Inakaan Kokura Main Store

Located in Kokura, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Inakaan is a long-established unagi (eel) restaurant that has been serving its signature dishes since 1926. In 2014, it was recognized with a Bib Gourmand in the Michelin Guide.

The restaurant's standout feature is its unique grilling method. Instead of steaming, the eel is carefully grilled to perfection, concentrating its natural umami flavors. This technique results in a crispy skin while keeping the inside tender and fluffy. The tare (sauce) is made from only the finest ingredients, including premium soy sauce and junmai hon-mirin, without any additives. This enhances the eel’s natural smokiness and depth of flavor.

The menu offers a variety of ways to enjoy unagi, including unaju (grilled eel over rice) and hitsumabushi (chopped eel with condiments). One must-try dish is seiro-mushi, a local Fukuoka specialty where eel and rice are steamed together in a bamboo steamer, allowing the flavors to meld perfectly while keeping the dish piping hot. Other delicacies include umaki (eel wrapped in a fluffy omelet), kimo-yaki (grilled eel liver), and shiroyaki (eel grilled without sauce, served with wasabi).

For those who appreciate Japanese sake, the restaurant offers an impressive selection, including the highly sought-after Dassai, as well as a variety of shochu and beer, making for an excellent pairing with their expertly prepared eel dishes.