September in Fukuoka is Asian Month, so why not explore one of Asia’s hottest attractions-spicy food. Our spice-loving challengers explore the city to try out hot cuisine from all over the world!
Challenger Number 1: My name is Eleazar and I’m from Mexico, said to be the original home of the chili pepper. It’s believed that chili pepper cultivation began around 5000 BC. This month, I plan to try all kinds of fiery flavors from around Asia!
Challenger Number 2: I’m Mesbah, and I once was the champion at a green-chili eating contest in my home of Bangladesh. At the time, my doctor advised me to quit eating them, but I couldn’t. After all, I was born to eat spicy foods!
Where will today’s spices come from?
As Japan’s gateway to Asia, Fukuoka has a long history as a crossroads of cultures, and food is no exception. The chili pepper has found its way into Japan from exotic locales such as Korea, China, Thailand, and Vietnam, although each variety has its own taste and flavor. Garam masala, a blend of spices found in India, is used in Japan to make a variety of curries with original flavors and heat levels. Even Fukuoka’s famous mentaiko, the spicy fish-egg dish, has origins in Korea. Dining in Fukuoka, it is apparent how much Asian cultures are intertwined through food. Explore the city to discover countless international restaurants, the best of which are featured in this issue. Not convinced that spice is the best way to soak up Asian culture? Heat up for your health: capsaicin, the compound responsible for heat in chili peppers, is said to stimulate hormones that trigger fat burning, cause sweating, and increase the appetite. Can’t take the heat? In many countries, yoghurt, tea, or lemon is used to cool down. With all your worries put to rest, let us go forth into the streets of Fukuoka in search of spicy food ﾐ Asian Month is upon us!
Nepal
Featured dish: Piro Mutton 893 yen
Shop’s comment: People think that Nepalese cuisine is just like Indian food, but a taste test will prove that this is not the case at all. The secret of its flavor is jyanmara, which is spicy enough to kill you!
Taster’s comment: It’s the taste of Nepal itself, so I hope you’ll try it. Because the spices are cooked together with the meat, the whole dish is deliciously tender and flavorful.
Everest Kitchen
Address: 2F Omaru Bldg., 2-8-1 Watanabe-dori, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-721-5503
Open: 11:00~15:00, 17:30~23:00 (~25:00 Thu, Fri and Sat)
Closed: Sun
India
Featured dish: Chicken curry with rice 1,010 yen
Shop’s comment: Indian spices are so healthy that they are used in Chinese herbal medicine. Milan’s curries are made from 36 spices as well as black salt from Nepal. You can choose your desired strength, from calm 0 to fiery 50.
Taster’s comment: I tried level 40 ﾐ an explosion of different spices on my tongue! Might this be too spicy for Japanese tastes?
Milan
Address: 1-11-11 Yakuin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-713-0733
Open: 11:00~15:00, 17:30~23:00
Closed: Never
China
Featured dish: Jyukei Hinabe Basic Combo
Shop’s comment: This is one of the few truly authentic Szechuan restaurants in western Japan. It’s said that if it’s not spicy, it’s not Szechuan! We offer only the very best dishes by a prizewinning chef of the World Championship of Chinese Cuisine.
Taster’s comment: Taste the difference between Hinabejo’s two kinds of soups. The spicy power of Szechuan pepper really comes through in the red broth!
Hinabejo
Address: 6F BiVi, 4-1-36 Watanabe-dori, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-720-5255
Open: 11:00~14:00, 17:00~23:00 Mon.-Fri., 11:00~15:00, 17:00~23:00 Sat., Sun., and Hol.
Closed: Never
Pakistan
Featured dish: Beef (co-ru-ma) Curry 1,200 yen
Shop’s comment: Our curry is made from halal meat, popular in Pakistan as it is permitted under Islamic law. The spiciness, and also the unique flavor, comes from my own original blend of garam masala.
Taster’s comment: It’s very spicy at first, but the complexity of the flavor keeps me coming back for more. With savory, tender meat, this is the best curry I’ve ever tasted!
Mughal Caf・
Address: 7F Nishijin Praliva, 4-1-1 Nishijin, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-844-0560
Open: 11:30~14:00, 17:00~20:00
Closed: Never
Korea
Featured dish: Kopchangtang 1,260 yen/ serving
Shop’s comment: Kopchangtang is a boiled dish made with horumon (intestines). The secret to this spice is a special sauce with chili from Busan. The restaurant has a caf・style atmosphere, but the food is truly Korean-we have a lot of native Korean customers.
Taster’s comment: I thought Korean food was just spicy, but this Kopchangtang has excellent flavor. The soft-yet-chewy texture of the horumon is great!
Korean Dining Lock Stock
Address: 4F Liberty, 2-3-2 Daimyo, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-771-1320
Open: 18:00~26:00
Closed: Never
Vietnam
Featured dish: Rice Vermicelli Ramen ( Bun’rieu) 800 yen
Shop’s comment: This is an authentic restaurant with a native Vietnamese staff. The traditional way of cooking is to mix spicy foods with lemon-the sourness tempers the heat, letting you heat up and cool down all in one delicious dish.
Taster’s comment: The soup itself isn’t so spicy but it’s very flavorful. Taste the balance of spice and salt with the crab innards and chili pepper. Great herbs!
My Tho
Address: 13-18 Tamagawa-machi, Minami-ku, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-551-5775
Open: 11:00~14:00, 17:00~23:00
Closed: Never
Thailand
Featured dish: Green Curry with Rice,
850 yen for Lunch 1,050 yen for Dinner
Shop’s comment: The major characteristic of Thai food is the complexity created by a blend of spicy, sweet, and sour flavors. At our restaurant, we serve green curry made with herbs and coconut milk, using the best Thai jasmine rice. Please try our 16 kinds of noodles!
Taster’s comment: There are a lot of Thai restaurants in Singapore. Thai food is usually spicy but this green curry is so mild I can eat many servings!
Osha
Address: 1-23-21 Ohashi, Minami-ku, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-551-2175
Open: 11:30~14:00, 18:00~24:00
Closed: Mon.
Sri Lanka
Featured dish: Sri Lankan Curry 840 yen
Shop’s comment: Did you know that Sri Lankan curries are made with coconut milk, while Indians use curd? A plate of vegetable curry, potato curry, spiced rice, and chicken with an optional ﾒRed Curry” at Tunapaha will really fire you up! No attempt is made to adjust to local palettes here ﾐ this is the real deal.
Taster’s comment: It doesn’t seem so spicy at first, but it really kicks in later. This may be spicier than Korean food, but with a sweetness hidden in the flavor ﾐ try it!
Tunapaha
Address: 5F Nomiya Bldg. 2-1-1 Daimyo, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-712-9700
Open: 11:30~23:00
Closed: Never
Other Spicy Options!
Nazuki (Korean)
Tel: 092-715-1516 (Oyafuko)
comment: Sizzling ishiyaki bibimba, spicy Korean noodles. Cheap, fast and popular!
Jan Jan (Indian)
Tel: 092-752-8080
comment: Indian, Nepalese, and Sri Lankan curries and more. Super-delicious nan!
Bandar (Thai)
Tel: 092-737-7700
comment: Sophisticated atmosphere for tasty Thai cusine with flair and elegance.
Warn Bali (Indonesian)
Tel: 092-811-2952
comment: Indonesian cook serving classics like Nasi Goreng and Coconut Curry.
Parkash (Indian)
Tel: 092-523-7588
comment: 37 kinds of curry and 15 varities of nan prepared by expert native chefs.
