Aside from sightseeing, Fukuoka also boasts of a huge selection of fine dining options. Amongst them, there are many yakiniku (Japanese BBQ) restaurants committed to using the highest quality wagyu beef, and this article focuses on 15 of the especially recommended ones.
1. Hakata Miyachiku (Nakasu-Kawabata)
The sole Miyazaki beef specialty store in Fukuoka, Hakata Miyachiku, focuses on using ingredients produced in Miyazaki Prefecture, including vegetables, rice, miso, soy sauce. This extends to its beef, as they are committed to using only high-quality Kuroge Wagyu (a kind of high-quality beef) from cattle bred and raised in Miyazaki Prefecture. The spacious interior is another attractive feature of the restaurant, and it has plenty of seating by counters and in private rooms for leisurely enjoying yakiniku. The recommendation is the [Miyachiku Course] (6,000 JPY), a popular menu item that includes 2 large cuts of carefully selected meats, a specially selected 3-kind assortment of the chef's recommendations, vegetables, side dishes, and rice. You are sure to fully enjoy the high-quality meats and vegetables with this course!
Hakata Miyachiku
Open:
Lunch 11:00 am - 3:00 pm (last order 2:00 pm) / Dinner 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm (last order 9:30 pm)Closed:
IrregularAverage price:
[Dinner] 6,000 JPY / [Lunch] 2,500 JPYAccess:
Near Exit 2 of the Nakasukawabata Subway Station on Meiji Dori.Address:
J-PARK Nakasu Bldg. 2F, 5-2-1 Nakasu , Hakata-ku, Fukuoka, Fukuoka (
Map)
More Details 2. Yakiniku no Ryuen (Kokura)
A popular restaurant, where you can savor Kuroge Wagyu from Kyushu and aged meat, with a stylish and homely atmosphere, allows diners to relax. The recommendation is the [Marinated Kalbi] (1,800 JPY), consisting of high-quality nakaochi kalbi (rib meat scraped off the bone) and vegetables that have been marinated in a secret sauce. The tender salty-sweet kalbi goes perfectly with rice. Meat lovers can also savor the rich flavor of another great option, the [3-Kind Assortment of Aged Meats] (4,280 JPY), which are aged at freezing temperatures.
Yakiniku no Ryuen
Open:
[Weekdays] Lunch 11:30 am - (last order 1:30 pm) / Dinner 5:00 pm - (last order 00:00 am)[Sundays, Holidays] Hours 12:00 pm - (last order 9:00 pm) [Saturdays] Hours 12:00 pm - (last order 00:00 am)Closed:
IrregularAverage price:
[Dinner] 5,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,500 JPYAccess:
Depart JR Kokura Station by the South Exit, and turn left at Kokura Ekimae intersection. In front of the Former Residence of Mori Ogai.Address:
1-8-15 Kaji-machi , Kokura Kita-ku, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka MapMore Details Reservation 3. Kyo-niku (Nakasu-Kawabata)
Whether it's brand name beef, beef horumon (offal), or pork and chicken from Kyushu, this is a restaurant where you can enjoy high-quality yakiniku at a reasonable price. The popular menu item is the [Domestic Super Horumon (Small Intestine)] (680 JPY), acquired fresh from the meat market. The umami (Japanese savory taste) of the horumon is enhanced by the restaurant's homemade miso seasoned with gochujang (red chili paste). It is a dish that goes beautifully with sake (a kind of Japanese alcohol). You also can't miss the [Kyo-niku Kalbi] (980 JPY), made with the daily selected brand of beef.
Hakata Nakasu Surprise
Open:
Dinner 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm (last order 9:30 pm) / Lunch 11:30 am - 3:00 pm (last order 2:30 pm)Closed:
NoneAverage price:
[Lunch] 1,000 JPYAddress:
MapMore Details 4. HACHI HACHI Solaria Plaza Branch (Nishitetsu Fukuoka)
This restaurant is known for its stylish interior, unusual for a yakiniku restaurant, as well as for their special roasters that release minimal smoke and odor. The meat is grilled on a charcoal fire, and eaten with their homemade grated apple sauce. The recommendation is the daily special [5-Kind Assortment of Rare Cuts] (1,800 JPY), selected from the best cuts of meat that day. There's also the popular [Weekday Special Girl's Premium Course] (2,980 JPY), a bargain for women! Other than yakiniku, the course includes your choice of a salad or a side dish to finish your meal with.
HACHI HACHI Solaria Plaza Branch
Open: 11:00 am - 11:30 pm (L.O. 11:00 pm)
Closed:
Average price: [Dinner] 3,500 JPY
Access: Located on the 6th floor of Solaria Plaza
Address: 6F, Solaria Plaza, 2-2-43, Tenjin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka
5. Kei (Tojinmachi)
Kei is a restaurant where you can enjoy one of the more distinguished brand-name beef in Japan, Matsusaka beef. In a luxurious interior suitable for savoring first-class ingredients, one of the attractions other than the yakiniku is the plentiful variety of original single-item dishes. For example, there's the [Sea Urchin Wrapped in Matsusaka Beef] (3,000 JPY), an extravagant appetizer made with raw sea urchin from Hokkaido wrapped in marbled meat. This dish is packed with umami, topped with caviar to bring the sweet flavor of the beef and sea urchin together. For those who want to try Matsusaka beef more casually, it's recommended to try the [Standard Course] (7,000 JPY) where you can compare eating the different cuts of Matsusaka beef.
