Tempura no Hirao Daimyo: Fukuoka’s Best Affordable Tempura & Unlimited Squid Sashimi

Among the many restaurants considered Fukuoka’s soul food, one of the most popular is “Tempura no Hirao.”

Most of its locations are situated along highways, a bit away from bustling areas like Tenjin. Unfortunately, the only branch that was located in Tenjin closed in March 2017 due to the building shutting down.

This was heartbreaking news for Hirao fans who mainly frequent central Fukuoka…

But here’s some good news for those fans:

A new Tempura no Hirao branch has opened in Daimyo, the town next to Tenjin!

Located just off Nishi-dori Street, this branch has only 18 seats, so be prepared for long lines.

However, the tempura (and the famous squid sashimi) maintain the authentic quality of Tempura no Hirao. What a relief!

(Photos by my other website ushigyu.net)

Tempura no Hirao Opens a New Branch in Daimyo!

The new Tempura no Hirao Daimyo branch is located just one street off Nishi-dori Street.

From the former Tenjin Toho Building, where the Tenjin branch used to be, it’s only a 3-minute walk. From Akasaka Subway Station, it takes about 6–7 minutes on foot.

It was easy to spot thanks to the many banners. Since the store had just opened, there were two security staff members managing the line. They were very friendly, greeting people with “Thank you for coming!”—whether they were Hirao staff or just kind locals remains a mystery.

Arriving at the Daimyo branch! Without the “Hirao” signage, you might mistake it for a bakery or a bistro. I wonder if the space was previously used for something else?

Before entering, make sure to buy your meal ticket.

Look at the menu and pick your favorite items. If you’re unsure, you can’t go wrong with shrimp, white fish, and squid. My top recommendations are the “Ajiwai Set” and “Okonomi Set.”

Since many tourists from China and Korea visit, the menu has simple translations in English, Chinese, and Korean.

On this visit, I ordered the Ajiwai Set (770 yen) plus an extra Kisu (whiting) (130 yen), for a total of 900 yen.

Modern Interior That Feels Unlike the Usual Hirao—Start with Squid Sashimi

Inside, there’s a large L-shaped counter with 18 seats. Even at 3:00 PM on a weekday, it was full. Luckily, the waiting time wasn’t too long.

The interior is stylish, which feels quite different from the usual Hirao atmosphere. Perhaps it was an existing space repurposed, or maybe they designed it to match Daimyo’s trendy vibe.

Inside the restaurant, there is an additional meal ticket vending machine, so you don’t need to go back to the entrance for extra orders.
(Hirao does not accept cash payments for additional orders.)

For those planning to visit, here’s a look at the à la carte menu.

After about a 10-minute wait, I was seated. The first thing that caught my attention was the selection of four different pickles and side dishes.

Among them, the squid sashimi (Ika no Shiokara) is a must-try specialty of Tempura no Hirao!
In fact, many locals in Fukuoka jokingly say, “I went to eat squid sashimi” when they visit Hirao, because it’s such an essential part of the experience. It has a hint of citrus aroma, making it surprisingly light yet rich in flavor—perfect for pairing with rice.

Since I love variety, I took a bit of all four pickles and side dishes. (You can barely see the takana pickles underneath!)

While enjoying the pickles, my dipping sauce, rice, and miso soup arrived. Now, it’s time for the ultimate tempura feast!

Enjoying a Non-Stop Rush of Freshly Fried Tempura

The first tempura pieces to arrive were chicken thigh and shrimp.

If you get distracted taking photos, the tempura keeps arriving at a rapid pace—so you have to eat quickly!

Dipping the crispy tempura into the daikon radish-infused tempura sauce—it’s crunchy, tender, and sweet. As always, absolutely delicious.
Pairing it with a bowl of premium Koshihikari rice from Shimane Prefecture makes the experience even better.
Even though this is a new location, there was no need to worry about the taste—it’s just as amazing as ever.

Then came Mehikari (this day’s white fish) and Kisu (whiting).
To be honest, at this point, I started feeling like taking photos was a hassle—I just wanted to focus on enjoying the tempura at full speed!

The tempura sauce alone is fantastic, but if you want to change up the flavor, you can try one of the three types of salt available at your table.

The options include sesame salt, matcha salt, and curry salt.
Each one pairs deliciously with different types of tempura—be sure to experiment and find your favorite combination!

Next up, pumpkin and eggplant tempura arrived!

Then came the green pepper, and finally, the squid tempura to finish.
Thank you, that was an incredible meal!

If You Want to Enjoy “Tempura no Hirao” in Central Fukuoka, Daimyo Branch is the Place to Go

With its limited seating, this branch might become one of the rare places in Fukuoka where even locals are willing to line up.
But that’s just how much of a draw Tempura no Hirao has—it’s worth the wait!

A place where you can enjoy freshly fried tempura and unlimited squid sashimi at an affordable price—this is a true local favorite.
If you’re visiting Fukuoka from another prefecture, be sure to check it out!