World Cuisine

 

Want to travel the globe but never seem to be able to find the time? Fed up with Sushi and Soba, and longing for something different? No problem, your taste buds can take a round-the-world trip without ever leaving Fukuoka! From Thai to Turkish, Korean to Latin American, the last couple of years have seen a succession of new international restaurants opening in the Daimyo area. Behind this cosmopolitan culinary collection is a number of chefs from all over the world. All are proud of their own country’s food and strive to reproduce the authentic local flavors in their restaurants, so you can be sure that what you’re getting is the real thing. It’s not just food that is on offer though, as many of the chefs also try to introduce a little of their culture too. For example, Gill, the manager of Little Korea Apuro, also holds Korean language lessons in his restaurant. Let’s have a closer look at just some of the restaurants in the Daimyo area that offer a taste of the international.

Korean Cuisine
Little Korea Apuro Daimyo

Following the success of their restaurants in Ohashi and Yakuin, Apuro opened in Daimyo in May 2010. The interior is in the style of a Korean street stall, allowing you to experience an authentic Korean atmosphere without leaving Fukuoka. Their specialty is Ogyeopsal (¥1,380 per person, minimum order of two portions), which uses “five-layered” pork from Kagoshima black pigs and is eaten wrapped in lettuce or perilla leaves. Add a dab of their original miso sauce for an even richer flavor. The Sundubu (Korean Stew, ¥1,280) uses high-grade Japanese black cattle intestines in a soup made from clams and other seafood and flavored with gochujang for an addictive blend of flavor and spiciness. Gill, the manager, says that he hopes Apuro can be a cultural bridge between Korea and Japan, and as part of his effort to promote Japanese-Korean cultural exchange he also holds Korean language classes in the restaurant every Saturday and Sunday. This sentiment may even have inspired the name of the restaurant; “Apuro” means “from now on” in Korean, reflecting Gill’s commitment to work hard for a brighter tomorrow.
Menu
Samgyeopsal (“three-layered pork”) and Ogyeopsal (“five-layered pork”) set ¥1,280 per person (minimum order of two portions)
Samgyeopsal set ¥1,180 per person (minimum order of two portions)
Topokki ¥680
Bibimbap ¥780
Apuro Jijim ¥880
Korean Beers (Hite, OB, Cass) all ¥600

Thai Cuisine
Raan Gan Een

Owner-chef Gan and his wife Yuka run this restaurant together with their 62-years-old veteran chef. The cosy interior is decorated with objects collected by the couple over the years. At 28, Gan may still only be young, but he has a confidence in his ability that comes from having trained as a chef for 13 years. “I don’t change the taste of my dishes just because the customers are Japanese, if I did that it wouldn’t be Thai food anymore,” he says, before adding with a smile “I do tone the spiceness down a little bit though!” He began learning to cook through helping his mother when he was around 10 years old. The Nam Tok Mu (Spicy Grilled Pork with Herb Salad, ¥880) is a specialty of Gan’s birthplace, Isan, and includes roasted rice for added texture and fragrance. The Kung Chae Nam Pla (Fresh Shrimp with Spicy Sauce, ¥900) has a rich, complex flavor combining full-bodied fish sauce with tangy lemon juice.
Menu
Puu Phat Phong Curry (Crab and egg curry) ¥1200
Kai Yang (Barbequed chicken) ¥480 (per skewer)
Pad Thai (Stir-fried Noodles) ¥750
Kaeng Khiaowan (Coconut-flavored Green Curry) ¥900
Tom Yum Goong (Hot and Sour Soup) ¥900
Singha Beer ¥650

Spanish & Latin Cuisine
Café Restaurant Sancho Panza

This café restaurant is run by the NPO Tiempo Iberoamericano, and relocated from Tenjin to Daimyo in June 2010. They serve up home cooking from Spain and Central and South America, and regularly invite Spanish and Latin American chefs to join their Japanese chefs. The local recipes that these chefs bring with them are one of the many things you can enjoy at Sancho Panza. Right now you can savor the Basque-style Fish Stew (¥1,200) cooked up by their Spanish chef, who adds a subtle hint of chili to really bring out the flavor. The bright colors of the Prawn and Cream Cheese Ravioli (large size ¥1,300) will get your taste buds tingling, and the rich cheesy taste doesn’t disappoint. The classy, open interior, designed by Argentinean artists Macarena and Rono, feels just like a resort hotel and the restaurant also boasts a 120m2 terrace. They even hold events such as live performances by musicians from overseas, so be sure to check the schedule on their homepage too.
Menu
Taco set lunch ¥700
Spanish Omelette (changes daily) ¥650
Empanadas (Stuffed Pastry) ¥350
Pastel de maiz (Beef and Corn au gratin) ¥750
Spanish beer (Cruzcampo) ¥650

