©Loro
On the fifth and final day of the Hakodate expedition, I visited "Sushi Dokoro Zako-tei," run by the owner of the Miyazu shop who is well acquainted with the old and good days of Hakodate's main gate. I tried the highly praised "Evening Set" by previous reviewers, which includes a drink of your choice, a small dish, assorted sashimi, and 5 pieces of nigiri sushi. I opted for a glass of draft beer. Shortly after, a 330cc glass of Asahi draft beer was served along with a simmered dish similar to Chikuzen-ni. The sashimi platter, consisting of spear squid, tuna, Hokkaido striped shrimp, and octopus, was then served. The spear squid was elegantly presented in three layers, while the tuna was a thick cut of natural Honmaguro from Toi, boasting a strong sweetness. The Hokkaido striped shrimp was bursting with umami, and the octopus was equally delicious. I added a Sapporo Classic bottled beer as a perfect match. The nigiri sushi included medium fatty tuna from Toi, turban shell, Hokkaido striped shrimp, snow crab leg meat, and flounder from Funkawan. All this was included in the Evening Set for only 2,000 yen. The high satisfaction for the cost was indeed true, and I enjoyed a delightful time surrounded by stories of the bustling Hakodate Main Gate, once known as the "1,000 shops," during its heyday when it was one of Japan's top dining districts.