1-2-5 Kumade, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Sakaba Uotora. A popular seafood izakaya in Kurosaki, bustling every night. They offer fresh seafood, with a focus on local fish from the Genkainada area, selected by the owner who has a history in the fish market industry. Located in a corner of Kumade Market, this hidden gem exudes a deep and cozy atmosphere. The name of the restaurant combines the Chinese zodiac sign of the owner, who was born in the year of the tiger, with the fresh fish on the signboard. Just an 8-minute walk from JR Kurosaki Station. 38 seats available (8 counter seats on the 1st floor, 3 tables, 2 private rooms on the 2nd floor for up to 11 people each). Non-smoking establishment with a 2-hour time limit for diners. No parking available (coin parking nearby). Prices exclude tax, no cover charge or service charge. Operating hours are from 6:00 pm to around midnight (varies by day). Closed on Sundays, holidays, the 3rd Monday of the month, and year-end holidays. Awarded the Bib Gourmand in the Michelin Guide Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki 2019 Special Edition, following the previous year. Despite being located in a seemingly fading shopping street, this izakaya is a miraculous lively spot. Reservations are difficult, with bookings already being taken for October onwards into the next year. I visited tonight with a reservation, sitting at my usual spot at the counter. The chopstick rests made of Karatsu ware catch my eye, as they change shape according to the fish and seafood featured that day. The atmosphere is livelier than before, perhaps even more so. I started with a fresh yuzu chu-hai. The local Akashia Uni has just arrived, with only 2 pieces available today. They now offer salt in addition to high-quality nori seaweed and soy sauce, which is a nice touch. I felt like having some sake, and opted for the less commonly seen "Harushika" from Kitakyushu. I also couldn't resist ordering the seared mentaiko, which is always a favorite of mine. The deep-fried corn caught my attention, and I decided to try the seasonal fried dish called "Gold Rush," which was sweet and juicy. I felt like having some whale bacon as well, which is sourced by the owner and has a refined taste. Served with ponzu and mustard, it was delicious. I noticed the order for crab miso, which looked appetizing, and decided to try it as well. "Please mix it well," said the owner. It turned out to be a dish of Zuwai crab miso, not just crab miso as listed on the menu - what a treat! I heard that the restaurant has recently introduced its own craft beer, so I ordered a bottle. It had a strong bitterness and flavor that I enjoyed. For the final dish, I had a small portion of seafood and rice bowl, which was incredibly fresh and satisfying. Ah, it was delicious once again. Despite my reservation date coinciding with the market's day off and the limited menu on the chalkboard, I left fully satisfied. I visit this izakaya every month, so I only write a review every few months, but for me, it's the pinnacle of a la carte dining. Enjoying sake, seasonal seafood, and exquisite dishes. Tailored to my appetite, I can choose my favorite items in the desired quantity. I believe even those with discerning taste in seafood would be satisfied here, but securing a seat is a challenge. I can no longer visit the izakaya within walking distance as before, but I want to continue securing a seat here. While they are affected by rising prices, the quality justifies the price. Feeling pleasantly tipsy, I savor each moment. I still love Uotora (*´∀`*) I arranged the photos taken after the previous review in price order from the beginning this time. I hope this can be a helpful reference for those planning to visit.

I had a reservation for 20:30 and visited this place. This was my third time here, and the fish is always delicious! Of course, it goes perfectly with alcohol. I had sashimi, simmered sea bream, fried squid legs, and sesame island horse mackerel, all of which were exquisite. If you can get a reservation, please be sure to visit!

It's been a while since I visited Uotora. This year, they were fully booked, but they managed to find a seat for me. Mr. Maeda's carefree smile represents this place well. He is known as the big brother of the sea urchin, or the big brother who was approached by Kitakyu girls on his first visit. It's no exaggeration to say that this is the only place in the quiet Blackzaki shopping street that has high energy late at night. You can expect nothing less than excellence from Uotora. On this day, I had the Ehime red sea urchin, served on precious seaweed from Ariake. This alone sets it apart from other izakayas. When it comes to Uotora, you must order the sesame fried fish. I also tried the assorted sashimi and simmered blackthroat seaperch, all carefully selected by Mr. Maeda based on his expertise and long-standing relationships. The regular customers (who are Mr. Maeda's classmates) were also entertaining and made me laugh. Mr. Maeda is a man of his word. Thank you for everything. Personally, this is the best izakaya atmosphere in Japan. I will definitely visit again when I come to Blackzaki (although it's not easy to just drop by).

