Recommended for Family Meals: Savor Fukuoka Food in the retro-themed Tenjin Umaka Yokocho

Recommended for Family Meals: Savor Fukuoka Food in the retro-themed Tenjin Umaka Yokocho

Last update :
Written by :  GOOD LUCK TRIP

Fukuoka is also known as a “city of food,” with plenty of tasty, affordable options.
In Fukuoka, a perfect spot for families who tend to wonder “What should we eat?” every time they dine out is the food court Tenjin Umaka Yokocho in Tenjin.
In a retro space, seven stores come together, serving Fukuoka favorites such as ramen and tempura.
A major draw is that everyone can choose what they want and still enjoy the meal together at the same table.
This article introduces the appeal of Tenjin Umaka Yokocho and recommended dishes you should try.

What Is Tenjin Umaka Yokocho?

This food-court-style gourmet facility is located on the 2nd floor of the Nishitetsu Imaizumi Building in Chuo Ward, Fukuoka City.
“Umaka” is a Hakata dialect word meaning “delicious,” and true to its name, it is designed as a place to casually enjoy Fukuoka-style flavors.
Inside, seven distinctive stores offer a wide range of options, including ramen, dandan noodles, tempura, rice burgers, yakisoba, cold noodles, and izakaya-style dishes.
With 193 seats and the ability to enjoy dishes from multiple stores at the same table, it suits everyone from solo diners to families and groups.
Because it is open until 11:30 pm, it is easy to stop by not only for lunch and dinner but also for a casual drink.

The nostalgic artwork at the entrance lifts your spirits.
The nostalgic artwork at the entrance lifts your spirits.
Seven popular Fukuoka restaurants in one place
Seven popular Fukuoka restaurants in one place

Access to Tenjin Umaka Yokocho

About a 2-minute walk from the South Exit of Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin) Station on the Nishitetsu Tenjin Omuta Line.
About a 3-minute walk from Tenjin-Minami Station on the Fukuoka City Subway Nanakuma Line (approximately 3 minutes from Hakata Station to Tenjin-Minami Station).
From Fukuoka Airport Station on the Fukuoka City Subway Airport Line, it takes about 20 minutes to reach Tenjin-Minami Station on the Nanakuma Line with a transfer at Hakata Station.
It is easy to reach even on rainy days, making it a convenient stop during shopping or sightseeing in the Tenjin area.

Fukuoka’s liveliest downtown, packed with commercial facilities
Fukuoka’s liveliest downtown, packed with commercial facilities

Basic Information for Tenjin Umaka Yokocho

Name in Japanese
天神うまか横丁
Postal Code
810-0021
Address
1-12-23 Imaizumi, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka
Opening times
11:00 am - 11:30 pm
Closed
No fixed holidays
Payment Methods (Applicable to All 7 Stores)
Cash, PayPay
Credit cards
Accepted for mobile orders only.
Mobile ordering is available from 4:00pm to10:00pm (from 5:00pm at some stores).
QR Code Payments
Masumasa / COMECOME BURGER: d Barai, AirPAY, Merpay, QUICPay
Nagahama No. 1: d Barai, Alipay, Merpay, Rakuten Pay, au PAY
Hakata Tempura and Fried Appetizers Ebizou: USEN PAY, d Barai, Alipay, WeChat Pay
Manpuku Shokudo: d Barai, Merpay, Rakuten Pay
Official Website
Official Website (Japanese)

3 Reasons Tenjin Umaka Yokocho Is Recommended for Families

With a wide variety of stores in one place, Tenjin Umaka Yokocho is an easy spot for families of all ages to enjoy.
Here are three reasons Tenjin Umaka Yokocho is a great fit for family dining.

1. No Problem with Picky Eaters: Freedom to Choose from Seven Stores

Kids might say, “I want ramen,” while parents might think, “I want some light tempura.”
It is common for family members to have different tastes.
At Tenjin Umaka Yokocho, you will find ramen, tempura, rice burgers, yakisoba, dandan noodles, cold noodles, and izakaya-style dishes, so everyone can choose what they like without hesitation.
Because it is a food-court format, it is also nice that you can eat what you ordered together at the same table.

