Visited on the first day of the three-day weekend on Saturday. I had made a reservation a week ago, so I was able to enter smoothly. The Hokkaido-produced female shishamo is completely different from the Karafuto shishamo sold in supermarkets, and this is the real deal shishamo. The meat is plump and juicy. The octagonal spikes are firm and fatty, with a sweet taste. The bones are fried like senbei, making them crispy. The live Hokkaido scallops have a firm texture and are sweet. The scallops I love are bigger than the ones I have had in Hiroshima or Okayama. And when I took a bite, I was surprised. It was a scallop with roe! It was my first time trying it. The Saroma Lake-produced oyster vinegar. There were three of them, and they were very creamy. For the finale, I ordered nigiri sushi. Scallop, tuna, salmon roe, shishamo (female), sea urchin, botan shrimp (large), and tekka maki. It came with miso soup with the head of the botan shrimp. The nigiri sushi was delicious, but the rice was soft and not that great. The tekka maki had too much rice and was disappointing. Overall, if you don't expect sushi at this restaurant, you will be very satisfied.

I arrived before the store opened, but there was already a line. The store's parking lot was full, so I parked at a nearby coin parking lot for 100 yen for 30 minutes and walked to the restaurant. As I was walking, the store opened and we were seated right away. The place was already full, but we were seated at a small raised area on the first floor. We ordered a sushi set for lunch and my partner ordered a chirashi set. The food was served late, around 12:20, so we waited for about 50 minutes. People who came after us had to wait for about an hour for their food, just as they were told. If we knew it would take this long, we would have gone somewhere else. They should have told us it would take a while or not seated us. The taste was decent for the price, but the squid had a strange soapy smell. The wasabi was barely noticeable. The rice was a bit too tightly packed. The soba was served hot, the chawanmushi was average, and the salad had too much mayonnaise. The nori was tasty though. This is just my personal opinion. Maybe the wait was longer because it was the middle day of a 3-day weekend.

I was worried because the streets were lonely until I reached the restaurant, but once I entered, it was bustling with locals! I ordered a sashimi platter, shishamo, crab miso, octopus butter garlic grill, miso-marinated cod, and 10 pieces of sushi. Everything was delicious without a doubt.

It is an izakaya located in a drinking district a little away from the station and canal. I arrived in front of the restaurant by taxi, but you might get lost if you walk there. I had reserved seats. The chef's recommended sashimi platter was excellent, with large botan shrimp, sea urchin, ikura, and fresh shellfish. The sushi set called "Nihonkai" was also delicious. It is even cheaper than conveyor belt sushi. The air conditioner seems to trip the breaker, so the restaurant sometimes goes completely dark. It can be hot in midsummer, but the cost performance is good and the menu is extensive. There were not many inbound tourists around, or maybe it was just a coincidence.

This popular seafood bowl restaurant gets crowded even on weekdays. Sushi, sashimi, and seafood bowls are all very popular, with the first floor almost always full. It can take over 30 minutes to be served, so it's recommended to go when you have plenty of time. The staff will let you know if there will be a long wait. It's a bit pricey, but the food is delicious.

19:30~ ・ Ordered live squid, marinated halibut fin, topped with sea urchin, 2 pieces of hokke sashimi, 3 pieces of white fish sashimi, grilled saury, grilled shishamo. ・ Drink: Heaven's Door Kubota plum wine. Both the sashimi and grilled dishes were delicious without any misses. The restaurant seemed to have more regular customers than tourists. The combination of Heaven's Door and marinated halibut was particularly delightful. The dishes were served at a relaxed pace, so it's best to go when you have some time to spare. I would love to visit this restaurant again when I go to Otaru. (Although the relaxed pace was fine, I couldn't help but worry a bit about whether my order was forgotten because I'm used to the faster pace in Tokyo and its surroundings. I ended up asking when the dishes would be served, which made the staff a bit flustered. I'm sorry.)

In Otaru City, looking for lunch and found a place called Seitokutaishi-san where fishermen run an izakaya that also serves lunch! The lunch menu starts at 690 yen, and I ordered the Mini Don Set B (tuna, scallop, crab) for 1100 yen (tax included). It arrived in about 15 minutes and included 3 types of donburi, salad, shrimp soup, chawanmushi, and pickles. The scallops were fresh and delicious, the tuna was excellent, and the crab had a strong flavor that really felt like Hokkaido. The chawanmushi was also tasty! Can't believe all this was only 1100 yen, especially in Otaru. Definitely recommend this place!