アジアマンスの時期を迎えると、なぜか無性に食べたくなるスパイシーフード！そして福岡では、アジア諸国の辛くておいしいスパイシーフードが街のあちこちで食べられるとあって、まさにスパイシー天国！今回フクオカ・ナウでは、辛いものが大好きなチャレンジャーに各国のスパイシーフードに挑戦してもらいます。
チャレンジャーその1
唐辛子の原産地と言われるメキシコ出身のエリーザーです。メキシコでは紀元前5千年頃には唐辛子の栽培が始まっていたって言われているんだ。今日は色んな国のスパイシーフードにトライするよ！
チャレンジャーその2
バングラデシュの青唐辛子大食いコンテストでチャンピオンになったメスバです。その時は医者にもう食べるなって言われたけど、やっぱり無理だよ。だって僕は辛いものを食べるために生まれてきたからね！
今日は、どの国のスパイシー？
アジアの玄関口・福岡は、長い歳月の中で多国籍の文化が交わってきた歴史がある。食文化はまさにその一つ。例えば博多名物・からし明太子はもともとのルーツが韓国だし、福岡の食文化をたどると色んなアジアの文化が融合していることが分かる。そして街を歩くと福岡には、色んな国のレストランがあちこちに！そこで今回は、アジアのスパイシーフードの大特集！でもその前にちょっとだけスパイスのお勉強。まず代普藷Iなスパイスと言えば「唐辛子」。辛みの主成分・カプサイシンには脂肪を燃やすホルモンの分泌を促す作用があり、発汗作用によるダイエット効果や食欲増進など、体にとっていいことづくめ。唐辛子は韓国や中国、タイ、ベトナムなどでもふんだんに使用され、当然ながらそれぞれ産地によって味も香りも異なる。インドの混合スパイス「ガラムマサラ」は、レストランのオリジナルブレンドは当たり前、それぞれの家庭ごとに独特のブレンドがあるので、カレーの味も辛さも千差万別。その他にもスパイスといえば青唐辛子や山椒が代普藷I。また辛いものを食べる時に一緒に食べるとよいとされるのがヨーグルトやチャイ、レモンなど。これも国によってさまざまだが、理由はいずれも刺激を和らげ、口の中がさっぱりするから、ということらしい。さあ、スパイシー天国・福岡で、アジアのスパイシーフードに挑戦しよう！
ネパール
<> ピ－ロマトン ｴ893
<>
ネパール料理はインド料理と似てると思われてるけど、食べ比べると全然違いますよ。おいしさの秘密は「命を落とすほど辛い」と言われるジャヌマラ。ネパールの味そのままなので、ぜひトライして！
<>
マトンの柔らかさにびっくり！ここの料理はお肉を一緒に煮込んであるから、全体の味の調和がとれていて最高だね。
<> エベレストキッチン
<> 福岡市中央区渡辺通2-8-1-2F
<> 092-721-5503
<>11:00~15:00、17:30~23:00 （～25:00 金、土、日）
<> 日曜日
インド
<> チキンカレー ライス付き ｴ1,010
<>
インドのスパイスは漢方薬にも使われるほど体にいいんですよ。ミランのカレーは、36種類のスパイスとネパールから取り寄せた黒塩をブレンド、辛さは50倍まで選べます。
<>
40倍の辛さに挑戦！おいしくて色んなスパイスのフレーバーを舌の上で感じることができる。スパイスに慣れていない日本人には辛いかも？
<> ミラン
<> 福岡市中央区薬院1-11-11
<> 092-713-0733
<> 11:00~15:00、17:30~23:00
<> なし
中国
<> 中国大明火鍋城 ｴ3,500
<>
辛くなければ四川料理ではない、と言われる本場・四川のシェフが作る自信作。四川では山椒を入れるのが特徴で、唐辛子とラー油の辛さと混ざるとしびれるような感覚になり、クセになりますよ！
<>
この鍋は2種類のスープで味の違いが楽しめる。赤いスープは山椒と唐辛子が効いてるから、食べ過ぎるともうひとつの味が分からないよ（笑）。
<> 中国大明火鍋城
<> 福岡市中央区渡辺通4-1-36 BiVi 6F
<> 092-720-5255
<>11:00～14:00、17:00～23:00（月～金）、11:00～15:00、 17:00～23:00（土、日、祝日）
<> なし
パキスタン
<> ビーフコルマカレー ｴ1,200
<>
パキスタン人が食べるハラールミート（お祈りをした牛肉）を使用した、本場のパキスタンカレー。辛いだけじゃない不思議なおいしさの秘密は、僕が作るオリジナルブレンドのガラムマサラかな。
<>
初めは辛いけど、スパイスの魅力でどんどん食べたくなるわ。牛肉が柔らかくて、こんなにおいしいカレーは初めて！口の中に色んな香りが残ります。
<> ムガールカフェ
<> 福岡市早良区西新4-1-1 西新プラリバ7F
<> 092-844-0560
<> 11:30~14:00、17:00~20:00
<> なし
韓国
<> 石焼鍋コプチャンタン ｴ1,260（一人前）二人前～
<>
コプチャンタンとはホルモン鍋のこと。辛さの秘密は釜山から取り寄せた赤唐辛子とみそで作った秘伝のたれ。カフェみたいな雰囲気だけど味は本物だから、韓国人のお客さんもよく来るよ！
<>
韓国料理は辛いだけと思っていたけど、ここのコプチャンタンは辛くて甘いからおいしいよ。唐辛子とみそっていう組み合わせが面白いね！
<> ロックストック
<> 福岡市中央区大名2-3-2-4F
<> 092-771-1320
<> 18:00~26:00
<> なし
ベトナム
<> ビーフンラーメン ｴ800
<>
スタッフが全員ベトナム人の本格ベトナム料理店です。辛いものにはレモンを入れて、酸味と調節させるのがベトナム流。隠し味はエビとカニみその塩辛さ。酸味と辛味で汗を出すと涼しくなるよ。
<>
スープ自体は辛くないけど、すごく味わい深い。塩辛いカニみそやベトナム産の唐辛子で好きな辛さに調節できるのがいいね。ハーブの香りもgood!
<> ミィトォー
<> 福岡市南区玉川町13-18
<> 092-551-5775
<> 11:00~14:00、17:00~23:00
<> なし
タイ
<> グリーンカレー ライス付き ｴ850（ランチ）、ｴ1,050（ディナー）
<>
辛さと甘さと酸っぱさを合わせた複雑な味がタイ料理の特徴。当店のグリーンカレーはハーブとココナッツミルクの風味が強く、タイで最高級のジャスミン米を使用。16種類のタイヌードルもぜひトライして！
<>
シンガポールはタイ料理店がいっぱいあるんだ。本場のタイ料理は辛いけど、ここのグリーンカレーはマイルドだから何杯でも食べれるよ！
<> タイ屋台料理＆ヌードル オシャ
<> 福岡市南区大橋1-23-21
<> 092-551-2175
<> 11:30~14:00、18:00~24:00
<> 月曜日
スリランカ
<> スリランカカレー ｴ840
<>
スリランカのカレーはココナッツミルクを使うのがインドとの一番の違い。でも当店は日本人向けにアレンジしてないから本当に辛いよ！オーダーがあればレッドカレーも提供するけど、舌がヒリヒリするよ！
<>
初めはそんなに辛くないけど、後からきます！この辛さは韓国料理よりも辛いかも。でも辛さの中にマイルドな甘さがあるからぜひ試してほしいな！
<> ツナパハ
<> 福岡市中央区大名2-1-1-5F
<> 092-712-9700
<> 11:30～23:00
<> なし
今回、紹介しきれなかったお店
<> 菜ずき（韓国）
<> 092-715-1516
<> 早い、安い、うまいと言えば「菜ずき」。韓国人のスタッフが作る石焼ビビンバと韓国麺はどちらも人気。
<> ジャン ジャン（インド）
<> 092-762-8080
<> インド、ネパール、スリランカのカレーが楽しめるジャン ジャン。ナンは数に限りがあるけど絶品！
<> バンダル（タイ）
<> 092-737-7700
<> おしゃれで洗練された雰囲気が人気のバンダル。ゆっくりとくつろぎながらタイ料理が楽しめる。
<> ワルン バリ（インドネシア）
<> 092-811-2952
<> インドネシア人のママが作る本格派レストラン。辛さを調節できるナシゴレンやココナツカレーがおすすめ。
<> パルカス（インド）
<> 092-523-7588
<> カレーだけで37種、ナンは15種と、とにかく種類が豊富。カレーは全種類スパイスが違うというこだわりぶり。
September in Fukuoka is Asian Month, so why not explore one of Asia’s hottest attractions-spicy food. Our spice-loving challengers explore the city to try out hot cuisine from all over the world!
