What to Eat in Fukui Prefecture

Sample Lake Kuzuryu’s famous soba

It seems as if every region of Japan touts a famous soba. That’s no reason to write off the brand of buckwheat noodles that are famously served along Lake Kuzuryu. Soba noodles are the perfect showcase for a region’s agricultural riches. At Lake Kuzuryu’s soba shops, the emphasis is on mushrooms, in particular the Kuzuryu maitake. The delicate yet meaty mushroom is the perfect earthy foil for the region’s soba, served at shops like Michi no Eki at Kuzuryuko Station on JR West's Etsumi Hoku.

Roadside Station Kuzuryu

3.5

55 Reviews

Fukui Pref. Onoshi Asahi 26-30-1

0779782300

[Fureai Kaikan]8:30-17:00* T…

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Crunch through Yoroppaken’s katsudon in Fukui City

Yoroppaken is a local chain that started with a single shop in Fukui City a century ago. The shop’s name, a transliteration of “Europa,” hints at the origins of the menu’s superstar tonkatsu in European-influence yoshoku cuisine. The shop’s founder Takahata Masutaro founded the shop after a stint in Germany, and his tonkatsu’s schitzel DNA is clear. The katsudon which lays just-fried tonkatsu on rice, alongside a dank, sweet sauce is the clear choice at Yoroppaken. There are many locations but many would recommend the main branch in the Junka neighborhood.

Yoroppaken Main Shop

4.0

213 Reviews

Fukui Pref. Fukuishi Junka 1-7-4

0776214681

11:00-19:50

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Sip Bon Coffee’s macha frappe near Fukui Station

Bon Coffee's cafe occupies a narrow, minimalist space just outside the west gates of Fukui Station. The tidy downtown neighborhood of department stores and lunchtime salaryman restaurants is fairly generic Urban Japan—a hip coffee bar fits in nicely. They make a fine espresso and take their beans seriously (they sell their own blends from a separate location), but it doesn’t get much better than a sweet, syrupy mocha frappe on a hot summer day.

BON COFFEE -BEANS STORE-

福井県福井市中央1-4-12 大廻店舗

0776-97-9974

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Slurp ramen at Tsuruga’s Ichiriki

Occupying a modest building in the coastal town of Tsuruga, Ichiriki has an outsized reputation. Like most ramen shops with a lengthy history, Ichiriki started as a postwar yatai, slanging from a cart near the train station with noodles made from grey market flour. The specialty is old school chuka soba, a basic ramen with pork broth, and there is also a limited menu with dumplings, wonton noodles, and cold noodles.

Chinese Noodles Ichiriki

Fukui Tsuruga-shi Chuocho 1-13-21

0770225368

11:00-19:00

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Experience Shojin Ryori and soba in Eiheiji

If you’re planning a trip to the famous main temple of Eiheiji, stop in on the road along the way to sample the traditional Buddhist shojin ryori. This Kiseki-style collection of vegetarian dishes are presented with the special sesame seed based soft tofu as the centerpiece. Also on offer are a range of locally sourced buckwheat soba dishes, made with soba handmade using traditional methods. There is also an on-site museum operated in conjunction with Eiheiji Temple, with ancient books, images, and statues on display. To ensure the shojin ryori is as fresh as possible, reservations are necessary and can be made via the email address on their website.

Kosekikan Riuzen

3.5

13 Reviews

Fukui Pref. Yoshidaguneiheijichou Aratani 37-10

0776633137

10:00-17:00

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Mikuni Burger

Carna

Mikuni is known for its historic edifices left over from its heyday as a locus of trade and commerce. Mikuni Minatoza, located in one of those old buildings, is part of the movement to revitalize the town. The building now functions as a cultural hub and dining room, selling homey dishes and the Mikuni Burger. After the burger, stop by nearby Gelato & Sweets Carna for dessert. Carna makes gelato from ingredients mostly sourced from the surrounding area, with an emphasis on seasonal produce. The founders traveled to Italy for research and came back to found the shop in 2005.

Mikuni Minatoza

3.5

20 Reviews

Fukui Sakai-shi Mikunicho Kitahonmachi 4-6-48

0776813921

10:00-17:00

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ジェラート・カルナ

福井県坂井市三国町南本町3-4-34

0776813225

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Try Fukui Soba at Yubuan near Fukui Station

For a fix of wholesome soba - authentic buckwheat noodles - served in the local way head to Yubuan. Just a stone’s throw from Fukui Station, this soba shop doesn’t take any reservations as they serve only until their stock of soba for the day runs out. The restaurant uses a special buckwheat flour which is prepared with Fukui sake giving their noodles a subtle taste.

Yuubuan Soba noodles restaurant

4.0

35 Reviews

Fukui Pref. Fukuishi Chuou 1-9-1 (inside the galleria arcade)

0776763519

11:30-14:00 (until sold out)

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Eat Crab at Kani no Bo in Sakai City

If you want to pretend being attacked by a giant crab as you feast on its smaller brethren, Kani no Bo in Sakai City is a must-visit. Located right beside the Kuzuryu River just as it flows into the Sea of Japan, Kani no Bo is a charming seafood restaurant reminiscent of a beach hut. They serve traditional Japanese seafood meals including some of the best crab in the area, all at fair prices. It’s one of the most Instagram worthy places around and definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area.

Echizen Kaninobo

4.0

30 Reviews

Fukui Pref. Sakaishi Mikunichoushuku 1-16

0776823925

[Weekday]11:00-15:00(LO14:30…

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Bonus: try Volga Rice at Yokogawa Bunten

Not far from Soja Daijingu in Echizen City, Yokogawa Bunten takes yoshoku to the next level, and reflects the region’s long history of Europhile cuisine (see also: the tonkatsu at Yoroppaken). The origins of Volga Rice’s name remain unclear (perhaps a Japanese chef took the boat from Tsuruga to Vladivostok and came back inspired), but the idea is fairly simple: omurice (fried rice in a parcel of omelet), a pork cutlet, and a Worcestershire sauce-heavy gravy.

ヨコガワ分店

福井県越前市京町1-4-35

0778227172

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