I was looking for a delicious restaurant near Otaru and found this place! I made a reservation in advance, but when I arrived, it was fully booked! It seemed like there were many regular customers. The food was served a bit late, but it was worth the wait. I enjoyed fresh Hokkaido ingredients such as herring sashimi, Atka mackerel, and smelt. I ended up eating too much because everything I ordered was delicious! The menu was extensive and had a wide variety of options. It's a great place for both small and large groups to enjoy.

A popular seafood izakaya in Hanazono, Otaru City. It has a traditional Japanese atmosphere that evokes the Showa era, and during lunchtime, it is bustling with almost full seats. The menu is extensive, and although I only took photos of the lunch menu, they offer dishes like pickled herring and oysters from Lake Saroma, making it a perfect place for those who want to enjoy daytime drinking. They offer a variety of rice bowl sets, such as mini bowl sets A and B with three different types of bowls, raw chirashi set, sushi set... it's hard to decide which one to choose. [Order] - Tempura and sashimi set (¥1100) The set is filled with a variety of dishes and looks very elegant. The sashimi of the day included tuna, pink salmon, and sweet shrimp. Besides daikon salad, there were also various types of seaweed. The tempura was delicious, including shrimp, eggplant, shiso leaf, squid, and white fish. The mini salad even had potato salad, and the chawanmushi had a slightly sweet dashi with corn, which I found unique. You can change the miso soup to soba for an additional ¥150. The amount of rice was generous even without ordering extra. [Summary] Noteworthy is the amazing cost-performance of the lunch! Although prices have recently increased due to the times, I still found it very affordable. They also seem to offer rare Japanese sake, so I look forward to enjoying it next time. There is also a video on Instagram @moritapan7.

Located in the bustling area of Hanazono in Otaru, less than 1km from JR Otaru Station, this seafood izakaya offers a variety of dishes. We visited with a reservation for 4 people at 20:30. ● Customer Service: The service is decent, fitting the atmosphere of a casual izakaya. The staff is polite and can explain the dishes well, which adds to the overall positive experience. ● Atmosphere: The traditional setting gives off a charming Northern atmosphere, although the proximity of the seating can be a bit cramped. ● Menu: From daily recommendations to a grand menu, this place offers a wide variety of seafood dishes, including sashimi, grilled items, steamed dishes, and fried foods. The selection is extensive and perfect for those who enjoy drinking. ● Food: Whether it's sashimi, grilled dishes, or fried foods, everything is delicious. The portions are generous, so ordering strategically is recommended. Overall, this place is a well-rounded gem that is great for introducing to others and definitely worth a return visit. ■ Today's Orders: ★ Appetizers: - Squid Somen: A miraculous dish with great texture and portion size. - Sashimi Assortment (Tuna, Prawns, Whelk, Scallops, Sweet Shrimp, Sea Urchin, Salmon, Halibut): Fresh and beautifully presented, a must-try. - Smelt: Choose between male and female when ordering. The male option offers a more satisfying eating experience. - Deep-Fried Zangi: Crispy and delicious, a classic choice. - Grilled Atka Mackerel: Tasty, but slightly lacking in juiciness compared to striped mackerel. - Hair Crab: The boiling method may need improvement as the crab lacked its characteristic sweetness, but the portion size is good. ■ Restaurant Details: - Counter: 6 seats - Tatami Rooms available - Visit time: Thursday, 20:30 - Number of people: 4 - Reservation: Yes - Crowdedness: Almost full - Waiting time: None - Plate Serving Time: Average 10-15 minutes ■ Amenities: - Wet towels provided - Chopsticks available - Restrooms: Separate for men and women, with bidet toilets and decent cleanliness (B+ rating) ■ Key Points: - Reservation is a must.

I visited this restaurant as my second stop while feeling a little tipsy, and it was the best of the best!!! I went to many restaurants during my 3-night trip to Hokkaido, but this place was the most enjoyable and delicious. Everything in Hokkaido tastes delicious, but sometimes you feel like you're being taken advantage of with touristy prices. However, this place had delicious food at reasonable prices, a kind chef, and it was such a wonderful restaurant that made me want to try everything on the menu! Uni, local shishamo, ikura don, fried flounder, highball, sake, and oolong highball... Ah, I'm so happy and full! If you go to Otaru, you must visit this place again!!