Challenger Number 1: My name is Eleazar and I’m from Mexico, said to be the original home of the chili pepper. It’s believed that chili pepper cultivation began around 5000 BC. This month, I plan to try all kinds of fiery flavors from around Asia!
Challenger Number 2: I’m Mesbah, and I once was the champion at a green-chili eating contest in my home of Bangladesh. At the time, my doctor advised me to quit eating them, but I couldn’t. After all, I was born to eat spicy foods!
Where will today’s spices come from?
As Japan’s gateway to Asia, Fukuoka has a long history as a crossroads of cultures, and food is no exception. The chili pepper has found its way into Japan from exotic locales such as Korea, China, Thailand, and Vietnam, although each variety has its own taste and flavor. Garam masala, a blend of spices found in India, is used in Japan to make a variety of curries with original flavors and heat levels. Even Fukuoka’s famous mentaiko, the spicy fish-egg dish, has origins in Korea. Dining in Fukuoka, it is apparent how much Asian cultures are intertwined through food. Explore the city to discover countless international restaurants, the best of which are featured in this issue. Not convinced that spice is the best way to soak up Asian culture? Heat up for your health: capsaicin, the compound responsible for heat in chili peppers, is said to stimulate hormones that trigger fat burning, cause sweating, and increase the appetite. Can’t take the heat? In many countries, yoghurt, tea, or lemon is used to cool down. With all your worries put to rest, let us go forth into the streets of Fukuoka in search of spicy food ﾐ Asian Month is upon us!
Nepal
Featured dish: Piro Mutton 893 yen
Shop’s comment: People think that Nepalese cuisine is just like Indian food, but a taste test will prove that this is not the case at all. The secret of its flavor is jyanmara, which is spicy enough to kill you!
Taster’s comment: It’s the taste of Nepal itself, so I hope you’ll try it. Because the spices are cooked together with the meat, the whole dish is deliciously tender and flavorful.
Everest Kitchen
Address: 2F Omaru Bldg., 2-8-1 Watanabe-dori, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-721-5503
Open: 11:00~15:00, 17:30~23:00 (~25:00 Thu, Fri and Sat)
Closed: Sun
India
Featured dish: Chicken curry with rice 1,010 yen
Shop’s comment: Indian spices are so healthy that they are used in Chinese herbal medicine. Milan’s curries are made from 36 spices as well as black salt from Nepal. You can choose your desired strength, from calm 0 to fiery 50.
Taster’s comment: I tried level 40 ﾐ an explosion of different spices on my tongue! Might this be too spicy for Japanese tastes?
Milan
Address: 1-11-11 Yakuin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-713-0733
Open: 11:00~15:00, 17:30~23:00
Closed: Never
China
Featured dish: Jyukei Hinabe Basic Combo
Shop’s comment: This is one of the few truly authentic Szechuan restaurants in western Japan. It’s said that if it’s not spicy, it’s not Szechuan! We offer only the very best dishes by a prizewinning chef of the World Championship of Chinese Cuisine.
Taster’s comment: Taste the difference between Hinabejo’s two kinds of soups. The spicy power of Szechuan pepper really comes through in the red broth!
Hinabejo
Address: 6F BiVi, 4-1-36 Watanabe-dori, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-720-5255
Open: 11:00~14:00, 17:00~23:00 Mon.-Fri., 11:00~15:00, 17:00~23:00 Sat., Sun., and Hol.
Closed: Never
Pakistan
Featured dish: Beef (co-ru-ma) Curry 1,200 yen
Shop’s comment: Our curry is made from halal meat, popular in Pakistan as it is permitted under Islamic law. The spiciness, and also the unique flavor, comes from my own original blend of garam masala.
Taster’s comment: It’s very spicy at first, but the complexity of the flavor keeps me coming back for more. With savory, tender meat, this is the best curry I’ve ever tasted!
Mughal Caf・
Address: 7F Nishijin Praliva, 4-1-1 Nishijin, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-844-0560
Open: 11:30~14:00, 17:00~20:00
Closed: Never
Korea
Featured dish: Kopchangtang 1,260 yen/ serving
Shop’s comment: Kopchangtang is a boiled dish made with horumon (intestines). The secret to this spice is a special sauce with chili from Busan. The restaurant has a caf・style atmosphere, but the food is truly Korean-we have a lot of native Korean customers.
Taster’s comment: I thought Korean food was just spicy, but this Kopchangtang has excellent flavor. The soft-yet-chewy texture of the horumon is great!
Korean Dining Lock Stock
Address: 4F Liberty, 2-3-2 Daimyo, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-771-1320
Open: 18:00~26:00
Closed: Never
Vietnam
Featured dish: Rice Vermicelli Ramen ( Bun’rieu) 800 yen
Shop’s comment: This is an authentic restaurant with a native Vietnamese staff. The traditional way of cooking is to mix spicy foods with lemon-the sourness tempers the heat, letting you heat up and cool down all in one delicious dish.
Taster’s comment: The soup itself isn’t so spicy but it’s very flavorful. Taste the balance of spice and salt with the crab innards and chili pepper. Great herbs!
My Tho
Address: 13-18 Tamagawa-machi, Minami-ku, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-551-5775
Open: 11:00~14:00, 17:00~23:00
Closed: Never
Thailand
Featured dish: Green Curry with Rice,
850 yen for Lunch 1,050 yen for Dinner
Shop’s comment: The major characteristic of Thai food is the complexity created by a blend of spicy, sweet, and sour flavors. At our restaurant, we serve green curry made with herbs and coconut milk, using the best Thai jasmine rice. Please try our 16 kinds of noodles!
Taster’s comment: There are a lot of Thai restaurants in Singapore. Thai food is usually spicy but this green curry is so mild I can eat many servings!
Osha
Address: 1-23-21 Ohashi, Minami-ku, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-551-2175
Open: 11:30~14:00, 18:00~24:00
Closed: Mon.
Sri Lanka
Featured dish: Sri Lankan Curry 840 yen
Shop’s comment: Did you know that Sri Lankan curries are made with coconut milk, while Indians use curd? A plate of vegetable curry, potato curry, spiced rice, and chicken with an optional ﾒRed Curry” at Tunapaha will really fire you up! No attempt is made to adjust to local palettes here ﾐ this is the real deal.
Taster’s comment: It doesn’t seem so spicy at first, but it really kicks in later. This may be spicier than Korean food, but with a sweetness hidden in the flavor ﾐ try it!
Tunapaha
Address: 5F Nomiya Bldg. 2-1-1 Daimyo, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-712-9700
Open: 11:30~23:00
Closed: Never
Other Spicy Options!
Nazuki (Korean)
Tel: 092-715-1516 (Oyafuko)
comment: Sizzling ishiyaki bibimba, spicy Korean noodles. Cheap, fast and popular!
Jan Jan (Indian)
Tel: 092-752-8080
comment: Indian, Nepalese, and Sri Lankan curries and more. Super-delicious nan!
Bandar (Thai)
Tel: 092-737-7700
comment: Sophisticated atmosphere for tasty Thai cusine with flair and elegance.
