This is a casual stroll through Otaru on a regular day... When you come to Otaru, you want to eat seafood, a simplistic thought but often the case. After a quick search, I decided to visit "Otaru Uotei" in Hanazono. There is a fish tank in front of the store... I quickly checked the menu and then entered the store. The master and his wife greeted me, and there was one other customer. The counter had about 13-14 seats, and there were private rooms with sliding doors. For lunch, they offered two options: "Iso Sushi Set @ 1,000 yen" and "Nama Chirashi Set @ 850 yen". They brought tea and asked me which one I wanted, so I ordered the chirashi set. The neatly styled master immediately started preparing the food while the TV showed the MLB game between the Angels and Cubs. There were 7 fish tanks in the store with various fish swimming elegantly. The food was served in about 10 minutes, with items like "two pieces of red meat, marinated mackerel, flying fish roe, shrimp, octopus, seaweed, and egg". The rice was a bit lacking in quality or perhaps the cooking method was not ideal, resulting in mediocre taste. The marinated items in sweet sauce were a bit off... The two large pieces of red meat were a bit tough. The marinated mackerel seemed a bit too fishy... The seaweed, despite being in season, was too salty. The side dish was "dried fish", which had a decent flavor balance. After the meal, they served coffee and a piece of rice cracker. It may seem like good value at first glance, but the content was nothing special. It might be better to go for sushi instead. Thank you for the meal.

In Otaru, there are many restaurants that I like. There is also a nostalgic feeling that adds to the experience. On this day, the conversation of "What should we eat?" led us to "Otaru Uotei". For lunch, I had a choice between the Iso Sushi Set for 935 yen or the Namachirashi Set for 715 yen. When I entered the restaurant and said "I'll have lunch", I was asked to choose between sushi and chirashi. I chose sushi! After a short wait, the sushi was served. It was delicious. I was happy to have such a tasty sushi lunch for under 1,000 yen. It was also nice to see the owner looking well and continuing to run the restaurant despite the challenges of the pandemic. It was a very memorable lunchtime experience. Used in April 2023.

- No smoking → Ashtray on the left side of the entrance - Lunch time 11:30-14:00 Last order at 13:40 - Lunch limited Iso Sushi Set - ¥935 (includes miso soup, chawanmushi, small side dish, and raw chirashi set) - ¥735 (includes coffee and sweets after the meal) - The menu board says "Dessert," but it has been changed to "Sweets." - The content of the sushi may vary. - The quality of the ingredients may vary depending on the day. - By the way, the chef wasn't wearing a mask! Maybe he forgot to put it on near the last order time? In times like these, it's better for both parties to remember to wear it! I always noticed the attractive lunch specials sign at this restaurant while patrolling Otaru! I couldn't see inside the building from outside, so I was a bit nervous walking in, especially since there was an ashtray at the entrance... But I took a quick smoke break first! There was also an aquarium with swimming fish that was very soothing. Alright, let's go in!! As it was just before the last order, the place was almost empty! The first thing that caught my eye was the numerous aquariums! Wow! It was so fun, like being in an aquarium! Then, there was the counter with a stern-looking chef (at first glance), which made me super nervous haha. Despite that, I accidentally ended up sitting right in front of the chef at the counter. A calm and gentle lady brought tea and helped me relax with her kindness. After sipping the tea, my nervousness melted away as I enjoyed watching the fish and the chef preparing the sushi... And then, the sushi arrived!! I was so surprised! It was beyond my expectations!! I didn't have high hopes even when looking at the display case before entering (sorry haha). "Eh!? Is this part of the lunch set?" I couldn't help but ask the lady with a smile. The visual presentation was amazing!! The small side dishes, chawanmushi, and miso soup also looked exciting! (I took a photo before they were placed on the tray haha) Excitement was building up!! Now, for the Iso Sushi Set ¥935 (tax included): - Tuna: Delicious! No watery texture, strong flavor, slight tanginess - Squid: Slightly chewy, slightly sweet - Sweet Shrimp: Simply delicious! - Mackerel: Beautiful! Lightly vinegared, perfect balance - Salmon: Fatty and delicious! - Bonito: Perfect sear, beautiful color inside, surprisingly good - Mystery Fish: Claws were still attached, thought it was conger eel but... huh? What's this? Couldn't figure it out haha - Flying Fish Roe: Not a big fan, but it was good! - Salmon Roe: I'm not a big fan of this either, but it wasn't too salty or fishy, it was good! I'd like to try pickling it like this! However, the mystery fish left me puzzled! I thought it was conger eel when I ate it, but it seemed a bit pale for that haha. Whitefish? Flounder?? Such a mystery! The sushi was really delicious! The sushi rice had a slightly sweet and mild vinegar flavor, slightly warm, which was just right. Some pieces were a bit delicate when eaten by hand, so it might be better to use chopsticks. - Small Side Dish: The simmered daikon radish was also delicious! I even drank the broth haha, it was good for chopstick beginners! - Chawanmushi: The dashi had a hint of Hokkaido style, slightly sweet type, slightly soft and mixable, easy to drink when mixed! It had corn and fish cake inside, my first time trying chawanmushi with corn, but it was great! Crunchy, sweet, and delicious! - Miso Soup: Simple and good with seaweed and green onions. - Coffee and Sweets after the meal: I didn't know coffee was included haha, but it was a nice refreshing touch after the sushi! The small cup was placed in a cute circular frame on the saucer. It was nice to have a slightly sweet treat with the coffee! Thank you for the meal! Before finishing my meal, the chef went to store the signboard, and I had a little chat with the lady at the register and took some photos of the aquarium. They also had my favorite wine on display! "White wine goes well with sushi" ===========

