Title: "Sapporo Trip in June 2022 Part 9: A Variety of Tsukune at En-san Again on This Trip, Second Time Around" On the fourth day of my trip to Hokkaido after 4 years, in the morning, I visited the Sapporo Youth Science Museum in Shin-Sapporo with my friend Raji who lives in Sapporo. For lunch, I met up with my friend Hii who lives in Eastern Hokkaido, and the three of us headed to En-san once again! This time, we visited a different branch of the restaurant. We arrived at the restaurant around 11:40 am on Sunday, and it was empty at that time, but it started getting crowded around noon. With it being Sunday and the final day of the Yosakoi Festival after 3 years, the restaurant was getting busier. We decided on our orders! I don't remember the specific details of what we ordered individually this time, so I won't provide any evaluations (oops). The 2-hour all-you-can-drink option was 980 yen plus tax, which included beer and was sufficient for us. They also offer 90-minute options to cater to different needs. We got a coupon for a free 5 kinds of tsukune platter, which usually costs 600 yen. It was amazingly delicious, juicy, and tender! It was on a whole new level of deliciousness. We also got a free serving of raw tsukune soup, which was unbelievably tasty with the richness of chicken umami and chicken fat. Hii recommended trying the squid sashimi, so we ordered it and found it to be delicious. We also ordered various other items, mainly skewers, which were cheaper or had larger portions compared to izakayas in Kanto. Everything was delicious! Overall, En-san was fantastic!! We all promised to visit again on our next trip to Sapporo. The food was delicious, and the prices were reasonable. However, ordering via smartphone can be a bit tricky if you're not used to it. As a flip phone user like me, it was a bit challenging... I thought about getting a smartphone contract (oops). Afterward, we visited the Hokkaido University Museum, which had impressive exhibits despite being free. It was a bit overwhelming for our tipsy bodies. We then went to the Naebo Station Front Onsen, which was extremely crowded, and we could only use the sauna once. We took a short break on the sofas at Ario before heading for ramen to end the day. (2022.6.12)

On this day of a business trip to Sapporo, I arrived at Sapporo Station and wandered around looking for a place to have lunch. I stumbled upon a nice-looking izakaya lunch restaurant and decided to give it a try. The restaurant had only tatami seating, so I had to take off my shoes before entering. I looked at the menu and found a variety of options, but being in Hokkaido, I decided to order the chicken zangi set meal! They offered a free large serving of rice, so I went for that. The zangi set meal arrived in about 10 minutes, and it looked just like regular fried chicken, with five pieces on the plate. I tried it and was pleasantly surprised by how tender the chicken was and the flavorful seasoning, which paired well with the rice. I quickly finished the meal, including the large serving of rice. The soup that came with the set meal was also delicious! It was a lucky find for a nice lunch, and I look forward to visiting again in the evening to enjoy some drinks at this izakaya!

Located in Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, the Lilac Festival was being held at Odori Park on this day. After enjoying the lively wine festival, I couldn't resist the urge to drink, as usual haha. I was looking for a place where I could drink from lunchtime, and then I found it. I entered the restaurant and enjoyed the all-you-can-drink menu. We had: - Skewered chicken (salt, sauce) ¥100 - Long yam with wasabi soy sauce ¥390 - Plum shiso horse mackerel fry ¥380 - Grilled crab miso ¥290 - Chicken wings (fried) - I forgot to confirm - Shrimp cream pizza ¥690 Before I knew it, I was eating a lot haha. I must have been really hungry since I hadn't eaten anything since breakfast. The cost performance of all the dishes was great, which made me really happy as a drinker. The variety of appetizers was so abundant that I could enjoy trying different things. I feel like I could eat as many skewers as I want. I love the long yam with wasabi soy sauce ❤️ And since I love horse mackerel fry so much, as soon as I saw it on the menu, I ordered it right away. The crab miso was also a delight to munch on. And of course, the chicken wings go without saying. I thought I ordered pasta instead of pizza, but oh well. It was a satisfying restaurant for daytime drinking. I would love to come back someday. The best part is that they offer a classic drink all-you-can-drink option, which makes me happy. Plus, the complimentary soup was refillable, which was a nice service. Thank you for the feast!

