Hakata Hodoyoshi

Fukuoka is arguably the food capital of western Japan, as the origin of some of Japan’s most famous delicacies like Hakata ramen and motsunabe. And within Fukuoka, the cosmopolitan district of Hakata is where the biggest names in Japan’s restaurant industry congregate. Just a few blocks from the Canal City Hakata shopping complex, right outside Nakasu-Kawabata Station, is one of the most famous names in said industry: Hodoyoshi. Having been in business since 1958, Fukuoka locals have since come to trust it as one of the best places to enjoy the region’s local cuisine. Only the best of the best survive Hakata’s extremely competitive restaurant scene, and Hodoyoshi has assuredly earned its place in the upper echelons. Fresh fish from Fukuoka’s northern coast and produce from farms in the surrounding regions are served daily, with the freshest seasonal seafood featured at their peak. For instance, in the colder months, the fugu pufferfish — especially revered for its flavor when fished from the waters off northern Kyushu — features prominently on the menu as hotpot and sashimi, its deadly tetrodotoxin rendered harmless (and its flesh particularly tasty) by Hodoyoshi’s chefs’ expert preparation. But in the summer and spring, the restaurant enjoys popularity for its menus featuring the rare and expensive longtooth grouper, called “kue” in the rest of Japan, but referred to as “ara” throughout Kyushu. Both of these local delicacies form the rock-solid foundations on which Hodoyoshi’s reputation was built, along with kuroge wagyu black beef and kurobuta black pork from neighboring Kagoshima Prefecture: the ultimate combination of surf and turf. In the bustle of Hakata, Hodoyoshi also knows how to set itself apart as an oasis of calm. For over 60 years of operations, many have come to appreciate it not just for the excellent food, but also for its quietly traditional tatami interiors; a slew of private rooms of various sizes are available for every imaginable occasion, even including one with a small stage for corporate events. Visitors can even pick up handcrafted souvenirs from the souvenir section to round out their dining experience.