Fukuoka at Night: Izakaya Foods & Local Ramen in Hakata

No trip to Fukuoka is complete without a bowl of ramen, and few can compete with Hakata's tonkotsu ramen. In this experience, you’ll enjoy an authentic night out in Hakata with a local guide, starting with appetizers and drinks at an izakaya and finishing with a delicious bowl of ramen at a local joint.

As is often the case, some of the best food in Hakata can be found in the least expected places. Your first stop will be an izakaya gastro pub in a quiet side street you might have passed by otherwise. Here, you’ll enjoy the following delicious local dishes:

- Fresh sashimi (five varieties of raw fish) served with shiso leaf, shredded radish and wasabi

- Ground chicken rice bowl topped with egg yolk (tsukimiyaki don)

- Eryngii (king trumpet mushrooms) and sweet mountain potatoes in a rich dash broth

- Agedashi tofu (fried tofu in dashi broth with bonito tuna flakes)

- Mentaiko chazuke (spicy Hakata caviar on rice w/tea broth and strips of seasoned nori)

- Karaage (battered fried chicken marinated in soy sauce, ginger and garlic)

Clink glasses and enjoy a refreshing conversation with your host and the other tour participants — the fun doesn’t stop there, though!

Afterparty, you say? After the first izakaya, your host will take you to an eatery tucked in a backstreet for a hearty bowl of authentic Hakata tonkotsu ramen. This flavorful ramen has a rich pork bone broth and thin noodles, usually topped with barbecued pork and chopped green onions, and is one of Japan’s most famous ramen varieties. You'll see why once you try it yourself as you wrap up the evening with your fellow travel buddies. It's bound to be a memorable night!