I had the Tsukune set meal. The specialty Tsukune is delicious! It's a warm Tsukune with a crispy, burnt exterior. The sweet and savory sauce complements it well. It's nice that it comes with a Tsukune topped with a raw egg. Sometimes it comes with just the yolk, and other times it comes with a raw egg in a small dish, but both ways are enjoyable. When it comes with just the yolk, it coats the Tsukune nicely and tastes delicious. When it comes with a raw egg, I feel like making a bowl of rice with the leftover sauce and egg. Either way, the rice goes well with it. It's only 660 yen, and it's probably one of the cheapest lunch options around here. Thank you for the meal♪♪

The total bill was 2365 yen, which means 1182 yen per person, right? Isn't it too crazy? 90 minutes of all-you-can-drink for 750 yen is insane. Not just drinks, but also appetizers like potato salad for 380 yen, raw minced chicken for 100 yen, and the bill is still this low! Unbelievable, right? If this restaurant was in Tokyo, I would definitely go there all the time! Because they serve Sapporo Classic beer for the all-you-can-drink option! It's amazing! And the Zangi is just outstanding, it's truly the best. I'll be heading to the restaurant again with 2000 yen in hand next time!

I had lunch. I was captivated by the sight of the Zangi set meal, which costs 880 yen for a large serving with 10 pieces of Zangi. But maybe that's too much? I'll go with the regular size, which comes with 5 pieces of Zangi for 660 yen. There are a few groups enjoying lunch drinks, how nice. The lunchtime and day drinking groups are keeping the staff busy. The Zangi set meal comes with potato salad, pickles, and soup. It was the right choice to go with the regular size Zangi. I also want to have a day drink!

2022/12/03 Revisited. I am strolling around Sapporo city on a holiday. On 11/30, it finally snowed in Sapporo city. It was announced as the latest snowfall in recorded history. It has gotten much colder these days. During my walk in the city, it was lunchtime, so I visited the charcoal izakaya En Sapporo Station Kita 3-jo store for lunch for the first time in about 2 years. When I looked at the lunch menu, it seemed that the raw egg that used to come with the set meal was no longer included. (^o^;) It feels like the prices have gone up due to various items increasing in price and the soaring fuel costs. (^o^;) I ordered the Mix Fry set meal, which was not on the menu before. ・Mix Fry set meal 869 yen The Mix Fry included 2 pieces of horse mackerel fry and 2 pieces of oyster fry, generously served with tartar sauce. The horse mackerel fry was hot and crispy with a nice texture. It was delicious because it was freshly fried. (^O^) The oyster fry was also simply delicious. (^O^) I'm glad I could visit after a long time. Thank you for the meal. I will come again.

Holiday at 9:30 pm. I arrived a bit late and hungry, so I didn't research much before visiting. And it was a disappointment. The best thing I had was the beer. Here are my thoughts on each menu item: ◎ All-you-can-drink for 90 minutes for 750 yen Sapporo Classic was available and for this price, I was satisfied. I had 4 glasses of Sapporo Classic and 1 glass of sake. It was fantastic. ◎ Appetizer: Potato Salad Since I was hungry, I found it very delicious. It was a shame that it was just a small portion as an appetizer. If it was available as a standalone menu item, I would have ordered more. ◯ Cheese Imomochi for 290 yen Imomochi wrapped in cheese. I want to try making this myself. The sweet and savory sauce of sugar and soy sauce complemented it well, and it was surprisingly delicious. △ Hokke (Okhotsk Atka Mackerel) for 890 yen 32cm in size. Not too big nor too small. It was larger than supermarket side dishes, but I wished it had a bit more. It lacked the richness of fat. △ 5 Assorted Raw Tsukune for 600 yen Toppings included cheese, grated daikon radish, green onion with salt, ketchup, and mustard. It was unclear what was raw about it. The smooth minced meat was of good quality, but it also felt pre-made. The meat had a good flavor and the price was reasonable. ×× Yakisoba for 490 yen It was terrible. It was the opposite of what was described on the menu - thick noodles and chewy texture. The noodles were thin and mushy. I made a big mistake choosing this. Despite being generously topped with bonito flakes and a half-cooked egg, the unpleasant taste of the yakisoba couldn't be covered up. △ Salt Zangi for 290 yen Cheap and large in portion. However, it was made with chicken breast and the coating was too crispy. Once it cooled down, both the coating and the meat became quite hard, making it difficult to eat. ◯ Raw Tsukune Soup (complimentary) It had a good chicken flavor with a strong taste of soy sauce and pepper. It was delicious, but it felt more like ramen soup.

Arikanashi deikeba... Arina chain no sumibi izakaya. We enjoyed the all-you-can-drink option, including Classic (a local beer from Hokkaido), and felt like students having a second round. The popular raw tsukune had a satisfying taste. The layout allowed for a private room-like experience. Thank you for the meal.

