Why Fukuoka’s food stalls are the best in Japan, and 5 you must eat at on your next trip

Fukuoka, a vibrant city in Japan, is renowned for its unique food culture.

Small, open-air, mobile food stands – called yatai – offer an array of local delicacies and give the city its unique culinary flavour. While yatai can be found throughout Japan, Fukuoka stands out as the city where the culture is most prominent.

Yatai have their roots in the Edo period (1603-1868), when soba noodle vendors began using food carts to serve their customers, in an early form of fast food.

As Japan industrialised during the Meiji period (1868-1912) yatai became increasingly popular, offering convenient and affordable dining options for the growing urban population. However, ahead of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, authorities tightened food and safety regulations, and many yatai were forced to close.