In Asahikawa, for the first meal, I tried the famous beef tongue dish that was seasoned and enjoyed with green onions. I asked the staff at Toroman restaurant about it, and they recommended trying it with vinegar rice topped with green onion and tuna belly. It was delicious, especially when rolled in seaweed at the end. The tuna was also tasty and not fishy at all, and the seaweed complemented the flavors well.

Is this really a tempura restaurant? The eggplant and quail eggs are the best. The perfect crispy texture of the breadcrumbs is amazing. The sashimi and the appetizer of mackerel are delicious. The golden eye snapper, tuna, and crab are the best. The number one is the scallop butter. The texture I've never experienced before and the aroma of butter coming out of the scallops are incredibly delicious. It was a hilarious and amazing moment. Asahikawa is number one.

✳︎Grilled oysters were served, enhancing the flavor of the oysters! But I still think steamed oysters are the best! ✳︎Grilled silver cod with Saikyo miso was firm and cooked perfectly. The taste was a bit strong! Can I have some rice, please? 😊 ✳︎Pork chop, a specialty of Asahikawa. I really enjoy this dish. The pork is so juicy. Can I have some rice with this too, please? ✳︎Crab cream croquette was a hit this time! I always order crab cream croquette when it's on the menu, but this one might be my favorite!! It's rich and creamy, and the sauce is amazing. You can also taste the crab meat occasionally! ✳︎Unagi-don, a truly authentic unagi-don! The skin was crispy and delicious! The sauce is a bit strong, so if you go light on the rice, it might not be balanced. It was very delicious. Thank you for the meal! ★

After returning from glamping in Obihiro, one of the restaurants I want to try in Asahikawa is Kushiage Tarou. I was able to make a reservation, and as I walked through the central street, I saw a tank with snow crabs, hair crabs, and scallops. I was looking forward to eating them. We went upstairs to a private room with my family of three. We ordered: - Octopus and mozuku seaweed vinegar dish (appetizer) - Drinks - Nikudofu (meat and tofu stew) - Seki-saba (pickled mackerel) - Assorted deep-fried skewers (shrimp, quail, salmon, baby scallop, pork) - Kinmedai hot pot (expensive but delicious) - Rumored toro-maki (fatty tuna and slightly vinegared rice) - Chawanmushi (steamed egg custard) with shrimp garnish - Akkeshi oysters (expensive but tasty) - Deep-fried snow crab - Ojiya (rice porridge) from the Kinmedai hot pot The second floor had about five private rooms, and one lady was managing them all by herself, so it was a bit hectic. But she was amazing in handling everything alone! My son was also surprised by her speed and efficiency. I was worried if I had enough money in my wallet, but in the end, the price was satisfying. We realized later that we forgot to order saltwater sea urchin, but the food was delicious and served quickly. We'll have to try the sea urchin next time.

The restaurant, located along a small street, had a very atmospheric and quiet feel, like a well-established traditional shop. The food was delicious, with a variety of high-quality dishes. The sashimi was particularly fresh and flavorful, with rich fatty cuts. I would love to go back again.

As expected of a Michelin-starred restaurant! Unlike many long-established places that can be either charmingly aged or unhygienic, this restaurant was very clean with excellent service from the staff. While it is called Kushiage Tarou, it doesn't seem to be mainly focused on deep-fried skewers. The seafood dishes are particularly delicious. I highly recommend the Alfonsino! The hot pot, grilled dishes, and simmered dishes were all excellent. I definitely want to go back again.

I went to a famous izakaya in Asahikawa to eat their delicious Kiniki hot pot. The seafood in Hokkaido is amazing, with shrimp, crab, sea urchin, oysters, whelk, and sujiko all included in the hot pot. The meal ended with delicious zosui (rice soup) and Negitoro onigiri. I also couldn't resist trying their "Kushiage" (deep-fried skewers). It was a fulfilling meal.