I think I have been to this store in the city before, but this is the first time I have relaxed and enjoyed drinking so much. What is "nama tsukune"...? When I tried it, I was surprised by its texture! It's so soft! I imagine they skewer it right after forming the tsukune and grill it. The speed of service and the customer service of the staff were both good.

Year-end party٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و A year-end party with two close friends, a total of 3 people! The first stop is here, En-san! The all-you-can-drink deal until 3:00 PM is quite a bargain, 180 minutes for 1078 yen including beer!! Made a reservation for 2:30 PM to take advantage of this. Haha, but it's popular and they were fully booked for walk-in customers! I've been turned away before when trying to go to En, so making a reservation is a must when you want to drink at En for sure. We ordered tsukune platter, assorted skewers, daikon salad, Neapolitan yakisoba, grilled rice balls. The complimentary snack was shrimp crackers, costing 330 yen per person. I only had one beer and then just drank highballs, strong ones♪ The food is not exceptionally delicious, but not bad either. It's fun to have a variety of tsukune to choose from with so many options! The drinks and food were served fairly quickly, and it's a good place to have fun with friends! Most importantly, it's very affordable٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و It was about 2800 yen per person. I had been to the gym in the morning and was already tipsy, haha. Many things happened this year as always, but I'm truly grateful for this time to chat with my close friends at the end of the year. Thank you for being good to me this year, and please continue to be so next year♪ We're going to a cafe after this, but I was too drunk and ended up falling asleep, haha. What a mess, haha. I hope to have a healthy and peaceful year next year by balancing meals, sleep, and exercise♪ Thank you all for this year♡ Please have a wonderful New Year♡ Thank you in advance for your continued support next year.

This is around Sapporo Station. After finishing my walk, I decided to stop by for just one drink on my way home. I didn't plan on driving after this, so it's like having a pre-dinner drink, right? Haha. So, since I didn't have much time, I came to En, which is conveniently located for transportation. This place is perfect for having tsukune (meatballs) and zangi (fried chicken) - you can't go wrong with that. Highball please! I also ordered a set of 5 raw tsukune skewers and Hokkaido salt zangi. This combination is cheap, delicious, and just perfect. The appetizer was the usual potato salad. I'm a bit tired of it though. The raw tsukune comes with cheese, grated ponzu sauce, mustard mayonnaise, umeshiso (plum and perilla), and tasty green onions. It's fluffy and has a good volume, not something you'd expect from a chain restaurant. The salt zangi is a bit firm, but when you bite into it, the juicy fat drips out. You should eat it while it's hot, or it will get tough. I ate it quickly, spending 34 minutes and 49 seconds there. It was a delicious meal.

Visit number unknown, but it's been a while since I last came. After returning to Sapporo from a long business trip, I decided to have lunch at the charcoal izakaya En Sapporo Ekikita 3-jo store. Upon revisiting, I noticed changes in the lunch menu, and was surprised to see that the Nanban set meal was no longer available. However, upon closer inspection, I discovered that all set meals now come with a raw egg. Having raw egg over rice for lunch is quite a treat. I ordered the Raw Tsukune and Zangi set meal. When it was served, I first enjoyed the raw egg over rice. It was delicious. Next, I tried the raw tsukune, which was juicy and tasty. The zangi also had a strong presence. All of this for only 590 yen makes it understandable why the restaurant is always crowded. Menu changes are inevitable, but for me, this was a pleasant surprise. The addition of raw egg as a service that was not available before was quite impactful. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal. I will definitely come back again.

The chicken meatball skewer was delicious, but the quality of other charcoal-grilled chicken skewers varied significantly. We mainly focused on the 90-minute all-you-can-drink option for 750 yen for our second party, and ordered some light snacks including the chicken meatball skewer. Even if you are full from the first party, the chicken meatball skewer is worth trying! It is so delicious and well-made. Thank you for the meal!