Tables lined with lanterns create the lively yokocho feel.
Tables lined with lanterns create the lively yokocho feel.

2. A Showa-Retro Space and an Atmosphere Parents and Kids Can Enjoy

The interior is unified under a design theme inspired by the Showa era (1926-1989), creating a nostalgic and warmly inviting atmosphere often described as “Showa-retro.”
Retro lanterns, old movie posters, and tin signs create a nostalgic atmosphere throughout the space.
Even the background music feels familiar, giving adults the fun of reminiscing and kids a sense of fresh discovery.

An interior that feels like stepping back into the Showa era
An interior that feels like stepping back into the Showa era

3. Close to the Station and Open Late: Easy to Fit into Any Itinerary

With convenient access of about a 2-minute walk from Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin) Station, it is easy to drop in between sightseeing and shopping.
It is open from 11:00 am to 11:30 pm, which is another appealing point since you can use it without worrying about the time.
Because the menu and drinks are available all day, it is also a nice bonus that you can enjoy a casual drink starting from midday.

High flexibility in both dining time and menu choices
High flexibility in both dining time and menu choices

Find Something Everyone Wants to Eat: Introducing Seven Unique Stores

Tenjin Umaka Yokocho is ready to satisfy each person’s “I want to eat this.”
From here, let’s take a look at what each of the seven stores is known for and the recommended items to try.

1. Hakata kuimonya Masumasa

This store is proud of its izakaya-style dishes that make the most of seasonal ingredients from across Kyushu.
With hearty options such as “Original Omelette Rice Curry” and “Surprisingly Spicy Miso Grilled Meat Teppan Set Meal,” it has a lineup that satisfies those who want a filling meal.
It also offers a wide selection of a la carte dishes, including “Hakata Sesame Mackerel (Limited Quantity)” and “Crispy Grilled Chicken Thigh.”

The mildly spicy tomato sauce pairs perfectly with chicken thigh.
The mildly spicy tomato sauce pairs perfectly with chicken thigh.
Savor Hakata Sesame Mackerel with a special sesame tare.
Savor Hakata Sesame Mackerel with a special sesame tare.

2. comecome BURGER

A specialty shop that uses domestically sourced ingredients from Kyushu and other regions to serve more than 10 kinds of rice burgers.
Among the many options, the popular picks are the “Yakiniku Enmusubi Burger” and the “Salmon and Mentaiko (spicy cod roe) Dashimaki Enmusubi Burger.”
The yellow bun of the “Yakiniku Enmusubi Burger” is cooked from carefully selected Kyushu rice and multigrain rice with pumpkin and turmeric.
Packed with plenty of grilled meat, it is a satisfying, volume-filled burger.
The “Salmon and Mentaiko (spicy cod roe) Dashimaki Enmusubi Burger” features a green bun cooked from carefully selected Kyushu rice and multigrain rice with spinach and tea.
It is filled with salmon and mentaiko that pair perfectly with a large, dashi-rich dashimaki omelet.
They also offer distinctive items such as the “Unzen Kogen Ham Egg Burger,” as well as veggie-friendly options.

The perfect balance of sweetness and tang in the “Yakiniku Enmusubi Burger”
The perfect balance of sweetness and tang in the “Yakiniku Enmusubi Burger”
The “Salmon and Mentaiko (spicy cod roe) Dashimaki Enmusubi Burger” is also popular.
The “Salmon and Mentaiko (spicy cod roe) Dashimaki Enmusubi Burger” is also popular.

3. Daimei Dandan Noodles

A restaurant centered on Chinese cuisine where you can enjoy Sichuan-style numbing heat.
Their dandan noodles, fragrant with Sichuan pepper and chili, deliver a gentle level of spiciness while still giving a clear, lingering numbing sensation.
With options like beef noodles and gyoza as well, it is a must for spicy-food lovers.

