On September 18, 2023 (Monday, holiday) at 7:00 PM, I visited this long-established restaurant in Asahikawa, boasting over 80 years of history. On this day, my subordinate from Fukuoka and his wife were visiting Hokkaido for a trip, and I arranged for dinner here for our long-awaited reunion. Initially, we had planned to visit a different restaurant, but since most of the renowned Asahikawa restaurants were closed on Mondays and holidays, we finally managed to secure a reservation at this place. When I made the reservation over the phone, the female staff member was polite and attentive, giving me high hopes. However, upon arrival, we were led to a large room divided by roll curtains instead of the private room we were promised. The interior of the building looked worn out, and even the restroom door didn't close properly. Despite these shortcomings, the restaurant was fully booked by 6:30 PM, which was understandable given the circumstances. I decided to order some Hokkaido specialties before my subordinate and his wife arrived, including a jumbo-sized Atka mackerel (1,760 yen), two plates of scallop sashimi (990 yen per plate), Botan shrimp sashimi (1,980 yen), three fresh oysters in shells (990 yen), two plates of buttered potatoes (550 yen per plate), salted fish ovaries (440 yen), octopus sashimi (990 yen), and Hokkai shrimp (1,320 yen). I consulted with the elderly female staff about various matters, but her unenthusiastic responses left me feeling even more disappointed. Additionally, I missed out on receiving a complimentary 1-hour parking service voucher, which I had heard was available. The interactions with the staff, such as asking if the Atka mackerel was true Atka mackerel or striped, or if the sashimi could be served on a large platter, were somewhat disheartening. Despite the decent freshness and taste of the dishes, I couldn't confidently treat my subordinate and his wife, who were used to the exceptional seafood in Kyushu, to a truly satisfying meal. We enjoyed drinks like Classic draft beer and Otokoyama Daiginjo sake, typical of Hokkaido. The lackluster service, coupled with the feeling that the restaurant was resting on its laurels as a long-standing establishment, left me feeling quite sad. As a representative of Asahikawa's long-established restaurants, I hope they will strive to do better in the future.

Family trip to Asahikawa ✈️ We wanted to try various foods in Hokkaido, so we searched for izakayas online and found Tenkin, a popular spot. We arrived early, but there were already several groups waiting... We initially gave up and wandered around the area... but couldn't resist and decided to go in. We waited for about 30 minutes. Cheers with a classic beer. We enjoyed sashimi, yakitori, fluffy dashimaki tamago, motsu-ni, sushi, and tempura rice bowl... Delicious! The atmosphere of the restaurant was also great. It seems to be popular among locals. I definitely want to visit this place again when I go to Hokkaido.

I arrived at the restaurant where there was a long line, but the wait was only about 10 minutes due to the fast turnover. I'm not a big fan of ramen other than Jiro-style, but I really enjoyed it. I ordered the miso ramen, and the broth was surprisingly rich! Definitely a must-visit when in Asahikawa.

On August 22, 2023, Tuesday at 7:00 PM, with one guest, the temperature was 29°C. We started with marinated herring and sweet and spicy burdock, which was delicious. The pickled Chinese cabbage was the best I've had so far. The grilled whitefish with wasabi was good but the skin was a bit chewy. The flounder without Matsukawa was tasty. The flying fish was fragrant with seaweed. The sea urchin tempura and eggplant tempura were perfect. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

I went for lunch without a reservation and was able to get a seat right away! It was packed immediately! I aimed for the lunch set. I chose option B. You can choose two types of tempura for the set. I went with shrimp and scallop! And it even comes with a complimentary drink - I chose a glass of beer without hesitation! Usually, don't you find the ingredients in chawanmushi from lunch sets to be lacking? It felt like it had been a while since I had chawanmushi with plenty of ingredients... and it was delicious. Shrimp, ginkgo nuts, chestnuts, and chicken - so luxurious for only ¥1500, I'm satisfied. And dessert is included too! The black sesame ice cream was so delicious and rich. I was completely full from today's lunch set, but next time, I want to explore and try various other recommended dishes. The attentive and quick service from the staff was also wonderful! I've decided to visit again! Highly recommend!

Visited a kaiseki restaurant for dinner in Asahikawa City. The restaurant was quite large and despite it being a weekday, it was fully booked. It seemed to be a bit off the beaten path from 3rd and 6th streets, but there were plenty of restaurants in the area. We reserved a course meal in advance for a decent-sized group. We were seated in a spacious room on the second floor. The 5,500 yen course meal included dishes such as seasonal asparagus with tonburi sauce, assorted sashimi, Hokkaido beef fillet steak, simmered shrimp, homemade tofu, assorted tempura, sushi, miso soup, pickled cabbage, and dessert. Overall, the dishes were all decent, with the homemade tofu being the most delicious. However, most of the dishes were lukewarm, and the tempura was served cold, which was disappointing. Based on reviews, it seems that ordering a la carte dishes at the counter on the first floor is a better option. It was unfortunate that this was the first restaurant we visited on our trip to Hokkaido.

