On the second day of my gourmet trip in Sapporo, the main event was exploring Otaru. This was my second visit to Otaru, the last time being about 20 years ago, or maybe even longer. Otaru is lined with famous Hokkaido confectionery shops like LeTAO, Rokkatei, and Kitakaro. As someone who isn't a fan of sweet treats, I didn't feel particularly excited, but I imagine that girls would be thrilled to be in this area. However, Otaru felt lonely with no foreign tourists and only a few school trip students here and there. I could see the impact of the pandemic as many large restaurants were closed. Areas that rely on tourism seem to be particularly affected. I wandered along the canal looking for lunch, encountering many closed or temporarily closed signs. Just when I was about to give up, a delivery man recommended "New Sankou" to me. It was a bit away from the canal, but let's go! Wow! It's a retro-style long-established beer hall, similar to New Munich in Osaka! I immediately toasted with a glass of draft beer. I didn't know, but I ordered Otaru's specialty "Otaru Ankake Yakisoba"! I love yakisoba with sauce, salt, and ankake! However, this yakisoba was incredibly delicious. The seasoning was just perfect for me, slightly on the sweeter side with a thick sauce that perfectly complemented the beer. The atmosphere inside was relaxed with many elderly customers, and time seemed to pass slowly. Maybe because of this atmosphere, I ended up staying longer than expected. The staff were also relaxed in a good way. However, thinking about the current situation in Otaru is heartbreaking. We need to go out more and support the economy! Although it's just a small effort, I want to continue going out while taking infection prevention measures. Hang in there, Otaru! I'll come back again. Thank you for the meal!

I used it for lunch. I ordered the limited edition Beef Stew Omelette Rice, which was said to be a limited revival. I'm weak when it comes to the word "limited." Of course, I didn't forget to order a large glass of classic draft beer. The beef stew was very delicious. The beef was so tender that it crumbled just by touching it with a spoon, and the flavor was well infused. The egg was perfectly half-cooked and rich. However, the chicken rice was disappointing when surrounded by these. It tastes good when eaten alone, but it seems to get overshadowed by the assertive stew and rich egg. I wish there were some enhancements like stronger flavor or a kick of pepper. The price was also just under 3000 yen, and with the large glass of beer, the total bill came to around 4000 yen. For the price, I wasn't as satisfied as I had hoped.

I visited my master's hometown and stopped by the restaurant with relatives after visiting the grave. The atmosphere inside was calm, like a Showa era restaurant. We ordered a lot of dishes, but they were all delicious. I especially liked the marinated herring served on a plate shaped like Hokkaido. It seemed like the restaurant was busy because many customers kept coming in. I guess it's because the food is really good, right?

After leaving the first sushi restaurant, I had some time to kill before the next restaurant opened, so I decided to have a beer to pass the time. I didn't want to eat too much here and risk not being able to eat at the next place, so I just had a beer. The New Sankyo Main Store, where I went, was surprisingly spacious. It was quite empty, maybe because it was an awkward time between lunch and dinner. In the end, I only had a beer here, so I can't provide much of a review.

On the early spring equinox, we visited a temple for a family gathering. After touring the temple, we decided to have lunch. With 12 people in our group, we chose New Sankou for its spacious seating and variety of menu options. We ordered the sauce-covered yakisoba, but there was a mix-up with our order. While 8 of us received our dishes promptly, 4 of us had to wait much longer. The server realized the mistake and checked with the kitchen. After a significant delay, our food finally arrived. However, the sauce on the yakisoba was lukewarm and had an uneven balance of sweetness and saltiness. It was disappointing to experience this during what should have been an enjoyable family meal. It may have been an isolated incident, but it was still a letdown.

I went in for a daytime drink. This place is located on Otaru's main street. The interior has a beer hall vibe with a cozy and spacious feel. I like this kind of place. The beer is poured nicely and tastes great. They also have some unique beers that you don't see often, so beer lovers will definitely enjoy it. The photos of the food might not do it justice, but the taste is delicious. They are open during the day, so it's perfect for daytime drinking.

I visited at night. Otaru's shops close early... The shopping street feels empty and lonely. Inside the restaurant, which is a long-established beer garden, it reminds me of a lion. The popular menu items are ankake yakisoba and Napolitan, but I ordered a different menu. All of them had a sweet and salty taste that goes well with beer. I hope these kinds of restaurants stay around.

