On September 18, 2023, our family trip to Hokkaido began. For our first night, my wife arranged for us to stay at Yunokawa Prince Hotel Nagisa-tei, where we had no meals included. Instead, we had dinner at my parents' house with my mother and aunt. They had prepared sukiyaki bento boxes from Asari, which cost around 1,200 yen each. Although Asari has been a well-known restaurant for a long time, in our family, growing up, yakiniku meant Genghis Khan style, so we always saw this restaurant as a bit out of reach. However, this time, with a group of six of us, we tried the bento boxes and were impressed by the quality, especially considering the price. The ingredients were really refined, with a satisfying texture from the white radish. It's understandable that this kind of pricing could only work in Hakodate due to the cost of living. We usually enjoy Hasestu's yakitori bento boxes, but this experience may have helped our children appreciate a bit of luxury. I highly recommend this reasonably priced bento box.

I tried to make a reservation several times on the same day, but all failed, so this time I made a reservation a few days in advance and went. First of all, I was surprised by the appearance of the store. The building exuded a sense of its 122-year history...but it turns out that the store was destroyed in the 1945 Hakodate fire, and the current building was actually relocated from Aomori in the same year. When I was led to my room, there was no air conditioning, only a fan running. Hearing about the historical background like this made me think that maybe it's okay not to have air conditioning. This time, I chose the Sukiyaki Black Wagyu A5 Female Sirloin Course. The amount of meat was about 100 grams (2 thinly sliced pieces), so if you want to eat heartily, you need to consider that when ordering. When you think of Sukiyaki, you might imagine simmering meat in a sweet and savory sauce, but it's actually quite different. Personally, I think it's a little different from Sukiyaki. First, beef fat is spread in the pot, then shiitake mushrooms, onions, shirataki noodles, chives, tofu, and green onions are laid out, and the meat is placed on top of the vegetables, followed by adding chicken broth and the sauce to start simmering. The staff takes care of this process. The ingredients in the pot don't release much liquid, so there's no need to worry about the sauce getting diluted, and you don't need to add more sauce. The sauce is mildly sweet with just the right amount of saltiness. Needless to say, the meat is delicious. The meat has a good amount of marbling, sweetness, and a perfect texture. When you hear the price of 5,000 yen, you might think it's "expensive," but considering the quality of the ingredients, the meat, and the service, I don't think it's really expensive. The price is what it is, so I can't go there often, but if I have the opportunity, I would definitely like to visit this restaurant again.

Here is the closing of Hakodate. After enjoying seafood and ramen, it's time for some meat. I made a reservation for 4:00 pm, the same time as the opening, because I might not make it in time for my flight. I took the streetcar from Goryokaku Park to Horai-cho stop. The restaurant is just a 1-minute walk away. Wow! The atmosphere is amazing! The curtain was already up at 3:50 pm, so I opened the door early. I was warmly welcomed and taken to the second-floor seating area after mentioning my reservation name. It felt like a time slip as I climbed the stairs. The atmosphere was fantastic! Cold tea and a hand towel were provided. The only downside was that there was no air conditioning. The menu explained that you choose the meat and then decide if you want it with rice or kishimen noodles. The meat options included five grades of wagyu beef, one type of pork, and one type of chicken. I opted for the top-grade Black Wagyu A5 female sirloin course with rice for 5,000 yen. First, a plate of assorted vegetables arrived. Then the sirloin was served. The staff prepared it for us. They first spread the fat on the pan, then added white konjac... quite unusual. I thought we would first cook and eat the meat as usual. Next, they added vegetables, tofu, and chicken broth, mixed with sukiyaki sauce. Finally, they covered it all with the meat. It was my first time experiencing this! They explained that the meat is ready to eat when the color in the center changes. They instructed us to take the vegetables out from the sides. We prepared the raw egg and poured it over the meat when it was ready. It was delicious! The thickness of the wagyu allowed its natural flavor to spread in the mouth, coated by the egg. The rice was so good! Then we tried the konjac... what a texture! It was amazing! We then had onions, tofu, shiitake mushrooms, and green onions. The meat was so good that we ordered another piece. The meat was from a brand cow from Kagoshima Prefecture. We finished with a yuzu sherbet dessert. It was so tasty! It had bits of peel and a strong yuzu flavor. It provided a refreshing feeling after the sukiyaki. Overall, eating sukiyaki without air conditioning in the heat was tough. It should have been cool enough without the need for air conditioning, but due to global warming, it must be challenging. However, the atmosphere was great, and the staff was very polite. Oh, and by the way, the first floor of this place is a butcher shop. Don't get confused. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

I didn't have a reservation, so when I arrived at the restaurant at 11 o'clock, they were fully booked. I thought it was hopeless for a moment, but they told me I could come in if there were openings around 1 o'clock. So I made a reservation for 1 o'clock and wandered around the neighborhood. I ordered lunch with extra meat and added croquettes. Everything was very delicious! What's more, I was very satisfied with the traditional atmosphere of the restaurant, the politeness of the staff, and the service. It was a lunch experience that exceeded my expectations.

