed for solo diners. The intimate space features only eight counter seats, each equipped with its own stove, allowing guests to leisurely enjoy their personal pot of motsu-nabe. An English menu is provided, making it comfortable and accessible for international visitors dining alone.

What sets the “Men Motsu-nabe” apart is that the noodles—typically added at the end—are included in the pot from the start. The noodles soak up the rich flavors of the motsu and broth, resulting in a deeply satisfying taste. Thick chanpon noodles are used, which maintain their texture even after simmering. Only domestic Wagyu small intestines are used, excluding other parts, to let the fat and texture of the small intestines shine through directly.

With over 50 varieties of premium shochu offered at reasonable prices, this spot is perfect for anyone wanting to savor motsu-nabe solo at a relaxed pace.

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