The Basket — Restaurant in Fukuoka

If I could express and encapsulate all of the memories we’ve made in this place, I would write sonnets and novels about it. Seriously, we were contemplating another Studio Ghibli movie based around this restaurant, simply because of its charm and personality.

As soon as you step inside from the street, you feel a shift. What is normally bustling and loud outside is gone, and you are left with the warmest feeling, and quiet peace.

Mitsuo used to work making burgers in Tokyo, and took his art back to his hometown, right down the street from his mother’s basket shop in Kego. He brings this sense of nostalgia to the shop, adorning it with decor he’s acquired over the years. Framed vintage beer posters, paper mache art in the window, with little figures and posters that sit on the counters and walls of the restaurant, making it uniquely his.

The food is the best you’ll ever have. I don’t know how he does it, but he masterfully crafts each burger he makes. We asked him to make us Omakase each time, which means ‘I leave the details up to you’. Basically, we asked him to make us whatever he chooses, ‘shefusupesharu’ we told him. We sat back without an idea in our minds of how we were about to be blown away.

There are also wonderful selections of beer in his fridge. If you’re a craft beer lover, you’re going to love ‘himitsu’ beer. He has gone to the brewery and helped brew it himself. It certainly tastes like it was made with intention, and has become my favorite beer!

He made us a slew of sandwiches and burgers, about 6 or so each time. He crowned us legends around our last visit for eating 18 burgers/sandwiches within 4 visits. Can you believe that, from the legend himself! He was the coolest person, as were the rest of the staff. They all wore denim and custom basket t-shirts from the gap (I of course got one of them). The language barrier wasn’t even a problem, like it normally is with other towns or restaurants we go to. They were the most friendly and funny people, whom we have grown to love over just such a short time. The food too, but that wasn’t the best part, they were.

Honestly, I wish I would’ve ate more. Each plate he crafted was better than fine dining, even King-dono (one of the girls that work there) and everyone who was there when he wasn’t made us amazing burgers and sandwiches, holding down the fort while he was gone.

I find myself missing this little shop in Fukuoka, and all of the lovely people inside it. We miss you guys! Now we have every excuse to come...

This small burger joint sitting on a jutting out corner where five streets collide fits its name too a T. You could probably fit it inside a basket if you tried. Don't let the tiny size stop you though as its burgers are big on flavor. Along with it's more basic burgers it also has a nice detection of specialty burgers to choose from such as the Mexican and the BBQ Pine burger. They have two long bars to sit at and while three one facing the window does have a nice view of the five point intersection outside I recommend the one facing the grill so you get to watch these beautiful burgers get made. If you need something to wash everything down they also have a great selection of soft drinks and beers, or if you need something a bit stronger, a decent selection ofoff...

Fukuoka is already home to some of the best American style burgers in Japan, but The Basket is a worthy addition with its focus on craft beer and cocktails. Feels very Brooklyn. The menu is impressive given the size of the kitchen, the burgers are delicious, craft beer is available on draft and in bottles/cans, and they even have nice sake and shochu for those wanting to try Japanese drinks with an American hamburger. Burgers come with fries, and they’re a healthy portion at that! Not like they half dozen fries that pass for a side of fries...