A truly renowned restaurant!! The atmosphere inside is overwhelming!! The owner's hospitality is exceptional!! People working in customer service or the service industry could learn a lot by dining here, but it's impossible to make a reservation! Haha, it seems they're fully booked for the rest of the year!! The fish they serve is naturally fresh!! The sashimi is so fresh that it has a satisfying texture! I believe this restaurant is the best in the country when it comes to atmosphere and dedication to their craft!!

This is my third visit. It's getting harder and harder to make a reservation. Sad. Located in a back alley of a shopping street within walking distance from Kokura Station in Kitakyushu City, a 30-minute express train ride from JR Hakata Station. They have two sessions at 6:00 pm and 8:30 pm, and I always visit during the latter time. While many shops in the shopping street are closed at that time, this place is lively and bright. The staff efficiently cleared and prepared seats for us, and we were seated at the counter. We started with a lemon sour for a toast. It's an all-you-can-drink system. The daily menu is written on a blackboard above the counter, and the owner kindly said, "If it's hard to see, feel free to take a picture and check." The owner is really a nice person. Always smiling, attentive, and considerate, providing the best service among all the places I've been to. The name "Uotora" means "fish tiger," and indeed, the fish here is fresh and delicious. This time, we ordered a sashimi platter which is a must-have. We also added marinated tuna. Tamagoyaki is always a tough decision for me, and this time I tried it with beef tendon. We also had deep-fried rockfish, salt-grilled yellowtail collar, and the recommended marinated cutlassfish. It's a feast of fish. Everything was really delicious. I was curious about the red shiso shochu highball the person next to me was drinking, and the owner said it's homemade. Of course, I tried it. It was a bit sweeter than I expected. The finale of rice balls with salmon roe and mentaiko, along with a salty rice ball, elevated my satisfaction level. Don't forget the homemade almond jelly as a souvenir. I think it was around 20,000 yen for two people. Considering the quality and satisfaction, the cost performance is too good. This is a beloved restaurant worth visiting from Hakata. The cozy atmosphere of an izakaya also adds to the appeal. I definitely want to continue visiting this place in the future.

Thank you for always viewing ✨ If you like it, please try bookmarking it with the "Save Store" button ✨ This is a restaurant located in Kurosaki, Yahata Nishi-ku, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture. It is a recipient of the Tabelog Award 2022 Bronze, and selected as one of the Top 100 Izakaya in 2021 and 2022 ✨ It is also a Bib Gourmand recipient in the Fukuoka Michelin Guide 2019 ✨ I made a reservation for my birthday and went with 4 people. One friend even came all the way from Nagoya to visit ✨ We ate and drank a lot and had a great time ✨ It was my 10th visit, and it was fun to see the energetic owner Maeda-san as always (*'▽'*) Maeda-san is one of the top-level customer service professionals in the country ✨ Despite being a super difficult-to-reserve restaurant with a wait of over six months, there are frequent cancellations...（ ; ; ）I think it's worth trying to call and see if there are any openings ✨ It's my favorite izakaya in Japan (*^▽^*) The dishes we had are as follows: - Amakusa Tenryo Oysters: Sweet and meltingly delicious ✨ - Sashimi Assortment Gomahirasu: Firm, crunchy, sweet, and delicious ✨ - Natural Bluefin Tuna: Meltingly sweet and delicious - Miyazaki Kue: Firm, sweet, and delicious ✨ - Fukuoka Munakata Kanzaki Gen-chan Horse Mackerel: Firm, flavorful, and delicious ✨ - Fukuoka Munakata Kanzaki Live Spear Squid: Supremely delicious, apparently tightened in front of the store while still alive ✨ - Nagasaki Tsushima Ishidai: Delicious ✨ - Homemade Karasumi: Homemade, full of umami, and delicious ✨ - Scallop Butter Grilled: Light and fluffy, good texture, full of umami, and delicious ✨ - Chicken Wing Karaage: Elegant and crispy, excellent umami, and supremely delicious ✨ - Squid Legs Karaage: Plump, sweet, good texture, and supremely delicious ✨ - Saga Prefecture Migratory Crab: Sweet, good texture, and supremely delicious ✨ - Fukuoka Kanmon Octopus Jidako Sashimi: Very firm with a good texture and sweet, supremely delicious ✨ - Salmon Roe Soy Sauce Pickled: Sweet and supremely delicious ✨ - Eel Tamagoyaki: Excellent umami and supremely delicious ✨ - Onigiri: The most delicious onigiri in Japan! Supremely delicious ✨ - Miso Soup with Kue Bones and Sea Bream Collar: Like a Japanese restaurant, supremely delicious ✨ - Natural 8kg Bluefin Tuna Collar: Firm, good texture, good seasoning, and supremely delicious ✨ - Yamaguchi Managatsuo: Hot and fluffy, sweet, and supremely delicious ✨ - Okoze Karaage: When it comes to fish, this is it! Exquisite taste ✨ - Chawanmushi: Melts in your mouth and delicious ✨ - 4 glasses of draft beer, Homemade Akashiso Chu-hi from Fukuoka Ashiya: Incredibly delicious ✨ Split between 4 people, it was 16,000 yen per person. ※ I ate and drank too much for my birthday, so it's usually cheaper (laughs) _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/ Thank you very much for reading until the end ✨ If you leave a comment, I will reply ✨ I hope this information is somewhat helpful for your gourmet experiences. ▽ I also update Instagram. Hide Gourmand【@hide06_21】