I made a reservation over the phone and went to the restaurant. I ordered the Black Wagyu A5 sirloin course with a ribeye meat refill. I enjoyed the meal in a private room at a leisurely pace. The staff were very kind and attentive. We had been eating a lot of seafood, so it was nice to have some meat here. I'm glad we went to this place.

The final stop of my Hakodate expedition was at "Asari" restaurant. I like their style of starting with a lean meat set and then adding more meat as needed, based on consultation with your stomach. Today's meal was incredibly delicious. The unique touch of adding chicken broth to the soup eliminates any greasiness and makes it perfectly balanced. I added A5 ribeye, which was delicious with just the right amount of marbling. Meat that you can drink, meat that doesn't require teeth. The seafood was delicious, the lamb was delicious. But, ultimately, beef is the best!

I visited around 11 am on a weekday, but the restaurant was already full! Oh my goodness! I thought it would be fine because it was a weekday - I'm so mad at myself. They said it would be okay to come back at 12:30. What should I do with an hour and a half to spare, feeling like I'm going to collapse from hunger? We decided to go for a quick bite at a ramen shop near the station. After that, we visited the restaurant again, took off our shoes, and were guided to the second floor. It had a nostalgic atmosphere, like a ryokan or grandmother's house. I ordered the sukiyaki lunch set. I couldn't add extra meat or croquettes because I had just eaten ramen. After about 10 minutes of waiting, the meal was served - rice, miso soup, raw egg, pickles, and the star of the show, sukiyaki. It came out all ready to eat, with white radish, Chinese cabbage, tofu, leeks, greens, and beef. Oh, there's no shungiku (edible chrysanthemum)! I forgot to ask for it to be omitted, so I was a little disappointed, but it was still good. There was more meat than I expected, which was a pleasant surprise. The white radish soaked up the flavor nicely. The meat was tender, not too fatty, just right for me. The rice with the meat sauce was heavenly. I almost asked for a second helping, but I held back. The sherbet at the end was refreshing. The quality for the price was excellent, and the room was lovely. I was very satisfied and would love to come back for dinner. I ended up buying croquettes from the meat shop on my way home. Thank you for the delicious meal!

I heard that there is a famous sukiyaki in Hakodate, which is known for its seafood. The atmosphere is charming, reminiscent of a small Wadakin in Mie. I had high expectations. It's not the type of sukiyaki that you grill, but rather the type that you simmer. You cover the vegetables with meat and steam the vegetables. It's a style that's new to me, similar to a home-cooked style. The marbled sirloin and lean rump were served. The sirloin could have been trimmed a bit more to remove the toughness. The lean rump had a strong meaty flavor. This restaurant is full of charm! Thank you for the meal.

Asari Main Store @ Hakodate Looking forward to the sukiyaki lunch I had been waiting for♪ The atmosphere in the quaint building is nice. Ordered the 5000 yen sirloin and the 3500 yen lean meat, as well as croquettes. They cook the sukiyaki for you!! At first, it was a bit thin, but when we added more ourselves, it became just right and delicious~!! I preferred the sirloin. Truly worth the price♥︎ A recommended scene in Hakodate. Thank you for the meal♪

Located in front of the Hakodate Horai-cho tram stop, this establishment boasts a traditional and impressive facade. The first floor serves as a butcher shop, while the second floor houses a restaurant. Even for a single sukiyaki course, the type of meat offered varies depending on the day's selection, the cut, and the grade, with the option to choose based on individual identification numbers. Customers can order by 100g increments, allowing for the enjoyment of comparing different brands and cuts. Despite offering A5 sirloin at 100g for just 5000 yen, the quality and taste are exceptional. The staff are attentive and will cook the first piece of meat for you. Private rooms are available for a relaxed dining experience. In addition to beef sukiyaki, they also offer pork sukiyaki and chicken hot pot. Enjoy premium meat at about half the price compared to Tokyo.

In Hakodate, there is a long-established sukiyaki restaurant! It is located in a residential area, and with the snow falling, it almost went unnoticed. The prices vary depending on the quality of the meat, so we ordered a little of each. The waitress takes care of the hot pot, so you can enjoy a perfect sukiyaki.

Sukiyaki lunch with croquettes in Hakodate. Located in a historic building. Guided to the second floor. Only sukiyaki lunch is available during the day. You can choose to add extra meat or have croquettes. Locals recommended the croquettes, which explains the smell of oil. The sukiyaki lunch is impressive for the price and delicious. The croquettes are freshly fried and tasty. Although the meat is not very noticeable, the meal is quite filling. Thank you for the meal.

At the end of the year when the lunch menu was not available, I ordered the Black Wagyu A5 lean meat course. They used a lamp for cooking. The dish was full of vegetables and had 8 slices of meat. It was prepared like sukiyaki using chicken bone broth and seasoning. The flavor was like sukiyaki but had a shabu-shabu feel. The broth made with chicken bone broth was perfect for the rice or the option I chose, the thick noodles. The noodles absorbed the rich broth from the vegetables and meat, creating a delicious yakisoba-like dish. For 3500 yen including tax, the portion size and the private room dining experience left me satisfied.

