Red Heat, Urban Glow
A Modern Yokocho Sizzles

In the lively underground arcade Kuohka at Canal City Hakata, Kimura Hanten — the new Chinese venture from the chef behind Nishi-Azabu’s Nogi — channels the warmth and bustle of the yokocho. Its bold red palette, drawn from the vibrancy of Chinese food stalls, strikes a dynamic balance between sizzle and refinement.
The material palette brings together custom red tiles at the counter, lauan plywood for the tables and chairs, and stainless steel throughout the kitchen. Brick-textured yet gleaming, the tiles play off the plywood’s warm grain to evoke the nostalgia of the yokocho, while the kitchen’s shining surfaces amplify its heat and sizzle.
The rawness of the texture invites, the refinement of the detail rewards. Under the soft pulse of neon, a modern yokocho unfolds — casual in spirit, meticulous in craft, alive with warmth and urban edge.