Warn Bali (Indonesian)
Tel: 092-811-2952
comment: Indonesian cook serving classics like Nasi Goreng and Coconut Curry.
Parkash (Indian)
Tel: 092-523-7588
comment: 37 kinds of curry and 15 varities of nan prepared by expert native chefs.
September in Fukuoka is Asian Month, so why not explore one of Asia’s hottest attractions-spicy food. Our spice-loving challengers explore the city to try out hot cuisine from all over the world!
Challenger Number 1: My name is Eleazar and I’m from Mexico, said to be the original home of the chili pepper. It’s believed that chili pepper cultivation began around 5000 BC. This month, I plan to try all kinds of fiery flavors from around Asia!
Challenger Number 2: I’m Mesbah, and I once was the champion at a green-chili eating contest in my home of Bangladesh. At the time, my doctor advised me to quit eating them, but I couldn’t. After all, I was born to eat spicy foods!
Where will today’s spices come from?
As Japan’s gateway to Asia, Fukuoka has a long history as a crossroads of cultures, and food is no exception. The chili pepper has found its way into Japan from exotic locales such as Korea, China, Thailand, and Vietnam, although each variety has its own taste and flavor. Garam masala, a blend of spices found in India, is used in Japan to make a variety of curries with original flavors and heat levels. Even Fukuoka’s famous mentaiko, the spicy fish-egg dish, has origins in Korea. Dining in Fukuoka, it is apparent how much Asian cultures are intertwined through food. Explore the city to discover countless international restaurants, the best of which are featured in this issue. Not convinced that spice is the best way to soak up Asian culture? Heat up for your health: capsaicin, the compound responsible for heat in chili peppers, is said to stimulate hormones that trigger fat burning, cause sweating, and increase the appetite. Can’t take the heat? In many countries, yoghurt, tea, or lemon is used to cool down. With all your worries put to rest, let us go forth into the streets of Fukuoka in search of spicy food ﾐ Asian Month is upon us!
Nepal
Featured dish: Piro Mutton 893 yen
Shop’s comment: People think that Nepalese cuisine is just like Indian food, but a taste test will prove that this is not the case at all. The secret of its flavor is jyanmara, which is spicy enough to kill you!
Taster’s comment: It’s the taste of Nepal itself, so I hope you’ll try it. Because the spices are cooked together with the meat, the whole dish is deliciously tender and flavorful.
Everest Kitchen
Address: 2F Omaru Bldg., 2-8-1 Watanabe-dori, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-721-5503
Open: 11:00~15:00, 17:30~23:00 (~25:00 Thu, Fri and Sat)
Closed: Sun
India
Featured dish: Chicken curry with rice 1,010 yen
Shop’s comment: Indian spices are so healthy that they are used in Chinese herbal medicine. Milan’s curries are made from 36 spices as well as black salt from Nepal. You can choose your desired strength, from calm 0 to fiery 50.
Taster’s comment: I tried level 40 ﾐ an explosion of different spices on my tongue! Might this be too spicy for Japanese tastes?
Milan
Address: 1-11-11 Yakuin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-713-0733
Open: 11:00~15:00, 17:30~23:00
Closed: Never
China
Featured dish: Jyukei Hinabe Basic Combo
Shop’s comment: This is one of the few truly authentic Szechuan restaurants in western Japan. It’s said that if it’s not spicy, it’s not Szechuan! We offer only the very best dishes by a prizewinning chef of the World Championship of Chinese Cuisine.
Taster’s comment: Taste the difference between Hinabejo’s two kinds of soups. The spicy power of Szechuan pepper really comes through in the red broth!
Hinabejo
Address: 6F BiVi, 4-1-36 Watanabe-dori, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-720-5255
Open: 11:00~14:00, 17:00~23:00 Mon.-Fri., 11:00~15:00, 17:00~23:00 Sat., Sun., and Hol.
Closed: Never
Pakistan
Featured dish: Beef (co-ru-ma) Curry 1,200 yen
Shop’s comment: Our curry is made from halal meat, popular in Pakistan as it is permitted under Islamic law. The spiciness, and also the unique flavor, comes from my own original blend of garam masala.
Taster’s comment: It’s very spicy at first, but the complexity of the flavor keeps me coming back for more. With savory, tender meat, this is the best curry I’ve ever tasted!
Mughal Caf・
Address: 7F Nishijin Praliva, 4-1-1 Nishijin, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-844-0560
Open: 11:30~14:00, 17:00~20:00
Closed: Never
Korea
Featured dish: Kopchangtang 1,260 yen/ serving
Shop’s comment: Kopchangtang is a boiled dish made with horumon (intestines). The secret to this spice is a special sauce with chili from Busan. The restaurant has a caf・style atmosphere, but the food is truly Korean-we have a lot of native Korean customers.
Taster’s comment: I thought Korean food was just spicy, but this Kopchangtang has excellent flavor. The soft-yet-chewy texture of the horumon is great!
Korean Dining Lock Stock
Address: 4F Liberty, 2-3-2 Daimyo, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-771-1320
Open: 18:00~26:00
Closed: Never
Vietnam
Featured dish: Rice Vermicelli Ramen ( Bun’rieu) 800 yen
Shop’s comment: This is an authentic restaurant with a native Vietnamese staff. The traditional way of cooking is to mix spicy foods with lemon-the sourness tempers the heat, letting you heat up and cool down all in one delicious dish.
Taster’s comment: The soup itself isn’t so spicy but it’s very flavorful. Taste the balance of spice and salt with the crab innards and chili pepper. Great herbs!
My Tho
Address: 13-18 Tamagawa-machi, Minami-ku, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-551-5775
Open: 11:00~14:00, 17:00~23:00
Closed: Never
Thailand
Featured dish: Green Curry with Rice,
850 yen for Lunch 1,050 yen for Dinner
Shop’s comment: The major characteristic of Thai food is the complexity created by a blend of spicy, sweet, and sour flavors. At our restaurant, we serve green curry made with herbs and coconut milk, using the best Thai jasmine rice. Please try our 16 kinds of noodles!
Taster’s comment: There are a lot of Thai restaurants in Singapore. Thai food is usually spicy but this green curry is so mild I can eat many servings!
Osha
Address: 1-23-21 Ohashi, Minami-ku, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-551-2175
Open: 11:30~14:00, 18:00~24:00
Closed: Mon.
Sri Lanka
Featured dish: Sri Lankan Curry 840 yen
Shop’s comment: Did you know that Sri Lankan curries are made with coconut milk, while Indians use curd? A plate of vegetable curry, potato curry, spiced rice, and chicken with an optional ﾒRed Curry” at Tunapaha will really fire you up! No attempt is made to adjust to local palettes here ﾐ this is the real deal.
Taster’s comment: It doesn’t seem so spicy at first, but it really kicks in later. This may be spicier than Korean food, but with a sweetness hidden in the flavor ﾐ try it!
Tunapaha
Address: 5F Nomiya Bldg. 2-1-1 Daimyo, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-712-9700
Open: 11:30~23:00
Closed: Never
Other Spicy Options!
Nazuki (Korean)
Tel: 092-715-1516 (Oyafuko)
comment: Sizzling ishiyaki bibimba, spicy Korean noodles. Cheap, fast and popular!
Jan Jan (Indian)
Tel: 092-752-8080
comment: Indian, Nepalese, and Sri Lankan curries and more. Super-delicious nan!
Bandar (Thai)
Tel: 092-737-7700
comment: Sophisticated atmosphere for tasty Thai cusine with flair and elegance.
Warn Bali (Indonesian)
Tel: 092-811-2952
comment: Indonesian cook serving classics like Nasi Goreng and Coconut Curry.
Parkash (Indian)
Tel: 092-523-7588
comment: 37 kinds of curry and 15 varities of nan prepared by expert native chefs.
