お猿と狸
In the residential area of Mihara in Hakodate, I entered a dumpling restaurant that I stumbled upon. It was my first time visiting this place, and as I entered, there was a raised seating area on the right, a counter and kitchen on the left, and about three people working on cooking and serving. Oh, and there was another dog in the dining area. At first, the dog was quiet, but when the staff led us to the raised seating area, the dog followed us and started barking quite loudly. Since it's a dining establishment, it might not be ideal for the dog to bark loudly every time new customers arrive. For those who are not comfortable with dogs, this might be a deal-breaker.
Looking at the menu, I was surprised by the variety of dishes available. It seemed more like a proper Chinese restaurant rather than just a dumpling place. They even had a unique dish like lamb brain on the menu, which made me curious to try it out in the evening. After some discussion, we settled on the set menu with dan dan noodles and a side of dumplings, with additional pan-fried dumplings. While waiting for our order, I noticed a Chinese couple at the table next to us. The husband was ordering in Chinese, so I wondered if he had trained in Chinese cuisine. I later found out that knife-cut noodles originated from Shanxi Province in China, which made me wonder if that's where he was from.
Finally, our food arrived, starting with the soup from the set menu. It was a bit salty but tasty. The water dumplings were cute and delicious, with a chewy skin. The pan-fried dumplings were large with a crispy exterior and juicy filling. They had a slightly strong flavor, but overall, they were delicious. The miso sauce for the water dumplings and the vinegar and Sichuan pepper for the pan-fried dumplings added a nice touch of variety to the meal.
Next came the knife-cut noodles, served in a sesame-flavored soup. The noodles had a nice chewy texture, and the soup was flavorful without being too heavy. Adding some Sichuan pepper and vinegar enhanced the taste even more. As we enjoyed our meal, we couldn't help but notice the Chinese couple's dishes, including a hot pot with cilantro and another dish with knife-cut noodles. It was interesting to see their authentic Chinese dining experience.
Despite being intrigued by their food, we focused on our own meal and enjoyed the dumplings and knife-cut noodles. The portions seemed large at first, but after a walk, we were able to finish everything with ease. It was a delicious and satisfying meal. Thank you!