The food in Fukuoka is incredible. Just, wow. Excuse all the Japanese, but it is JAPAN, so here’s a list of places to start:

• 串匠 渡辺通り店 （クシショウ）[中央区渡辺通1-10-1, Fukuoka, Fukuoka, Japan] Kushikatsu is deep fried meat, seafood, or vegetable on a stick. We had a fried pork set that came with soup, rice, and salad for 9,000‎¥‎.

• 釜喜利うどん [中央区大名1-7-8, Fukuoka, Fukuoka, 810-0032, Japan] Lots of different kinds of udon, all around 9,000¥‎. English menu available. I had a seasonal refreshingly chilled udon noodle dish with sudachi citrus thinly sliced on top. Tasty and pretty.

• 一蘭 一蘭本社総本店 [博多区中洲5-3-2, Fukuoka, Fukuoka, 810-0801, Japan] This is a ramen chain-restaurant, so you’ll find a few around the city. I love eating in the cubicles so I can just concentrate on eating the ramen.

• 博多水炊き とり田 博多本店 [博多区下川端町10-5 (博多麹屋番ビル 1F), Fukuoka, Fukuoka, 812-0017, Japan] Highly recommend Toriden for a unique chicken hot pot eating experience. Regular course (3,800¥‎) is better because of the chicken sashimi -but special course (4,800¥‎) has tempura and dessert. Best to get one of each with a friend, as seen here.

• 博多名代 吉塚うなぎ屋 [博多区中洲2-8-27, Fukuoka, Fukuoka, 810-0801, Japan] This is the best unagi (fried eel) I’ve ever had. Nothing else comes close. I recommend ordering the second to smallest set which is 2,000¥‎.

• すしざんまい 天神店 [中央区天神2-3-10 (天神パインクレスト 1F), Fukuoka, Fukuoka, 810-0001, Japan] Sushizanmai has great sushi lunch sets 11-3pm ranging in price from 750-1,300¥‎.

• テムジン 大名本店 [中央区大名1-11-4, Fukuoka, Fukuoka, 810-0041, Japan] Small, crowded, often smokey restaurant for dumplings and drinks.

• 餃子屋 弐ノ弐 大名店 [中央区大名1-14-28, Fukuoka, Fukuoka, 810-0041, Japan] Another smokey restaurant for dumplings and drinks, but this has a bigger menu selection and has a younger crowd.

• ふきや 天神店 [中央区天神1-11-7 (福岡ビル B1F), Fukuoka, Fukuoka, 810-0001, Japan] If you’ve ever thought, “Gosh, I wish I could eat some greasy okonomiyaki with cheap beer in a place that looks like a Denny’s… in a basement” you should go here. It’s a bit hard to find but has its charm.