September in Fukuoka is Asian Month, so why not explore one of Asia’s hottest attractions-spicy food. Our spice-loving challengers explore the city to try out hot cuisine from all over the world!
Challenger Number 1: My name is Eleazar and I’m from Mexico, said to be the original home of the chili pepper. It’s believed that chili pepper cultivation began around 5000 BC. This month, I plan to try all kinds of fiery flavors from around Asia!
Challenger Number 2: I’m Mesbah, and I once was the champion at a green-chili eating contest in my home of Bangladesh. At the time, my doctor advised me to quit eating them, but I couldn’t. After all, I was born to eat spicy foods!
Where will today’s spices come from?
As Japan’s gateway to Asia, Fukuoka has a long history as a crossroads of cultures, and food is no exception. The chili pepper has found its way into Japan from exotic locales such as Korea, China, Thailand, and Vietnam, although each variety has its own taste and flavor. Garam masala, a blend of spices found in India, is used in Japan to make a variety of curries with original flavors and heat levels. Even Fukuoka’s famous mentaiko, the spicy fish-egg dish, has origins in Korea. Dining in Fukuoka, it is apparent how much Asian cultures are intertwined through food. Explore the city to discover countless international restaurants, the best of which are featured in this issue. Not convinced that spice is the best way to soak up Asian culture? Heat up for your health: capsaicin, the compound responsible for heat in chili peppers, is said to stimulate hormones that trigger fat burning, cause sweating, and increase the appetite. Can’t take the heat? In many countries, yoghurt, tea, or lemon is used to cool down. With all your worries put to rest, let us go forth into the streets of Fukuoka in search of spicy food ﾐ Asian Month is upon us!
Nepal
Featured dish: Piro Mutton 893 yen
Shop’s comment: People think that Nepalese cuisine is just like Indian food, but a taste test will prove that this is not the case at all. The secret of its flavor is jyanmara, which is spicy enough to kill you!
Taster’s comment: It’s the taste of Nepal itself, so I hope you’ll try it. Because the spices are cooked together with the meat, the whole dish is deliciously tender and flavorful.
Everest Kitchen
Address: 2F Omaru Bldg., 2-8-1 Watanabe-dori, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-721-5503
Open: 11:00~15:00, 17:30~23:00 (~25:00 Thu, Fri and Sat)
Closed: Sun
India
Featured dish: Chicken curry with rice 1,010 yen
Shop’s comment: Indian spices are so healthy that they are used in Chinese herbal medicine. Milan’s curries are made from 36 spices as well as black salt from Nepal. You can choose your desired strength, from calm 0 to fiery 50.
Taster’s comment: I tried level 40 ﾐ an explosion of different spices on my tongue! Might this be too spicy for Japanese tastes?
Milan
Address: 1-11-11 Yakuin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-713-0733
Open: 11:00~15:00, 17:30~23:00
Closed: Never
China
Featured dish: Jyukei Hinabe Basic Combo
Shop’s comment: This is one of the few truly authentic Szechuan restaurants in western Japan. It’s said that if it’s not spicy, it’s not Szechuan! We offer only the very best dishes by a prizewinning chef of the World Championship of Chinese Cuisine.
Taster’s comment: Taste the difference between Hinabejo’s two kinds of soups. The spicy power of Szechuan pepper really comes through in the red broth!
Hinabejo
Address: 6F BiVi, 4-1-36 Watanabe-dori, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-720-5255
Open: 11:00~14:00, 17:00~23:00 Mon.-Fri., 11:00~15:00, 17:00~23:00 Sat., Sun., and Hol.
Closed: Never
Pakistan
Featured dish: Beef (co-ru-ma) Curry 1,200 yen
Shop’s comment: Our curry is made from halal meat, popular in Pakistan as it is permitted under Islamic law. The spiciness, and also the unique flavor, comes from my own original blend of garam masala.
Taster’s comment: It’s very spicy at first, but the complexity of the flavor keeps me coming back for more. With savory, tender meat, this is the best curry I’ve ever tasted!
Mughal Caf・
Address: 7F Nishijin Praliva, 4-1-1 Nishijin, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-844-0560
Open: 11:30~14:00, 17:00~20:00
Closed: Never
Korea
Featured dish: Kopchangtang 1,260 yen/ serving
Shop’s comment: Kopchangtang is a boiled dish made with horumon (intestines). The secret to this spice is a special sauce with chili from Busan. The restaurant has a caf・style atmosphere, but the food is truly Korean-we have a lot of native Korean customers.
Taster’s comment: I thought Korean food was just spicy, but this Kopchangtang has excellent flavor. The soft-yet-chewy texture of the horumon is great!
Korean Dining Lock Stock
Address: 4F Liberty, 2-3-2 Daimyo, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-771-1320
Open: 18:00~26:00
Closed: Never
Vietnam
Featured dish: Rice Vermicelli Ramen ( Bun’rieu) 800 yen
Shop’s comment: This is an authentic restaurant with a native Vietnamese staff. The traditional way of cooking is to mix spicy foods with lemon-the sourness tempers the heat, letting you heat up and cool down all in one delicious dish.
Taster’s comment: The soup itself isn’t so spicy but it’s very flavorful. Taste the balance of spice and salt with the crab innards and chili pepper. Great herbs!
My Tho
Address: 13-18 Tamagawa-machi, Minami-ku, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-551-5775
Open: 11:00~14:00, 17:00~23:00
Closed: Never
Thailand
Featured dish: Green Curry with Rice,
850 yen for Lunch 1,050 yen for Dinner
Shop’s comment: The major characteristic of Thai food is the complexity created by a blend of spicy, sweet, and sour flavors. At our restaurant, we serve green curry made with herbs and coconut milk, using the best Thai jasmine rice. Please try our 16 kinds of noodles!
Taster’s comment: There are a lot of Thai restaurants in Singapore. Thai food is usually spicy but this green curry is so mild I can eat many servings!
Osha
Address: 1-23-21 Ohashi, Minami-ku, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-551-2175
Open: 11:30~14:00, 18:00~24:00
Closed: Mon.
Sri Lanka
Featured dish: Sri Lankan Curry 840 yen
Shop’s comment: Did you know that Sri Lankan curries are made with coconut milk, while Indians use curd? A plate of vegetable curry, potato curry, spiced rice, and chicken with an optional ﾒRed Curry” at Tunapaha will really fire you up! No attempt is made to adjust to local palettes here ﾐ this is the real deal.
Taster’s comment: It doesn’t seem so spicy at first, but it really kicks in later. This may be spicier than Korean food, but with a sweetness hidden in the flavor ﾐ try it!
Tunapaha
Address: 5F Nomiya Bldg. 2-1-1 Daimyo, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-712-9700
Open: 11:30~23:00
Closed: Never
Other Spicy Options!
Nazuki (Korean)
Tel: 092-715-1516 (Oyafuko)
comment: Sizzling ishiyaki bibimba, spicy Korean noodles. Cheap, fast and popular!
Jan Jan (Indian)
Tel: 092-752-8080
comment: Indian, Nepalese, and Sri Lankan curries and more. Super-delicious nan!
Bandar (Thai)
Tel: 092-737-7700
comment: Sophisticated atmosphere for tasty Thai cusine with flair and elegance.
Warn Bali (Indonesian)
Tel: 092-811-2952
comment: Indonesian cook serving classics like Nasi Goreng and Coconut Curry.
Parkash (Indian)
Tel: 092-523-7588
comment: 37 kinds of curry and 15 varities of nan prepared by expert native chefs.
