Hokkaido report: A revisit to "Ippin Obihiro Main Store"! I arrived around 12 pm on a Saturday and waited for about 5 minutes inside the store. I ordered the "Pork Zanmai" and a side salad. The Pork Zanmai was a luxurious dish where you can enjoy both the tender loin and the sweet fatty belly. Even though I asked for extra sauce, they added just the right amount, maintaining a perfect balance of flavors. I quickly finished the delicious meal! The pork bowl at Ippin is truly exceptional! Thank you for the meal.

I headed to this restaurant right after arriving at Chitose Airport from the early morning, aiming to reach it before 11:00. There were no cars waiting in the parking lot, so it seemed like I was the first one there. I chose this restaurant from the many pork bowl places because I used to eat here frequently at the Sapporo branch over 10 years ago and missed the nostalgic taste. I was seated right away at 11:00 and ordered the pork bowl set. The pork bowl was just like how I remembered, overflowing from the lid. It was delicious as always. The fragrant sweet smell, the tender meat - everything was perfect. The miso soup and salad dressing that came with the set were also tasty and filled with plenty of ingredients. I hesitated at first, but I'm glad I came here. By the time I left, the parking lot was full of cars with local Obihiro license plates.

I arrived at the restaurant around 8 pm and had to wait for about 20-30 minutes before being seated. Once I ordered, the food arrived in about 10 minutes and it was seriously delicious. I got the meat with extra rice in a large portion, which was a bit too much but definitely worth it for those who can eat a lot. The mountain wasabi had a nice aroma, although it didn't have much flavor.

The scent of charcoal was amazing, and the pork in the pork bowl was very tender and delicious. It was great that they offered extra sauce for free. The pork soup by Ippei-san also had a unique flavor with ingredients like boiled eggs, which I haven't had elsewhere. It was tasty. We went around lunchtime, so it was a bit crowded, but they offered a service where they would call you when your table was ready, so we were able to pass the time at the nearby Don Quijote. The staff were very friendly and helpful.

【July 29, 2023】First visit to the restaurant. This time, I ordered "Buta-zanmai with extra sauce". I arrived 10 minutes before the opening time, and initially there was no one there, but soon people started lining up and by the time they opened, it was full. The restaurant had both table seating and counter seating, and the staff were friendly and created a good atmosphere. A few minutes later, my dish arrived. The meat was tender and the sauce mixed well with the meat fat, making it very delicious. It was nice that you could add extra sauce for free. If I have the chance to visit Obihiro again, I would like to try ordering something else.

When you think of Obihiro, you think of pork bowl, so we decided to get off the highway on our way to Lake Saroma. When the dish was brought to us, we were told to quietly remove the lid because the meat might overflow! I was surprised to see the meat overflowing from the bowl! The meat had a delicious charcoal aroma and tasted really good. I also thought it was very convenient that the miso soup had a handle. We waited in line for a long time, but it was worth the wait.

Around 2:00 PM, I started to feel hungry. I searched for a nearby pork bowl restaurant and found this one! Ippin-san! I think there are many pork bowl restaurants in Obihiro, but this Ippin-san also has a branch in Sapporo, right? Since the main store is here in Obihiro, let's go in and have a meal! Let's fill our stomachs ♡ I ordered the "Pork Zanmai" (1,110 yen) - a double serving of loin and belly! Even though I didn't order a set, it came with pickles. It's nice that you can choose the amount of rice and sauce. I slightly regret not asking for less sauce, but it was still delicious ♡ The cooking area was right in front of me, grilling over charcoal, but surprisingly, there was no smoky smell. There was also sansho pepper and black pepper on the table, and it was really tasty when I sprinkled some sansho pepper on it. Thank you for the meal.

Visited at 7:00 pm on June 4, 2023. "Ippin" is a popular pork bowl restaurant. In addition to the main store in Obihiro, they have 7 branches in Sapporo. It is operated by Sorachi Co., Ltd., known for their pork bowl sauce. I have only eaten here once before, but this is my first time posting a review. In recent years, whenever I come to Obihiro, I always eat curry and pork bowls. The pork bowls in Obihiro have a different taste compared to those in other regions. The difference in Tokachi pork bowls lies in the way the pork is grilled and the sauce. They often use charcoal grilling, and here they use Binchotan charcoal. The sauce is, of course, Sorachi's famous pork bowl sauce. Today, I ordered the limited edition "Pork Feast Extra Large ¥1,180" and "Pork Soup (Butajiru) ¥280". "Ippin" serves mainly pork loin, so the "Pork Feast" is a limited edition with a mix of pork belly. The meat overflowing from the bowl stimulates my appetite. The staff informed me to be careful when removing the lid as the meat may stick to it. The "Pork Feast Extra Large" fills the bowl with rice, and the sauce-soaked rice is irresistibly delicious. The pork has a strong charcoal aroma and is deliciously savory. The sauce is predictably delicious, being from Sorachi. The "Pork Soup" contains chunks of meat, providing a satisfying meal. I enjoyed it slowly and finished the meal. The long-awaited Tokachi pork bowl was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

