I have been to Hakodate several times but had never been to Gotoken before. So, I decided to try their lunch menu. As expected, the restaurant had a dignified atmosphere, being the oldest restaurant in Hokkaido. I was politely guided to my table and ordered the lunch plate. I had to choose between curry and hayashi, and I chose curry. I opted for the "Meiji Curry," which has been served since the establishment of the restaurant. The food was promptly served, and everything looked delicious. First, the salad. The homemade dressing was delicious. I usually don't like sautéed carrots, but these had just the right amount of sweetness and retained the natural flavor of the carrots, making them surprisingly delicious. The two crab cream croquettes were filled with plenty of crab and were tasty. The shrimp fry was also delicious. The Meiji Curry had a light color, resembling the Yokosuka Navy Curry made with flour and curry powder. However, when I tasted it, I was pleasantly surprised by its deliciousness. It had a deep flavor that was different from its appearance. The pork in the curry was tender and flavorful, even better than braised pork. It was truly delicious. You can also choose the European-style curry, which was tasty as well, but as expected. The Meiji Curry was unexpectedly delicious. The beef stew came with a large piece of meat, which was incredibly tasty. Of course, the compote was authentic and delicious. A small piece of castella cake was served as dessert. It was moist with a subtle orange flavor, another unexpected delight. I couldn't help but admire Gotoken's excellence. Next time, I will try the Russian cuisine with borscht and piroshki.

I arrived a little before 12 p.m. on Saturday and had to wait 50 minutes. I got my ticket and walked around the church until I was seated at a nice table by the window. I chose a set menu, and decided on the refreshing shrimp fry set. It was based on a certain manga menu! I was full and satisfied with the delicious meal. After paying, I asked if I could take a picture of the table, and they kindly opened the curtains for me. It was bright during the meal, so I appreciated this gesture.

Fivejokken Honten, a well-known restaurant, was visited on a Monday at 12:30, with a wait time of 50 minutes. While waiting, a visit to the Catholic Motomachi Association was possible. Started with champagne for 660 yen, which was surprisingly sweet. The Meiji Ebi Fry Set was ordered, which included 3 pieces of Ebi Fry, Borscht, Pork Curry Rice, Salad, Russian cookies, and grapes for 2750 yen. The curry was mildly sweet, with chunks of pork, and tasted even better with the Garam Masala on the table. The Ebi Fry was crispy and served with tasty tartar sauce. The Borscht had a gentle flavor and was delicious. The Russian cookies had a simple and homely taste. Overall, a satisfying meal with generous portions and flavors.

This day, the main event was lunch at Goto Ken. There was a collaboration menu inspired by a certain manga, so I went to try it out. The Meiji Ebi Fry set included Ebi Fry Imperial Hotel style, Meiji curry (pork), Goto Ken-style borscht, Suschka-style cookies, and a mini salad, offering a satisfyingly generous portion. The Ebi Fry, the famous borscht, and the Meiji curry were all enjoyable, providing a great value. The curry topped with pickled daikon made me nostalgic, wondering if this was more common than Fukujinzuke in the past. Suschka is a round cookie that is popular in Russia and appeared in the manga, so this Suschka-style version was likely an adaptation, but it had a simple and delicious taste. Beside the register, there was a shop selling Suschka-style cookies, garam masala, retort curry, and other items, perfect for souvenirs. The waiting area was also decorated with historical items, making it a great tourist spot where you can feel the history.

This historic Western-style restaurant had a line of about 5 people waiting to open, with a classic atmosphere. I ordered the pork cutlet curry, which was delicious with a thick and tender cutlet. The curry had a rich flavor and a standard level of spiciness, similar to San Marco's curry. I personally think pork cutlet curry is tastier than spiced curry. The staff were perfect and I was very satisfied. Thank you for the meal.

Please refer to the attached image for more details, but rest assured that they offer affordable prices even at night. While waiting to be seated, you can relax in a nice waiting area. I was in a good mood and ended up ordering sparkling wine even though I don't like alcohol. The Russian cuisine set is quite delicious. The prices and taste are reminiscent of a Royal Host. They provide water like Gyoza no Ohsho, which is already placed on the table, and this contributes to high customer satisfaction. The prices are reasonable for a tourist spot. I highly recommend it.