It was my first visit in half a year and I was so excited! The food was consistently delicious (*´～｀*)ŧ‹"ŧ‹"ŧ‹"The owner is the best (*｀ω´)b Everything was delicious, so I'm looking forward to going again next time!! I will definitely visit again(o・・o)/~ ===========

◉Genre: Izakaya, Seafood ◉Area: Near Kurosaki Station, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu City ◉Access: About 7 minutes on foot from JR Kurosaki Station ◉Parking: Not available (Coin parking nearby) ◉Credit card payment: Not available ◉Number of visits: Count not available ◉Number of reviews: 14th visit On this day, I decided to visit the "Uotora" izakaya. ◇Exterior and Interior This izakaya is located in Kumanoishi, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu City, specializing in seafood dishes. It has a charming exterior with a rustic, handmade feel that gives it a traditional tavern-like atmosphere. Personally, I think it has a certain charm. The interior, like the exterior, exudes a lovely atmosphere with its wooden tones, and being a Bib Gourmand recipient, it is meticulously clean. The interior is non-smoking, with ashtrays available outside. ◇Seating The first floor has a counter with 6 seats and 3 tables for 4 people each. The second floor has tatami rooms, with two large rooms that can accommodate over 10 people comfortably. ◇Menu Structure The basic menu is located on the top of the counter, serving as the "Today's Recommended" menu. There are also classic dishes like tamagoyaki. If you're unsure about what to order, you can always ask the chef or staff for recommendations. I usually check the menu, but I prefer to leave it to the chef. I ordered the following: - Crab Miso (780 yen): It had been 6 months since my last visit. I was able to get a seat right away this time, but it was just two of us, and it was a spontaneous decision. Sorry to the owner who recently opened a ramen shop in Hakozaki! The crab miso dish was not your typical izakaya-style dish. It came with crab meat, and the crab miso was carefully prepared. It was delicious and paired perfectly with sake. The attention to detail in making the crab miso impressed me. ◆Highlights I believe the strong points of this place are: 1. Cost-effectiveness 2. Flavor that brings out the ingredients 3. Ambiance of the restaurant 4. Friendly and welcoming staff 5. The chef's dedication to providing delicious food The cost-effectiveness is remarkable. The pricing for drinks like sours and oolong tea makes it very affordable. The quality of the food justifies a higher price, but this place keeps it reasonable. The welcoming atmosphere and excellent service make it a standout establishment. ◆Service The service here is outstanding. Even though the average customer spending is high, I believe every restaurant should provide warm and attentive service to all customers, regardless of the amount they spend. This place treats every customer with warmth and respect. ◆Conclusion This was my 14th visit, and as always, the delicious food and excellent service stood out. The chef's dedication to serving delicious dishes and the meticulous attention to detail are truly impressive. This restaurant is a gem in Kitakyushu. Overall, the experience was fantastic, and the love I felt from the staff after a 6-month absence was heartwarming. Laughing at the teasing about my absence, I felt truly appreciated. I had visited a sushi restaurant a while back, partly due to the scheduling with this place. I wanted to show my support. Despite some challenges, this place continues to impress with its quality and service.