I ordered the beautiful kaiseki meal "Shinryoku" for 3500 yen. It came with unlimited soft drinks. The food was delicious and lived up to the reputation of the long-established restaurant. The interior had a traditional feel to it, but for the price of 3500 yen, the value for money was excellent. The menu is extensive, which might be intimidating for foreign customers. Having menus with photos would be helpful. They also offer bento boxes like "Matsutake," but it's hard to know what's inside, making it difficult to order.

On the 4th night of our trip to Hokkaido, we visited a restaurant for the first time with two people. We took a bus from Asahiyama Zoo back to Asahikawa city and visited the restaurant without a reservation. We arrived around 6:30 pm and were seated at a raised table for four people. The dishes we ordered for two people were: appetizers for 319 yen each, Otaru shrimp (female) sashimi for 990 yen, collar octopus sashimi (half) for 1760 yen, special zangi (fried chicken) for 880 yen, and grilled miso-marinated hokke fish for 880 yen. We started with the Otaru shrimp sashimi, which was a bit disappointing as it was boiled and cut into small pieces. The octopus sashimi had a nice sweetness from the fat and the portion was larger than expected. The special zangi was served hot and had a great flavor. The grilled miso-marinated hokke fish went well with rice. I had three Sapporo Perfect Classic draft beers for 660 yen each, while we shared a bottle of Asahikawa sake for 605 yen. Sitting at the counter on the first floor and enjoying seafood and sushi with drinks seemed like a great idea at this restaurant.

I chose the Bara Chirashi and Tempura set, which included shrimp, scallop, sand dab, and squid for the sushi, and shrimp and sand dab for the tempura. The set also came with three types of vegetables (eggplant, green pepper, sweet potato), chawanmushi, clear soup, and black sesame ice cream for dessert. Sitting at the counter, I was able to see some of the cooking process.

When it comes to the Tenkin family in Asahikawa, they are a prestigious and long-established group. With many branches, they are well-known locally. Among them, the flagship store is located here, at 3rd Avenue Tenkin. The entire building is Tenkin, with three floors, and the size of the establishment is impressive. The food is naturally delicious, with the traditional flavors of a long-established restaurant that does not compromise with the times. If you go to Asahikawa, be sure to visit.

The sea urchin shabu-shabu I had here was delicious. The porridge at the end was excellent. You can eat anything here. It's that kind of place. The bamboo sake comes in large quantities and can get you very drunk. They serve a variety of dishes from Japanese to Western cuisine, and everything is delicious. The sashimi is also tasty. The prices are reasonable. It's a great restaurant. While eel dishes are highly recommended, I didn't try them this time. I'd like to try them next time. It's a restaurant that can be used for business entertaining or for dining with women.

I couldn't make a reservation because the restaurant was fully booked, but when I went there early, I was able to get a table. Yay! I visited around 5 pm on Monday and was seated in the second-floor hall. We had a sushi platter, Ezo donburi, children's meal, simmered cod, octopus sashimi, zangi, and mikan sake, all for just under 10,000 yen. The octopus sashimi was particularly impressive. I highly recommend it if it's available. The Ezo donburi was a bit different from what I expected, but overall, everything was delicious.

A well-known sushi and tempura restaurant in Asahikawa. I visited for lunch, and it seems to be in a casual price range. The first-floor counter with stylish interior was full, so I was seated in the second-floor tatami area. The staircase leading up is adorned with Japanese paintings, creating a charming atmosphere. For lunch, I ordered the sushi set for 1,500 yen, which came with kisu and shrimp tempura, and I chose coffee as my drink. The sushi consisted of five pieces and a roll, not a large portion but the quality of the fish was decent. The tempura was crispy and light, with a tasty flavor. It's a relaxed place to enjoy sushi and tempura.

When it comes to traditional Japanese cuisine in Asahikawa, Tenkin Honten is the place to go. There are rumors that they will also have a stall at the ballpark. I used a coupon for nationwide travel support and made a lunch reservation through Tabelog. For 1500 yen, you can choose between nigiri sushi or bara chirashi, and two types of tempura from shrimp, scallop, sandfish, and squid. You can also choose a complimentary drink from coffee, oolong tea, orange juice, glass of wine, or glass of beer. I had shrimp and scallop tempura with a glass of white wine. Thanks to the Hokkaido support coupon, I had a very affordable lunch. Thank you for the delicious meal!

I used this restaurant during a business trip to Asahikawa. I consulted with the chef and had a recommended sushi assortment, grilled saury, and tempura of tach (shirako). Everything was delicious! The sushi, especially the shellfish, was more delicious than what I have had in Kansai and I was impressed. It was my first time trying saury, and I was surprised to find it had roe! It was a bit challenging with all the bones, but it was delicious. The tempura was milky and also impressive. The counter seating made it easy for me to dine alone. The chef was friendly and engaged in conversation, so I didn't feel bored dining alone. I would like to try other menu items, so I would like to visit again. Thank you for the meal.

