Kafe Toruko — Restaurant in Fukuoka

Kafe Toruko was such an unexpected gem during our visit of Fukuoka. We came hungry and left in a full-blown happy food coma (no regrets). The ambience? Authentic. The food? Chef’s kiss. The service? Absolutely top-notch. Super friendly, super helpful, and they totally got us the ultimative tailored veggie (and vegan!) recommendations. The staff is fluent in Japanese and English and very familiar with different dietary restrictions and preferences. They understand what vegan and vegetarian means and will easily recommend food based on your preferences and requirements.

We kicked things off with a meze plate and some delightfully spicy çiğ köfte, small bites, big flavor. Then came the star of the show: the pide. Warm, crispy, cheesy (or not, if you’re going vegan), and basically a hug in carb form and with soy meat. For dessert, do not skip the baklava. They make it in a classic, traditional way (it’s even made by Turkish chefs!) as well as in a wild “ice cream sandwich” version that we’re still dreaming about 🥰

Authentic Turkish veggie food in the heart of Fukuoka, Japan? Didn’t see that coming, but we’re so glad we found it. Would 100% come back. Probably with more stretchy...

Given that this is Fukuoka, not Istanbul or even Tokyo, this cafe does an excellent job of providing a cozy, Turkish cafe eating experience. Our waiter explained that many ingredients that we would find in Turkey are either unavailable or too expensive to offer in the dishes they provide without charging prices that would drive most customers away. Even so, our meal was very tasty and the grilled meat dish consisting of minced lamb and beef melded with a number of exotic spices was enough to win the hearts of my daughter and grandson, both of whom live in Fukuoka and had never had Turkish food before, and to leave me satisfied that the flavors, such as they can make available, are indeed authentic. The atmosphere alone here is worth coming for. Pleasant staff seal the deal. Well worth a visit if you’re in Fukuoka and want to try something...

Pros: The staff was very friendly, it is like the guy is born to be a waiter. Very charismatic. The ambiance is perfect. You can really feel that you are not in Japan. The chef also comes out sometimes to have a chat with customers. The food was delicious.

Cons: Parking space is pay parking but if it is vacant, it is usually on the expensive side. Try parking near Ohori park. The table near the door is quite cold when customers go in and out. The food was good but it could do better. Especially the rice was heard being microwaved. I'm a little disappointed. The staff were great but when it comes to service time. It's a little slow. Few seats are only available so when you talk the other tables could really hear everything. The price for the food is quite high as well.

All in all, it was a great experience and my first time drinking...