I visited for the eel, but the meat tofu was reliably delicious. It has a traditional feel to it (lol). The tofu is so flavorful. I don't order it every time, but I order it when I feel like it. The butter-fried surf clam, scallop, and asparagus dish is amazing. The freshness really stands out. The juicy fried blowfish is a must-try. It's so good, I would order it again if available. The eel rice bowl is Kansai-style and surprisingly delicious! It's so good that I would come just for the eel rice bowl. The pickles and soup are authentic. The rice texture is perfect. I will definitely be back. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

This is a private room on the second floor. It's quite crowded. We tried various dishes, but the Negitoro onigiri was the most delicious. The seaweed is a bit small though. The Hokki butter is also tasty, and there are various types of sake to enjoy.

✳️Sashimi assortment - The freshness is amazing! ✳️Simmered Kinmedai - The taste is exquisite. Can I have some rice please? The flavor of the simmering sauce is just perfect! It's market price, but considering the high quality, it's very reasonable. ✳️Snow crab tempura - It's quite impressive! The crab meat is a bit limited, but it's deliciously substantial! We ordered many other dishes but we were so engrossed in eating that we forgot to take photos! We will definitely come back again. Thank you for the wonderful meal! ★

Tonight, I visited Asahikawa. The downtown area of Asahikawa has many charming izakayas. Without prior information, it would be difficult to decide which one to enter. Luckily, I had obtained recommendations from locals in advance, so I headed straight to this place without hesitation. It is located a little off the main street, in a narrow, dark, and somewhat dirty alley. The name of the restaurant is "Kushiage Taro". Given its location and name, I was expecting a cheap and delicious Showa-era style casual dining spot. However, upon entering, I found a nicely decorated, clean establishment with a counter displaying high-quality and expensive-looking seafood. Is this really a kushiage restaurant? Is it a casual dining spot? I wondered as I took a seat at the counter. I checked the menu, which was filled with various seafood dishes. I finally found the kushiage section amidst the fried food menu. There were options like fried flounder, snow crab tempura, wild mountain vegetable tempura, and fried oyster, with kushiage listed right next to them. So, they do have kushiage after all. But it seems like the main focus of the restaurant is on seafood. And the prices were quite high. I remember the local who recommended this place saying, "It's around 10,000 yen per person." I had thought it would be 2,500 yen per person for our group of four friends, but it turned out to be 10,000 yen per person. So, I decided to enjoy the delicious seafood dishes despite the prices. Here is what we ordered: Scallop sashimi for 1,500 yen Hokkai butter-grilled seafood (price forgotten) Grilled snow crab for 3,000 yen Kushiage for 700 yen Black label sake (medium bottle) for 700 yen Two glasses of Kamikawa Daiginjo It didn't exceed 10,000 yen. But after the final dish, it did. The kushiage, priced at 700 yen, was a reasonable deal for 6 skewers of mainly seafood. The other seafood dishes were all over 1,000 yen, but the quality was exceptional compared to regular izakayas. The scallop and Hokkai were so delicious that they went perfectly with the sake. On the other hand, the grilled snow crab was a bit disappointing. It was 3,000 yen for one crab leg with only 8 legs, and it wasn't as tasty as expected. It might have been better to avoid items that are not in season. Overall, I had a great time enjoying the kushiage restaurant in Asahikawa. Thank you for the meal.

When you hear the name, you might think it's a cheap tempura skewer shop, but it's actually a high-class izakaya where you can enjoy seafood and other specialties from Hokkaido. I visited after making a reservation through a local friend. I relaxed in a private room and enjoyed a course meal, with a highlight being the crab! We also had sashimi, crab, meat, and of course, tempura skewers. The portion was generous and the food was delicious. It was a very luxurious meal that went perfectly with the drinks. It was a delightful dinner. Thank you very much.

From Asahikawa Station, heading towards the Civic Hall and City Hall along the shopping street, you enter a small alley where you will find a shop. Judging from the name, it seems like a skewer izakaya from any angle. However, you are led to a charming private room and suddenly served a sashimi assortment! Just when you thought it was an izakaya, next comes a delicious ankake dish with kinki fish and asparagus stir-fry, which is beyond izakaya level. Finally, the skewers arrive, followed by a green onion and tuna bun. Don't be fooled by the names, the quality is good enough to bring guests. However, the time limit is a bit of a concern...

