The 10 Best Tempura Restaurants You Must Eat in Hakata, Fukuoka

Hakata in the Fukuoka prefecture is the most prosperous town among all the towns in the Kyushu region and many sightseers visit Hakata every day. When people hear of Hakata, many of them will remember the delicious gourmets, I wonder. Especially, the ramen is a well-known dish, isn’t it? However, there are many other tasty foods in Hakata apart from the ramen. I’m introducing the recommended tempura restaurants which you shouldn’t miss visiting! Please try to go there and enjoy them!

1. The tempura in Hakata points to this restaurant The real classic one for the Hakataites [Tempura Hirao Honten]

This restaurant is located in Higashi-hirao in the Hakata-ku which is a 5-minute-ride in a car from the Fukuoka airport. This is the honten (head restaurant) of the [Tempura Hirao] which has been loved by the Fukuoka citizens, who say, “Speaking of tempura in Hakata, go and visit the Hirao.” It is different from the usual high-class restaurants because it has the system of the standard set-menu restaurant where you need to buy a dish-ticket as soon as you go into the restaurant.

Just in front of you at the counter, they serve the piping hot freshly fried crispy tempura. All the prices are less than ¥1,000. Even a customers’ most popular favourite set is ¥880, such value for money! Another enjoyment at Hirao is the [salted squid guts] which is served while you are waiting for your tempura to be fried. At Hirao, you can have an all- you-can-eat salted squid guts with pickles and they are super delicious! This is the restaurant which I’d like you to visit in Hakata.

2. The long-established restaurant of the Hakata tempuraEven now it still has a deep-rooted popularity! Especially, the king-prawn and the conger-eel are recommended. [Daruma-no-tempura-teishoku Yoshizuka Honten]

This long-established Hakata tempura restaurant started off as the original Agedashi-tempura (deep-fried vegetables and fish in a light savoury sauce) in the 38th year of Showa (1963) and is located in the place which is a 5-minute-walk from the JR Yoshizuka station. The tempura from the Hirao restaurant has the thin crispy batter, while the one from the Yoshizuka is slightly thicker and crunchy. The dipping sauce of Hirao is plain, while the Yoshizuka’s is rich.

In front of the restaurant, there are the flashing lights just like the traffic lights to show the approximate waiting time. The items which I really want you to taste are the big king-prawns of 20cm in length and one whole conger-eel. They are the target for some repeat customers since a long time ago. This is the popular restaurant in Hakata!

3. The recommended superb tempura! The restaurant near the Tenjin station![Hakata Tempura Takao Fukuoka PARCO-ten]

They serve the freshly fried piping hot tempura on the counter. The system is the same as the one at the Hirao restaurant, but Takao has more variety in the menu and the price is a slightly higher than the one at Hirao. However, they offer the black oolong-tea to suppress the fat absorption which is worth the cost. Also the inside of the restaurant is clean, so it’s recommended for female customers.

The all-you-can-eat salted squid-guts is provided as a nibble at Hirao, while the one at Takao is the sea-kelp spicy cod-roe. Actually, this restaurant, Takao has been run by the [Hirosho] which is the producer and seller of the salted cod-roe with red pepper. The salted cod-roe with pepper which is served at Takao is their product, so there is no wonder it is delicious. Please enjoy the sea-kelp spicy cod-roe together with tempura!

4. Free refills for the rice and miso-soup! An all-you-can-eat tempura limited to weekdays! [Agena Yodobashi Hakata-ten]

This restaurant is on the 4th floor of the Yodobashi Camera-bld. which is directly connected to the JR Hakata station. They serve freshly fried piping hot tempura on the counter. They offer free refills for the rice, seasoned rice cooked with chicken and miso-soup. You can have the white rice first and then ask for a refill for the seasoned rice cooked with chicken next. The rice lovers can’t wait, can they?

They also have the limited service, the [all-you-can-eat tempura for ¥1,580 within 60 minutes] from 5 o’clock in the afternoon at weekdays. You can taste the delicious tempura until your stomach is content! When you visit Hakata, please taste them!

5. Flavour of the Edomae (Tokyo-style)-tempura of the long-established restaurant at HakataThe access is so easy! [Ginza Tenichi Hakata-ten]

The [Ginza Tenichi Edomae-tempura] restaurant opened its business in the 5th year of Showa (1930) and it has been loved by many celebrities throughout history. And this restaurant is its Hakata branch. It is on the 9th floor for foods, named [Kuuten] in the JR Hakata City-bld. In Fukuoka-city, they have another branch, Tenjin-ten (branch) in the Iwataya department-store and both of them are very convenient to access! You can use them whilst waiting for your time for a bus or a train.