I visited this restaurant for the second time, as it has several locations in Sapporo and I had a good impression from my previous visit. I arrived around 12:30 on a weekday and was surprised to find only about half the tables occupied, with no line. I ordered the "Zanmai Set (1330 yen)" which includes a mix of loin and belly pork, along with pickles, miso soup, and plum tofu (or salad). The pork was grilled over charcoal, with the chef adjusting the heat using a hairdryer. The meat was cooked perfectly, with a delicious sweet and savory sauce. Both the loin and belly were juicy and flavorful. I enjoyed adding some sansho pepper for a slight change in taste. The plum tofu, miso soup with bamboo shoots, and pickles were also tasty. Overall, I was satisfied with the pork bowl set once again. I have been to several pork bowl restaurants in Obihiro, but this one ranks high on my list.

The smell of charcoal spread, the delicious sauce, the sweetness of the fatty meat, and the satisfying feeling of biting into the meat were amazing. The mixed bowl of thinly sliced pork belly and loin with a little rice, served with mountain wasabi and an extra side of miso soup, was customizable in terms of meat cutting and sauce, allowing for a personalized touch. The miso soup was light and satisfying. The flavor and seasoning pleasantly surprised with a balance of richness and subtlety.

I went to Tokachi Butadon Ippin, located near Obihiro Don Quijote. As soon as you get close, you can smell the delicious aroma of the pork bowl. The pork is tender and the seasoning is just right. It comes with miso soup, salad, and pickles. This is my favorite pork bowl restaurant in Obihiro.

It was a visit with two people on a Wednesday, after 8 pm! The restaurant is kind as there is no last order time, and as long as you enter before 9 pm, you can still be seated. I ordered the "Buta Zanmai" with less rice, less sauce, small cuts, and without green onions for 930 yen. It's a specialty of Obihiro, a pork bowl! It was my first time trying it, and the charcoal aroma and sauce were delicious! I couldn't resist and ended up buying some of the pork bowl sauce to take home (*⁰▿⁰*)☆*ﾟ The restaurant has a rating of 3.50 on Tabelog (as of January 2023)!

- Ordered dish: Pork bowl - Cuisine: Devouring a pork bowl with lots of seared chashu on top. The sliced green onions are a nice accent. The scent is reminiscent of charcoal fire, which is really nice! When you come to Obihiro in Hokkaido, you just have to eat this before you leave. The memory of eating it long ago has come back to me.

I heard about the "Sorachi" sauce from a friend from Hokkaido and decided to visit the pork bowl restaurant run by the maker of that sauce, "Sorachi". I made a reservation at the counter and was called in by a staff member. The menu is simple, with options like "pork bowl", "pork feast (a mix of loin and belly)", and "pork miso soup" in different sizes. I ordered the "pork feast" with less rice. When the bowl arrived, the lid was slightly ajar, adding to the excitement. Opening it revealed shiny dark brown pork slices, large and thick, with a lot of volume. The meat was tender and had a perfect chewiness. The sauce had a gentle sweetness with a hint of charred flavor, creating a delicious combination. As I savored each bite, the rich flavor of the pork and the satisfying texture made it a truly enjoyable meal. My friend regretted not getting the larger size, while I regretted not getting the regular size. The pork feast allowed us to compare the textures and flavors of the loin and belly, making it a great value. The pork miso soup was also delicious and hearty. Overall, the experience was fantastic, and I even bought some pork bowl sauce to enjoy at home. I definitely want to come back to this restaurant in Obihiro.

Why is pork bowl so delicious here? Especially the pork bowl (rice & meat/extra large) + pork miso soup! From the beginning to the end of the meal, it never gets boring. The sauce developed in collaboration with Sorachi, the perfect grilling, makes the rice go down smoothly! Also, it's even better when you sandwich pork miso soup and pickles in between! This is definitely a repeat order!