Hawaiian Cuisine
Hau Nalu

Manager Mr. Okuma aimed to create a restaurant where the customers could not just eat the food and admire the décor, but also feel the “spirit” of Hawaii, and that’s just what he’s achieved with Hau Nalu. To ensure an authentic feel he asked Hawaiian native Glenn Killion to help realize his vision. “I insisted on there being enough space for shows to be put on,” says Glenn “In Hawaii it’s normal to be able to watch free shows while you eat.” Thanks to Glenn, Hau Nalu now puts on Hula dance shows every Friday and Saturday night, always to a great reception. Of course the food hasn’t been forgotten either, and it too is authentic Hawaiian style. The Kahuku-style Garlic Shrimp (¥980) go great with a beer. Try popping one in your mouth whole first, to taste the sauce covering the shell, then peel the shell off and dip it in the sauce again before eating. Many of the dishes also add a little twist to traditional Hawaiian cuisine. The Kalua Pork Quesadillas (¥890), for example, combine traditional Kalua Pork with an original miso sauce.
Menu
Hawaiian Caesar Salad ¥690
Ahi Poke (Hawaiian-style raw tuna salad) ¥790
Jawaiian chicken ¥850
Seafood barbeque ¥980
Kona beer ¥750
Kona coffee ¥480

Turkish Cuisine
Pasha

The only restaurant in Fukuoka city where you can eat real authentic Turkish food. Turkish cuisine is said to have originated from a fusion of Eastern and Western cooking within the vast territory controlled by the Ottoman Empire, and this diversity makes it popular with people from all over the world. The Chicken Shish Kebabs (¥690) at Pasha are covered in a yogurt sauce with a hint of spiciness that makes it hard to stop at just one. The uniquely-named “lady’s thighs” (¥690) are in fact Turkish-style cold meatballs. The rice hiding inside them is a pleasant surprise. Drinks include the traditional Turkish alcoholic beverage Raki, which is flavored with anise. Belly dancing shows are held from 20:00 on Wednesdays, which often leads to a full house so booking is recommended. Pasha is run by Turkish chef Gultekin Tublek. He says that he first heard about Japan when was 9 years old and had to look up some information on the country for his homework. He got a pamphlet from the Japanese consulate and says he can still remember “the bullet train on the front cover and the yellow hats and red satchels of the elementary school kids”.
Menu
Doner Kebab ¥750 (small) ¥980 (large)
Iskender Kebab ¥980 (small) ¥1,300 (large)
Pasha Special Mixed Kebab ¥2,800
Hummus (dip made from chickpeas) ¥490
Turkish-style Cheese Spring Rolls ¥490
Turkish Beer (Efes Pilsener) ¥700

Russian Cuisine
Restaurant Nina

Run by Russian husband and wife team Sergey and Nina. Sergey is an expert martial artist and even in the restaurant he occasionally shows off a fraction of his strength by bending spoons or lifting chairs one-handed. The interior of the restaurant is packed with Russian handicrafts, but amongst them you might also spot photos of some of the famous people who have stopped by for a meal, such as Hawks baseball player Nobuhiko Matsunaka and singer Tokiko Kato. The food is no-nonsense home-cooking. The Siberian-style Borsch soup (¥950), made with striking red beets, is a feast for both the eyes and the stomach. The painstakingly prepared Pirozhki (baked bread buns, ¥200) are stuffed full of ground meat flavored with salt and pepper. The Georgian wine is worth a special mention too. Georgia is considered to be the birthplace of wine, which was first produced there more than 5,000 years ago. Even Cleopatra is said to have loved a glass of Georgian wine, and at Nina you can choose from 8 different varieties including Alazani and Pirosmani.
Menu
Pelmeni (Siberian-style dumplings) ¥950
Beef stroganoff ¥2,200
Ground meat crepe ¥1,150
Salmon steak ¥2,250
Homemade kefir yogurt ¥500
Draft beer ¥550