Kei
Open: Lunch 11:30 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:00 pm), Dinner 5:30 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:00 pm)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 8,000 JPY / [Lunch] 2,000 JPY
Address: 6F, Hilton Fukuoka Sea Hawk, 2-2-3, Jigyohama, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka
6. Rikaen (Akasaka)
This restaurant separates itself from the rest with its beef, which is some of the best even among the top-class varieties of Kuroge Wagyu beef. There are a number of variations in the way you can choose to eat your meat: raw as sashimi, shioyaki (grilled with salt), tareyaki (grilled with sauce), and so on. The restaurant's specialty is the [Lean Rump Steak], made with carefully selected lean meat. It is a rare cut where you can savor the tenderness and umami of the beef. The [Seasonal Special Course] (8,000 JPY), where you can enjoy the recommended rare cuts of the day, is also popular. The 2-hour all-you-can-drink included with the set makes it incredibly worth the money spent. While you're at it, try out the many varieties of red wine they have!
Rikaen
Open: Lunch 11:30 am - 3:00 pm, Dinner 3:00 pm - 12:00 am
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 6,000 JPY / [Lunch] 2,000 JPY
Address: 2-3-12, Daimyo, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka
MapMore Details 7. Ariran-Touge (Hakata)
A restaurant that prides itself on a secret sauce that has been passed down for 50 years, ever since the owner's grandfather's generation. The owner carefully selects the meats to be grilled on the shichirin (charcoal brazier), and is committed to serving makgeolli (Korean rice wine) made in breweries in Niigata Prefecture that complement the meat. To fully savor the restaurant's specialties, try out one of the course meals. There are 3 kinds of courses available at different price points - 5,000 JPY, 6,000 JPY, and 7,000 JPY - and suggestions for what to choose will be provided according to the customer's preferences. An all-you-can-drink option comes included with all the course meals, so they have great overall value.
Ariran-Touge
Open: [Weekdays, Saturday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] Dinner 6:00 pm - 12:00 am
[Sunday] Lunch 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm, Dinner 5:30 pm - 11:00 pm
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 5,000 JPY
Address: 3-5-11, Hakata-eki Minami, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka
MapMore Details 8. Yakiniku Niku Q (Kokura)
This restaurant is where you can enjoy high-quality Kuroge Wagyu at a reasonable price. Their a la carte dishes, made with a variety of ingredients other than beef like pork and chicken, are popular and go well with sake. Many people come to enjoy their yakiniku privately at the counter, and there is also floor seating for larger parties. The store's specialty is the [Thick-sliced Premium Beef Tongue] (750 JPY). Savor the umami of this fatty shintan (tongue root) cut, of which only 300 grams can be obtained from each cow. Offered on a first come, first serve basis, so be sure to order early!
Yakiniku Niku Q
Open: [Tuesday - Saturday] 6:00 pm - 12:00 am (Food L.O. 11:00 pm, Drinks L.O. 11:30 pm)
[Sunday, National Holidays] 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (Food L.O. 11:00 pm, Drinks L.O. 11:30 pm)
Closed: Monday (closed on Tuesday if a national holiday falls on a Monday)
Average price: 3,500 JPY
9. Mojisho (Mojiko)
Enjoy select Kuroge Wagyu at this modern Japanese restaurant. Only Imari beef, carefully selected for its sweetness and fat quality, is chosen. The recommendation is the [Special 5-Kind Assortment of Imari Beef] (4,200 JPY), which serves up especially delicious cuts like tenderloin, sirloin, chuck flap, prime kalbi, and prime loin. This restaurant is unique in that you can place an order for only the part that you like, or try out a Fukuoka specialty like the [Imari Beef Motsu Nabe] (3,800 JPY for a 2-person serving).
Mojisho
Open: 5:30 pm - 11:00 pm
Closed: Sunday
Average price: 3,000 JPY
Address: 9-10, Sakae-machi, Moji-ku, Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka
MapMore Details 10. Ariran Yukuhashi Branch (Yukuhashi)
Ariran offers a lineup of high-quality Kuroge Wagyu, beginning with Matsusaka beef. All seating is in private rooms, and you can choose between horigotatsu (sunken kotatsu table) or regular table seats. Two features that make them stand out are their salad bar, full of fresh veggies, and dessert bar. The recommendation for yakiniku is the [Premium Beef Tongue Steak] (1,680 JPY). Each cow only has enough of this cut for 1 person. People are addicted to it for its fat, which is of such high quality that you won't believe it's tongue, and its juiciness.
