I went to Maruman Kissa in Yamashita-cho after being told by the shop owner that they are a pro at making hamburgers and that all their Western-style dishes are delicious. They only had curry rice and pilaf available, so I ordered the large portion of curry rice. The curry had a nice spicy flavor and was delicious. The owner was kind and provided attentive service. The shop is open from around 11am to 10pm. They used to be open until morning in the past. There is a parking lot nearby. It's always a good idea to ask older people about old shops, and this one was definitely not a disappointment. It was so tasty that I decided to visit again. This time, I ordered the large portion of pilaf. I usually prefer fried rice over pilaf, but the pilaf here was delicious. They even remembered me from my previous visit and gave me a larger portion. Currently, they only serve curry rice and pilaf, but the coffee was also delicious.

"Maruman Cafe" On Sundays, since I had the day off, I couldn't go far, so I ended up going to a nearby town, Kitami, on Saturday evening. I didn't have much time in Kitami, so I only had three places written down in my notes. If I didn't have to go to Obihiro, I would have spent my Saturday morning on the train, eating and drinking while waiting for my wife to arrive after work. Obihiro is out of the question, it would take forever on the train. The last place on my notes was a bakery, and from there, I found "Maruman Cafe." It was originally on my list, but I wasn't planning on going there today. However, since I stumbled upon it, I decided to give it a try. It was the perfect time for lunch, but I wasn't sure if I could just order a drink. Before entering, and even after entering, I was unsure about revisiting. I checked online, and luckily, it wasn't a revisit. The male customers were chatting with the male staff at the counter, so I avoided sitting there and opted for a table with a game. The chairs were uncomfortable with worn-out backrests, making it difficult to sit. The male customers were watching a TV drama on their phones. The background music was instrumental. I ordered a coffee, worried that my 500 yen wouldn't be enough, but it was only 400 yen before tax. The coffee was meticulously brewed with ground beans weighed on a scale. The TV was old with a slim aspect ratio, making it hard to watch. I waited for about 10 minutes. The coffee was served in a nice cup and saucer. It had a slight acidity but was not overwhelming. There was no bitterness or sweetness, just a subtle depth. It was a light coffee, not my preference, but definitely not bad. The owner sat at the counter, reading a newspaper with his back turned, smoking a cigarette. As long as you don't mind smoking, he seemed like a nice person. In the end, it was a good experience."

I came to "Eiga" in search of Kitami Okhotsk Salt Yakisoba, but it was closed. I checked the website of the Kitami Tourist Association, and it wasn't open last night either. I confirmed on the website that it wasn't a regular holiday. Since I had come all the way to the restaurant, I decided to wait a bit and passed the time at the neighboring cafe. The exterior looks cool, and the inside of the shop is like a Showa-era coffee shop. The table-type mahjong game machine doesn't have the switch turned on, but it looks like it could start moving any moment. I love this atmosphere. The menu also includes "soda water" and "milkshake"! "Iced coffee" is only available in the summer, probably because they brew it from beans in a traditional style. What is "cafe ole" instead of "cafe au lait"? (laughs) It's fun to see the bottles of shochu too. After getting excited about the menu, I ordered a "coffee" from the master and enjoyed reading the newspaper for a while. The coffee arrived in about 6 minutes. It had a gentle acidity, soft bitterness, and rich flavor. Yes, the coffee is delicious too. I was enjoying flipping through the newspaper when the lady next to me started smoking, and the smoke drifted over to me... I tried to block it with the newspaper, but she kept chain smoking. I can endure the smoke, but I can't stand the smell sticking to my clothes, so I gave up quickly. I had to pay without finishing reading the newspaper (tears). Now, let's regain our composure and go eat the salt yakisoba!

A Showa retro coffee shop on Yamashita Street that I had been curious about for a while. I thought there was no parking, but when I walked around in Kitami, I happened to find a parking lot. There were about three parking spaces in the shared parking lot just to the right of the shop. After eating ramen at Banpuku nearby and feeling really hot, I decided to go for an iced coffee. The interior of the shop had a retro atmosphere with a game console and sofas, just as I had imagined. There seemed to be many regular customers. The menu included toast, curry, hamburger, pork chop, and even grilled meat with rice, which caught my eye. They also had a variety of drinks, including beer and shochu. It seems like you can also use it as a bar in the evening. This time, I only ordered iced coffee, which was made with freshly ground coffee beans. The interior had a fan running, so it was cool. I thought I would like to go back next time to try some food menu items.

It's nostalgic~☆ I decided to visit a retro Showa era coffee shop in Kitami. Showa Retro Coffee Shops in Kitami ~ Part 2 ~ "Maruman Coffee" on Yamashita Street. It's a little off the main street. The shop has a nice aroma of coffee. The interior is not very spacious, with red sofa booth seating, counter seats, and it would be full with 15 people. However, it has a good retro atmosphere. The background music is light music and TV duets~♪(laughs) The menu includes various drinks, sandwiches, pilaf, curry, hamburg steak, etc. In addition to beer, they also serve a few alcoholic beverages, so it's not exactly a "pure coffee shop." There are two regular customers. The man talking to the owner is discussing today's night game. The slightly aloof older sister-like waitress seems to be having curry before her shift starts? I ordered a coffee for ¥450. The owner inside the counter grinds the beans and drips the coffee. It was ready in about 5 minutes. It has a slight acidity, but it's a delicious coffee. Although it's not in use now, there used to be table game machines around~(*^.^*) I enjoyed my coffee while feeling the Showa era vibes all around.