I arrived at the Hanazono area in Otaru City. I decided to have sushi for lunch this time. The restaurant I entered was surprisingly spacious. I was seated in a sunken kotatsu-style seating area, which was quite clean. The lunch menu offered nigiri and chirashi sushi, both priced at under 1,000 yen. I chose the chirashi sushi. While waiting for my order, I enjoyed some tea. In about 5 minutes, the chirashi sushi was served. The presentation was luxurious, especially considering it was in the 700 yen range. The taste was also good. The staff was friendly and the service was great. The lunch also came with coffee and a snack, which was a great deal. I was very satisfied with the lunch that exceeded its price. Thank you for the meal!

In March 2021, I visited Otaru for the first time, a town known for its many sushi restaurants, especially along the "Sushi Street". Otaru's sushi shops are an important tourist attraction, although they have faced harsh criticism in the past due to their treatment of a certain writer. The town boasts several relatively upscale sushi establishments, making it difficult for someone like me to enjoy sushi casually, especially for lunch as the prices tend to be quite high. I heard about a casual seafood lunch spot in the bustling area of Hanazono in Otaru, so I decided to check it out. Despite the reduced number of tourists due to the pandemic, there were still some young groups, possibly on graduation trips, wandering around the town. I ordered the "Nama Chirashi" for 715 yen, which is a bargain in Otaru. The restaurant had a solid appearance, with a tank of live fish adding to the ambiance. The owner, a quiet man, and a female staff member were handling the orders smoothly. The presentation of the Nama Chirashi was not particularly fancy, but it was decent. The toppings included shrimp, salmon, tuna, bonito, herring, marinated mackerel, octopus, tamago (egg), tobiko, seaweed, and pickled ginger. The sushi rice was lightly warm and not bad at all. The miso soup was delicious with a rich flavor. The side dish was "Tarako (cod roe) salad". The salmon was the tail end, the octopus was the head portion, and the tuna seemed to be the belly cut. The herring and marinated mackerel were tasty but cut into smaller pieces. Considering the price, it was understandable that they were making efficient use of the leftover parts of the fish. The coffee served was a standard machine-made one. The "Sushi Lunch" with more variety is priced at 935 yen, which might be a better option for tourists looking for a more elaborate sushi experience. This lunch spot in Hanazono seems to cater more to the daytime crowd, as the evening scene in the area is more vibrant.

I left my house feeling hungry but not sure what I wanted to eat, so I parked my car in the Hanazono area and decided to go to "Uotei" for lunch. They only offer two lunch sets: "Isosushi set (850 yen)" and "Namachirashi set (650 yen)". I was seated at the counter and asked immediately for my order. The food arrived promptly, looking nice but with ice visible on the octopus. The fish was quite firm. It's best to let it thaw on the warm vinegar rice. I started with the flying fish roe and egg. The fish was average. Surprisingly, dessert was French bread. However, at 650 yen (tax included), it's a great deal for a satisfying meal!

Lunch sets are priced at 850 yen, and the seafood bowl set is only 650 yen, which is a great deal. Both lunch sets come with chawanmushi, buttered bread, a small side dish, and coffee. The dinner menu seems to feature various seafood dishes like sea urchin from the live fish tank. The prices for crab dishes are not clearly listed, so it's a bit intimidating. According to reviews on Tabelog, the average dinner budget is around 8,000 yen. If you go for lunch and then return for dinner, you might be in for a surprise.

