This is Date, a Kyoto cuisine restaurant. Today, in the middle of the Bon Festival on the 13th, the restaurant is still fully booked even after 1 pm. The parking lot is located in front and next to the restaurant. As usual, there are salmon hanging outside. The main seating is at tables, but there are also tatami rooms available. Last time, I had the Matsugado bento with sashimi for 1,650 yen, so this time I opted for Western cuisine. The hamburger steak is 1,250 yen, the hamburger steak with shrimp fry is 1,500 yen, the beef stew is 3,100 yen, and the special Japanese beef steak ranges from 3,500 yen to 6,000 yen. The most cost-effective option seems to be the hamburger steak with shrimp fry for 1,500 yen. The service for the dishes takes quite a bit of time, and even those who had made reservations were being turned away. This restaurant seems to take a long time for food preparation even on a regular day, so the wait is expected to be quite long. However, the famous soba restaurant nearby also had a long line outside, so choosing this restaurant was the right decision. Since I have no urgent plans, I will wait patiently. I placed my order at 1:25 pm, and the food arrived at 2:25 pm, when most of the other customers had already left. It took about an hour for the food to be ready. Now, since Japanese cuisine seems to be the main focus, let's see how the Western cuisine is. The hamburger steak with demi-glace sauce is delicious. The sauce is similar to curry or beef stew, with a rich flavor. It complements the well-kneaded hamburger nicely. The shrimp fry and small fried fish do not have sauce on them, so I used the hamburger sauce for them as well. Both Japanese and Western dishes are tasty and would likely be appreciated by older customers.

It's elegant. It seems like a Kyoto cuisine. However, the restaurant is very hard to find. The name of the restaurant is only written small on the curtain. It's easy to miss. There are dried salmon hanging in the garden. During weekdays at lunchtime, there are about 5 customers in the spacious restaurant with table and traditional Japanese seating. For lunch, the Matsugado Bento (1,300 yen with sashimi for 1,650 yen) seems to be recommended. I often eat makunouchi, but Matsukado only occasionally, so I forget how to pronounce it. Other options include shrimp tempura rice bowl (1,400 yen), eel (2,200 yen), conger eel rice bowl (1,400 yen), and hamburg steak (1,250 yen), hamburg steak with fried shrimp (1,500 yen), Japanese beef steak (3,500 yen and up), beef stew (3,100 yen and up). There are also Western dishes like rice separate⁉. The Matsugado Bento with sashimi for 1,650 yen is quite expensive, but it comes with a small yet elegant set meal. It seems like a dish that would be well-received by women and older people.

I ordered the salmon tendon for 1,400 yen, which I don't usually eat. It was crispy and easy to eat. It's been exactly four years since I last visited. Back then, it was still the Heisei era and before COVID, so there were no disinfectants or partitions. The salmon was still being dried under the eaves just like before.

This is my second visit. I arrived a little past 11, so I waited in the car in the parking lot until 11:30. I subtly opened the door at 20 minutes past. As soon as I entered, I was asked to place an order and I ordered two Matsukado bento boxes. The next customers ordered a hamburger, then Matsukado bento, and then eel. I think a total of five orders were placed. About 20 minutes after entering, the hamburger was brought to us. I felt like they were being prepared together. 10 minutes later, at 11:50, the Matsukado bento was served, five portions in total. 30 minutes. While the kitchen efficiency may be a factor in preparing everything together, I don't think the dishes should take 30 minutes to be served. If they can't serve without making us wait for 30 minutes, they should have opened 10 minutes earlier. In that case, it would have been better if the dishes were served at 11:50 instead of opening at 11:30. We didn't receive miso soup, but overall, the flavors were rich and the "creative Kyoto cuisine" was not bad.

I interviewed after completing the Date Half Marathon. I had a Matsukado bento. It was delicious!!! The miso soup was fragrant and I couldn't figure out what was in it, no matter how many times I drank it (laughs). My husband was also very satisfied!!! When I looked at the restaurant's website, it said, "Creative cuisine that combines Kyoto cuisine and French cuisine." I see! It's understandable that some dishes go beyond the framework of Kyoto cuisine! I'm happy that a delicious restaurant is open on Sundays. I will visit again!

Today's job was in Takehara-cho and Yamashita-cho. It was 11:30 when Mr. K said, "Let's go eat!" There were no customers before us, but two came after. The background music was Lisa Ono's songs. Mr. K said, "I'll go for the expensive eel!" It was delicious! Sprinkled with sansho pepper... so delicious! It was so good that I turned into a horse (laughs). Thank you as always, Mr. K, for treating us! The eel (charcoal-grilled from Hamamatsu) cost 3400 yen. Thank you for the meal! (^^)v

