Bekk (Bekk) Kitakyushu

I visited for lunch for the first time.Every dish was creatively conceived, and each plate brought a delightful surprise. One standout was the fried Sea Bream paired with sea urchin. The combination of its savory aroma and rich umami was perfectly balanced, resulting in a highly refined dish.Another exceptional creation was the dish featuring sweetfish and prosciutto served with melon sorbet, elegantly expressed as prosciutto and melon. It beautifully captured the essence of the season while maintaining a wonderful balance of flavors, making it a memorable dish.The appetizer, a corn soup encased in a delightful presentation, was not only visually appealing but also allowed the sweetness of the corn to shine through, making it delicious.Considering the intricate preparation of these dishes, the lunch price was surprisingly reasonable. I felt a high level of satisfaction and truly appreciated the excellent cost performance.Next time, I definitely want to visit for dinner to further explore the charm of this restaurant.It was a great meal. Less

Located about a 10-minute walk from Kokura Station, this Italian restaurant is situated on the first floor of a building near the Tanga Market.With just a small sign in front, it has a cozy hidden gem vibe that makes you wonder what kind of place it is if you’re not familiar with it.I had heard about this restaurant from my visit to Hirovana in Nagoya and had been eager to check it out. I was fortunate enough to finally visit this time.The interior features a completely open kitchen, allowing diners to watch the chefs and staff prepare the dishes up close.There seems to be a private room in the back, as I occasionally heard voices coming from there.The main seating area is undoubtedly at the counter. The thick, single slab counter made from zelkova wood is incredibly impressive.Dining here, you can feel the vitality of the wood, which must have taken hundreds of years to grow.On this day, I enjoyed:- Mango- Corn soup- Shimaaji (striped jack)- Tart- Camaroni wrapped around sweetfish with prosciutto- Melon sorbet- Octopus from Kanmon- Potatoes- Peperoncino- Charcoal-grilled Isaki (grunter) smoked with straw- Kiwi sauce- Fried tripe with tomato sauce- Truffle- Kittara with pesto- Tenderloin of Kagoshima beef- Young corn- Additional pasta- Linguine with red beef ragù sauce- Tiramisu made with rice- Yogurt ice cream- CoffeeI do enjoy Italian cuisine, but my preferences are quite narrow, so I don’t often visit new restaurants.However, this place was absolutely perfect for my taste. They focus on natural ingredients, quality produce, and cooking methods, and the combination of these elements is harmoniously elevated.It’s rare to find a restaurant of this caliber even in Tokyo or Nagoya.If it were closer, I would want to visit every month because it was that delicious.Though it’s a bit far in Kitakyushu, I would definitely love to return if I have the chance. It was a wonderful encounter with a fantastic restaurant. Less

In June 2026, I embarked on a food tour starting from Hakata and arrived in Kokura. After visiting Kokura Castle and the Tanga Market in the morning, I headed to Bekk for lunch, marking my second visit. I made a reservation for 11:50 AM and was seated at the counter. This day’s lunch featured a special course, which I had pre-booked.☆ Limited Course on 6/28 (JPY 18,150)I initially ordered a set of three drinks, but I finished the first one too quickly and switched to a pairing option. ◯ Pairing JPY 12,100◯ Camilucci Franciacorta Ammonites ☆ "Circulation" Sea, Mountain, Soil Corn, Tomato, Edamame ◯ Les Cretes Chardonnay ☆ Flower Zucchini, Melon Melon sorbet on top of prosciutto ◯ 98wines NOGI 2023 WHITE (Yamanashi) ☆ Fermented Asparagus Striped Horse Mackerel Involtini ◯ Centopassi Terre Rosse di Giabbascio Catarratto 2024 ☆ Kanmon Octopus, Potato, Rosemary Octopus grilled over charcoal ◯ Shichiyo Ton Shichiyo Sake Brewery (Fukuoka) ◯ Sagaru Kanya Tenkyo Brewing (Fukuoka) ☆ Red Eggplant, Aijima Kue from Hibikinada, Sea Urchin from Aijima ◯ Cinque Terre Costa De Campu 2024 ☆ Wheat, Sweetfish Sweetfish pasta with Kitara noodles and micro watercress ◯ Vigneti Massa Monleale 2015 ☆ Binchotan Charcoal, Young Corn Satoyama Beef, Shallots, Red Wine Vinegar ◯ dacapo Nizza DOCG Riserva "Vigna dacapo" 2018 ☆ Additional Pasta (JPY 1,815) Spaghetti Pomodoro (Tomato, Basil) ◯ Niepoort Quinta do Passadouro 1996 ☆ Kitakyushu-produced Ideura Rice Tiramisu Mango ☆ Coffee / Tea / Espresso I was delighted to enjoy local ingredients. Personally, the sweetfish pasta, striped horse mackerel and asparagus involtini, octopus, and satoyama beef left a lasting impression. So delicious! (๑>◡ Less

