SagaFood

Kawataro Yobuko (河太郎呼子店)

Flow of the course

Previous stop: Get Up Close to the Basalt Cliffs of Nanatsugama on the Sightseeing Boat Ikamaru

About 15 min from the previous stop

About 90 min here

About 20 min to the next stop

Next stop: A Drive Over the Sea on the White Harp-Shaped Bridge to Kabeshima Island

About this spot

Known as the restaurant that first introduced live squid sashimi to Japan, this is a specialty squid restaurant. Founded in Nakasu, Fukuoka, and later opened in Yobuko, the true home of squid, the restaurant keeps squid swimming leisurely in a large in-house tank, preparing each one into sashimi swiftly and fresh to order. The legs still move on the plate, and the flesh is astonishingly translucent. Its crisp, springy texture and the delicate sweetness that fills your mouth are flavors unique to Yobuko squid, where freshness is everything. After enjoying the whole-squid sashimi, a second round of pleasure awaits with atozukuri (後造り) — the leftover legs and fins fried fresh into tempura. It's an unforgettable dish, a fitting star of this seafood-filled tour.

Tips

This popular restaurant almost always has a line at lunchtime. It's best to put your name down before opening, or to visit earlier or later than the peak hours. Availability of live squid can vary depending on the catch and sea conditions, so call ahead if you definitely want to try it. Enjoy the atozukuri tempura piping hot, fresh from the fryer.