I wasn't intentionally avoiding it, but it was my first visit to this restaurant. It's the third place we tried after a fresh start. I hope they can improve their compatibility with the area near Sapporo Station. It seemed like we were just in time as the restaurant was full, and they had to turn away a solo customer. Sorry about that. Oh, we need to take off our shoes because it's a no-shoes policy here. I'll go with the all-you-can-drink option for 980 yen. Another round of beer for a fresh start. I usually don't drink a third beer, but it's a special occasion so why not (laughs). The beer arrived with a potato salad appetizer. This place serves good beer too. By the third round, my friend quickly asked if we could order food. So, I took the food order. We ordered the set of 8 types of tsukune (meatballs) and the set of 10 types of grilled dishes. Since I've already had two glasses of beer, I also ordered chilled tofu and edamame to come quickly. The chilled tofu was larger and tastier than I expected. I thought the edamame would be cold and sprinkled with salt, but it turned out to be warm. It was unexpectedly delicious - warm, soft, and tasty. After the chilled tofu and edamame, the tsukune arrived quickly. Isn't it too fast for the tsukune to come out? There were various flavors, which was nice, but why were they all the same temperature inside and out? The grilled dishes were a mix of delicious and cheap options, offering a variety of flavors. The kimchi had a good taste. I really enjoyed the grated Japanese yam with wasabi. It was delicious and became my favorite. I should have ordered the salted chicken chunks earlier. There was a considerable amount of chicken, and I struggled to eat it because I was getting full. For drinks, I had beer, umeshu sour, plum wine, and shikuwasa plum wine. Although it was labeled as "No. 1," the Togakushi sake was not what I expected, which was a bit disappointing. The food was decently tasty, relatively cheap, the staff's response was good, and I can see why it's popular. Thank you for the meal.

Today's second party was also at an izakaya. Once again, all-you-can-drink for 750 yen. It seems a bit cheaper than the previous place. This restaurant lures you in with free chicken soup at the entrance and free chicken soup to take home. It reminded me of the other place that did the same. The recommended dish here is the fried chicken. They have won the gold award at the Hokkaido fried chicken (zangi) contest. The fried chicken has a crispy coating and juicy inside, standing out from others. After enjoying some drinks, we finished off with the free chicken soup. The bill came out to 2000 yen per person. Hokkaido truly impressed with its quality and cost performance.

When it gets hot, the symptoms worsen, it is a designated rare disease by the government. Unfortunately, there is no medication that suits me yet. I will be updating the review while considering my condition. Likes and comments may be delayed, so thank you in advance. [July 2019] "Charcoal-grilled Chicken Skewers 'Honoo'" is a restaurant affiliated with the local Sapporo-based "Shinwa Holdings". They also operate "Western-style Bar Gotoken" and others. There are several types of stores at "Honoo". A takeout-only yakitori shop "Bibai Yakitori and Deli Honoo". A takoyaki shop, "Honoo Dako". A ramen shop, "Torigen". A yakitori izakaya, "Charcoal-grilled Chicken Skewers Honoo", and more. "Charcoal-grilled Chicken Skewers Honoo Sapporo Station North 3rd Street Branch" is an izakaya that also serves lunch. They also offer takeout of "Zangi" and "Bento". Some stores do not offer lunch service. I stopped by after returning from Sapporo Tokyu Department Store with my usual companion. This store is located in the Sapporo Station area in Chuo-ku, Sapporo, across the street from the south side of Sapporo Tokyu Department Store. For the exact location of the restaurant, please check on Tabelog. I visited around 12:00 pm on a weekday. Unfortunately, the "Chicken Wing Zangi" was sold out. I decided to order only the "Umadare Zangi with salt and soy sauce" for a drinking snack. There is a sign at the takeout window on the sidewalk that says, "Please press the bell," but I couldn't find a bell anywhere on the window. So, I went inside the store. The store was crowded with lunch customers. There were also lively group customers from the continent. Since it was crowded with lunch customers, it took a while to get the attention of the staff. Finally, I was able to get their attention. I was told that it would take about 1 hour for takeout because of the lunch rush. I paid in advance and went to pick up my order after lunch. ■ Umadare Zangi with salt and soy sauce Zangi Zangi is the same for both salt and soy sauce, with different dipping sauces. Weight: Actual measurement: Average 38g per piece (after removing the windbag) A slightly smaller Zangi. It was fried crispy and had a very good taste. Dipping sauce with salt Weight: Actual measurement: 41g (after removing the windbag) Dipping sauce with soy sauce Weight: Actual measurement: 36g (after removing the windbag) It is topped with grated daikon radish with a hint of juice. I dip (or put) it on the Zangi and enjoy it. Both go well with the Zangi, bringing out the umami flavor. Price: With sauce, 1 piece for 141 yen (tax included) The "Umadare Zangi with salt and soy sauce" is a Zangi with a nice taste and Zangi sauce. It's nice to be able to enjoy two types of Zangi sauce, "salt" and "soy sauce". In terms of price, the takeout-only store "Bibai Yakitori and Deli Honoo" at "Sapporo Rafira" is cheaper. However, this is also convenient. This was the first time for us to try the dipping sauce at "Honoo". The dipping sauce was to our liking. Next time, I might try the "Zangi Bento" for takeout. It was delicious, thank you.

