This is the Local Specialty of Kurume! The 10 Must-have Local Gourmet!

Kurume city has the third largest population following Fukuoka city and Kitakyushu city, situated in the south of Fukuoka prefecture. It may not the first destination on your visit to Fukuoka, but it actually has a variety of local gourmet. Let’s walk through the 10 must-have local food in Kurume! Why don’t you explore the hidden gem of Fukuoka?

This is the Very Must-have in Kurume, Yakitori!

The history of Yakitori (grilled chicken) in Kurume started from one food stall in 1963. From 1955 to 1965, which was the period of high economic growth, one town in Kurume city flourished with the workers at rubber factories. Food stalls there were popular in those days, where many people visited to enjoy delicious Yakitori despite only a few different kinds.

Yakitori literally means “grilled chicken” in Japanese, but the Yakitori in Kurume offers not only chicken but also beef, pork and vegetables. The must-go Yakitori restaurant is “Teppo” established in 1979, which was the birthplace of grilled asparagus rolled by boneless pork ribs. Why don’t you the very original Yakitori here?

Rich Selection of Fresh Seafood in Kurume! Enjoy Sushi!

“Sushi Yoshida” offers so-called the best Sushi in Kurume with seasonal seafood caught in Genkai Sea. The master chef runs the restaurant by himself, which offers one menu “the chef’s choice”. Enjoy carefully selected and fresh seafood from the starter. You will be amazed both with the high quality and vivid presentation, which is definitely well-made and well-prepared. A rich line-up of Sake goes perfectly with each Sushi.

The size of Sushi is compact enough for women to eat by one bite. Each Sushi will be served at perfect timing. Each ingredient is finely seasoned like pickling, which can happen only by the experienced chef. The restaurant has a relaxing atmosphere, where you can spend your own time to enjoy the Sushi fully. This is one of the must-go Sushi restaurants in Kurume, where you would like to spend your time.

Cannot be missed for your Meal in Fukuoka! Kurume Ramen

Ramen in Kyushu normally refers to Tonkotsu (pork bone soup). It is said that Tonkotsu Ramen was originally born in Kurume. If you would like to try it, “Seikyo-ken” is the one, where the original Kurume Ramen has been succeeded for a long time. It had the start from a food stall in 1952, and has offered the authentic Kurume Ramen cooked with pork bone produced in Japan, which has rich collagen.

It closed once despite the high popularity. However, it reopened with strong demands from the regulars. Not only the local people, but Ramen-lovers across Japan visit to enjoy the one and only Ramen here. “Yatai-jikomi Ramen (Original Food-stall-style Ramen)” is one of the signature here, served with homemade, crispy and juicy roast pork deep fried with back fat, green onions and thick Tonkotsu soup.For those who care for fat, “Suppin Ramen” without any lard is recommended! Do not miss it.

Taste a Rare Fish in Kurume, Etsu Cuisine

Have you ever heard of “Etsu (Japanese tapertail anchovy)”? It can be caught only for 3 months from May to July, which makes it called a rare fish. It is a fish in the family Engraulidae, which inhabits only at the inner part of the bay of Ariake Sea in Japan. The best season for Etsu is in the early summer, when it swims up Chikugo River for laying eggs. Since it easily loses its freshness, you cannot have it in the local area.

Visit “Kanehiro” to have this valuable “Etsu” dishes. It opened in 1967 as the specialty restaurant of Etsu cousine limitedly for the fishing season. It offers “Etsu no Arai (fresh raw Etsu)” from the landed on the day. You can enjoy various dishes using Etsu including the stew in soy sauce and sugar, the deep-fried, the marinated.

Love Meat! Then Must-have BBQ Yakiniku in Kurume

Fancy having delicious meat in Kurume? Then visit “Taishoen”, where is popular among the locals! It opened in 1969 to utilize the experiences as a meat wholesaler. In 1984, it specialized to the Yakiniku (grilled meat) restaurant, then it has gained high reputations as the BBQ restaurant offering the high quality of meat including Japanese Black beef produced in Kagoshima prefecture.

