A seasonal pork-wrapped tofu set and an all-you-can-eat spread of house-made tofu dishes
Tofu, but make it indulgent.
In the Sefuri Mountains on the Saga–Fukuoka border, a tofu-focused restaurant is putting soybeans in the spotlight this spring. From March 1 to May 31, Gokayama Tofu (五ケ山豆腐) is serving Atsuage Nikumaki Gozen (厚揚げ肉巻き御膳), a limited seasonal set built around deep-fried tofu wrapped in pork.
The star is atsuage, a thick slab of fried tofu made from the restaurant’s silky house tofu. It’s wrapped in pork, grilled, then finished with a sweet-savory ginger sauce. Rich, salty, and quietly addictive.
But the real danger to your appetite is the buffet.
Every gozen set at Gokayama Tofu includes unlimited access to a spread of tofu-heavy dishes. There’s house tofu, chicken karaage marinated in salty fermented rice malt (called shio-koji in Japan), soy-milk cream croquettes, and the chewy dessert Tonyu Mocchirin (豆乳もっちりん).
Salads use vegetables from the restaurant’s own farm. Gluten-free twenty-grain rice and miso soup made from scratch dashi are also on the table. Drinks include fresh soy milk, okara tea made from soybean pulp, and orange juice.
Tofu here isn’t an afterthought. The kitchen uses water from the nearby Sefuri Mountains and 100% Saga-grown soybeans. Even the byproducts—okara and soy milk—are repurposed into breads, sweets, and cosmetics.
If pork-wrapped tofu somehow isn’t enough, the regular menu also features Gokayama Tofu Gozen (五ケ山豆腐御膳)and Gluten-Free Vegetable Curry Gozen (グルテンフリーたっぷり野菜カレー御膳), both priced at ¥2,200. Kids’ sets are available as well.
Spring brings a few lighter extras: Kinako Tofu (きなこ豆腐) topped with roasted soybean flour, seasonal sakura and matcha white-chocolate versions of Tonyu Mocchirin, and a cookie-and-cream mocchirin sandwich.
Turns out tofu doesn’t have to play a supporting role.
Gokayama Tofu (五ケ山豆腐)
Location: 2418-1 Matsuguma, Yoshinogari, Kanzaki District, Saga 842-0101, Japan
Phone: +81-92-954-3761
Hours:
Restaurant: 11:00–14:30 (last entry)
Shop: 9:00–17:00
Parking: Large parking area available
Other: Free spring water station available
Website: https://aishitoto.co.jp/gokayamatofu/restaurant/index.aspx?bid=gokayamatofu