During the accounting, I couldn't help but ask again. The cost performance of this restaurant is excellent. As you walk from the old entrance to the back, you may feel a bit uneasy, but the interior is quite spacious and decent. It seems to be run by a husband and wife. When ordering lunch, you can choose between sushi or a set menu. There are no prices listed, and the menu loops back to the beginning. I chose the sushi option. The set included salad, miso soup, chawanmushi, sushi, and for some reason, rice crackers and iced coffee at the end. The miso soup was decent, and the chawanmushi was delicious. The sushi was not extravagant in terms of toppings, but it was tasty. I thought Otaru sushi was delicious. There was nothing particularly outstanding, but overall it was good. I wondered how much the bill would be, and it was unexpectedly under 1000 yen. Considering the price and the quality of the meal, it felt like a great deal.

"Let's all eat fish together♪ The fish are waiting for us Oh!♪" - with this cheerful tune, we arrived at Otaru Uotei. Surrounded by fish tanks and the sound of a koto, the atmosphere felt like a small aquarium. I opted for the Iso Sushi Set for lunch, which was quite satisfying. It included a variety of sushi, chawanmushi, tamagoyaki, and coffee, making it a good value for money. The sushi had a good selection of toppings like maguro, squid, sweet shrimp, shime saba, hamachi, toro, ikura, and more. The akami (lean tuna) at the end was particularly delicious with its thick cut. The fish roe toppings like ikura, tobiko, and kazunoko were all tasty, especially the kazunoko which had a nice texture. However, the sushi rice was a bit too vinegary and sweet for my taste, affecting the overall balance. The miso soup was on the salty side. Overall rating: 3.3 Taste: 3.2 Service: 3.2 Atmosphere: 3.5 Value for money: 3.4 Drinks: 3.2 Address: 1-6-4 Hanazono, Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan Otaru Uotei. Stay tuned for the next episode: "Fish Fish Fish♪ Eating fish♪ Makes you smarter♪" Song: Fish Paradise Singer: Hiromi Shibayama Lyrics: Teruhiko Inoue Composer: Toshihiko Shibayama

The purpose of the original restaurant was crowded, so I wandered around and found a lunch sign. The parking lot across the street was empty, so I decided to visit. I ordered the "Sashimi Set" for 650 yen (tax included), which includes sashimi, side dish, soup, dessert, and coffee. However, when I saw the sign, dessert and coffee were not served. Even at the time of payment, no one mentioned it or offered a discount. The sashimi was fresh and delicious, but the vinegar was a bit strong for my taste. The side dish was mozuku, but it lacked flavor. Overall, considering the price and the set contents (even without dessert and coffee), the cost-performance ratio is high.

Fish Tei, this was my fifth visit I think. Located in the drinking district of Hanazono in Otaru, this sushi restaurant has a fairly spacious interior with about 7 sunken kotatsu-style tables and around 10 counter seats. Their lunch sets are the highlight here, offering great value for money. There are two lunch options available: a 650 yen sashimi set and an 850 yen nigiri sushi set. The sashimi set includes tuna, salmon, squid, ikura, eel, tamago, tobiko, scallop, octopus, shrimp, while the nigiri sushi set features bluefin tuna, salmon, ikura, tobiko, kazu-no-ko, flounder, squid, mackerel. Each set comes with miso soup, dessert, coffee, and the nigiri sushi set also includes chawanmushi. As expected of a sushi restaurant, the vinegar rice is well-prepared and the fish is of good quality. While the sashimi set at 650 yen may catch your eye, personally I recommend the nigiri sushi set. The fact that it's within walking distance from Otaru Station is also a plus, and they have a small parking lot in front of the store for those coming by car. A sushi restaurant loved by locals, it's a convenient place to enjoy sushi casually. I noticed during this visit that their dinner menu is also reasonably priced. For 1,850 yen, you can enjoy sushi, sashimi, and various other dishes, with a complimentary drink included. I might try dining here at night next time. Thank you for the meal.

