Return of the Fukuoka Foodies
The long-awaited Fukuoka Foodies series has returned!
In this series, we ask JETs from around Fukuoka Prefecture to introduce their favorite restaurants. This time, we have a very special installment ... TACOS!
Tacos in Tagawa????? - Tacos de Ursa
The struggle
One of the biggest challenges for JETs after arriving in Japan is coping with the fact that many of the foods you love from home simply can't be found here.
It's a tale as old as time; you're sitting there, catching up on last week's episode of The Last of Us and scrolling TikTok, when suddenly you swipe up to reveal a video of the burrito place you used to visit back home. You stare longingly at the screen and can almost taste the succulent beef and melted cheese. Then, as you realize that there's no way you can recreate those delicious flavors here in Japan, a feeling of helplessness and longing washes over you. You try to put it out of your mind, but that craving is here to stay. Days turn to weeks, weeks turn to months, and the cravings continue to torment you. Yamada-sensei asks you why you've been so out of it lately. You lie and say you've a lot on your plate, because to reveal to him that you're haunted by hallucinations of jalapeno poppers and bean burritos would seem crazy to him.
Before long you find yourself searching Skyscanner for flights to Tokyo at 4 in the morning. You suddenly find yourself in Taco Bell, surrounded by a sea of exchange students and other JETs who had the same idea, just to settle for a sweaty Crunchwrap Supreme and some lukewarm fries. You take a bite, and are met with soggy lettuce and sadness. It tastes the same as always...meh.
Well, we're glad to announce that you no longer have to be THAT gaijin, as you can now find those signature flavors right here in Fukuoka!
Located in the うりぼーの杜 rest stop in Tagawa City, Tacos de Ursa is like an oasis in the Sonora; it really is the last place you'd expect to find Mexican cuisine. And while we can't guarantee the flavors will be exactly the same as the ones you know from home, we promise the food here will certainly take care of those cravings.
The place
Before even stepping inside, the first thing that you notice (other than the divine aroma, of course) is the restaurant’s décor. The outside was recently painted to include a picture of the Santa Maria, and the barrels dotted with graffiti outside really add to the restaurant’s aesthetic. (They also have a life-size statue of an iguana, because, well, why not?) Inside, the vibes are immaculate, with knick-knacks and trinkets covering the restaurant’s interior. Although there are seats both inside and outside, seating is admittedly slightly limited. That shouldn’t dissuade you from going, though, as most people order to take-away.
The staff here also radiate good vibes. The service is phenomenal (We once received a free Inca Cola with our meal just because it was raining), and they are always eager to chat. Plus, if you order to take-away, they'll usually write you a nice message!
The food
And now for the part you’ve all been waiting for…How’s the food? Well, you’ll be pleased to hear that the food somehow manages to outshine the fantastic décor.
On the day we visited, we had just finished a 10k run and were, to put it lightly, absolutely ravenous. Nachos, tacos al pastor, quesadillas, burritos, animal-style fries… I had to make a conscious effort not to salivate all over the menu. In the end, we went with some quesadillas (available in spicy, plain, or garlic), nachos, and their signature King Plate (a tasting plate with half a quesadilla, two tacos, fries, salsa and sour cream).
With everything cooked to order, you can always be guaranteed that the food you receive at Tacos de Ursa will be insanely fresh. The wait was torture, but once the food started coming out we suddenly all seemed to forget about our aching legs and swollen feet.
My personal favorite were the spicy quesadillas. They actually had a good kick to them, but unlike some “spicy” Japanese dishes (which seem to have a personal vendetta against our lower digestive systems - looking at you, Coco-Ichibanya), the flavor and spiciness was well-balanced. For those of you who crave a little more heat, they also have a broad selection of hot sauces which you can add to take the spiciness up another gear.
While we would have been content leaving it there, the temptation to sample the new Churro Milkshake was simply too much to ignore. Freshly-fried churros, decadently rich chocolate sauce, real whipped cream. What more could you hope for?
We hope you enjoyed our review of Tacos de Ursa. If you ever find yourself in Tagawa, make sure to swing by. And if you do, please let us know if they lived up to the hype!
Japanese address: 〒825-0002 福岡県田川市伊田4911-1 うりぼーの杜
English address: 4911-1 Ita, Tagawa, Fukuoka 825-0002 Uribo-no-mori
We hope you enjoyed this post. Why not check out some of our other posts in this series? And if you would like your own favorite restaurant to be featured, please send us message!