Kawataro Nakasu Honten is a japanese restaurant in Nakasu, Fukuoka.
Kawataro's three-floor Nakasu flagship runs Yobuko squid ikizukuri live from the tank, plus the canonical Hakata goma-saba and river-view tatami rooms.
Signature dishes: Yobuko squid ikizukuri, Goma saba mackerel, Seasonal sashimi
Must order: Yobuko squid ikizukuri at market price, then goma saba.
Tip: Lunch 11:30-14:00, dinner 17:00-23:00. Reserve through the operator's site.
Address: Hakata-ku, Fukuoka 810-0801, Japan
Hakata Station branch of Yamanaka's miso-motsunabe original, closer to the shinkansen than the Akasaka room, with the same recipe since 1984. Most central.
Signature: Miso motsunabe, Soy sauce motsunabe, Champon noodle finish
Order: Miso motsunabe for two, finished with champon noodles.
Tip: Reserve ahead for dinner; the room fills with business travellers most weeknights.
Mako's Yakuin counter grills Kuro Satsuma chicken from Kagoshima, raised 120 days. Tabelog Yakitori Top 100 in 2024. Eight counter seats wide.
Signature: Kuro Satsuma chicken skewers, Tsukune meatball, Liver sashimi
Order: Omakase yakitori with the Kuro Satsuma flight.
Tip: Reserve four to six weeks ahead through TableCheck. Closed Sundays.
Ippudo Daimyo Honten has poured Hakata tonkotsu in the same Daimyo back alley since 1985. The flagship counter that launched a global ramen brand worldwide.
Signature: Shiromaru classic tonkotsu, Akamaru shin-aji, Karaka-men spicy
Order: Shiromaru classic at lunch with the half-kaedama refill.
Tip: Open 11:00-23:00. Queues are shortest before noon and after 21:00.
Hakata Issou's flagship 10 minutes from Hakata Station pours the tonkotsu cappuccino, a foam-headed pork-bone bowl that built the brand from 2012 onwards.
Signature: Tonkotsu cappuccino, Aji-tama egg, Kaedama refill
Order: Tonkotsu cappuccino with a half-cooked aji-tama and kaedama refill.
Tip: Open 11:00-24:00 daily. Queues run the block; arrive before 11:30 or after 21:00.
Shin-Shin's Tenjin flagship pours a lighter, cleaner tonkotsu than the Hakata norm, with the city's best yakimeshi side and a 03:00 close anchoring the night.
Signature: Hakata tonkotsu ramen, Yakimeshi fried rice, Mentaiko gohan
Order: Tonkotsu ramen with the yakimeshi pairing.
Tip: Open 11:00-03:00, closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Walk-in only.
Ikkousha's main store five minutes from Hakata Station pioneered the original-froth tonkotsu, a fat-and-water emulsion that runs creamy across the bowl.
Signature: Original froth tonkotsu, Mentaiko ramen, Gyoza side
Order: Original-froth tonkotsu with kaedama refill.
Tip: Daily 11:00-24:00; Sundays close at 21:00. Cash and major cards.