アジアマンスの時期を迎えると、なぜか無性に食べたくなるスパイシーフード！そして福岡では、アジア諸国の辛くておいしいスパイシーフードが街のあちこちで食べられるとあって、まさにスパイシー天国！今回フクオカ・ナウでは、辛いものが大好きなチャレンジャーに各国のスパイシーフードに挑戦してもらいます。
チャレンジャーその1
唐辛子の原産地と言われるメキシコ出身のエリーザーです。メキシコでは紀元前5千年頃には唐辛子の栽培が始まっていたって言われているんだ。今日は色んな国のスパイシーフードにトライするよ！
チャレンジャーその2
バングラデシュの青唐辛子大食いコンテストでチャンピオンになったメスバです。その時は医者にもう食べるなって言われたけど、やっぱり無理だよ。だって僕は辛いものを食べるために生まれてきたからね！
今日は、どの国のスパイシー？
アジアの玄関口・福岡は、長い歳月の中で多国籍の文化が交わってきた歴史がある。食文化はまさにその一つ。例えば博多名物・からし明太子はもともとのルーツが韓国だし、福岡の食文化をたどると色んなアジアの文化が融合していることが分かる。そして街を歩くと福岡には、色んな国のレストランがあちこちに！そこで今回は、アジアのスパイシーフードの大特集！でもその前にちょっとだけスパイスのお勉強。まず代普藷Iなスパイスと言えば「唐辛子」。辛みの主成分・カプサイシンには脂肪を燃やすホルモンの分泌を促す作用があり、発汗作用によるダイエット効果や食欲増進など、体にとっていいことづくめ。唐辛子は韓国や中国、タイ、ベトナムなどでもふんだんに使用され、当然ながらそれぞれ産地によって味も香りも異なる。インドの混合スパイス「ガラムマサラ」は、レストランのオリジナルブレンドは当たり前、それぞれの家庭ごとに独特のブレンドがあるので、カレーの味も辛さも千差万別。その他にもスパイスといえば青唐辛子や山椒が代普藷I。また辛いものを食べる時に一緒に食べるとよいとされるのがヨーグルトやチャイ、レモンなど。これも国によってさまざまだが、理由はいずれも刺激を和らげ、口の中がさっぱりするから、ということらしい。さあ、スパイシー天国・福岡で、アジアのスパイシーフードに挑戦しよう！
ネパール
<> ピ－ロマトン ｴ893
<>
ネパール料理はインド料理と似てると思われてるけど、食べ比べると全然違いますよ。おいしさの秘密は「命を落とすほど辛い」と言われるジャヌマラ。ネパールの味そのままなので、ぜひトライして！
<>
マトンの柔らかさにびっくり！ここの料理はお肉を一緒に煮込んであるから、全体の味の調和がとれていて最高だね。
<> エベレストキッチン
<> 福岡市中央区渡辺通2-8-1-2F
<> 092-721-5503
<>11:00~15:00、17:30~23:00 （～25:00 金、土、日）
<> 日曜日
インド
<> チキンカレー ライス付き ｴ1,010
<>
インドのスパイスは漢方薬にも使われるほど体にいいんですよ。ミランのカレーは、36種類のスパイスとネパールから取り寄せた黒塩をブレンド、辛さは50倍まで選べます。
<>
40倍の辛さに挑戦！おいしくて色んなスパイスのフレーバーを舌の上で感じることができる。スパイスに慣れていない日本人には辛いかも？
<> ミラン
<> 福岡市中央区薬院1-11-11
<> 092-713-0733
<> 11:00~15:00、17:30~23:00
<> なし
中国
<> 中国大明火鍋城 ｴ3,500
<>
辛くなければ四川料理ではない、と言われる本場・四川のシェフが作る自信作。四川では山椒を入れるのが特徴で、唐辛子とラー油の辛さと混ざるとしびれるような感覚になり、クセになりますよ！
<>
この鍋は2種類のスープで味の違いが楽しめる。赤いスープは山椒と唐辛子が効いてるから、食べ過ぎるともうひとつの味が分からないよ（笑）。
<> 中国大明火鍋城
<> 福岡市中央区渡辺通4-1-36 BiVi 6F
<> 092-720-5255
<>11:00～14:00、17:00～23:00（月～金）、11:00～15:00、 17:00～23:00（土、日、祝日）
<> なし
パキスタン
<> ビーフコルマカレー ｴ1,200
<>
パキスタン人が食べるハラールミート（お祈りをした牛肉）を使用した、本場のパキスタンカレー。辛いだけじゃない不思議なおいしさの秘密は、僕が作るオリジナルブレンドのガラムマサラかな。
<>
初めは辛いけど、スパイスの魅力でどんどん食べたくなるわ。牛肉が柔らかくて、こんなにおいしいカレーは初めて！口の中に色んな香りが残ります。
<> ムガールカフェ
<> 福岡市早良区西新4-1-1 西新プラリバ7F
<> 092-844-0560
<> 11:30~14:00、17:00~20:00
<> なし
韓国
<> 石焼鍋コプチャンタン ｴ1,260（一人前）二人前～
<>
コプチャンタンとはホルモン鍋のこと。辛さの秘密は釜山から取り寄せた赤唐辛子とみそで作った秘伝のたれ。カフェみたいな雰囲気だけど味は本物だから、韓国人のお客さんもよく来るよ！
<>
韓国料理は辛いだけと思っていたけど、ここのコプチャンタンは辛くて甘いからおいしいよ。唐辛子とみそっていう組み合わせが面白いね！
<> ロックストック
<> 福岡市中央区大名2-3-2-4F
<> 092-771-1320
<> 18:00~26:00
<> なし
ベトナム
<> ビーフンラーメン ｴ800
<>
スタッフが全員ベトナム人の本格ベトナム料理店です。辛いものにはレモンを入れて、酸味と調節させるのがベトナム流。隠し味はエビとカニみその塩辛さ。酸味と辛味で汗を出すと涼しくなるよ。
<>
スープ自体は辛くないけど、すごく味わい深い。塩辛いカニみそやベトナム産の唐辛子で好きな辛さに調節できるのがいいね。ハーブの香りもgood!
<> ミィトォー
<> 福岡市南区玉川町13-18
<> 092-551-5775
<> 11:00~14:00、17:00~23:00
<> なし
タイ
<> グリーンカレー ライス付き ｴ850（ランチ）、ｴ1,050（ディナー）
<>
辛さと甘さと酸っぱさを合わせた複雑な味がタイ料理の特徴。当店のグリーンカレーはハーブとココナッツミルクの風味が強く、タイで最高級のジャスミン米を使用。16種類のタイヌードルもぜひトライして！
<>
シンガポールはタイ料理店がいっぱいあるんだ。本場のタイ料理は辛いけど、ここのグリーンカレーはマイルドだから何杯でも食べれるよ！
<> タイ屋台料理＆ヌードル オシャ
<> 福岡市南区大橋1-23-21
<> 092-551-2175
<> 11:30~14:00、18:00~24:00
<> 月曜日
スリランカ
<> スリランカカレー ｴ840
<>
スリランカのカレーはココナッツミルクを使うのがインドとの一番の違い。でも当店は日本人向けにアレンジしてないから本当に辛いよ！オーダーがあればレッドカレーも提供するけど、舌がヒリヒリするよ！
<>
初めはそんなに辛くないけど、後からきます！この辛さは韓国料理よりも辛いかも。でも辛さの中にマイルドな甘さがあるからぜひ試してほしいな！
<> ツナパハ
<> 福岡市中央区大名2-1-1-5F
<> 092-712-9700
<> 11:30～23:00
<> なし
今回、紹介しきれなかったお店
<> 菜ずき（韓国）
<> 092-715-1516
<> 早い、安い、うまいと言えば「菜ずき」。韓国人のスタッフが作る石焼ビビンバと韓国麺はどちらも人気。
<> ジャン ジャン（インド）
<> 092-762-8080
<> インド、ネパール、スリランカのカレーが楽しめるジャン ジャン。ナンは数に限りがあるけど絶品！
<> バンダル（タイ）
<> 092-737-7700
<> おしゃれで洗練された雰囲気が人気のバンダル。ゆっくりとくつろぎながらタイ料理が楽しめる。
<> ワルン バリ（インドネシア）
<> 092-811-2952
<> インドネシア人のママが作る本格派レストラン。辛さを調節できるナシゴレンやココナツカレーがおすすめ。
<> パルカス（インド）
<> 092-523-7588
<> カレーだけで37種、ナンは15種と、とにかく種類が豊富。カレーは全種類スパイスが違うというこだわりぶり。
September in Fukuoka is Asian Month, so why not explore one of Asia’s hottest attractions-spicy food. Our spice-loving challengers explore the city to try out hot cuisine from all over the world!
