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Manly
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 alligator, 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!
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Brooklyn Parlor Hakata
Produced by Blue Note Japan, Brooklyn Parlor opened on the ground floor of high end Hakata Riverain shopping complex in April 2012. The stunning space is a collaborative work of well-known Japanese interior, art and illustration directors. Wood, bricks and a concrete floor along with a mix of seating styles makes for a stylish yet comfortable place for meals, snacks or just drinks. Their “book director” has stocked the shelves with 1,200 carefully selected volumes spanning the genres but many art and visual books which can be read at your table or purchased. Music is another key element and at the back of the room there’s a stage for the occasional live performance. The hamburger which can be customized in dozens of combinations using a DIY order form headlines the menu which is American in heritage but deliciously refined under direction from their French-trained Japanese chef. Portions are large, especially the 500g Brooklyn Steak, NY Cut Spare Ribs and the Cobb Salad and a pint of Brooklyn Brewery Lager draft or a smoothie are ideal accompaniments before you dig into a Berry Sundae! Free WiFi too!
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Frisco Burger
Burger restaurants have a tendency to be either cheap fast food joints or gourmet places that unnecessarily mess with a classic formula for the sake of originality. Frisco Burger, however, is different.
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Hamburg Onion
With several fast-food chains offering mega-sized beef hamburgers on their menus, it’s clear that beef burgers are back! If you fancy a fat paddy but you also want your veggies, consider Hamburg Onion. Celebrating their 20th year, this family-owned chain with roots in Kurume opened their only shop in Fukuoka near the four-way intersection in Yakuin in 2005.
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