I visited by rental car in Obihiro. It is a bit far from the station, so access is tough without a car. I visited on Saturday at 5 pm. I was able to get in without waiting, but there were many takeout customers, so I had to wait a bit for my food to come out. I ordered the "Zanmai" dish with pork belly and loin, along with a pork miso soup for 250 yen. The pork bowl was grilled over charcoal and had a delicious smoky flavor. The sauce was also perfect and very tasty. There was no burnt smell at all. Adding some sansho pepper made it even more delicious. I thought the 250 yen for the pork miso soup was a bit expensive, but after trying it, I was satisfied. It had plenty of Hokkaido potatoes and onions. It was full of vegetables and very tasty.

On 22/08/06, I had "Butadon 880 yen" for dinner while on a business trip. I want to shout it out loud. The most delicious food in the world is Butadon (lol). It has been about 50 years since I returned to my birthplace. It is only natural for me to go on a Butadon pilgrimage (^_^;) This is a direct store of the sauce maker "Sorachi". I have already experienced the wonderful taste at the Sapporo store. I wanted to play it safe for the first time. After all, it's the main store. I entered the store a little before 7 pm. I was immediately seated at a table for two. What I felt while waiting was the large number of takeout customers. The kitchen seemed busy. The Butadon was served 30 minutes after ordering. It was a busy time, so it couldn't be helped. However... the Butadon that was served was disappointingly mediocre. The pork loin was completely overcooked. There was no juiciness, only dryness. The burnt meat on top was a letdown, and my excitement plummeted. The rice was also too hard. The only saving grace was the delicious sauce. I managed to finish it, but my anger did not subside. I understand they are busy, but is it okay to serve something like this? I earnestly hope for work befitting the main store.

The taste aside, I was really surprised by the amazing service. Initially, I was thinking of going back to the bakery in front of the station, but since I have three children aged 4, 2, and 0, I decided to check out a gourmet restaurant that was previously featured. When we arrived at the restaurant, the exterior had a family-friendly vibe, so we decided to have our meal there. What surprised me the most was the children's plate. Even the 2-year-old had food already cut into easy-to-eat sizes, which was amazing! I felt the kindness of the staff who must have experience with children. The sweetness of the potatoes on the plate was surprising, even the adults couldn't resist trying. The adult salad was also very delicious. When the 2-year-old dropped his spoon, before we could say anything, they brought a replacement spoon right away. The service and hospitality were incredible! It was better than any other restaurant I've been to. It made me realize the importance of such service in a job. Of course, the adult meal was also delicious.

Yamagata, Sendai, and Hokkaido trip. When it comes to Obihiro, it's all about pork bowl. I decided to go to Ippei-san after watching another YouTube video, and the deciding factor was the "lightness" and the delicious sauce. The amount of rice can be customized, which is great. I wanted to enjoy the local gourmet food, so this time I ordered a small amount of rice, kept the pork as is, and asked for less sauce with extra green onions. The amount was just right, and the sauce was not too sweet, but delicious. I chose this restaurant from 4 carefully selected places, and it was the right choice! We had to wait for about 20 minutes, probably because it was just past lunchtime. They also offer to add more sauce if you want, which is a nice service. However, if you prefer tender meat, you might find it a bit lacking as they use less oil. If you want to enjoy pork bowl in a delicious yet healthier way, I highly recommend this restaurant!

Pork Zanmai (1000 yen) When ordering, they ask about the size of the meat cut, which is usually on the smaller side. The thickness is also slightly thin, but there are enough slices so the amount of meat is sufficient. The meat is deliciously fragrant! From a quick peek into the kitchen, it seems like they use charcoal fire. It's nice to be able to enjoy both the fatty pork belly and the meaty loin. Personally, it's a bit disappointing that toppings like a hot spring egg or extra sauce are not self-service. They have a variety of seasonings like pepper, sansho pepper, and shichimi, so you can enjoy the meal until the end. Pork soup (250 yen) I was drawn to it by the illustrated menu in front of me and the rarity of having a stewed egg in it. It's full of ingredients, with a rich broth that tastes delicious! Adding a refreshing spiciness with shichimi makes it even more delicious! Pork bowl, pork soup, it was a true pork feast at Pork Zanmai! I think it's rare to find a pork bowl restaurant that puts effort into their pork soup. Also, they gave me a mask case, showing attention to detail in their service.

Even though it's a chain restaurant, this place serves the best pork bowl. Other places tend to have thick sauce, burnt flavor, or too greasy, but this place is not greasy, has just the right amount of flavor, and is delicious. The taste is consistent even when I eat it in Sapporo. I've tried many pork bowl places, but I always end up coming back here. Surprisingly, it's the best despite being a chain restaurant!