In August 2022, I revisited "Sushi Town Otaru". The street known as "Sushi Restaurant Street" in Otaru is lined with famous restaurants, and there are also famous restaurants scattered throughout the city center. Given the population of this town, it's clear that there are many sushi restaurants, as it is a tourist destination and a port town. This is evident from the tourists who come seeking delicious sushi. However, for a salaryman like me with limited funds, it may be a bit challenging to find affordable "town sushi shops" for a casual lunch. In such a situation, this seafood izakaya, run by a fishmonger, offers very reasonably priced lunch options. The "Namerou Set" costs 968 yen (tax included). When you feel like having a seafood bowl, this is a great value choice. It includes lean tuna, amberjack, squid, scallop, shrimp, salmon roe, flying fish roe, salmon, cucumber, pickled ginger, and salmon flakes. The vinegared rice is warm and well-seasoned. The chawanmushi this time was a bit on the sweet side, unlike the last time when it had a stronger fish flavor. The soba comes with a commercial dipping sauce and a freshly fried shrimp tempura. It also includes a macaroni salad and cabbage salad. This lunch set is more than enough. This place is always crowded with locals. Since they offer daily specials and affordable rice bowl options, I might try the daily special next time to add to my "Otaru Affordable Series".

Father ordered the Mini Donburi Set B, while the boss had the Suica Soda & Sushi Kaiseki & Oyster Vinegar Lunch, which are popular among locals and tourists. The chef is alone, so it takes some time (recommended for when you can take it slow). The Suica Soda with alcohol is surprisingly light, and the appetizer costs 350 yen, which is a bit much for what it is. The Mini Donburi Set B had discolored tuna, but the crab and scallops were delicious. The Sushi Kaiseki for 1980 yen was good overall, except for the tuna which was not great. The tempura and other dishes were tasty, and the small side dishes were great for sake lovers. The salted oyster was surprisingly good, and the recommended squid in vinegar was delicious. The Oyster Vinegar had about 5 small oysters, which were tasty, but the sauce was too salty for the seaweed and radish side. The tuna was the worst ever tasted, like a sponge with no flavor. Father also agreed it was bad. Other than that, the food was good and surprisingly delicious, with good value for money.

While visiting my hometown in Otaru, I decided to stay overnight and explore the Sakaimachi shopping street. After a brief stroll, I headed to a cozy and delicious sushi izakaya called "Shotoku Taishi Asuka-ten." I arrived early for my 5:30 reservation and was delighted to find a sunken kotatsu-style seating in the tatami room. I opted for the 120-minute all-you-can-drink plan for ¥1265, starting with a budget-friendly glass of Kinmugi beer. For food, I ordered two sets of the affordable sushi set "Yanshu" for ¥1100 each, along with some individual dishes like namako vinegar, kanpachi namero, pork skewers, chicken skewers, potato, and tekka maki. The sushi here was surprisingly delicious even with the cheaper set, especially the akami and shimesaba. The rolled sushi was also tasty, so I couldn't resist ordering the tekka maki. The vinegar rice and nori were top-notch. The namako vinegar and kanpachi namero paired well with my drinks, which included Kinmugi, sweet potato shochu on the rocks, barley shochu on the rocks, sweet potato shochu on the rocks, sweet potato shochu, Midori gin soda, and Kakuhai. I ended up getting quite tipsy and thoroughly enjoyed my drinking and dining experience in Otaru. It was a great restaurant to visit.

When I went to Otaru, I found this restaurant nearby while searching. It's an izakaya, but many people were visiting for lunch. I ordered the agu raw fish set, and the raw fish had lots of toppings, with vinegar rice hidden underneath. It also came with a large tempura shrimp soba, chawanmushi, and salad, each with a generous portion. All this for around 1,000 yen, such great value! I had just eaten breakfast at the hotel, so I was quite full, but I would definitely want to visit again when I'm hungry. Thank you for the meal.

On a certain weekday, I was looking for a place in Hanazono area where I could have affordable sushi for lunch, and I stumbled upon this restaurant. It was lunchtime and the place was bustling with customers, but luckily I was able to get a seat without waiting. The restaurant had a cozy izakaya-style setting, and I was led to a private table with a sunken kotatsu. I ordered the seafood bowl lunch set from the menu, and it came with various side dishes for less than 1000 yen! This was quite reasonable. While waiting, I was served hot tea. There were transparent panels between the tables, showing that they were taking proper measures against COVID-19. Soon, the seafood bowl arrived... and it even came with soba noodles and chawanmushi! That was impressive. And the taste... the sashimi in the seafood bowl was fresh and didn't feel cheap at all. I heard that this place usually has long lines, but I was lucky to find it empty on this day. It's definitely a popular spot. Thank you for the meal! I will definitely visit again.

I had a meeting in Otaru again, so I stopped by for lunch before the meeting. I parked my car in the usual spot and waited for the restaurant to open. There were other cars parked before and after me, all waiting for the opening as well. As soon as the restaurant opened, we all rushed in! A couple who had been waiting on foot beat me to the entrance, but I was the first to order among those waiting in their cars. I had already decided on my order while waiting in the car, so I placed my order before even sitting down (laughs). I ordered the same sushi set as last time. It was just as luxurious and delicious as before. Each piece was a delight. I felt like the sushi this time surpassed the quality and taste of my last visit. Thank you for the wonderful meal. The restaurant was fully booked shortly after opening.