For wrapping up your meal, Reimen noodles is the one, which has the perfect balance of thick and deep soup cooked from shin bone of Japanese Black beef, and chewy noodles. This is the very place to enjoy BBQ in Kurume!

Not Only Ramen in Kurume! Must have this, Udon!

Noodles in Fukuoka, then Tonkotsu Ramen would come the first. However, Udon noodles is actually quite famous. Udon noodles in Hakata is famous for its soft texture, but in “Tachibana Udon” in Kurume, you can enjoy the blend of fluffy and chewy of noodles. Since the establishment in 1981, it has been loved by the local people. Udon noodles here are homemade with carefully-selected flour. It is pulled straight from the pot and served in the hot water used for boiling.

Moreover, the Dashi stock soup for Udon noodles is cooked from the great quality of kelp and shaved dried bonito. You can choose toppings as you like. The signature toppings are beef and burdock root Tempura. For cold noodles, Natto (fermented soybeans) goes perfect. It is located in the great access from Kurume IC on Kyushu Expressway. Perfect to drop by on your ride!

Perfect Match with Tap Beer! Best Side Dish for Beer, Gyoza

“Tenya” is the famous Gyoza (dumpling) restaurant, located in “Akebono Shopping Arcade” consist of a liquor shop, a meat shop as such, 5 minutes walk from Nishitetsu Kurume station. Married couple have run this modest restaurant, which is like a old-style pub.

It offers a wide range of drink such as tap beer, shochu, wine and sake. It’s perfect one-bite size makes you get almost addicted to it! Highly recommended.

The Blessing from Great Nature of Kurume, Bread

“Chez Sagara” is a very popular bakery located in Tanushimaru, where great nature has been reserved in Kurume. The locally born and raised shop master presents a variety of bread made with carefully-selected ingredients by the well-trained method. Everything is handmade including dough, stuffings, cream as such. The rich line-up has attracted people even from a distance.

As well as bread, cookie, pound cake, baked sweets like madeleine are popular. You cannot miss their handmade jam with seasonal fruits. There is an eat-in space to enjoy freshly baked bread and freshly brewed coffee. Worth visiting Kurume to buy the bread here!

Fancy Something Sweet in Kurume? Sweets

When you would like to have something sweet in Kurume, “Koren Sabo” is the place for you, established in 1949. It has been locally famous for additive-free and handmade ice cream. There are the branches in Mitsukoshi department store in Fukuoka, Emax at Nishitestu Kurume station, but the best is the one on the 1st floor of “Suikoen Hotel” with a long history established in 1882. You can enjoy the excellent sweets in an elegant and relaxing atmosphere surrounded by historical interior decorations.

Since the establishment, it has kept the original recipe additive-free and handmade. Vanilla ice cream with the best quality of vanilla beans, Matcha ice cream with Uji match. You will be amazed with a variety of sweets including parfait, Zenzai, Mitsu-mame as well as ice cream. Do not miss the outstanding ice cream in a luxurious time at Koren Sabo!

This is the King of Japanese Cuisine! Enjoy the Best in Kurume! Tempura

Feel like Tempra today! Then visit “Egashira”. You can enjoy freshly-cooked and crispy Tempura in a relaxing atmosphere. The master chef cooks each ingredient at the best timing for you to enjoy the most at the counter seats. For a group or family visit, you can use sunken Kotatsu seats.

It is budget-friendly at lunch time, when you can have the set lunch meal with Tempura for 1300 yen, the Tempura rice bowl (Tendon) for 1080 yen. It offers various dishes such as sashimi, grilled fish, salad. You can also enjoy drinking shochu and sake. Drinking with freshly-fried Tempura could not be better.

Enjoy the Amazing Gourmet in Kurume!

Here is the 10 must-have local gourmet in Kurume. Kurume is nationally well-known for Ramen and Yakitori. Yet, actually it is full of hidden gems. You cannot ignore it! Why don’t you explore more about Kurume?