Praised for inventive food that combines classic Kyushu fare with a contemporary New Nordic approach, restaurant Snow can be found in Fukuoka City, the gateway of Kyushu. A ten-minute drive from Hakata Station brings guests to the restaurant, located on the first floor of a building in the residential area adjacent to Tenjin, the busiest and largest downtown in Hakata. The restaurant is also seven to eight minutes’ walk from Yakuin and Watanabe-dori Stations on the Fukuoka City Subway Line.
The restaurant is helmed by chef Genki Unno, who was born in 1984 in Fukuoka Prefecture. After graduating from culinary school, he trained at renowned restaurants, including a restaurant of the three-star chef Michel Guérard in France, Barbizon in Belgium, and Søllerød Kro in Denmark. Then, he returned to Japan and opened his own restaurant in his hometown of Fukuoka, in July 2020.
Taking inspiration from the traditional dishes of Kyushu, chef Unno has created a unique cuisine that combines Kyushu’s traditions with French and New Nordic influences. For him, Kyushu’s seven prefectures, each with their own unique food culture, is not only his birthplace but also a great source of inspiration.
The cuisine reinterpreted by chef Unno reveals fascinating aspects of the local food culture, including forgotten recipes and a dessert enjoyed as a kind of soul food by locals in Northern Kyushu. Most of his dishes highlight local ingredients. He also purchases domestic wines and cheese from local producers in Kyushu.
Meanwhile, most of the wines paired with dishes of the chef’s choice are imported from France. The wine list also includes natural wines as well as domestic wines, all sourced from Kyushu. In addition, the restaurant offers a choice of three drinks pairings, which can be increased or reduced depending on the guest’s preference. The non-alcoholic drink menu includes four beverages that feature fruits from Kyushu.
With a five-seat counter, a three-seat semicircle counter, and a six-seat table, Restaurant Snow is the perfect place to dine with friends, loved ones, or fellow food lovers. Children of any age are welcomed to the restaurant during lunchtime or when it is booked for exclusive use (available only to groups of six guests or more). Non-Japanese speaking guests are also welcomed by chef Unno, who is fluent in English and French.
The restaurant features exposed concrete walls with wood, glass, and ceramic accents in warm shades to contrast with the vivid colors of chef Unno’s inventive dishes. The large Nordic-inspired pendant lights that hang from the ceiling, as well as wooden butter knives, are produced by a furniture maker from Okawa City, Fukuoka Prefecture, which is famed for its furniture craftsmen. The table is set with Koishiwara dishware and napkins made of Kokura-ori fabric. Thus, Restaurant Snow also showcases the splendor of Kyushu not only through recipes but also through the tiniest design details.
Restaurant Snow is perfect for international guests to discover the bounty of the area, while allowing locals to rediscover their home region.
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* The availability of this webpage does not guarantee that the restaurant presented provides services in English, unless otherwise stated. Please be aware that English services may also depend on staff availability at the restaurant.
Access
A 5-minutes walk from Watanabedori Station of Nanakuma Line, Fukuoka City Subway
A 5-minutes walk from Yakuin-odori Street of Nanakuma Line, Fukuoka City Subway