The charred yakisoba with a generous amount of seafood like crab, scallops, squid, and shrimp, topped with a light oyster sauce, is a delightful dish. It's not about any particular ingredient being delicious, but the well-balanced and comforting flavor of the yakisoba with ankake sauce.

The restaurant recommended in the travel guidebook. I visited this shop to try Otaru's local specialty, ankake yakisoba. Since it is the main branch, the spacious interior gave a sense of history. I ordered the seafood ankake yakisoba. The piping hot sauce was filled with plenty of vegetables, scallops, and squid, making it very delicious. The noodles were well cooked and mixed well with the sauce. It was relatively empty on a weekday night, but it seems to be crowded on weekends and holidays. Please try Otaru's local specialty gourmet.

Arcade street has a brick-built restaurant that looks like Sapporo Beer (Ginza Lion?). It has an old-fashioned beer hall vibe. Recommended for those who want to drink beer from noon! They also serve yakiniku, with a separate area for Genghis Khan and barbecue (separate tables and menus). You can enjoy a wide variety of dishes at affordable prices. The ankake yakisoba is somewhat light on salt. The clientele is quite old, maybe because of that? The menu is extensive, with plenty of appetizers available. This time, I was full so I only had the grilled dumplings (fried dumplings are also available). I was surprised that two types of sauce came with it, regular sauce and vinegar pepper. I didn't realize vinegar pepper, which Gorou-san recommended in "The Lonely Gourmet," was a thing... However, the dishes were all delicious in a traditional way. Thank you for the meal!

I went to New Sanko main store! I had a great time! I enjoyed delicious beer during the day, and having lunch on a holiday was the best! The menu is extensive and there are many things to eat, which makes me happy! And the hamburger is huge! I recommend it. Thank you for the meal!

I passed by this restaurant the other day and saw the menu outside with Teppan Napolitan, which made me want to try it. So I went there today. The customer service is still wonderful and pleasant as always. I ordered the Teppan Napolitan (1080 yen) and a melon soda (100 yen). The Teppan Napolitan was hot, but I wished it was even hotter. Personally, I prefer it to sizzle and have the ketchup charred for a more robust flavor. The taste was okay, nothing special. I used to love it when I was a kid, but now I'm not sure if it was always like this. I think I prefer a stronger flavor. I will try a different menu next time. Thank you for the meal!

In June 2021, I had some free time and decided to visit a random restaurant without any specific purpose. However, when I arrived, I found out that the restaurant was closed. I then found another place nearby that was open for business. The interior was spacious, with two elderly customers enjoying their drinks peacefully. I ordered a draft Ebisu beer, which was served in a chilled glass with a creamy foam, and it tasted delicious. I also tried the "Iburi Gakko Cream Cheese Canape" from the small menu, which turned out to be quite filling. I then ordered another glass of beer, this time a classic one, and it was equally satisfying. Overall, it was a pleasant experience.

In the midst of the ongoing pandemic, restaurants are struggling, even in tourist towns like Otaru. The oldest beer hall in Otaru, "New Sansuke," now operates as part of the Sapporo Lion Group. Known for its beer hall and restaurant, the establishment is a familiar spot for locals. However, due to the pandemic, they now offer affordable lunch boxes like a 500 yen "One Coin Tempura Bowl" with shrimp, squid, eggplant, shiso leaf, and pumpkin. The crispy tempura is delicious. They also serve a colorful minced meat bowl for the same price. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the historic New Sansuke in Otaru is doing its best.

I had been eating curry out for a while, so I wanted to have ankake yakisoba after a long time! And before I knew it, it's the season for "gan-kake yakisoba." At this time of year, during the exam season, various shops in Otaru offer a special menu called "gan-kake yakisoba," which includes lucky ingredients. This year, 12 shops are participating. The common rule is to use sausage (WINNER = winner), scrambled eggs, cherry-shaped carrots (for cherry blossoms), and bamboo shoots (for growing vigorously). Some shops also use their own unique ingredients. It's like a support project for students taking exams, but it's totally okay even if you're not a student. This year, the offering period is from January 18th to February 22nd. I tried it at Tokiwa-ya last year. This year, I think I'll try it at New Sankou. I used to love their teppan Napolitan that I had before, but I saw that it's no longer on the menu. That's too bad. While thinking about that, I ordered the gan-kake yakisoba (1100 yen). The cherry-shaped carrots are quite impressive. The thin noodles give it an elegant taste overall. I couldn't find any flaws, and personally, I like the taste more than the ankake yakisoba at Chinese restaurants. By the way, Otaru's ankake yakisoba ranked 4th in the B-1 Grand Prix. They should promote it more. And at the checkout, I saw Ribbon-chan caramel next to the register and ended up buying it. I didn't know there was a Ribbon Napolin flavor. It was my first time seeing it. It didn't have the carbonated fizz, but it definitely had a Napolin flavor. Thank you for the meal!