5/27/2019 Revisited. 12:15 Today, I revisited the usual Enya Sapporo Station Kita 3-jo store for lunch. The restaurant was packed, with almost all tables and counter seats taken. I managed to find a table that was available. I ordered my usual "Zangi Nanban Teishoku" for lunch. Despite the crowd, the food arrived in about 10 minutes. - Zangi Nanban Teishoku 590 yen The dish consisted of large pieces of chicken thigh with a slightly loose tartar sauce. The seasoning went well with the rice. It was delicious with a satisfying portion size. The price was also great. (^o^) It was delicious as always today. Thank you for the meal. I will come back again. (^o^)

One Sunday, I decided to have a daytime drink at Sapporo Station, but the options for daytime drinking on a Sunday are quite limited. After searching for places that open at 2pm, I found a place called En Kita 3-jo Store. I used to go there regularly when I was busy with work, so I wanted to go to the training store next to it, but it seemed they didn't serve daytime drinks. The store had a counter with 10 seats, 4 tables for 4 people, and 2 tables for 2 people. There were about 10 customers already seated and 4 more came in later. It seems that daytime drinking is quite popular around this time on Sundays. I was seated at the counter at the back and opted for the 90-minute all-you-can-drink option. Until 5pm, it was only 580 yen, which is quite a bargain. The beer served here is Classic. I chose this place because they serve my favorite Classic beer and their maintenance is solid. It's been a while since I last visited, but it still tastes delicious. Since the skewers wouldn't be ready until 3pm, I ordered a few items other than skewers. - Appetizer (potato salad) 300 yen: The usual tasty potato salad. - Yurin Chicken 390 yen: Fried chicken breast with a scallion sauce on top. The fried chicken here, even though it's made from breast meat, is not dry when freshly fried, and I like it. - Pickled Vegetables Assortment (5 types) 580 yen: Cucumber and Chinese cabbage, Mustard miso eggplant pickles, Cucumber pickles with sesame, Cabbage pickles, Kimchi. I could drink several rounds just with this assortment of pickles. - Beef Tendon Ponzu 290 yen: I like the crunchy texture. The pickled vegetables assortment was surprisingly filling, so even though I planned to order skewers once it hit 3pm, the first round of orders was enough as a side dish. It's not extremely delicious, but it's served quickly, it's cheap, and you can drink a lot, so it's great. I had 8 beers in total. Thank you for the meal.

Revisited on 4/13/2019. Today, after finishing work, my colleague and I revisited this restaurant. It was a little after 5 PM on a Saturday, and although it was busy, we managed to find a table. We decided to order all at once to avoid delays in service. - Started with a highball and a potato salad as the drink and appetizer. The drink was included in the 120-minute all-you-can-drink option. The potato salad was tasty. - Caesar salad with fresh vegetables topped with a soft-boiled egg and plenty of Parmesan cheese. The Caesar dressing was a perfect match. - Tamagoyaki (egg omelette on a skewer) with a slightly sweet flavor. - Thick-cut bonito sashimi, which was delicious and visually appealing. - Flavorful Chanja dish. - Refreshing cold tofu for a palate cleanser. - Fried flounder, which was surprisingly delicious with a slightly sweet dipping sauce. - Large-sized Zangi (fried chicken) with five pieces, providing a satisfying meal. The total cost for two people was just under 6300 yen, including the 120-minute all-you-can-drink option. The restaurant had good value for money and was understandably busy. The food was delicious, and we will definitely visit again. Thank you for the meal.

Second visit on February 14, 2019. It was my first time having lunch here. It's snowing in Sapporo today, so I didn't want to go outside for lunch. I remembered there is an elevator adjacent to the restaurant from the underground walkway, so I went straight there. It was just past 1 PM, so it was a bit quiet after the lunch rush. I was drawn to the menu item "Zangi Nanban Set Meal 590 yen" which comes with large zangi and assorted tartar sauce. It took about 10 minutes to wait. The zangi was indeed large, with a whole piece of chicken thigh deep-fried. The coating was crispy and the meat was juicy and thick. It was very satisfying for the price. The tartar sauce was a bit runny but went well with the rice. The lunch at this izakaya was surprisingly good. Thank you for the meal. I will come again.