Fukuoka-Kyoto-Osaka-Tokyo Food recommendation

Hello Everyone,

I'm very excited to visit Japan this summer! :) I will be in Fukuoka for 2 days then to Yamaguchi for 3 days with a friend. 3 days in Kyoto, 1 day in Osaka and 6 days in Tokyo. I'm looking for recommendations for restaurants, bakeries, pastry shops in those areas. Recommendations for the best desserts (any kind), Ramen, Udon, Sushi, Family Restaurants and anything unique (maybe a pop up cafe?) but good you can think of that has delicious food. I'm also looking for a good maid cafe and butler cafe in Tokyo. I have researched some online but I'm looking for more personal recommendations from people that live in Japan. We will be there from July 22nd - August 4th.

Thank you so much for your input! :)
Sincerely,

Ruby

When you arrive at a new city, head to the tourist information counter and ask whether any of these places exist and how to get there.

For famous ramen chain restaurants:
Ichiran Ramen
Ippudo Ramen
Tenkaippin Ramen
The Yatai stores in Fukuoka are the bomb

For Kyoto deserts:
tsujiri
For anything green tea related, the town of Uji; I personally visit this place but there are many others
(https://www.google.com.sg/maps/@34.8965609,135.8089877,3a,75y,270.54h,...)

For Osaka:
Pop by any place around Namba
Mizuno is real famous for Okonomiyaki

For Hiroshima:
Any Okonomiyaki (my fav kind of this dish)
I liked the one named "Family Restaurant" recommended by the tourist info counter

For cakes anywhere:
Go to any department store
Usually the basements have cakes
If you want something more pricey the top floors may have bakeries

Soba and Udon are great when you go to the mountains as they are not as flavorful as other food. The texture is one of the key factors in making it delicious. The fresh spring water really makes them good. Unfortunately, you wouldn't be going to the mountainous regions.

Thank you for the tips and recommendations! :)

For a large database of many of the cities you mention, see
http://www.bento.com

For Fukuoka, the big 2 local foods are the tonkotsu ramen and the mentaiko (spiced cod roe). The ramen can be enjoyed in some ramen places anytime, but the ramen stalls (yatai) are very popular and concentrated in the center of the city, mostly along the Naka River in Nakasu (very good ambiance) but also in Nagahama near the waterfront (where more locals eat).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1m8h0q3o0s

For Yamaguchi, especially around Shimonoseki, the big specialty is fugu or the poisonous blowfish. It takes careful training to prepare the fish for eating.

For Kyoto, it is Kaiseki Ryori, and is more expensive than some would like to pay, but it can be quite an experience.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2348.html

And for Osaka, one of the main dishes is takoyaki, or octopus dumplings. Go to Dotonbori at night and you will be hit will all kinds of lights, noise, and excellent places to eat - and also in Osaka, not to mention some excellent places to see the city lights.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7LcPcmoSg-jkgQdiQlK2bcKCzr2pJQ...

Thank you so much for all the wonderful recommendations! :)

I really enjoyed Dominique Ansel Bakery in Tokyo. It's just off the Omotesando in Harajuku (right hand side as you walk away from Meiji Shrine; go a fair way up - past Kiddyland and Oriental Bazaar - and you'll see a sign pointing you to the right). Had some delicious and inventive desserts, and a really cute "blossoming" hot chocolate where the marshmallow opens into a flower when dropped into the hot liquid! Dominique Ansel Bakery in New York is the inventor of the cronut, so the one in Tokyo also makes a big deal of it and has a new cronut flavour each month.

Thank you for the tips! I also heard that Dominique Ansel Bakery in Tokyo is really good so that's definitely on the list to visit! :)

If you have the time in Kyoto go here:
http://www.konpeito.co.jp/shouhin.html

To try traditional konpeito. The store has been making konpeito for around 150 years.

Thank you. I will try konpeito. They're sweets look good :)