Location: Karatsu
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Saga Prefecture, Japan Food Guide: 10 Seafood food Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Karatsu
Discover Restaurants offering the best Seafood food in Karatsu, Saga Prefecture, Japan including Kawataro, Yobuko Branchi, Mambo, Ikahonke Iso Hhamabekkan, Ikadoraku, Katsugyo Ryori Kabeshima, Mambo Yobuko Asaichidori, Ikahonke, Manbo Kaigandori, Kaisyu, Sazae No Tsuboyaki Shop
Things to do in Karatsu
10. Sazae No Tsuboyaki Shop
9. Kaisyu
Overall Ratings
4 based on 28 reviews
Reviewed By Jennifer461
I wanted to add to the English reviews on Karatsu restaurants. We wanted to try the dishes that most Japanese tourists choose in Karatsu. The big deal here is very, very fresh squid. Large sets of fresh fish are always expensive in Japan and we wanted a place that was conveniently located and reasonabley priced. Our hotel recommended Kaisyu and we were very happy with the experience. It is a short walk from Karatsu castle on the main road paralleling the ocean. The restaurant is just past the remains of the old moat. We were tired and wanted to sit downstairs at tables, but there are tatami mat tables upstairs. Ordering is easy because they have a photo illustrated menu. We chose the cheapest "teishoku"or set meal that had the whole squid presentation. It think it was around 2300 yen per person. The meal started with a small dish of squid bits with "moromi," fermented grains. Sounds not too interesting, but it was delicious. This was followed by the "main event" in Karatsu tourist cuisine--a plate with a live raw squid covered by crystaline strips of squid. The squid is about ten inches long and the outside is removed and cut into glassy filaments in the kitchen. These are arranged over the inner body and tentacles of the live squid. It is still moving. You don't eat the moving part, just the filaments that cover it. When you have eaten the squid sashimi, they will take the rest of the squid to the kitchen and it will return as squid tempura. This whole thing must sound a little odd, but it is a beautiful presentation. It gives you a feeling of the coolness and freshness of the sea. The squid flavor is very mild and the texture is like a chewy and slightly slippery noodle. If you have had squid sashimi in the U.S., this is bigger and better. The teishoku alos included a beautiful bowl of clear soup and a fish dumpling which they call "syumai" here. It is filled with ground fish and covered with delicate noodle threads. There is no wrapper as we are used to with syumai in California. (My husband passed them by at a hotel breakfast buffet because he though they were coconut macroons!) The meal also included chawan mushi (egg custard with bits of fish and mushroom), pickles, and the squid tempura. We thought the squid tempura was the best we have eaten. We had draft beer with our meal. The service was warm and excellent. If you have just one day in Karatsu, I would recommend looking at pottery in the morning, eating lunch at Kaisyu, and going to the castle.
8. Manbo Kaigandori
Overall Ratings
4 based on 18 reviews
Reviewed By miyakosyukujyobyebye
レストラン萬坊で食べたイカ焼売が売っていると聞いて、立派なビルのふく萬坊さんへ。お店は大繁盛で行列出来てました。売店へは並ばずに入れます。イカ焼売の他にがんもや一夜干しも売ってました。
7. Ikahonke
Overall Ratings
3 based on 63 reviews
Reviewed By pinguhk
This place is amazing, great food, great scenery and great staff which they can not speak English but very helpful and the service is very good. For the price it is well worth it. There is a car park just outside the restaurant.I ordered a set with live squid and when it arrived there was many small dishes. For the live squid you only eat the body which was very sweet and fresh, they will tempura the head for you after you finish the body. I also tried the whale sashimi for the 1st time which was not that nice.
6. Mambo Yobuko Asaichidori
Overall Ratings
4 based on 21 reviews
Reviewed By arattm
呼子の朝市に出かけました。もう少し規模が大きくて活気があるのかと思っていましたが、平日のせいか盛り上がりに欠けます。また朝市自体の規模が小さいのが残念です。漁港の朝市ですので、海産物の加工品が多いかな？という感じです。イカしゅうまいを食べるためにこの店に立ち寄りました。テイクアウトのお店と思いますが、イートインスペースもあります。イカしゅうまいは昨日食べたので、予定を変更してイカ天にしました。見かけは特別感がありませんが、新鮮なイカを揚げてあると思うだけで美味しく感じます。食感、歯応えもよかったです。前日食べたイカしゅうまいに比べると、イカ天の方がシンプルで美味しく感じました。
5. Katsugyo Ryori Kabeshima
Overall Ratings
4 based on 20 reviews
Reviewed By momochocosakura
はるばる呼子まで行ったのに海がシケて漁がないとのことで、イカが入荷されてない呼子の街でしたが、唯一イカが入荷されていて、しかも予約の電話も日に受けてくれました！！おかげで活イカ姿造りたべられました！
4. Ikadoraku
Overall Ratings
4 based on 25 reviews
Reviewed By Draboya
会社の慰安旅行で訪問しました。予約していた事もあり、待たずに着席できました。お客さんは全てイカの活き造りを注文してますが、お好みに応じて刺し身も注文できます。イカは〆てから数時間経ってからの方が美味とは言いますが、このお店ではこんな野暮な事は言っていけませんね。
3. Ikahonke Iso Hhamabekkan
Overall Ratings
4 based on 45 reviews
Reviewed By MiLui3
I had a fabulous lunch in this preatty restaurant: the location is very cool, and the food is fantastic! I eat alive squid for the first time in my life and I was very impressed; all the lunch was very amazing. I suggest to everybody to try this unique experience!
2. Mambo
Overall Ratings
4 based on 85 reviews
Reviewed By Machiotoko
When I went to Yobuko, There is no choice because we have to eat a cuttlefish.The cuttlefish here is delicious. I think that this is more delicious than a cuttlefish in Hakodate. Because it seems hard to get here without driving car, it is Honorable for a drinker. Japanese sake in Saga is the best.
1. Kawataro, Yobuko Branchi
Overall Ratings
4 based on 175 reviews
Reviewed By 900nippon
九州では有名店のようで休日は開店前から行列ができます。開店30分前に並べば最初の回で入店でき、料理もすぐに食べることができました。産地でなければ食べられないとても新鮮なイカを刺身と揚げ物でいただき、大変満足です。This restaurant is famous for fresh squid in Kyushu. There is a long line on weekends before opening. I was very satisfied with sashimi and fried squid which is very fresh that cannot be eaten only in the fishing port.
