[Lunch] A secret restaurant run by a talented chef (Hirao, Fukuoka)

Hello! I'm Yumi Kuroishi, a writer who connects the city of Fukuoka with its people.

This time, we will introduce a traditional Japanese restaurant located near the Fukuoka City Zoological and Botanical Gardens!

Only known to those in the know! Secret Restaurant K (Hirao Josui-cho, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City), a traditional Japanese restaurant run by an Olympic medalist chef

Secret Restaurant K is located in a quiet spot, just a 3-minute walk from the Nishitetsu bus stop in front of the church.

This little-known restaurant opened in June 2023 and is run by a World Culinary Olympics medalist.

You can enjoy a menu based on French and Italian cuisine in the relaxing atmosphere of an old Japanese house.

Image: Yumi Kuroishi

The restaurant, which was renovated from a private house that is over 65 years old, has a total of 36 seats. There are 24 seats on the first floor, including tables and a counter that seats one person, and a private room on the second floor that can be reserved for the entire restaurant.

Image: Yumi Kuroishi

This is owner chef Satoshi Funaki.

Image: Yumi Kuroishi

He previously trained for over 15 years in the Western cuisine department of Takakura Hotel in Yakuin, working his way up to the position of sous chef. After that, he took charge as manager of a restaurant specializing in game dishes in Nishinakasu.

In 2020, he won a bronze medal at the World Culinary Olympics, held every four years in Germany. The World Culinary Olympics has a 100-year history and is said to be the "highest level of cooking competition," with a total of approximately 2,000 participants competing in Western cooking.

Image: Yumi Kuroishi

He became independent as a freelance chef in 2021 and has been involved in a variety of food-related activities, including developing menus with local governments and manufacturers, supervising recipes, and teaching at vocational schools and cooking classes.

A commitment to "handmade" food using carefully selected ingredients such as Itoshima vegetables and over 40 types of herbs

At Secret Restaurant K, the chef uses only the finest ingredients, carefully selected by him, including vegetables grown without pesticides by the owner chef's mother at the foot of Shiraito Falls in Itoshima, over 40 types of herbs, Fukuoka's brand chicken Hakata Jidori, game meat from Kyushu, and fresh seafood caught on Orono Island.

Image: Yumi Kuroishi

While bringing out the best in each ingredient, we place great importance on "making everything by hand as much as possible," and we carefully handcraft not only our dishes but also our desserts, breads, and sauces.

We recommend the signature lunch dish, "Game meat minced cutlet"!

This time we'll be introducing lunch. In addition to four "standard menu items" such as steak and curry (starting from 1,600 yen), you can also choose from several weekly specials.

All lunch menu items come with a set of "Today's vegetable soup" and "Freshly baked focaccia or rice with homemade pickles."

I ordered the restaurant's signature dish, "Game Meat Minced Cutlet with Special Worcestershire Sauce" (lunch set 1,700 yen, available a la carte 1,040 yen).

Image: Yumi Kuroishi

The most popular menu item is "Game Meat Minced Cutlet with Special Worcestershire Sauce," which is a mix of venison and wild boar meat.

Image: Yumi Kuroishi

It is made with about 20 kinds of vegetables and fruits and is served with our special homemade Worcestershire sauce, the flavor of which changes depending on the season.

Image: Yumi Kuroishi

Menchi-katsu is packed with the delicious flavor of meat! It's crispy on the outside and juicy from the inside. It's so delicious that you'll be hooked after just one bite!

It has a mild, non-obtrusive taste that makes it hard to believe it is game meat, so even children can enjoy it without any hesitation.

Image: Yumi Kuroishi

Not only the main dish, but the accompanying vegetables are also gorgeous!

On this day, the ingredients were carrots, round eggplant, okra, red okra, white bitter melon, bell peppers, and sweet potatoes, but they usually use 5 to 6 different vegetables. Each ingredient is carefully prepared using a cooking method that suits it, and then topped with colorful vegetables.

I felt that this luxurious taste made the most of the deliciousness of the season, something that could only be achieved with reliable ingredients.

The soup of the day was "Egg and Onion Consommé Soup."

Image: Yumi Kuroishi

The sweetness of the onions, which have been carefully simmered until soft and tender, is a perfect match with the fluffy eggs. The gentle and refined flavor makes for a heart-warming and comforting bowl of soup.

Image: Yumi Kuroishi

"Freshly baked focaccia or rice with homemade pickles" is a choice of focaccia.

Image: Yumi Kuroishi

Our homemade focaccia is carefully baked in-house every morning.

It is kneaded with rosemary, and the rich aroma spreads with every bite. Its moist texture further enhances the flavor of the dish.

Take-out options, a kids' space, and merchandise are also available!

Secret Restaurant K also has a great takeout menu!

I ordered the "Itoshima Vegetable Plate" (1,600 yen) from the lunch menu for takeout.

Image: Yumi Kuroishi

Made with over 200g of vegetables from around 10 different types, it's topped with low-fat, high-protein prosciutto and cheese, and three types of seasonal fruit. Served with homemade beet dressing and condiments, it's a salad you can enjoy as a main dish and won't tire of until the very end.

There is also a sales corner on the first floor! You can purchase freshly picked vegetables, Hasami ware used in the restaurant, coffee beans, miscellaneous goods, and more.

Image: Yumi Kuroishi

There is also a kids' space.

Image: Yumi Kuroishi

There are also three chairs for children, so the whole family can relax and enjoy themselves.

Secret Restaurant K is a traditional Japanese restaurant that can be used for a wide range of occasions, including lunch, dinner, and takeout, and is also recommended for families.

Be sure to stop by when you visit the Fukuoka City Zoo and Botanical Gardens or while strolling along Josui-dori Street. (Text by Yumi Kuroishi)

＜Click on the store name for more details about the store ↓＞
■ Secret Restaurant K
Address: 5-5 Hirao Josui-cho, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture
Business hours: [Lunch] 11:00 - 16:00 (LO 15:30) [Dinner] 18:00 - 21:00 *There are days when they are only open for lunch, so please check Instagram
Closed: Irregular holidays *Check on Instagram
*This article is current as of the time of publication. *Prices in the article include tax.
* Any secondary use of this site's content (images, text, etc.) including copying, reprinting, diversion, or modification without permission is strictly prohibited. If discovered, legal action may be taken.

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