Challenger Number 1: My name is Eleazar and I’m from Mexico, said to be the original home of the chili pepper. It’s believed that chili pepper cultivation began around 5000 BC. This month, I plan to try all kinds of fiery flavors from around Asia!
Challenger Number 2: I’m Mesbah, and I once was the champion at a green-chili eating contest in my home of Bangladesh. At the time, my doctor advised me to quit eating them, but I couldn’t. After all, I was born to eat spicy foods!
Where will today’s spices come from?
As Japan’s gateway to Asia, Fukuoka has a long history as a crossroads of cultures, and food is no exception. The chili pepper has found its way into Japan from exotic locales such as Korea, China, Thailand, and Vietnam, although each variety has its own taste and flavor. Garam masala, a blend of spices found in India, is used in Japan to make a variety of curries with original flavors and heat levels. Even Fukuoka’s famous mentaiko, the spicy fish-egg dish, has origins in Korea. Dining in Fukuoka, it is apparent how much Asian cultures are intertwined through food. Explore the city to discover countless international restaurants, the best of which are featured in this issue. Not convinced that spice is the best way to soak up Asian culture? Heat up for your health: capsaicin, the compound responsible for heat in chili peppers, is said to stimulate hormones that trigger fat burning, cause sweating, and increase the appetite. Can’t take the heat? In many countries, yoghurt, tea, or lemon is used to cool down. With all your worries put to rest, let us go forth into the streets of Fukuoka in search of spicy food ﾐ Asian Month is upon us!
Nepal
Featured dish: Piro Mutton 893 yen
Shop’s comment: People think that Nepalese cuisine is just like Indian food, but a taste test will prove that this is not the case at all. The secret of its flavor is jyanmara, which is spicy enough to kill you!
Taster’s comment: It’s the taste of Nepal itself, so I hope you’ll try it. Because the spices are cooked together with the meat, the whole dish is deliciously tender and flavorful.
Everest Kitchen
Address: 2F Omaru Bldg., 2-8-1 Watanabe-dori, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-721-5503
Open: 11:00~15:00, 17:30~23:00 (~25:00 Thu, Fri and Sat)
Closed: Sun
India
Featured dish: Chicken curry with rice 1,010 yen
Shop’s comment: Indian spices are so healthy that they are used in Chinese herbal medicine. Milan’s curries are made from 36 spices as well as black salt from Nepal. You can choose your desired strength, from calm 0 to fiery 50.
Taster’s comment: I tried level 40 ﾐ an explosion of different spices on my tongue! Might this be too spicy for Japanese tastes?
Milan
Address: 1-11-11 Yakuin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-713-0733
Open: 11:00~15:00, 17:30~23:00
Closed: Never
China
Featured dish: Jyukei Hinabe Basic Combo
Shop’s comment: This is one of the few truly authentic Szechuan restaurants in western Japan. It’s said that if it’s not spicy, it’s not Szechuan! We offer only the very best dishes by a prizewinning chef of the World Championship of Chinese Cuisine.
Taster’s comment: Taste the difference between Hinabejo’s two kinds of soups. The spicy power of Szechuan pepper really comes through in the red broth!
Hinabejo
Address: 6F BiVi, 4-1-36 Watanabe-dori, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-720-5255
Open: 11:00~14:00, 17:00~23:00 Mon.-Fri., 11:00~15:00, 17:00~23:00 Sat., Sun., and Hol.
Closed: Never
Pakistan
Featured dish: Beef (co-ru-ma) Curry 1,200 yen
Shop’s comment: Our curry is made from halal meat, popular in Pakistan as it is permitted under Islamic law. The spiciness, and also the unique flavor, comes from my own original blend of garam masala.
Taster’s comment: It’s very spicy at first, but the complexity of the flavor keeps me coming back for more. With savory, tender meat, this is the best curry I’ve ever tasted!
Mughal Caf・
Address: 7F Nishijin Praliva, 4-1-1 Nishijin, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-844-0560
Open: 11:30~14:00, 17:00~20:00
Closed: Never
Korea
Featured dish: Kopchangtang 1,260 yen/ serving
Shop’s comment: Kopchangtang is a boiled dish made with horumon (intestines). The secret to this spice is a special sauce with chili from Busan. The restaurant has a caf・style atmosphere, but the food is truly Korean-we have a lot of native Korean customers.
Taster’s comment: I thought Korean food was just spicy, but this Kopchangtang has excellent flavor. The soft-yet-chewy texture of the horumon is great!
Korean Dining Lock Stock
Address: 4F Liberty, 2-3-2 Daimyo, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-771-1320
Open: 18:00~26:00
Closed: Never
Vietnam
Featured dish: Rice Vermicelli Ramen ( Bun’rieu) 800 yen
Shop’s comment: This is an authentic restaurant with a native Vietnamese staff. The traditional way of cooking is to mix spicy foods with lemon-the sourness tempers the heat, letting you heat up and cool down all in one delicious dish.
Taster’s comment: The soup itself isn’t so spicy but it’s very flavorful. Taste the balance of spice and salt with the crab innards and chili pepper. Great herbs!
My Tho
Address: 13-18 Tamagawa-machi, Minami-ku, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-551-5775
Open: 11:00~14:00, 17:00~23:00
Closed: Never
Thailand
Featured dish: Green Curry with Rice,
850 yen for Lunch 1,050 yen for Dinner
Shop’s comment: The major characteristic of Thai food is the complexity created by a blend of spicy, sweet, and sour flavors. At our restaurant, we serve green curry made with herbs and coconut milk, using the best Thai jasmine rice. Please try our 16 kinds of noodles!
Taster’s comment: There are a lot of Thai restaurants in Singapore. Thai food is usually spicy but this green curry is so mild I can eat many servings!
Osha
Address: 1-23-21 Ohashi, Minami-ku, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-551-2175
Open: 11:30~14:00, 18:00~24:00
Closed: Mon.
Sri Lanka
Featured dish: Sri Lankan Curry 840 yen
Shop’s comment: Did you know that Sri Lankan curries are made with coconut milk, while Indians use curd? A plate of vegetable curry, potato curry, spiced rice, and chicken with an optional ﾒRed Curry” at Tunapaha will really fire you up! No attempt is made to adjust to local palettes here ﾐ this is the real deal.
Taster’s comment: It doesn’t seem so spicy at first, but it really kicks in later. This may be spicier than Korean food, but with a sweetness hidden in the flavor ﾐ try it!
Tunapaha
Address: 5F Nomiya Bldg. 2-1-1 Daimyo, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-712-9700
Open: 11:30~23:00
Closed: Never
Other Spicy Options!
Nazuki (Korean)
Tel: 092-715-1516 (Oyafuko)
comment: Sizzling ishiyaki bibimba, spicy Korean noodles. Cheap, fast and popular!
Jan Jan (Indian)
Tel: 092-752-8080
comment: Indian, Nepalese, and Sri Lankan curries and more. Super-delicious nan!
Bandar (Thai)
Tel: 092-737-7700
comment: Sophisticated atmosphere for tasty Thai cusine with flair and elegance.