Late on a Friday night, after finishing work, I headed straight to Asahikawa! I dropped off my luggage at the hotel and since it was already past 9 pm, I didn't have time to rest and went straight out to explore the night in the town. I had my sights set on a famous Asahikawa gourmet dish, Shinshoyaki, at a well-known restaurant, but unfortunately, I couldn't get in as the small shop had reduced staff due to COVID-19. I walked quite a distance to another restaurant I had in mind, but it was closing early for the day, which left me feeling disappointed. I wandered back into town feeling lost, and that's when I found this restaurant through a search. At first, I thought it was a tempura shop called Kushage Taro, but it seemed more like an izakaya. After being turned down by two other places, I was hesitant to try without a reservation, but they welcomed me warmly. The atmosphere was very nice, with a sushi counter that made it look like a sushi restaurant. There were plenty of fresh Kinmedai fish stacked in the showcase. We sat at a raised seating area and feeling very hungry, we opened the menu which offered a wide variety of dishes, from seafood to meat to sashimi. We ordered items like tempura, crab cream croquette, pork chop, and grilled chicken. Each dish was generous in portion size and well-seasoned, perfect for enjoying with drinks. The crab cream croquette was beautifully made with plenty of crab inside. The pork chop was large and satisfying to eat. We also ordered an eel rice bowl as a closing dish, which was delicious. I noticed an interesting item on the rice menu, called "Toroman," which I had never heard of before. I asked the waitress about it, and she kindly explained that it was a rice bowl with minced green onion on top, popular among women. I was intrigued and decided to try it, and it was delightful. The eel rice bowl arrived on time and was surprisingly delicious, even better than some eel restaurants in Sapporo. The price was 4500 yen, but it was definitely worth it. The restaurant staff were friendly and shared stories with us, mentioning that they had stocked up on Kinmedai due to the holiday but had few customers. Overall, the restaurant had a solid price range but offered delicious food from various genres. I highly recommend this place when you want to enjoy good food regardless of the cuisine. Thank you for the late-night meal.

On 7/21, it's the midsummer day of the ox in Japan! I went to have a deep kiss with Venus-chan and Una-kun♪ I really want to eat delicious eel...but when I mentioned "Kadowa○" restaurant, they said the taste changed after the previous owner passed away...so, I've always wanted to go here but before the pandemic, I tried to make a reservation a few times but it was always fully booked (T_T) If you want to go, now is the time! I tried a sake I've never had before from the sake menu...◆Mukan Tei 800 yen It's a dry sake from Kikusui Shuzo...it's different from my preference, a bit on the dry side...◆Appetizer Stewed gel and fuki It was a dish with sake lees flavor which I didn't like...(>_<)◆Thick shellfish from Akkeshi Lemon Looking at the menu on the wall, it was 1300 yen for 3 pieces but I said I only want 1 piece! And please serve it raw. It's not very big but incredibly delicious♬ I haven't eaten it for a long time due to concerns about freshness during the pandemic (^^; I didn't like Japanese sake so I squeezed the lemon served with the oysters for a change in taste!◆Venus's Droplet (fresh sea urchin) 2300 yen I ordered sea urchin again (*´艸｀) The grains are a bit crumbled (￣▽￣) The sweetness is still not quite there...I had high hopes for Venus-chan but maybe it was still too early w◆Dassai 45 1000 yen Served in a small bottle of 1 go. This way, it's less likely to deteriorate so it's good♬The crab cream croquette was also delicious with plenty of meat and the bamboo shoot was really thick and of course delicious but...◆Live grilled eel 3900 yen We were talking about having it last and when the order for a live eel came in, the chef said, 'Are you going to eat it? Okay, I'll prepare it!' so we ordered it a bit early. This year, the catch of young eels is 5 times higher than last year and the prices are lower, right? Of course, it's domestic, and there's no smell due to good processing! The meat is plump, the skin is crispy and delicious♡ The sauce is also just right, not too strong♬ I asked for some rice as well, and even when shared a bit, it still goes well♡ The melon pickles served on the side were also delicious♪ This place is family-run and very cozy. When I was taking a picture of the sushi case, the chef said, 'Take a picture of the KinKi Kids from Abashiri, they look like they're singing with their mouths open, right?' (laughs) I want to eat here but it's expensive (^-^; The two sons don't really look like the chef but the eldest son has the same nose (*´艸｀) The second son looks like EXILE's SHOKICHI♪ Also, the landlady, the second son's daughter, and a part-time worker, I think? The atmosphere is really nice but it's a bit high-end...I wonder when I can come again (^-^;

