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We've got all the famous Hakata food stalls you'll want to visit on your trip to Fukuoka! Hakata in Fukuoka Prefecture is famous for its food stall tours. The reason for its popularity is that you can experience traditional Japanese culture, such as getting up close and personal with the food stall owners and interacting with the locals. It's a bar where you can enjoy watching the food being cooked right in front of you, giving it a live feel. In this article, we'll introduce the background to the establishment of food stalls in Hakata, the characteristics of Hakata's food stalls, tips and things to be aware of for enjoying the food stalls, and the charms of the famous food stalls that you should definitely visit. At the end of the article, we'll introduce you to hotels in front of Hakata Station, which are very convenient as a base for food stall tours and sightseeing in Hakata, so please take a look.

The history of Hakata's yatai street is said to have begun after the Second World War in 1945. Street stalls were opened on the roadside to help people struggling to make ends meet due to the economic downturn and food shortages, or as a means of income. Hakata and Fukuoka are rich in agricultural produce, and fresh seafood is easy to obtain, and the abundance of food ingredients contributed to the development of yatai culture. The heyday of Hakata yatai was around 1965, when there were more than 400 yatai. However, due to various restrictions, such as Japan's rapid postwar economic growth, the Sanitation Management Act, and the Road Traffic Act, the yatai street gradually declined. Over time, Fukuoka City and others re-recognized the value of yatai culture, and efforts were made to improve the environment and review the rules. In 2013, the "Fukuoka Yatai Basic Ordinance" was finally enacted to allow yatai streets to coexist, and the problems the yatai had were resolved. Hakata is one of the areas in Japan where yatai culture is most thriving, and there are still nearly 100 yatai in operation today. When traveling to Hakata, visiting the food stalls is one of the must-dos.

If you've come all the way to Hakata to do some yatai tours, you probably don't want to make any mistakes. Below we'll share some tips and things to keep in mind to enjoy your yatai tour.
Hakata yatai tend to get crowded, especially in the evenings and into the night. You can shorten your wait time by avoiding the hours between 8 and 10 p.m., when the stalls are bustling with local office workers and tourists, and visiting right after opening or after 10 p.m.
Many food stalls do not accept credit cards, so we recommend bringing cash with you. It is also a good idea to have coins and 1,000 yen notes on hand to make payment easier.
The appeal of the food stalls is the closeness between the stall owner and the other customers. Asking the owner for their recommended menu items or signature dishes, and enjoying conversations with the other customers, will make your food stall tour even more enjoyable.
It's fine to be satisfied with one food stall, but by visiting multiple stalls you can enjoy a variety of food and atmospheres. You might even meet someone interesting by going from one stall to another.
If you research the recommended food stalls and their menus in advance, you will be able to visit the food stall you want to visit without getting lost. We will also introduce recommended food stalls in the latter half of this article, so please refer to it.
What kinds of food stalls are there in Hakata? It can be fun to take the time to look for a food stall that suits your taste before you go. Below, we will look at the most popular food stalls in Hakata.
There are many ramen stalls in the food stall district of Hakata. Hakata ramen is famous and features rich pork bone soup and thin, curly noodles. Many people visit the food stalls to enjoy ramen. Of course, you can't miss out on pork bone ramen on your trip to Hakata.
You can also enjoy fried ramen at Hakata's food stalls. The popularity of fried ramen is not inferior to that of tonkotsu ramen. It is a local ramen that is said to have originated from Hakata food stalls. The noodles are mixed with boiled down tonkotsu soup and Worcestershire sauce and then fried, giving it a rich flavor different from yakisoba. It is also popular as a final dish after drinking.
Teppanyaki is also a must-try when touring the food stalls in Hakata. You can enjoy dishes made with skillets, such as teppan gyoza and ajillo. You can enjoy the unique dishes of each food stall.
Yakitori is another must-visit Hakata food stall. Yakitori is a food that can be easily enjoyed, and yakitori served at food stalls is especially popular. When you think of yakitori in Hakata, you think of pork belly. Even though it's called yakitori, the most popular dish is not chicken but pork belly. In addition to thick pork belly skewers, skewers of pork belly wrapped around vegetables are also popular. By the way, in the Hakata area, any meat or fish that is skewered and grilled is called "yakitori".

For those planning to visit food stalls in Hakata, we especially recommend the Oriental Hotel Fukuoka Hakata Station. First of all, the biggest attraction of this hotel is its location. It is a one-minute walk from Hakata Station, so it has excellent transportation access and is very convenient for sightseeing in the city, business trips, and shopping. It is also close to the Nakasu and Tenjin areas, where many food stalls are lined up, so you can enjoy Hakata's representative food stalls just a short distance from the hotel. The hotel's interior is also sophisticated, and guests are greeted with high-quality hospitality. In addition to being able to relax and rest your tired body, the front staff can also provide local information such as information about the area around the hotel and recommended spots. There are more than 50 types of breakfast, and a wide variety of menus using local ingredients are available, so you can enjoy a taste of Hakata that is a little different from the food stalls. After enjoying a tour of the food stalls, it is best to spend the night in Hakata in the comfortable rooms of the Oriental Hotel Fukuoka Hakata Station. The location allows you to go out until late at night with peace of mind, and the hotel's high-quality service will make your stay in Hakata even more special.

website: https://fukuoka-orientalhotel.com/