Warn Bali (Indonesian)
Tel: 092-811-2952
comment: Indonesian cook serving classics like Nasi Goreng and Coconut Curry.
Parkash (Indian)
Tel: 092-523-7588
comment: 37 kinds of curry and 15 varities of nan prepared by expert native chefs.
September in Fukuoka is Asian Month, so why not explore one of Asia’s hottest attractions-spicy food. Our spice-loving challengers explore the city to try out hot cuisine from all over the world!
Challenger Number 1: My name is Eleazar and I’m from Mexico, said to be the original home of the chili pepper. It’s believed that chili pepper cultivation began around 5000 BC. This month, I plan to try all kinds of fiery flavors from around Asia!
Challenger Number 2: I’m Mesbah, and I once was the champion at a green-chili eating contest in my home of Bangladesh. At the time, my doctor advised me to quit eating them, but I couldn’t. After all, I was born to eat spicy foods!
Where will today’s spices come from?
As Japan’s gateway to Asia, Fukuoka has a long history as a crossroads of cultures, and food is no exception. The chili pepper has found its way into Japan from exotic locales such as Korea, China, Thailand, and Vietnam, although each variety has its own taste and flavor. Garam masala, a blend of spices found in India, is used in Japan to make a variety of curries with original flavors and heat levels. Even Fukuoka’s famous mentaiko, the spicy fish-egg dish, has origins in Korea. Dining in Fukuoka, it is apparent how much Asian cultures are intertwined through food. Explore the city to discover countless international restaurants, the best of which are featured in this issue. Not convinced that spice is the best way to soak up Asian culture? Heat up for your health: capsaicin, the compound responsible for heat in chili peppers, is said to stimulate hormones that trigger fat burning, cause sweating, and increase the appetite. Can’t take the heat? In many countries, yoghurt, tea, or lemon is used to cool down. With all your worries put to rest, let us go forth into the streets of Fukuoka in search of spicy food ﾐ Asian Month is upon us!
Nepal
Featured dish: Piro Mutton 893 yen
Shop’s comment: People think that Nepalese cuisine is just like Indian food, but a taste test will prove that this is not the case at all. The secret of its flavor is jyanmara, which is spicy enough to kill you!
Taster’s comment: It’s the taste of Nepal itself, so I hope you’ll try it. Because the spices are cooked together with the meat, the whole dish is deliciously tender and flavorful.
Everest Kitchen
Address: 2F Omaru Bldg., 2-8-1 Watanabe-dori, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-721-5503
Open: 11:00~15:00, 17:30~23:00 (~25:00 Thu, Fri and Sat)
Closed: Sun
India
Featured dish: Chicken curry with rice 1,010 yen
Shop’s comment: Indian spices are so healthy that they are used in Chinese herbal medicine. Milan’s curries are made from 36 spices as well as black salt from Nepal. You can choose your desired strength, from calm 0 to fiery 50.
Taster’s comment: I tried level 40 ﾐ an explosion of different spices on my tongue! Might this be too spicy for Japanese tastes?
Milan
Address: 1-11-11 Yakuin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-713-0733
Open: 11:00~15:00, 17:30~23:00
Closed: Never
China
Featured dish: Jyukei Hinabe Basic Combo
Shop’s comment: This is one of the few truly authentic Szechuan restaurants in western Japan. It’s said that if it’s not spicy, it’s not Szechuan! We offer only the very best dishes by a prizewinning chef of the World Championship of Chinese Cuisine.
Taster’s comment: Taste the difference between Hinabejo’s two kinds of soups. The spicy power of Szechuan pepper really comes through in the red broth!
Hinabejo
Address: 6F BiVi, 4-1-36 Watanabe-dori, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-720-5255
Open: 11:00~14:00, 17:00~23:00 Mon.-Fri., 11:00~15:00, 17:00~23:00 Sat., Sun., and Hol.
Closed: Never
Pakistan
Featured dish: Beef (co-ru-ma) Curry 1,200 yen
Shop’s comment: Our curry is made from halal meat, popular in Pakistan as it is permitted under Islamic law. The spiciness, and also the unique flavor, comes from my own original blend of garam masala.
Taster’s comment: It’s very spicy at first, but the complexity of the flavor keeps me coming back for more. With savory, tender meat, this is the best curry I’ve ever tasted!
Mughal Caf・
Address: 7F Nishijin Praliva, 4-1-1 Nishijin, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-844-0560
Open: 11:30~14:00, 17:00~20:00
Closed: Never
Korea
Featured dish: Kopchangtang 1,260 yen/ serving
Shop’s comment: Kopchangtang is a boiled dish made with horumon (intestines). The secret to this spice is a special sauce with chili from Busan. The restaurant has a caf・style atmosphere, but the food is truly Korean-we have a lot of native Korean customers.
Taster’s comment: I thought Korean food was just spicy, but this Kopchangtang has excellent flavor. The soft-yet-chewy texture of the horumon is great!
Korean Dining Lock Stock
Address: 4F Liberty, 2-3-2 Daimyo, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-771-1320
Open: 18:00~26:00
Closed: Never
Vietnam
Featured dish: Rice Vermicelli Ramen ( Bun’rieu) 800 yen
Shop’s comment: This is an authentic restaurant with a native Vietnamese staff. The traditional way of cooking is to mix spicy foods with lemon-the sourness tempers the heat, letting you heat up and cool down all in one delicious dish.
Taster’s comment: The soup itself isn’t so spicy but it’s very flavorful. Taste the balance of spice and salt with the crab innards and chili pepper. Great herbs!
My Tho
Address: 13-18 Tamagawa-machi, Minami-ku, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-551-5775
Open: 11:00~14:00, 17:00~23:00
Closed: Never
Thailand
Featured dish: Green Curry with Rice,
850 yen for Lunch 1,050 yen for Dinner
Shop’s comment: The major characteristic of Thai food is the complexity created by a blend of spicy, sweet, and sour flavors. At our restaurant, we serve green curry made with herbs and coconut milk, using the best Thai jasmine rice. Please try our 16 kinds of noodles!
Taster’s comment: There are a lot of Thai restaurants in Singapore. Thai food is usually spicy but this green curry is so mild I can eat many servings!
Osha
Address: 1-23-21 Ohashi, Minami-ku, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-551-2175
Open: 11:30~14:00, 18:00~24:00
Closed: Mon.
Sri Lanka
Featured dish: Sri Lankan Curry 840 yen
Shop’s comment: Did you know that Sri Lankan curries are made with coconut milk, while Indians use curd? A plate of vegetable curry, potato curry, spiced rice, and chicken with an optional ﾒRed Curry” at Tunapaha will really fire you up! No attempt is made to adjust to local palettes here ﾐ this is the real deal.
Taster’s comment: It doesn’t seem so spicy at first, but it really kicks in later. This may be spicier than Korean food, but with a sweetness hidden in the flavor ﾐ try it!
Tunapaha
Address: 5F Nomiya Bldg. 2-1-1 Daimyo, Fukuoka-city
Tel: 092-712-9700
Open: 11:30~23:00
Closed: Never
Other Spicy Options!
Nazuki (Korean)
Tel: 092-715-1516 (Oyafuko)
comment: Sizzling ishiyaki bibimba, spicy Korean noodles. Cheap, fast and popular!
Jan Jan (Indian)
Tel: 092-752-8080
comment: Indian, Nepalese, and Sri Lankan curries and more. Super-delicious nan!
Bandar (Thai)
Tel: 092-737-7700
comment: Sophisticated atmosphere for tasty Thai cusine with flair and elegance.
Warn Bali (Indonesian)
Tel: 092-811-2952
comment: Indonesian cook serving classics like Nasi Goreng and Coconut Curry.
Parkash (Indian)
Tel: 092-523-7588
comment: 37 kinds of curry and 15 varities of nan prepared by expert native chefs.