It's been about 40 years, I think? I was curious about the first floor's Napolitan that I used to eat in high school, but we went up to the second floor and ordered Anka Yakisoba for me and Japanese-style Champon for my wife. Until 3 o'clock, the drink bar is free, so we enjoyed coffee and tea while waiting for our food. The staff was very friendly! Teppanyaki Yakisoba... cats can't eat it (^^;) My wife: "Champon and Yakisoba... the ingredients are the same! (laughs)" Both the Yakisoba and Champon were delicious with plenty of ingredients. Japanese-style Champon: 1000 yen, Otaru Teppan Seafood Anka Yakisoba: 1000 yen. Thank you for the meal! (^^)v

Visited in November 2019, this is the oldest beer hall in Otaru, established in 1954. While it may seem a bit old-fashioned, they offer a variety of dishes from Japanese, Western, and Chinese cuisines, and can accommodate up to 200 guests for banquets. It may be a familiar restaurant for locals in Otaru, but personally, I am more familiar with "Tachinomi Sankou" near Sapporo Station. The first floor serves Western and Chinese-based dishes as well as beer, while the second floor has raised seating and table seats, suitable for small gatherings. The third and fourth floors seem to be for larger banquets. On this day, we had a small gathering and shared large dishes. We finished with "Otaru Ankake Yakisoba". I have visited a few times since, and while there is nothing particularly outstanding, it is a reliable choice for banquets. Being affiliated with "Ginza Lion," the beer is indeed delicious.

After strolling around Otaru, I visited this restaurant for lunch. The first floor is a beer hall, and the second floor is a Japanese restaurant. I compared the menus and decided to dine at the beer hall on the first floor. They also serve Genghis Khan (grilled lamb dish). I ordered the Seafood Gratin & Garlic Toast and the Sansuke Seafood Ankake Yakisoba from the lunch menu. I chose the gratin. Lunch comes with a free drink service, which included miso soup, a first for me. The Seafood Gratin was delicious with a refreshing white sauce and plenty of shrimp, clams, and seafood. The garlic toast was crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, making me crave beer! The Ankake Yakisoba was lighter than it looked, with a good portion size that didn't get boring. However, as you can see, the cost performance is not very good compared to the gratin. It's sad to dine at a place like this without beer. Thank you for the meal!

Otaru has become a popular tourist destination, with some businesses following the trend and others resisting it. It is important for businesses to adapt to the changing times in order to thrive. The canal, once associated with negative connotations, has now become a wonderful attraction. It is surprising how things have turned out, but ultimately, people will gather where there is good food. I hope these positive changes will continue and that Otaru will remain a great place to visit for a long time.

I decided to stop by until the JR train time. Today's appetizer platter with 6 varieties for 756 yen. Coffee (HOT) for 380 yen. I chose the "Today's appetizer platter with 6 varieties" because it had a variety of items. I didn't have a main dish, but there was octopus, bean sprout namul, potato fish cake-like item, edamame, salmon, and raw ham. It was easy to eat and convenient for a short visit. If I have the chance, I would like to try the omurice or tonkatsu for a hearty meal next time. What comes to your mind when you think of Otaru? Thank you for the meal.

While waiting for hotel check-in in the shopping street of Otaru, I had lunch. The Sapporo draft beer was really delicious (or maybe it's just me). I don't eat pasta much, but I decided to try the Napolitan. After a while, the Napolitan arrived on a hot plate and I noticed that there was a lot of cabbage in it. Is cabbage supposed to be in Napolitan? I don't like cabbage. Towards the end, the ketchup became too strong. It wasn't very delicious, but the draft beer was good, so it was disappointing.