Two guests from Tokyo, enjoying Sapporo Classic and strong highballs for a toast. One of the guests mentioned being hooked on "mountain wasabi" they had at the end of the year, so we started with a large portion of pickled Chinese cabbage. I believe this place stands out for offering "mountain wasabi" dishes as a regular menu item. We started with Ezo Nigiri sushi, with Matsukawa being smooth but bursting with umami flavors that hit the taste buds to the max. We then had warm sake with two cups, and indulged in Ezo abalone and Bafun sea urchin which were undeniably delicious. The aroma of the nori in the battleship sushi left a great impression, so we continued with more battleship sushi, opting for ikura this time, which was equally excellent. The flavors kept coming in waves. We then had the "Adult Pairing" featuring eel with strong Sansho pepper, silky tofu and egg in a rich dashi, a perfect match for adult drinkers. The prawn, eggplant, and chrysanthemum tempura were repeatedly called out for their quality. We couldn't resist ordering the "Uni Tempura" as well, and the guests were delighted with the addition of scallop tempura. To finish, we had mountain wasabi rolls, providing a burst of flavor and excitement from the nose to the brain. We shared the eel and rolls, while each of us enjoyed the sushi and tempura individually. The bill came to 27,962 yen, including 2 beers, 1 highball, 5 cups of sake. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

First, we started with pickled Chinese cabbage with mountain wasabi, which was a great appetizer. The appetizer (small dried fish in sweet vinegar) and a highball to start. Since I was hungry, I had squid, Matsukawa sushi, and tamago sushi, which are the best this time of year. The spear squid was also irresistible. The tamago here is done really well. I couldn't resist the eel sushi with extra sansho pepper, paired with warm sake, it was amazing. Uni tempura, shrimp tempura, eggplant tempura (forgot to take a picture), this combination is the highlight here. Matsukawa is delicious, especially the sashimi, and the Ezo abalone, cheers to the drinker! Finished with extra wasabi on the kappa roll, perfect ending. Thank you for the feast. Then, off to D Grill. A great New Year's party.

"How much was it?" "6,000 yen." "What? That's expensive." Later, after taking a morning bath, my wife said, "It was 4,000 yen. Hehehe." "Well, is that a fair price?" "Yeah, but still, with this and that, and only two beers, it's still expensive." In the end, we went to Tenkin Honten in Asahikawa. When I said I was going to Sapporo, my wife sent me off happily. I never make a fuss when she goes to Sapporo either. She even offered to pick me up in Asahikawa and suggested we go drinking there. So, on Saturday, I headed to Asahikawa and met with Hikoboshi and Hikotaro at Morihiko. We had ramen, but the mood didn't quite pick up. After checking in, we went to a reserved restaurant and had Italian cuisine, which turned out to be a great restaurant. I wanted to have skewers, but that was immediately rejected. "I want to eat sashimi," my wife said. I thought she had been to Tenkin Honten before, but as it turned out, she hadn't. So, we went in, and I reluctantly went to the second floor. I ordered beer and had a delicious one. The sashimi platter satisfied my wife, or so I thought. However, the next day, when we talked about the bill, she revealed that she wasn't quite satisfied with the price. I was satisfied with the presentation and the sashimi itself was decent. We also ordered fried squid legs, which turned out to be excellent. They were perfectly crispy. In the end, my wife said, "I'm glad we didn't go to the first place." It seems it was because it was expensive, which brings us back to the beginning of the story.

Lunch set with sashimi (with squid) and grated radish, various small side dishes, chawanmushi, pickles, miso soup, dessert, and drink. A wide selection of dishes to choose from. Miso soup was a bit too salty, which was a bit disappointing. Lunch set with bara chirashi, tempura (choice of shrimp or vegetables), chawanmushi, clear soup, dessert, and drink. The clear soup was especially delicious. This lunch set is definitely worth trying here. Thank you for the meal.

I visited for lunch. I was torn between the seafood bowl B and the assorted option A, but in the end, I chose the A lunch set for 1500 yen. The side dishes included sweet vinegar octopus, dried radish, fish nanban-zuke, and pork skewers, which are quite common. The sashimi included tuna, sea bream, and yellowtail, which were not particularly unique to Hokkaido. The salmon roe was a nice touch, and the garlic-marinated flying fish roe had a strong garlic flavor that would go well with beer. The tempura consisted of squid, shrimp, and green pepper, all freshly fried and delicious, although the quality was not exceptional. The chawanmushi with shrimp, ginkgo nuts, and candied chestnuts was a bit too sweet for my taste, so I had it after the meal. The ice cream at the end was a nice touch. Overall, the set offered good value for money with a variety of dishes, but lacked a distinct Hokkaido flair. Tourists might prefer set courses for a more Hokkaido-centric experience. Thank you for the meal!