Japan, and especially this part of Japan, is not known for its ethnic diversity, which is reflected in the relatively narrow variety of international foods available. Yes, there are a few import stores here and there, and Fukuoka City has a decent range of non-Japanese eateries – including Jamaican, African, Russian, Thai, Latin American, and Indian restaurants – but the most exotic fare you’re likely to find here in Kitakyushu is tteokbokki or peanut butter.
Or so I thought. A few weeks ago, I was surprised and delighted to learn that a Turkish restaurant had recently opened downtown, serving up kebab, pilaf, and Turkish ice cream, among other delicacies. Recently, I had started to miss Middle Eastern food more than I ever thought I would, mostly thanks to the memory of Zankou‘s maddeningly juicy rotisserie chicken and sweet, creamy garlic sauce (I swear they put crack in that stuff). So the prospect of some spit-roasted meat and a little homemade hummus was very enticing.
But before I get into the food, I need to relay the story behind Restaurant Ertugrul: Cuisine of the Ottoman Empire. As I was paying my bill, I began talking with the owner, who said he came to Japan from Turkey thirteen years ago and had been running a used car dealership since then. Why he decided to open a restaurant, I failed to ask, but after reading a printout he handed to me and my dinner companion, I was able to glean at least a few of his reasons.