When you want to treat yourself a little, head to Kushikatsu Tarou! You might think it's a specialty shop for deep-fried skewers, but it's actually much more than that! The sashimi is delicious, and everything you try here is a hit - you can't go wrong with any dish! It's a perfect spot for business meetings and such. They have a counter and a raised seating area on the second floor. I recommend the beef and shishito pepper rolls! Also, I didn't order it this time, but the "toro man" menu item is highly recommended! Curious, right? Give it a try! ☺︎☺︎

I visited this long-established restaurant, which was founded in 1976 and is popular for its fresh seafood. Originally known for its popular dishes like tempura skewers and meat tofu, it has since become a favorite spot in Asahikawa for offering high-quality seafood to both locals and tourists. The friendly head chef and his assistant welcomed me warmly. I started with a glass of draft beer (600 yen) and was served a refreshing appetizer of chicken, cucumber, and greens with ponzu sauce. The display case in front of the counter showcased a variety of fresh seafood, so I decided to try a sashimi platter. The assistant suggested a mixed platter for 2,000 yen, which included red clam (from Nemuro), sea urchin (from Hamanaka), sea snails (from Hidaka), tuna (medium fatty and lean from Amami), mackerel (from Oita), flounder (from Shuppari), sea bream (from Setouchi), and octopus (from Mashike). Each piece was incredibly fresh and delicious, especially the creamy sea urchin, flavorful red clam, and fatty mackerel. I then switched to sake and tried Kirinzan Junmai Ginjo (1,000 yen per glass) and Hakkaisan Tokubetsu Honjozo (800 yen per glass). For my second dish, I ordered the recommended dish of deep-fried tiger puffer fish (1,200 yen), known as the "king of pufferfish" for its firm texture and delicate flavor. The head chef recommended the tiger puffer as the most delicious type of fugu. Lastly, I couldn't miss out on trying the popular "toroman" dish (900 yen) at this restaurant. It consisted of a generous amount of fatty minced tuna on vinegar rice, resembling a large sushi roll or a premium rice ball. It was satisfying and delicious. I had a great time chatting with the chef and his assistant and overall, it was a delightful dining experience at this renowned restaurant in Asahikawa!

This is the number one shop I frequent in Asahikawa. Kushikatsu Tarou is recommended for their sashimi platter. The freshness is great, and the sea urchin has no unpleasant smell and is delicious. I also always have the meat tofu, which is incredibly tasty. The staff are energetic and this is the type of place you would want to entertain in Asahikawa. The food is worth the price.

I was recommended to visit this restaurant by a local. I originally wanted to eat seafood, but ended up trying their tempura, and to my surprise, they also had a lot of seafood dishes. It was unexpected, but it turned out to be great! The dishes such as grilled asparagus and grilled mackerel were all very delicious! Especially the sashimi and other seafood dishes were truly amazing, showcasing the taste of Hokkaido, which you can't experience in Tokyo. I was very impressed.

I was invited by the teacher to visit this restaurant for the first time. The sashimi, salt-grilled ayu, kinki hot pot, steak, fresh vegetables, eel dish, and tempura were all elegant and high-quality dishes that seemed like main courses. I would like to go back again, but it's not easy to find a restaurant that I can afford. The staff members were friendly and didn't give off a high-end restaurant vibe. The food was really delicious.