I decided to go to Hakodate and made a reservation early on. About a month ago, the 12 o'clock reservation was already full, so I booked for 11:30. I also made a reservation for the popular croquettes that tend to sell out quickly. The restaurant has an old-fashioned atmosphere like a traditional inn, with high-class service that I really liked. Even though I was dining alone, I had a private room. Since I had a hearty breakfast at the hotel, I wasn't very hungry, so I opted for the lunch set with croquettes without extra meat. The sukiyaki that was served was delicious, with tasty meat, vegetables, and tofu that I finished in no time. The croquette was crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside, with a hint of flavor that paired well with a bit of sauce. The yuzu sherbet dessert was refreshing and the perfect palate cleanser. The sukiyaki was so delicious that I would love to revisit for the course meal! The lunch set was also very cost-effective in my opinion. Well, I did end up feeling quite full. If you're hungry, even women can easily handle the 40g extra meat with croquettes. I wasn't very hungry, but if I didn't have the guilt from overeating and drinking yesterday, I might have gone for the extra meat option (laughs). Thank you for the wonderful meal!

Hakodate is known for its seafood, but I recommend tourists to visit this restaurant. The exterior and interior of the restaurant exude a sense of history. The menu offers a variety of meat cuts and grades to suit different budgets. I recommend trying the lunch set, which features A4 or A5 grade meat. This popular restaurant gets busy, so it's best to make a reservation in advance. Thank you for the meal.

Malouin's Smug tongue review: How happy was my heart? I had high expectations, but the meat wasn't particularly delicious. The seasoning, a unique combination of warishita and chicken broth, didn't really enhance the flavor. How did my taste buds react? Disappointing compared to top restaurants like Matsuzaka, Wadakin, Ishibashi, and Hinoyama in Tokyo. Would I naturally want to come back here? While it's difficult to find a seafood restaurant in Hakodate that impresses, I don't think I would choose to return here for a meal during my travels. How did our household's finance minister react to the bill? Known for its value-priced lunch menu, but not worth ordering the high-grade beef menu! In a word: Mediocre Sukiyaki Others may not say this: A tip for you, the same grade of meat on the menu for 4500 yen (recently increased) was being sold at a butcher for 1800 yen for 100g. It's hard to judge if it's reasonable, but if you live in Hakodate, buying it and making sukiyaki at home might be a better choice.

After 2 years, I went to Asari for a weekday sukiyaki lunch with my friends! I made a reservation more than 10 days in advance and was able to secure a spot! The restaurant offers private rooms and provides excellent hospitality, making you feel the tradition of a long-established high-end restaurant. The building has a charming atmosphere that has remained unchanged since 1934. As soon as we entered the room, the sukiyaki lunch was served! My friends opted for an extra 40g of meat, and they devoured it all! Of course, we also added freshly fried croquettes. These croquettes always sell out quickly, but being able to enjoy them freshly fried in the restaurant is pure bliss. Check out more details here: Asari Main Store offers a sukiyaki lunch for 1,500 yen! The freshly fried croquettes are also delicious ♡.

I am from Hakodate, but it is far from my hometown, so this was my first visit as an adult. I couldn't resist after seeing Daioh Yoko eating croquettes on TV during a previous homecoming! My wife and I lined up from the opening to get them. This time, we made a reservation for sukiyaki. The restaurant is very clean and well-maintained, the staff is kind, and the pricing is much more reasonable than what you would expect in the city. I especially wanted to order more of the white radish and meat. I will definitely come back again. Thank you for the meal.

The restaurant is located right near the Hakodate streetcar station. I made a reservation to try the sukiyaki in Hakodate. It seems like you can eat alone in a private room, which is nice when you want to relax and eat slowly. You can stretch your legs in the Japanese-style room. It was greatly appreciated after climbing Mount Hakodate. I chose the Sukiyaki meal with A5 rank black wagyu female rib loin for 4600 yen. I chose the second-highest grade of meat. The meat was very flavorful and there were two large cuts. The sukiyaki seasoning was strong, but not too sweet. For the main dish, you can choose between rice or kishimen noodles, and I chose kishimen. The dessert was yuzu sherbet, which was quite sweet. I also added an egg for 50 yen and had a plum wine on the rocks for 500 yen.

Simple is best... This restaurant is perfect for enjoying delicious sukiyaki in a nostalgic atmosphere. The pure taste of the high-quality Japanese beef can be felt from the first bite with the dipping sauce and chicken broth. I definitely want to visit when I go to Hakodate.

I received lunch for 1500 yen. I visited without a reservation at 11 o'clock, but was told to come at 12:50. I received a call saying I could come earlier, so I arrived around 12:10. There are many private rooms and the restaurant has a traditional feel. They use good quality meat. It may not be a touristy restaurant, but I had a good meal at a reasonable price.