Anbai (Takeo Onsen)

This Japanese kappo restaurant is about a 5-minute walk from “Takeo-Onsen” Station on the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen. Their policy is to use the best ingredients available at that moment, without insisting on whether they’re from inside or outside the prefecture, so the menu changes daily. It’s also a pleasure to look over the carefully handwritten menu. If there’s a dish you especially want to try, it’s a good idea to call ahead and ask.

You’ll also notice the freshness of the seafood, sourced by an owner known for a sharp eye. Enjoy seasonal catches like sea bream, conger eel, and live octopus as sashimi, grilled dishes, simmered dishes, and more. Since the fish and preparations change with each visit, it never gets old. Dishes made with Kyushu’s famous Mitsuse chicken are also popular.

There’s also an excellent selection of drinks to pair with the food. Sake focuses on local brews from Saga, plus well-known labels from across Japan—perfect with the cuisine. Seasonal hot pots such as fugu, longtooth grouper (kue), and matsuba crab are also available (reservation required).