After finishing a meeting with Mr. K, let's go eat! Oh, it's crowded here! The restaurant said, "We're short-staffed but still open, so it gets busy (^^)". We ordered two Matsukado bento boxes. The rice comes in a tea bowl, but you can have unlimited refills. The simmered highland tofu is delicious~ Eggplant miso dengaku, sweet and spicy chicken, fried oysters, tamagoyaki, and smoked herring... everything is so delicious~ Matsukado bento box for 1300 yen. Thank you for the meal! (^^)v

JR Date Monbetsu Station is less than a 10-minute walk away. I decided to visit this restaurant based on reviews and after checking their website. The restaurant specializes in Kyoto cuisine, which caught my interest. The interior is a calm Japanese-style restaurant. The lunch menu offers a wide range of options from tempura rice bowls to eel dishes, even including Western-style dishes. While I was tempted by the tempura rice bowl, it was my first day of travel and I wanted to have a balanced meal with various vegetables and mains, so I chose the Matsukado Bento. Each dish had good flavors, but the seasoning was on the sweeter side. Even the pickles were quite sweet, almost too sweet. The simmered vegetables had a strong sweetness in the broth. The sweet broth soaked into the freeze-dried tofu was too sweet, and I hurriedly mixed it with rice. The sweetness of the freeze-dried tofu was as sweet as pumpkin or even sweeter, which was unusual, but the taste was good. (It reminded me of the simmered dish my grandmother from a seaside town in Hokkaido used to make. The seasoning was quite sweet.) The taste of the rolled omelette was ordinary. The white mashed potatoes on top, combined with egg whites, were interesting. The well-kneaded black miso on the eggplant was delicious. The sweetened herring was also good. The smoked and dried herring was a nice touch. The fried dishes were cooked perfectly, but the sauce was particularly strong in flavor and sweetness. I have to emphasize again, each dish was delicious individually, but in terms of overall balance, my palate didn't get a break. I also didn't feel satisfied with the amount of rice, and although I considered ordering more for an additional fee, I found it too much trouble and decided against it. The chopstick sleeve is labeled as Kyoto cuisine, but the seasoning felt more like Hokkaido style. The cooking methods and presentation may be Kyoto-style, but... There were reviews mentioning both the Kyoto-like aspects and the strong flavor, but personally, having eaten this type of Japanese cuisine in Kyoto several times, I felt it was different. The flavors were more similar to the sweet and savory tastes I am familiar with in Hokkaido. There were many dishes where the sweetness overwhelmed the taste of the ingredients. If it weren't for the term "Kyoto cuisine" (which is written on the chopstick sleeve. There is a photo), I would have been more satisfied with a Japanese cuisine that encapsulates the taste of Hokkaido without expecting too much. It felt like a solid, Hokkaido-style seasoning. The atmosphere of the restaurant and the hostess were pleasant. I must reiterate, the flavors were on the sweeter side, but it was not bad, and I thought it was a good and user-friendly restaurant.

This is my second visit. The first review was quite detailed, but this time I'll keep it brief. Located in Date City, Hokkaido, which is between Noboribetsu and Otaru. This town facing the Pacific Ocean has little snow and is easy to live in. The Date Station, as the name suggests, exudes history. If you drive a bit towards Noboribetsu (Usu), you'll find historical temples like Zengokoji. Along National Route 38-39, there is plenty to enjoy. Hot springs, history, food, and scenery. Highly recommended for those visiting Hokkaido for sightseeing. As for the restaurant review, Hiroya in Date City reminded me of the flavors of Kyoto. The Matsukado Bento for 1,200 yen was great, with free rice refills! The eggplant with special miso sauce was delicious, and the simmered tofu was the best. The fried items in the bento were a nice touch. I took photos of the menu this time and felt compelled to write more about it. The miso soup was also refillable, which I didn't realize until now. Next time, I'll definitely get refills of both! Last month, I visited Kyoto and had the opportunity to try the famous bento from Hishi Iwa, a highly rated restaurant. The experience was perfect, but the prices were for takeout. Hiroya, on the other hand, offers warm bento boxes at a reasonable price. While the prices may differ, both places offer satisfying meals. If a place like Hiroya existed in Kyoto, I would definitely go. The fact that I could enjoy Kyoto flavors in Hokkaido is something I'm really happy about.

I always thought that Matsuhana-do bento had lots of side dishes in each compartment. But here, they packed various side dishes and a rice bowl in a square box. I asked for less rice as usual. The eggplant should be eaten with miso. The flavors are intense! The grilled mackerel? Also intense! The simmered dish, except for the burdock, is light! The fried chicken... so intense that it's hard to eat without rice! The sweet rolled omelette is mixed with mashed yam and cream? There are some complicated flavors... Not sure if it's about contrast or my unsophisticated taste buds... I regret asking for less rice for this bento (^-^; The miso soup! It was really delicious! Daikon leaves and fried tempura bits?

There are various menu options such as tempura rice bowl and grilled eel rice bowl, but my personal recommendation is the shrimp fry and hamburger. (Rice needs to be ordered separately).

Inari sushi is delicious, as well as bento boxes, tamagoyaki, and rice bowls. The flavors are gentle and tasty! Whether you eat at the restaurant or take it to go, it's a great choice.

