Must-Eat Japanese Food in Fukuoka - Hambagu

Hamburg (ハンバーグ) is said to be the Japanese pronunciation of 'Hamburg Steak' during the Meiji Restoration when Japan opened its ports. It's also worth noting that the Hamburg in Japan has been completely transformed into a unique Japanese dish.

It is said that the Hamburg steak was first transformed into a Japanese style in Nagasaki and Hiroshima. As a side note, in Japan, along with karaage and meatballs, it's a representative dish loved by children. It is often depicted in Japanese anime, manga, movies, and other subcultures.

Fukuoka Hamburg is in the familiar Hamburg steak form, and when ordered, it comes slightly cooked and is characterized by being grilled on an individual hot plate. It's reportedly a popular menu choice with little controversy among most Korean travelers. From my personal experience, it felt like a more premium version of tteokgalbi (Korean grilled beef patties).

For Hamburg in Fukuoka, I recommend Kiwamiya Hamburg (極味や 福岡パルコ店)! They have a Hakata branch, but the Tenjin branch is more famous. Choose the location based on your travel plans and accommodation.

'Kiwamiya' is known as a famous restaurant in the Fukuoka area of Japan, offering a unique experience of grilling 100% Wagyu Hamburg that has been pre-grilled on a hot plate. It has been a popular restaurant for a few years now, attracting a large number of Korean visitors and known for its long waiting times.

'Kiwamiya' has become a must-visit culinary destination for anyone visiting the Fukuoka region of Japan. It's so popular that there's a saying that a 2-hour wait is 'standard' to get a table. I remember being surprised to see the long line that never seemed to shorten. Although it is currently a very popular restaurant with Korean visitors, it was once a very popular restaurant with local Japanese people as well.

The menu prices vary depending on the weight. If you order a set menu for a slightly higher price, you can enjoy unlimited refills of rice, miso soup, salad, and ice cream. Unlimited refills are also available with individual orders. Also, if you have a child 4 years old or older, they will take your order, so please keep this in mind.

You can choose one sauce from beef, Kiwamiya, ponzu, salt, egg, wasabi, onion, spicy sauce, and lemon sauce. To eat, simply take a piece of the Hamburg and grill it on the small individual hot plate. The hot plate can be replaced if it cools down.

Because it's so popular and has long lines, there are many other famous Hamburg restaurants. So, feel free to check them out! Other restaurants are quite good as well. Also, I personally think of Hamburg as a more luxurious version of tteokgalbi, so if you're expecting a unique Japanese flavor, you might be disappointed. Please keep that in mind!

I will conclude this post by sharing the location of the Tenjin branch.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/A7RVM6347QLXGyzJ6⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