My last lunch in Kyushu was at Bekk! The restaurant is about a 3-minute walk from the Kitakyushu Monorail's Tanga Station, with a total of 12 seats at the counter and tables. Payments can be made by credit card or cash only.This is a reservation-only high-end natural Italian restaurant! Owner-chef Koji Suganuma, who trained at the renowned Kyoto restaurant "Il Ghiottone," opened this place in 2012. The concept is to connect the seasons of Kyushu with the thoughts of local producers, using carefully selected ingredients grown without pesticides or fertilizers, including vegetables from natural farming.It’s a super famous restaurant that has received accolades from the Michelin Guide Fukuoka-Saga and the Tabelog Award Bronze! I had made a reservation through Pocket Concierge months in advance, knowing I had to visit when I went to Kitakyushu! https://pocket-concierge.jp/The lunch here features a course made with carefully selected seasonal ingredients from Kyushu. Unfortunately, it was raining on my last day in Kitakyushu... Since it was my final day, I entered the restaurant with quite a bit of luggage, and the chef kindly instructed the staff to guide us to a private room. What a thoughtful gesture! We were worried about disturbing other guests with our large bags, and this was the perfect hospitality!Then came a dreamlike experience (laughs) with incredibly delicious dishes served to us. I don’t remember the names of the dishes, but just take a look at the photos! (laughs) As we left the restaurant, the chef personally saw us off in the rain, which made me feel so honored! (laughs) It’s clear that restaurants recognized by the Michelin Guide and the Tabelog Award not only serve amazing food but also provide perfect hospitality. Next time I visit Kitakyushu, I will definitely make a dinner reservation! So delicious! (laughs) Less

The chef always approaches with a fresh mindset! This place opened in 2012... I enjoyed Eshakura and Manten, but I wish I had discovered this place sooner! Their motto is Tsunagu, Kusuguru, and Peace. Oh, and the phone call to make a reservation was so pleasant, I believe it was the chef himself, and his personality shines through everything here. What I had: I ordered the lunch course for JPY 10,890! □ Dongfang Meiren [Hot Oolong Tea] This oolong tea tastes like a black tea from northern Taiwan, which I love! I was surprised to receive two cups! I didn’t check the price, but we got two cups. □ Fuji Sparkling Water [700mL] We shared this between two of us. Lunch Course: ■ Appetizers Snap Pea Soup Sweet Sea Bream Canapé Brown Rice Canapé The round snap peas in the soup were so shocking that I couldn’t remember the details of the third canapé! ■ Homemade Bread and Prosciutto The prosciutto paired beautifully with cheese and tomato sauce. The buffalo cheese served in Arita-yaki pottery was mild and delicious, so I topped it on the homemade bread. ■ Sayori & Okra Sayori, caviar, okra, scallops, and I thought it was celery, but it turned out to be asparagus! The pine needle oil was incredibly tasty! ■ Fish Kisu served with seri. The kisu was large, and I was so captivated by the taste that I didn’t even notice the fish’s innards on top! It was absolutely delicious! ■ Pasta Shiso, watercress, pesto, and the texture of the potatoes were delightful! The slightly thicker 1.8mm straight noodles were perfectly coated with the pesto sauce. ■ Meat Pork and bamboo shoots The addition of sprouts and black pepper was a nice touch! ■ Dessert Strawberries and Tiramisu The strawberries were caramelized and cut beautifully, paired with tiramisu and milk gelato, which was simply divine! ■ Drinks You can choose from coffee, tea, or espresso, but today they had chamomile tea, so I opted for hot chamomile. Everything was delicious at Bekk! The counter has six seats, and it’s a lovely single slab counter. It seems they renovated in 2022 to celebrate their 10th anniversary! In this wonderful space, I had a delightful meal. The chef is quite handsome, and I envy his wife! I will definitely visit again during Obon! Thank you for the wonderful meal! Less