Last time I had a lemon sour, this time I tried a kabosu sour. Wow, the place was still packed with people! The fish was incredibly fresh and the service was outstanding. I ended up making another reservation on my way out.

The atmosphere is always lively and bustling, making it easy to enjoy food and drinks. The counter seats are recommended. The owner's customer service is bright, energetic, and pleasant. You can watch the owner prepare dishes swiftly and efficiently from the counter seats. The specialty egg dishes are served quickly, with some ready in just 1 minute after ordering.

I called because I was interested in it on Tabelog, which was the starting point. I wanted to go on a Thursday to Saturday night in late May, and when I called around February 1st, I was told that only the 8:30 pm slot on Thursday was available at the moment, so I made a reservation right away. I avoided the Golden Week period, but even on regular weekends, you probably can't make a reservation without at least 3 months in advance, so I recommend making a reservation as early as possible if you have a specific day to go. As for the location, it is located on the outskirts of the arcade street near Kurosaki Station. You can walk all the way under the roof from Kurosaki Station, so you can go without getting wet even if it is raining. The menu is written on the blackboard at the counter. It may vary slightly depending on the day, so on this day I came to Fukuoka on a trip, so I ordered fish that I don't usually eat in my local area. Special Salad: Vegetables topped with soy sauce ponzu dressing and egg. The egg was exquisite, with finely chopped ham inside, and the egg itself had a quite Western taste. I was surprised at how well soy sauce and Western-style eggs matched! The dressing was not watery but rather thick. Tachiuo sashimi: The flesh was so beautiful that I said it looked like a food sample! It was very fresh, with a bouncy texture and very delicious! Ishidai sashimi: It was refreshing with a slight sweetness, and it went well with sake. The transparent flesh was very beautiful. Unagi Tamago Small: The amount of eel inside was plentiful, and the eel was juicy. The taste of the kabayaki sauce and the slightly burnt flavor were delicious. I often order "umaki" at eel restaurants, but the taste exceeded that, and I was so surprised that I drank a lot of sake. If you like eel, you should definitely order this. Kajika Karaage: A whole kajika fried. After taking a photo, it was cut into pieces and served. The flesh was fluffy and elegant with a refreshing taste, and the skin was crispy and very delicious. The seasoned skin had a strong seafood flavor like the squid tempura sold at convenience stores, and it tasted quite junky when sprinkled with red salt or lemon with a spice flavor. It was surprisingly delicious when eaten with the homemade ponzu sauce, which was not too sour, with a soy sauce base and a citrus scent. It was a unique taste of this restaurant that brought out the flavor and aroma of the seafood while eliminating the roughness and leaving only the umami. Kue Nitsuke: A not too sweet and salty soy sauce stew. The white flesh was fluffy, and at first, I thought it was protein, but later, the umami spread throughout my mouth. I thought, "Kue is this delicious!" It was a very satisfying dish. It was delicious with sake, but I think it would also be very delicious with white rice. Kurage Ponzu: It had a very fresh and crunchy texture. It went well with the special ponzu sauce, and even though it was ponzu-flavored, it was a taste that went well with sake (I don't think store-bought ponzu sauce goes well with sake). It was a perfect palate cleanser. Maybe Goma Saba: This dish was the most shocking. Normally, mackerel has a distinctive smell and roughness, but this had none of that, only the umami of mackerel was condensed. It was the first time in my life that I had eaten such delicious mackerel. It tasted more like tuna sashimi than mackerel (of course, it wasn't tuna, but the mackerel didn't have the roughness). It was a moment when everything I thought was common sense was overturned.

I revisited this restaurant after making a reservation far in advance due to difficulty in securing a booking. If it's nearby, they might have availability for late hours on the same day. I ordered: - Fresh Lemon Chuhai (680 yen) - Extra Noodles (400 yen) - Assorted Sashimi: Squid, Mackerel, Kue, Hirame, Isaki, Tachiuo, Akami, Chutoro, Shimaaji - Kawahagi (1800 yen) - Miso Soup - Swimming Crab - Deep-fried Geoduck Clam The portion sizes are huge, especially the liver! It's definitely delicious! The miso soup and deep-fried geoduck clam were also great. The variety of dishes that change depending on the day's ingredients is a nice touch. This is a great place to visit with a few people to enjoy the abundant and delicious food. The counter seating allows for interaction with the head chef, which is a nice touch. Thank you for the meal!

