I live in Fukuoka. According to someone I spoke with, Hakata’s three great soul foods are “Ganso Nagahama-ya ramen,” “Maki udon,” and “Fukiya okonomiyaki”.
I’ve been to Ganso Nagahama-ya before, so this time I decided to visit Fukiya, an okonomiyaki restaurant.
When it comes to okonomiyaki, I only knew “Hiroshima-style” and “Kansai-style,” but what exactly is Fukiya’s okonomiyaki, which is neither of those?
Fukiya – Hakata’s Distinctive Okonomiyaki Establishment
Fukiya apparently has multiple locations throughout Fukuoka Prefecture, but this time I visited the Akasaka branch.
Following the directions on my iPhone map, I arrived at… wait, here?
It’s quite… a narrow market, isn’t it? (My apologies to those involved.)
I ventured down the narrow alley.
This area is relatively urban, close to Tenjin, Fukuoka’s most vibrant district, yet I never knew such a place existed here.
Continuing further, I spotted a lantern reading “Okonomiyaki.”
I’d arrived!
Pushing through the aged noren curtain, I entered.
A quaint, old-fashioned establishment with good atmosphere.
The shop owner was vigorously cooking on the griddle.
The menu shows its age. Prices are very reasonable!
As of 2024, the Akasaka branch featured in this article has closed, though apparently eight other locations remain operating in Fukuoka City.
Thick, Crispy, and Generous – Hakata’s Distinctive “Hakata Okonomiyaki”
Before long, my ordered meat okonomiyaki (¥500) arrived!
The surface is coated with sauce and burned until crispy and parched.
On the table are thick mayonnaise and sauce.
I drizzled on the thick mayonnaise, rarely seen at other okonomiyaki restaurants.
The sauce is even thicker and more viscous than the mayo.
The okonomiyaki itself contains no soba noodles, but compared to Kansai-style, it’s distinctly thick.
The surface is cooked until it becomes crispy and parched. It’s packed with volume and quite delicious!
To be honest, I prefer Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, but this is worthwhile in its own way.
Not absolutely amazing, but the kind of flavor you occasionally crave.
Final Thoughts
I had no association of okonomiyaki with Fukuoka, yet here was this restaurant all along.
I’d definitely like to visit again occasionally!
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