Sakai Shokai Owner Hideaki Sakai: "Bars across Japan you'll want to visit again and again"

This may be a bit sudden, but we'd like to ask you about your favorite local bar! We conducted an enthusiastic survey with Sakai Hideaki, owner of Sakai Shokai, who loves alcohol, food, and bars. We asked him about memorable bars and flavors he's encountered in towns outside of Tokyo that he would definitely like to visit again.

illustration: Hitoshi Kuroki / text: BRUTUS

Hideaki Sakai's Bars You'll Want to Visit Again and Again

Fukuoka〈Circle〉

This lively standing bar is typical of Fukuoka. It's so cozy I've been there twice in one day. While the main focus is natural wine, the delicately flavored draft beer, poured from a rare swing faucet, is a must-try. The authentic bistro-quality dishes, such as oeuf mayonnaise and caciocavallo, are also appealing.

Fukuoka (Machiya Akariya)

The restaurant always has a warm, homey atmosphere and welcomes you. Many customers, likely fans of the restaurant, are already there early in the day. The dishes, such as the sautéed yam on the hot plate, the fried chicken, and the mapo tofu, are all gently seasoned and hearty. Located in Akasaka, where many popular restaurants are located, it's a stylish place to start your bar crawl.

Fukuoka〈Tsukune Factory〉

I first encountered this restaurant during my training. Their signature dish, meatballs, are truly impressive, and you can enjoy the seasonal ingredients and their exquisite combinations. They pair perfectly with hot sake, which the proprietress serves at the perfect temperature. It's a blessing that they open at 11am every day except Fridays.

Illustration of Nessakusho's specialty, meatball assortment
Nesakusho's specialty is the assorted meatballs. You can enjoy several different types of meatballs made with pork, chicken, seafood, and more, which change daily.

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