You can fully enjoy the flavour which only the long-established restaurant can produce in the calm atmosphere. It is recommended for a family eating out. When you want to taste the Edomae-tempura, why don’t you go there?

6. You can enjoy the tempura and a glass of wine! The enjoyable marriage which the sommelier invites [Wine and tempura Araki Daimyo]

This is a small restaurant with 5 counter-seats and 2 table-seats with a hideaway atmosphere. It is on the alley of Daimyo which is a 7-minute-walk from the Fukuoka-tenjin station on the Nishitetsu-line. You can have a glass of wine together with the exquisite tempura.

The Araki recommended course is at an unexpectedly reasonable cost, ¥2,500. There, you can experience a little luxurious time, nibbling the hors-d’oeuvre while you are waiting for your tempura to be fried and taste a glass of wine together with the tempura that is something you can’t have at any other tempura restaurant. You may have a lively conversation with your partner in the moody atmosphere. Please make good use of this restaurant.

7. The long-established restaurant in Hakata which is particular about the ingredients and oil [Tempura Iwanaga]

This is the 4th generation long-established restaurant in Kiyokawa which is a 15-minute-walk from the Hirao station on the Nishitetsu-line. Originally, it used to be run at the Hotel New Ohtani in Tokyo but it has moved to this area. They have been using the pure silver serving surface at the counter which used to be used at the Hotel New Ohtani. When you step into the restaurant, it gives off a very nice sesame oil fragrance. The composed atmosphere and the deliciousness of the tempura is exceptional.

At this restaurant, you can enjoy their elaborate seasonal ingredients. It is the restaurant where you’d like to go with your partner on your anniversary even just once. When you want to spend your time luxuriously, this restaurant is just right for you.

8. They are proud of the substantial tempura! [Tempura Tenjin-ya]

The [Tempura Tenjin-ya] is near the Haruyoshi junction which is a 3-minute-walk from the Tenjin-minami station. In the past, it used to be a sushi restaurant, so the small fridge for fish is still remaining on the counter. It is a small restaurant with the counter and the 3 table-seats.

They are proud of the 8 substantial set-menus. The ingredients are large and filling. The most recommended menu is the [Manpuku tempura set-menu] for ¥1,090. It contains the tempura of 2 fish, 2 prawns, 3 vegetables, pork-meat, chicken-meat, side-dish in a small bowl, rice and miso-soup! You will be full up. You can enjoy tempura in a relaxed manner in a casual atmosphere. It is the recommended restaurant!

9. The tempura restaurant rooted in the local area in Hakata [Nagano]

This is a small restaurant in downtown Minoshima of Hakata in the Fukuoka prefecture which is a 16-minute-walk from the Hakata station. It is a good place not many people know about except the business workers or taxi drivers in the neighbourhood. The small interior is producing somewhat a hideaway atmosphere and the “at home” space stops one feeling enclosed.

It is a bit far away from the Hakata station, but is very popular for the locals because of its cosy atmosphere. The tempura you can taste here may remind you of the countryside. When you visit Hakata on your holiday or sightseeing trip, please drop in at this restaurant.

10. The freshly fried tempura is superb! [Yobuko Manbou Daimaru Fukuoka-tenjin-ten]

This shop is in the basement of the Daimaru department-store which is a 2-minute-walk from the Tenjin-minami station. This [Yobuko Manbou] is the Daimaru department-store Fukuoka-tenjin branch of the [Yobuko Manbou] in Karatsu in the Saga prefecture which is the birth place of the Ikashumai (a steamed Chinese squid dumpling wrapped in a thin sheet made from flour). Their main dish, Ikashumai is of course delicious, but here, they have been selling the piping hot squid tempura which is fried on the spot. It is extremely popular!

Their gesso-ten (tempura of squid legs) is quite large in quantity and is enough for 2-3 people to nibble. The aroma of the gesso-ten with the squid flavour goes really well with beer. How about the set of the Ikashumai and gesso-ten for today’s side-dish or nibble?

Let’s eat the freshly fried tempura in Hakata!

Have you enjoyed this article? I’ve introduced the 10 recommended tempura restaurants which I really want you to enjoy when you visit Hakata. As each tempura is delicious, you may be confused! Hakata has a lot of delicious gourmets not only tempura but also ramen! On your trip to Hakata, please refer to this article and enjoy some of them as much as you can.