◆July 2015◆ In Uohara, located halfway between Abashiri and Tokoro, there is a small supermarket. At first glance, it may seem like just a regular small supermarket, but it actually has a popular item known to those in the know. That item is the homemade miso Jingisukan (Genghis Khan) sold at the store. While Jingisukan is often seasoned with soy sauce, it is rare to find it seasoned with miso. There are two types of Jingisukan available, with the raw lamb Jingisukan priced at 1300 yen for 700g, which is a bit on the expensive side. However, the real star here is the pork Jingisukan sold next to it. Referred to as "buta-jin" for short, this dish is priced at 398 yen for 600g, making it a more affordable option. The seasoning consists of miso, ginger, garlic, apple, and other flavorful ingredients, creating a rich sauce that pairs well with vegetables when stir-fried together. Alternatively, you can simply grill the meat and enjoy it with rice, which is also delicious. While it may not be the most amazing dish, considering the generous portion size for the price, it offers good value for money. It's worth noting that the pork Jingisukan tends to sell out quickly, especially later in the day, so visiting earlier is recommended to ensure availability.

"There's a small supermarket in Urahara, right? They have this delicious original miso lamb dish there," my friend mentioned at work. It's a very local topic, so please bear with me! (sweat) Urahara is located about 10 minutes from Abashiri towards Mombetsu and Wakkanai, known for red coral? The person was actually referring to coral grass! Anyway, I decided to check it out since the opportunity came up. It used to be called "A-coop," but now it's "SPAR"? It doesn't have a convenience store layout, more like a small supermarket? I thought. They don't say "welcome" or anything, the staff just chat among themselves. "Found it." "Hmm, isn't it expensive?" Meat is 400g and the sauce is 300g for 1,300 yen... The prices are outrageous! There's also "miso sauce for pork" next to it. "Hmm, isn't this cheap?" This one is only 400 yen... Let's get this one too. I called to say I bought the miso lamb, and they were thrilled. When I got home, I prepared some vegetables and cooked it on a hot plate. I wanted to grill it in the garage even though it's a bit cold, but my wife wouldn't join me (sweat). Now it's time to taste it! "Oh, I see." It's not as impressive as I thought. It tastes as expected, it's good but not worth paying 1,300 yen for 400g. Honestly, the cost performance is like saying, "Are you kidding me?" If it's just about the delicious miso sauce, pork is enough. Well, you won't know if you don't try it, so it can't be helped! I wouldn't tell others to try it just because it's delicious.