Visit date: Wednesday, March 17, 2021, around 1:30 pm. I found a delicious seafood bowl in the "Jalan" magazine, so it's my first visit! The place is in the bustling area of Hanazono in Otaru. It seems to be within walking distance from Otaru Station. Around 12:00 pm for lunch, when I called the restaurant to confirm, they said they were fully booked even on weekdays. It seems to be a popular long-established izakaya lunch spot among locals. The daily special bowl is ¥590, and the daily special set meal is ¥650. Looking at the blackboard in front of the restaurant, the prices seem very reasonable and the portions seem generous. I decided to avoid peak hours and arrived just before lunch closing time. Surprisingly, no other customers were there. Is this the calm after the storm? The interior of the restaurant has a counter, sunken kotatsu tables, and raised tatami seating. I wonder if there is also a second floor? The traditional Japanese atmosphere is very pleasant. I had already confirmed in advance that the seafood bowl from Jalan was still available, so I ordered that. "Extra-large Button Shrimp Bowl with Marinated Shrimp ¥1485." Limited to 20 servings per day, it can be ordered until the end of March 2021. After about 10 minutes of waiting, the shrimp jewel box arrived! The extra-large button shrimp, standing tall, had a wonderful visual appeal! Marinated sweet shrimp is relatively rare, right? I often hear about marinated squid or firefly squid, but marinated sweet shrimp? Oh~('∇') At first, I was unsure how to eat this extra-large button shrimp, but then I realized it would be a waste to only eat the body part. The head and tail parts are also soft and fresh, with no hint of any fishy smell. I usually eat the tail even in shrimp fry, so I had no resistance and ate the whole thing. I often eat sweet shrimp, but rarely get the chance to eat such a large button shrimp, and the rich flavor and chewy texture are irresistible! The rice is vinegared rice, with marinated squid as a palate cleanser, and shrimp head miso soup. It's a perfect composition for shrimp lovers! And with this content, the price is also very good, which is pleasing! Surprisingly, there was also a lot of vinegared rice, so it was a very satisfying lunch. I definitely want to try going for dinner as well! On weekdays, there is also an "Old Man's Drinking Set ¥1800," which seems easy for a solo diner. There are also reasonably priced all-you-can-drink courses, making it a truly conscientious public izakaya. I felt sorry for having the place to ourselves in the end. If it's for lunch, I'll aim to arrive at the 11:30 am opening time!

It seems to be wreaking havoc in this area again. I had to park in a place where only locals can park and then visit. Just before noon, there were already 2 customers at the counter. The staff at the restaurant were wearing masks properly. I ordered the lunch menu sushi set for 980 yen (excluding tax) and waited a bit for it to be served. The set included fresh sushi, soba with shrimp tempura, salad, chawanmushi, and pickles. It looked like quite a lot of food. The pickles were crunchy. The salad was fresh and tasted good with a small amount of mayonnaise. The soba with shrimp tempura was delicious, with a tasty dipping sauce. The sushi had large rice portions and good vinegar flavor. The rice and toppings were well combined, unlike the rotating sushi types where they separate. It was delicious. It's been a while since I had such tasty sushi. The portion size was satisfying as well. The chawanmushi was served in a small bowl, but the flavor was rich and concentrated. Everything was delicious. All this for just a little over a thousand yen (including tax) is great. Thank you for the meal. I would like to come back again.

This is definitely a local izakaya where the locals go. I actually like to visit places where both tourists and locals go. This was my first visit here and it was bustling with locals. The oysters from Akkeshi town were only 550 yen. Such a large size for 550 yen? In a certain market in Kanazawa, it would cost around 1200 yen. The taste was also incredibly creamy. This was the best. Even though I had sushi for lunch, I ordered nigiri for 1900 yen. Hmm, this might be even better than lunch. I was completely blown away by the freshness of the squid and the amount of sea urchin. I also tried various other dishes, and the simmered tsubugai (whelk) for 480 yen was incredibly delicious. I drank plenty of sake and the total came to a little over 7000 yen. It was the best. As expected, local restaurants where the locals go offer great value for money. I definitely want to visit this place again. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

This is a quiet izakaya located a little away from Otaru Station, within a dining district. They offer a variety of sushi and seafood dishes with generous portions. It had been a while since my last visit. This time, in addition to seafood, I also tried some Hokkaido specialties. The Zangi was spicy and bone-in, while the Otaru-produced garlic butter sautéed fresh octopus was absolutely delicious.