I finally went to the restaurant I had made a reservation for almost half a year ago. I took a taxi from Orio to get there, and I noticed that many shops near the restaurant were closed. This restaurant was the only one bustling with customers! The prices were cheap too! Every dish I ordered was delicious. I had a sashimi platter, fried chicken, mozuku seaweed, rolled omelette, simmered fish, steamed crab, whale sashimi, and more. Everything was so tasty! I want to go again, but I wonder when I can go next.

I got a reservation from an acquaintance who couldn't go, and it turned out to be delicious and cheap! The acquaintance had made the reservation 4.5 months ago, so it would have been a waste to cancel. The sashimi platter was just okay, but everything else was delicious and reasonably priced. If you ate this in Nishi Nakasu, Fukuoka, they would definitely charge double the price. I want to go again!

I had heard good things about this place from an acquaintance, and finally managed to visit Kurosaki's "Uotora" after making a reservation six months ago. As I approached the shop, I noticed that many nearby places had their shutters closed, making it seem like this shop was the only one open. I only have this one photo, but all the dishes were delicious, reasonably priced for the quality, and I left completely satisfied. I definitely want to come back to this place again.

The other day, the president of a company I work with invited me to dinner out of the blue, and asked me to come to Kokura Station in Kitakyushu. He took me to this restaurant that I had been wanting to try for a while. The menu is written on a blackboard, so you order while looking at it. As I looked at the blackboard, I thought the prices were cheap. When I tried the food, it was delicious! And yet, it's so cheap, it's amazing. In Nishi-Nakasu, it would probably cost twice as much. Every dish was delicious, so I will definitely go back again. Thank you for the meal.

We shared various dishes at the Fish Tiger restaurant that we had reserved since last year. The sashimi platter was delicious, and the special red salt that came with the fried items was a pleasant surprise. We also enjoyed the lemon sours and beer. The total bill came to just over 20,000 yen for the three of us. We plan to visit again in six months. It was a delicious meal. Thank you.

The fish dishes at this place are all amazing, as the name suggests "fish tiger". The sashimi is delicious, and the grilled fish is also very tasty. I particularly like the deep-fried dishes, with the deep-fried Okoze being a popular choice. However, it tends to sell out quickly, especially during late hours. The signature drink here is the lemon shochu highball, which you can adjust the strength of. They also offer a non-alcoholic version of the lemon shochu highball.

Basically, I usually rate restaurants based on the taste, but this place deserves more than just a high score for taste. The hospitality here is exceptional and you can truly feel moved. It's a top-notch restaurant that is fully booked for six months in advance. Dishes like simmered monkfish liver, whale meat, and baby sea cucumber are all under 10,000 yen and are truly impressive. It's no surprise that they have won the Tabelog Award.

Finally got a reservation... The fish was amazingly delicious! The seared live shrimp was so good that I had to order seconds. The champion was the deep-fried swordfish! The eel and eel roll were also excellent dishes that came out quickly. The restaurant filled not only my stomach but also my heart. There is a 2-hour time limit, but I will definitely be coming back!

Located in Kumate-dori at Kaminishiku, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, this extremely popular restaurant is a 10-minute walk from JR Kokura Station. I made a reservation for this visit back in October last year. Excited for my visit, I sat at the counter and ordered a 600-milliliter sashimi platter and a draft beer to start. Since I was dining alone, the chef was kind enough to offer smaller portions. The lively atmosphere of the restaurant, along with the cheerful service of the head chef, made for a pleasant dining experience. The sashimi platter arrived with a variety of fish like tuna, mackerel, and yellowtail, all with a nice crunchy texture. I then ordered some pickled plums from the window, along with oyster vinegar, blowfish skin with ponzu sauce, and grilled cutlassfish. I also had another round of the Yamada Nishiki Junmai Ginjo sake. The oyster vinegar had a delicious tanginess that complemented the fresh oysters perfectly. The blowfish skin with ponzu sauce came in a generous portion, and the grilled cutlassfish was crispy on the outside and tender inside. The rumors were true - the service from the head chef and staff was exceptional, and I never expected to hear stories about Kagurazaka in Kurosaki. I plan to bring my wife here someday. Thank you for the wonderful meal. Hopefully, I can make a reservation for my next visit too!