Yatai in Fukuoka

First stop on the week shinkansen (bullet train) trip is Fukuoka. Fed up with the cold, rainy weather in Yokohama and Tokyo, I decided I’d go as far south as possible and ended up here.

Well, it’s warmer here for sure, but just as rainy.

My first night, however, was an amazing adventure in “social fooding” as I think the translation might go. One of the special treats here in Fukuoka are the “yatai” food stalls set up along the numerous canals. Most of these are mobile shops that sell ramen noodles, grilled chicken “yakitori” on skewers, and various other meats.

I think the secret to this place, however, is not necessarily in the food, but in the atmosphere created by the people, the outdoor setting, and possibly by the free-flowing Japanese beer as well… A seat at a yatai stall gets you a nice meal, and more often than not, a great conversation with some of the locals here in Fukuoka.

Here’s a sampling from my first night of yatai-ing:

Yatai Food Stalls in Fukuoka, Japan

Backside of Yatai food stall in Fukuoka, Japan

Yatai Food Stalls in Fukuoka, Japan

New Friends at a Yatai in Fukuoka

Yakitori from a yatai in Fukuoka, Japan

A Yatai stall owner and his son in Fukuoka, Japan.

Beer and Ramen at Yatai in Fukuoka, Japan

Preparing Yakitori at a Yatai in Fukuoka

Funny man who kept buying me drinks at Yatai in Fukuoka