The braised pork is delicious but I wish it had a bit more volume.

The Matsuhana-do bento is expensive but delicious.

Hiroya's Matsukado Bento at Kyo-ryori is incredibly delicious! ※Reservations may be required on Saturdays!? Hiroya, a beloved catering shop, is a real pro. They have a dedicated parking lot next to the shop where you can park more than 10 cars. As soon as you enter the shop, you'll notice a friendly female staff member who will seat you after you provide your reservation name. The atmosphere inside the shop is nice, and the staff members are all very efficient. They serve barley tea, and the dishes are really nice. The Matsukado Bento, priced at 1,200 yen, is soon brought to your table. The presentation is lovely, and you can even get free refills of the delicious rice. The miso soup is flavorful and well-balanced. The eggplant with miso is a standout, and the pickled vegetables are unique and addictive. The vinegar dish is refreshing, and the simmered dish with daikon, renkon, and shiitake is a highlight. The fried scallops and chicken in sweet sauce are perfect accompaniments to the meal. The service is top-notch, with free rice refills and attentive staff. Overall, Hiroya is a bustling restaurant with delicious food and great service. Make sure to reserve ahead, especially on Saturdays.

Finally able to live a normal life and long-distance driving is also okay. In the midst of bad weather, I made a late visit to Date City for year-end greetings. "That must have been tough, why not have some eel to boost your spirits!" With the guidance of my valued client, Mr. K, I made my first visit to a popular restaurant where groups of tourists usually flock in by bus. However, on this day, there were only a few groups of customers ahead of us. The interior of the restaurant was more reminiscent of the Taisho era than Showa, with spacious table seating allowing for a leisurely dining experience. The menu offered a wide variety of dishes, so I am definitely planning to visit again! I had the Shizuoka eel for ¥2,000. Thank you for the delicious meal! (^^)v

I visited the restaurant on Sunday at 12 o'clock as I had made a reservation. The parking lot was already full, both in front of the shop and in the designated parking area nearby. I ordered the Matsukado bento, which included scallop fry, Zangi (fried chicken), crab namasu, eggplant miso, Dengaku sweet egg, simmered taro and shiitake mushrooms, white sesame tofu, and pickles. Every dish had an elegant flavor and was incredibly delicious. The miso soup had a rich and unique taste, and even the seaweed seemed like high-quality seaweed. I usually eat quickly, but this time I took my time to savor each dish. It was a wonderful discovery to find such a lovely restaurant. There was a family celebration going on in the separate room, and I thought it would be a great place to celebrate special occasions in the future. I really liked it. ♡♡♡

◼️ Basic Information □ Area: Hokkaido > Date, Tomakomai, Muroran, Erimo □ Genre: Japanese cuisine, small dishes □ Tabelog Rating (10/10/2016): 3.10/7 reviews [8th out of 38 restaurants] ◼️ Details Located about a 10-minute walk from JR Date-Monbetsu Station in Date City, Hokkaido, this restaurant is a traditional Japanese restaurant. The name Date City comes from the Date family, who were the lords of Sendai. The Sendai domain played a significant role in the Boshin War as the leader of the Northern Alliance, fighting against the new government forces. After the war, they were greatly reduced in territory. To support their retainers, they initiated various development projects, one of which was started here by the former lord of Watari, Date Kuninari, and his retainers. Kyoto Ryori Hiroya started as a Western-style restaurant in this area with a view of Funka Bay. Even now, they still offer Western dishes alongside their Kyoto cuisine, as a remnant of their origins. I visited during a layover at Date-Monbetsu Station. ◼️ Visit Details □ Visit Time: Weekday, slightly after 1 pm □ Reservation: Not required □ Crowdedness: Almost full [no waiting time] ◼️ Nishijima Hyogo's Impressions □ Food/Taste: ★3.3/ Visually appealing but average in taste □ Service: ★3.0/ Decent for lunchtime □ Atmosphere: ★3.0/ Spacious seating, cafe-like ambiance □ Cost Performance: ★3.5/ Good value for the variety offered □ Overall: ★3.4/ Understandable reasons for wanting to return □ Recommended: Matsukadodan Bento (1200 yen) For detailed information on each aspect, please refer to the following.

I stopped by this restaurant on my way to work! Although the menu mainly focuses on Japanese cuisine, I was in the mood for hamburger steak, so I ordered the hamburger steak and shrimp fry. The hamburger steak was covered in a lot of demi-glace sauce. The shrimp fry had no sauce on it. There were no sauces or soy sauce on the table. The hamburger steak was tender, with some parts offering a meaty texture, but it lacked that meaty flavor. It felt somewhat unsatisfying for someone craving hamburger steak like me. The portion size was decent, but it lacked that meaty feel! I initially thought this place was a Japanese restaurant. Since it seemed like a nice restaurant, I would like to come back to try their Japanese dishes.