Fukuoka's Top 10 Restaurants
Fukuoka is one of Japan's most underrated food cities, and the data backs up what locals already know: this is sushi country. Ranking our Hyakumeiten database rating, six of Fukuoka Prefecture's ten best restaurants are sushi counters — a reflection of the exceptional seafood coming out of the Genkai Sea and Hakata Bay. Here's the full top 10.
1. Kinshou (近松) — 4.54
Yakuin-Odori, Fukuoka City · Sushi
An introduction-only sushi counter (紹介制) — you need an existing connection to get a seat. Nine seats, closed Mondays, and the highest-rated restaurant in the prefecture.
2. Tenju Shi, Kyoumachi (天寿し 京町店) — 4.52
Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu · Sushi · ¥50,000–59,999
A six-seat sushi counter in Kokura commanding some of the highest prices in the ranking — proof that Fukuoka's sushi scene extends well beyond Fukuoka City itself.
3. Sushi Sakai (鮨 さかい) — 4.50
Nakasu-Kawabata, Fukuoka City · Sushi · ¥40,000–49,999
Worth knowing: Sushi Sakai held a Michelin star in the Fukuoka-Saga-Nagasaki 2019 special edition guide, before Michelin suspended regular reviews of the Kyushu region. Twelve seats in the heart of Nakasu.
4. Goryou Ri, Matsu Yama (御料理 まつ山) — 4.41
Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu · Japanese · ¥30,000–39,999
A six-seat kappo restaurant in Kitakyushu's Yahatanishi ward, built around seasonal, ingredient-led Japanese cooking rather than a fixed formula.
5. Sushi Gyoten (鮨 行天) — 4.40
Yakuin, Fukuoka City · Sushi · ¥50,000–59,999
Like Sushi Sakai, Gyoten held a Michelin star in that same short-lived 2019 Fukuoka guide. Ten seats, open for dinner every night and weekend lunch — one of the more consistently bookable high-end counters on this list.
6. Nihonryouri Tobiume (日本料理 TOBIUME) — 4.39
Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu · Japanese · ¥30,000–39,999
A four-seat Japanese restaurant led by chef Koji Tashiro, focused on local Kitakyushu-area ingredients. About as intimate as fine dining gets.
7. Kiku Sushi (菊鮨) — 4.37
Kasuga City · Sushi · ¥20,000–29,999
The most accessible price point among the sushi entries here, in a ten-seat room just south of Fukuoka City proper.
8. Tenpura Takeuchi (天ぷら たけうち) — 4.36
Nakagawa City · Tempura · ¥8,000–9,999
The only tempura specialist in the top 10, and by far the best value — under ¥10,000 in a field where most entries run ¥20,000 and up.
9. Yakitori Torira (焼き鳥 とりら) — 4.31
Nishitetsu-Hirao, Fukuoka City · Yakitori · ¥15,000–19,999
Widely described as the hardest reservation to land at a yakitori restaurant in Fukuoka right now. The course reportedly runs from chicken sashimi through to a ramen finish, built around a single named chicken breed.
10. Kotan (枯淡) — 4.30
Sakurazaka, Fukuoka City · Sushi · ¥20,000–29,999
An eight-seat counter from a young, rising chef blending Edomae technique with Fukuoka's local catch — frequently cited as the sushi restaurant to watch in the city right now.
Quick Reference
RankRestaurantCuisineRatingAreaBudget (¥)1KinshouSushi4.54Yakuin-Odori—2Tenju Shi, KyoumachiSushi4.52Kokurakita-ku50,000–59,9993Sushi SakaiSushi4.50Nakasu-Kawabata40,000–49,9994Goryou Ri, Matsu YamaJapanese4.41Yahatanishi-ku30,000–39,9995Sushi GyotenSushi4.40Yakuin50,000–59,9996Nihonryouri TobiumeJapanese4.39Yahatanishi-ku30,000–39,9997Kiku SushiSushi4.37Kasuga City20,000–29,9998Tenpura TakeuchiTempura4.36Nakagawa City8,000–9,9999Yakitori ToriraYakitori4.31Nishitetsu-Hirao15,000–19,99910KotanSushi4.30Sakurazaka20,000–29,999
Three of these — Matsu Yama, Tobiume, and Tenju Shi — are in Kitakyushu rather than Fukuoka City proper, so this list spans the whole prefecture. Nearly everything here seats fewer than 15 people and requires advance reservation; book well ahead for anything in the top 5.