Ariran Yukuhashi Branch
Open: [Weekdays] Lunch 11:30 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:00 pm), Dinner 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:00 pm)
[Saturday, Sunday, National Holidays] 11:30 am - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:00 pm)
Closed: Irregular (closed on December 31 and January 1)
Average price: [Dinner] 2,500 JPY / [Lunch] 850 JPY
Address: 1-6-1, Ohashi, Yukuhashi-shi, Fukuoka
MapMore Details 11. Nagahama Yakiniku (Hainuzuka)
This is one of the few restaurants in the country offering Kuroge Wagyu offal and skirt meat. The owner carefully selects the highest grade of meat, and eaten after being dipped in a secret sauce perfected over the years since its establishment. Try cuts exclusive to the restaurant in the [Anzu Platter] (5,900 JPY), an amazing 2 - 3 person deal consisting of premium loin, prime kalbi, premium beef tongue, top-quality offal, kalbi (on the bone), and vegetables. The offal isn't gamey at all and has a delicious flavor that's hard to find elsewhere.
Nagahama Yakiniku
Open: [Monday, Wednesday - Friday] Lunch 11:00 am - 3:00 pm, Dinner 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:30 pm)
[Saturday, Sunday] 11:00 am - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:30 pm)
Closed: Tuesday
Average price: [Dinner] 4,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,000 JPY
Address: 2249-2, Nagahama, Chikugo-shi, Fukuoka
MapMore Details 12. Ryuan (Yukuhashi)
A high-class restaurant committed to the highest grade of Kuroge Wagyu. The meat, selected by the owner, is carefully cut upon order so that you can enjoy yakiniku of outstanding freshness. The restaurant's specialty is the [Premium Assortment Served on a Wooden Board] (4,980 JPY for a 1 person serving) is popular for being incredibly photogenic. It's a large meal that includes ichibo (top sirloin cap), sankakubara (chuck short rib), zabuton (chuck flap), ribeye, thickly-sliced tongue, offal, Mochi pork ribs, Satsuma chicken, and roasted vegetables. As each cut of meat is distinctive, this is a dish where you can truly savor a variety of umami.
Ryuan
Open: [Dinner] 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm (Food L.O. 10:00 pm, Drinks L.O. 10:30 pm)
Closed: Wednesday
Average price: 4,500 JPY
Address: 4-10, Miyauchi-machi, Yukuhashi-shi, Fukuoka
MapMore Details 13. Hiromura (Chidori)
Since this restaurant is directly managed by a butcher, diners are able to eat high-quality meat at a reasonable price. One of the reasons for the restaurant's popularity is their use of smokeless roasters, which allows you to enjoy your food without concerning yourself with the strong smell of yakiniku. You can fully savor the acclaimed freshness of their meat with the [Stamina Assortment] (5,000 JPY for a 3 - 4 person serving). Another popular menu item is the filling [Marinated Kalbi] (980 JPY), in which a whole rack of ribs is marinated in their special house sauce and beautifully grilled. It goes great with both rice and sake!
Hiromura
Open: Lunch 11:00 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:00 pm), Dinner 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:00 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 3,000 JPY / [Lunch] 800 JPY
Address: 4-13-28, Hanami Higashi, Koga-shi, Fukuoka
14. Kiwamitare Main Branch (Kokura)
This yakiniku restaurant is incredibly particular about their dipping sauce, which is additive-free, made with fresh fruit and other ingredients, and lasts just 6 hours before expiring. There are two varieties of this sauce: Kiwami for beef and chicken, and Komi Dashi Su specifically for pork. Both of them do an amazing job of drawing out the umami of meat. The crowd favorite is the [Ridiculously Large Ribeye with Kiwami Sauce] (1,790 JPY). Each slice of this meat is a hefty 250 grams, and the sauce that comes with it tastes so good, you'll be able to eat unlimited amounts of the fat!
Kiwamitare Main Branch
Open: [Tuesday - Thursday] 6:00 pm - 1:00 am
[Friday, Saturday, Day before National Holidays] 6:00 pm - 2:00 am
[Sunday] 6:00 pm - 12:00 am
Closed: Monday (open if a national holiday is on a Monday)
Average price: 3,000 JPY
Address: 1F, Kajimachi Bldg., 1-3-3, Kaji-machi, Kita-ku, Kokura, Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka
MapMore Details 15. Iso no Shoten (Tenjin-minami)
Enjoy the marriage of Kuroge Wagyu and wine produced in Kyushu at this restaurant. The owner procures the meat using private supply routes and is known for offering reasonable prices on meats as thick as steaks as well as luxury ingredients. The specialty is the [Premium Wagyu Assortment Served on a Board] (3,980 JPY for a 2 person serving). It offers the recommended cuts of the day, such as kalbi, sirloin, or lean meat. Another popular dish is the [Green Onions with Salted Beef Tongue] (880 JPY), where the umami of the beef tongue and green onions combine to make a delicious flavor you won't be able to stop eating.
Iso no Shoten
Open: [Tuesday - Sunday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] 6:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:30 pm)
Closed: Monday
Average price: 4,000 JPY
Address: 2F, Otori Bldg., 3-23-13, Haruyoshi, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka
MapMore Details After trying all the different high-quality cuts of wagyu, both your stomach and your heart are sure to be thoroughly satisfied.
Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.