The Least Useful Guide to Fukuoka

2. Foodway

Meat, meat, meat!!

Having its origin in a butcher, this supermarket is very much specialised in meat.

From imported New Zealand lamb to domestically produced hybrid duck called Aigamo, every thinkable kind of meat is available here.

Pre-cooked meat products also have a great variety. If you throw a party, or your protein source is mainly from meat, here is the place for you.

Other than meat, they offer a great range of ready meals. Particularly Chinese lunchboxes and deep-fried foods look really appetising and reasonably priced.

The in-store bakery sells a great range of buns and rolls at lower price compared to stylish-looking independent bakeries with similar products.

Today I bought:

Tempura  (Kanikama and Kakiage)  at JPY 100 each and a bag of sausages at JPY 198

They were simply irresistible!  

My Verdict:

A perfect supermarket if you don't mind your caloric intake, or prefer a Western diet (Do I misunderstand your dietary life?).

Elle 6

Pronounced as “eru roku”, this supermarket chain is small, but seems to know what their customers want.

A good range of locally grown vegetables and fruits (though a bit more expensive than those in farmers markets). And there are unusual or forgotten groceries. As you know, in this country an infinite number of new products come and disappear in very short period of time.  This store does cover some of the “forgotten” items, which is very relieving for a shopper lwho can’t catch up with the fast-moving trends on the shelves, like me.

Ready meals are extremely attractive, you have to be prepared to splash out on their packed sushi and “baikingu “(probably this term came from the word “Viking”, but in actual usage, has little to do with Scandinavian people)- style (eh… pick anything as you like, pack your choice yourself,  and pay by the total weight) delicatessen, or you’d better eat something beforehand in order to do without  extravagance.

The beauty of the ready meals here is that they look real…does it make sense?  In general,  to me packed meals look like factory-made  (they actually are) and manufactured goods, such as ballpoint pens or electric cables, rather than food. But I feel some warmth from ready meals here, even though they are still packed and sold to make profit.

Today I bought:

-Two packs of sushi—while my shopping spree there, I completely forgot I was cycling home, so it is 100% my fault the appearance of the sushi was out of order.  JPY 580 (bottom,on special offer) and JPY 250

-Karaage from the “baikingu” section JPY 288

-Boncurryy Gold (retort-packed curry) at JPY 88 (on special offer)—a soul food for the 60’s children!

Splashed out!!

My Verdict:

I was lucky not living near this store, or I would go bust for spending too much for the packed meals.