An exquisite balance of heat, umami, tang, and numbing spice
An exquisite balance of heat, umami, tang, and numbing spice

4. Nagahama No. 1

A popular tonkotsu (pork bone) ramen shop that traces its roots to the food-stall district long loved in Nagahama.
It has also earned the top spot in the overall category of the ramen guide magazine “Ramen Walker Fukuoka.”
The milky-white soup is mellow with no off-putting odor, and it pairs perfectly with thin, straight noodles.
If you want to taste authentic Fukuoka-style tonkotsu, this is a place you will want to have on your list.

A hearty bowl of “Special ramen”
A hearty bowl of “Special ramen”

5. Yakisoba specialty restaurant Basokiya

A shop that serves “Hakata Noodle Yakisoba,” created with “Hita Yakisoba” as inspiration.
Their additive-free, house-made noodles are boiled once, then seared on both sides and stir-fried, creating a texture that is aromatic outside and pleasantly chewy inside.
With carefully selected ingredients centered on bean sprouts harvested the same day, it is a dish whose aroma and texture evolve the more you eat.

Handmade stick gyoza and the No. 1 most popular “Green onion and egg yakisoba”
Handmade stick gyoza and the No. 1 most popular “Green onion and egg yakisoba”
A stamina-boosting “Hormone yakisoba”
A stamina-boosting “Hormone yakisoba”

6. Hakata Tempura and Fried Appetizers Ebizou

A restaurant where you can enjoy tempura as the main attraction, along with items like yakitori.
Freshly fried tempura made with quality ingredients, such as fresh vegetables from Itoshima in Fukuoka and seafood from nearby waters, is the highlight.
A popular choice is the “Ebizou set meal,” which includes tempura of shrimp, squid, fish, pork, and three kinds of vegetables, plus rice and miso soup.
The crispy batter brings out the natural flavor of each ingredient, making it enjoyable all the way through.

A light batter generously coated in rich tare
A light batter generously coated in rich tare

7. Manpuku Reimen (Manpuku Shokudo)

A restaurant where you can enjoy izakaya-style dishes.
It is a sister restaurant to Washu Sakanaya Kurasu on the 1st floor of the same building, and you can also enjoy craftsman-made items such as assorted sashimi, nigiri sushi, and kaisendon.
They also serve “Morioka Reimen,” which is relatively rare in Fukuoka. Be sure to try their “Morioka Reimen,” featuring a carefully crafted soup made with broth from beef bones and chicken bones.

A luxurious Wagyu beef nigiri sushi that highlights the rich flavor of premium Wagyu
A luxurious Wagyu beef nigiri sushi that highlights the rich flavor of premium Wagyu
A wide selection of course meals
A wide selection of course meals

How to Use Tenjin Umaka Yokocho

At Tenjin Umaka Yokocho, there are two ways to place your order: the traditional food court style and mobile ordering.
Below is an introduction to both ordering methods.

(1) Food Court Style

Rather than staff coming to your table to take your order, this is primarily a self-service system.
You can use the food court style at any time during operating hours.

1. First, secure a seat inside the facility. (Water is self-service.)
2. Go to each store and order directly. (Some stores use a meal-ticket system.)

Order whatever you like from the store you like.
Order whatever you like from the store you like.

3. When the call buzzer you receive when ordering vibrates, go pick up your food.
4. After eating, return your tray to the counter of the store you used.

Be mindful that tableware differs by store.
Be mindful that tableware differs by store.

(2) Mobile Ordering

Orders can be placed via QR codes available at each table.
You can browse and select dishes from multiple stores on your smartphone and complete your payment cashlessly in one go.
After ordering, staff will deliver the food directly to your table, allowing you to enjoy a yatai-style experience without waiting in line.
Available from 4:00pm to 10:00pm (from 5:00pm at some stores).

Summary

In a Showa-retro space, Tenjin Umaka Yokocho lets you casually enjoy Fukuoka-style flavors.
With seven stores gathered together, its appeal is that everyone can be satisfied even when tastes differ.
It is a gourmet spot you will want to add to your “places to go” list for a stop during your trip.