Now celebrating its third anniversary, Manly was named by its owner Itsuro Fujita after his favorite surfing spot near Sydney where he spent a year and a half on a working holiday. Tucked down a side-street of Imaizumi, the outside wooden deck patio is reminiscent of cafes on the main Manly Corso shopping strip in Sydney. The homely cafe is filled with Australian nostalgia– shelves behind the bar are lined with Vegemite, koala dolls, Tim Tams and other “true blue” items. A large screen plays muted documentaries about surfing, Australian Aboriginal history and more. Food-wise, the menu offers refined versions of popular Australian dishes along with a slew of Aussie beers (Foster’s, VB, XXXX and more) and wines. It’s not the rough and ready type of Aussie tucker you’d get back home, but an easy introduction to dining Down Under. The lunch menu features a jaffle-style meat pie, full of Aussie beef, potato and homestyle gravy, with a side of fish & chips. Adventurous eaters can try deep-fried crocodile, delicate kangaroo carpaccio, roasted ostrich or the notorious Vegemite on toast. Those playing it safe can take comfort in pancakes, pasta and pizza. The cafe is also registered as an agency of the Japan Working Holiday Association, holding study abroad and working holiday seminars regularly. One thing’s for sure, Manly is a “fair dinkum” establishment and a little slice of home for Australians in Kyushu!
Manly
Address: 1F, 1-18-55 Imaizumi, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka, 810-0021
Hours: 12:00~24:00, Lunch: 12:00~17:00
Closed: Irregular
Tel: 092-791-7738
Menu:
Meat Pie with melted cheese ¥700, Fish & Chips ¥600, Kangaroo Carpaccio ¥1,000, Roasted Ostrich ¥900, Deep-fried Crocodile ¥1,000, Vegemite Toast ¥150, Foster’s ¥500, Glass Wine ¥400, Cocktails ¥650~
Originally published in Fukuoka Now Magazine (fn168, Dec. 2012)