In April 2016, I visited "Otaru Uotei" in Hanazono, Otaru City for lunch. It wasn't originally part of my plans, but the restaurant I wanted to go to was closed, and I had already parked in the area, so I decided to try this place out. The lunch seemed like a good deal, so I went in. The restaurant had a counter and raised seating areas, and although I thought it was mainly a dinner spot, there were quite a few customers inside. It seemed like a mix of locals and visitors. Since I was alone, I was seated at the counter, and when I asked for the menu, the chef, who seemed like a traditional artisan, asked me what I wanted. He mentioned they had a lunch menu with either a "Nama Chirashi" or a "Nigiri Set," but unfortunately the "Nama Chirashi" was sold out. Surprisingly, it was only around 12:30 pm on a weekday, and it was already sold out. I ended up ordering the "Iso Sushi Set" for 850 yen, and it arrived within 3-5 minutes. The set included 9 pieces of sushi: akami tuna, squid, mackerel, salmon, white fish, sweet shrimp, shirako, flying fish roe, and salmon roe. The akami tuna was a bit watery, the mackerel was moist and had decent fat content, and the salmon was good despite being a bit pale. The white fish was a mystery, but the vinegared rice was to my liking. The set also came with chawanmushi with corn and a side of scrambled eggs. Overall, the sushi was decent for the price. I quickly paid and left, only to realize later that the lunch menu included coffee, which I missed out on. It was a typical experience of an old-established restaurant in Otaru, with some ups and downs, but overall, it was alright. The initial interaction with the chef left something to be desired, and it made me think about the importance of customer service in restaurants, especially in Otaru where many places could improve in that aspect.

A shop located in Hanazono, a bustling area in Otaru. Although the daytime foot traffic is not particularly high, I noticed they serve lunch so I decided to go in. Inside the shop, there are many tanks with crabs and octopuses that you can see. The lunch crowd seemed to consist mostly of locals. The lunch special chirashi bowl is priced at 650 yen, which is quite a steal. When the chirashi arrived after ordering, it was quite substantial. The variety of fish in the chirashi was more than enough for the price, and it was fresh. It also came with a side dish and miso soup, and even dessert and coffee after the meal. It's surprisingly good value for money. I'm not sure about the evenings, but it's a very cost-effective option for lunch.

I received information about this restaurant from an acquaintance who lives in Otaru and decided to visit right away. The name of the restaurant is "Uotei" and it is located near the JR overpass in the Hanazono area of Otaru. Inside the restaurant, there are tanks filled with delicious looking seafood such as crab, sea urchin, and sea cucumber. I visited on a Sunday and was able to have lunch there (except on Tuesdays). I ordered the "Lunch Sashimi Set" (650 yen) for myself and the "Lunch Iso Sushi Set" (850 yen) for my family. Despite the prices, I was a bit worried about the portion sizes. However, the Lunch Sashimi Set turned out to be a pleasant surprise. It included vinegared dish, dessert, miso soup, and a sashimi plate with 12 different items. The rice was lightly seasoned with vinegar, allowing the flavors of the sashimi to shine through. The presentation was beautiful, and the side dish of vinegared dish added a refreshing touch to the meal. Even though the dessert was a canned item due to melon being sold out, the overall value for money was excellent at 650 yen. The restaurant was bustling with local customers during lunchtime on a Sunday. Oh, and coffee was included in the set after the meal. The value for money just keeps getting better. Thank you for the delicious meal!

When it comes to Otaru, it's all about seafood...sushi, right? Even though we were treated to a feast at a hotel in Asahikawa, we couldn't resist going out for sushi - we love it! My husband found a restaurant called "Uotei" in the guidebook, known for its seared sea urchin roll. As a sea urchin lover, I was excited! We ordered the seared sea urchin roll (1900 yen), crab soup (1000 yen), butter-grilled scallops (750 yen), a small draft beer (450 yen), and also requested shrimp and green sea urchin sushi. The green sea urchin was amazing, with its sweetness dancing in my mouth and melting away. It was so delicious! Having experienced that first, the seared sea urchin roll was good, but the sea urchin flavor seemed a bit lacking in comparison. Sorry about that. It's been a while since I've had shrimp, and I love its texture. In Tokyo, it's not as common to find it in restaurants, right? We enjoyed our meal very much, but the total came to about 7500 yen. When I calculated it, the green sea urchin and shrimp sushi alone cost around 3600 yen. Indeed, the green sea urchin was quite expensive.

I was looking for a restaurant in Otaru where I could enjoy both hairy crab sashimi and sushi, and a friend recommended this place to me. I made a reservation and visited the restaurant on the same day. I ordered mainly the dishes in the photos, and the hairy crab sashimi was truly exceptional! The sashimi was so sweet and melted in my mouth, giving me a real sense of being in Hokkaido. I also ordered the 10-piece 3000 yen Fish Tei nigiri sushi, and between the crab and sushi, I was completely satisfied and full! I also had some drinks, and the total cost was around 7000 yen per person, so I think it's a very reasonable restaurant. It was a night where I could fully enjoy the seafood from the northern sea, and I was very satisfied.