This is a Western-style restaurant in Hakodate where you can enjoy delicious curry. It gets crowded even during lunch hours, so you need to get a numbered ticket. The restaurant is well-established and has a stylish interior. I really love the curry here! ◎

I visited around noon on a regular day and it was quite busy with a 40-minute wait time displayed. However, I was actually seated after about 15 minutes, so I was able to enjoy my meal smoothly. (They provide wait time updates through LINE, so I could explore while waiting.) My family had curry, but I was in the mood for something sweet, so I had the French toast. It was crispy on the outside and moist on the inside, very delicious. The maple syrup was rich and satisfyingly sweet!

When I visited, they were running a campaign for a Kantai Collection set, but I'm not interested in that so I ordered their Russian cuisine set. The interior of the restaurant had a classic and simple setting reminiscent of Showa era, unlike the Lucky Pierrot I visited recently. The dishes were a collection of traditional Russian cuisine as imagined by Japanese people in the 20th century. They had Piroshki, Beef Stroganoff, Borscht with fewer beets, and a salad with pink dressing. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

■Goto-ken Hon-ten Restaurant Yukikawa-tei I visited this restaurant after seeing the night view at Mt. Hakodate. Established in 1879, Goto-ken Hon-ten Restaurant Yukikawa-tei is located in an area with many historical buildings such as churches and consulates. This restaurant is also designated as a tangible cultural property. The founder is said to have fought in the Hakodate War as part of the shogunate forces. The second generation learned Western cuisine at the Imperial Hotel and laid the foundation for Goto-ken. I visited on a weekday just before the last order at 8:00 PM, so the spacious restaurant was almost empty. ■Russian Set I couldn't decide between the Western set and the Russian set, so I chose the Russian set since I was in front of Russia. The set includes borscht, piroshki, and beef stroganoff, offering a mix of the best of Russian cuisine. The borscht, with its tangy flavor, transforms when you add sour cream midway through. It's surprisingly different and delicious. The salad is topped with plenty of beets on fresh vegetables, giving a refreshing taste. The beef stroganoff features a large piece of tenderly cooked meat in a rich and flavorful sauce. The croquette served alongside is a cream croquette made with seasonal seafood, with plenty of white fish on this particular day. The darker pastry is piroshki, filled with a hearty mixture of minced meat and more. It's not fried. For dessert, there's mulberry cake, soft and reminiscent of walnuts. The subtly sweet cake with jam and cream is gentle. It was a place where you can enjoy the traditional flavors that have been passed down since the Meiji era.

While savoring each bite, I couldn't help but wonder if this is what it means to preserve traditional flavors. I could understand that the taste used to be delicious back in the day. Hmm. I see the importance of keeping the traditional taste as it is, but there are also delicious restaurants without such traditions. It's truly appreciated that customers come here because of the tradition, like the empress did. However, the service feels like a family restaurant. At this point, I have nothing but questions.

On Sunday, March 26th, how are you all spending your day? Please continue to be cautious of the coronavirus. I had a pleasant 1-night, 2-day trip to Hakodate. I stayed at Yunokawa Onsen Nagisa-tei, where the friendly service made my stay enjoyable. Today, I took the streetcar from Yunokawa Onsen to the Motomachi area. I explored the former British Consulate and the Hakodate Public Hall, and even got commemorative stamps. The grand hall and balcony of the Hakodate Public Hall had a wonderful atmosphere, reminiscent of a dance party. Both buildings showcased a mix of Japanese and Western architectural techniques. After the tour, I had lunch in Motomachi. Since it was just past 11 am, I chose Gotoken for lunch. I arrived 10 minutes before opening, so I waited inside the entrance, which had a charming foreign ambiance. Interestingly, I had previously visited Gotoken for a company trip's lunch on the second day. They serve authentic European-style curry. Today, I chose the Combination Curry. The menu includes Combination Curry (with salad) and black tea. The salad had lettuce and onions, providing a crunchy texture. The main dish featured rice with beef in British-style curry on one side and pork in Meiji-style curry on the other. The side dishes included Fukujinzuke, a Garam Masala similar to chili oil, and peanuts. The Meiji-style curry with pork was sweet, while the British-style curry with beef had a rich color. Adding Garam Masala for a flavor change allowed me to enjoy the spiciness. Both curries had tender meat and a rich, authentic flavor. I used a national travel support coupon at Nagisa-tei, which covered the drink cost of 550 yen. I was able to use the remaining 450 yen coupon at the restaurant, so I fully utilized today's coupon before the expiration date. I was satisfied with the authentic Gotoken curry. Please try it yourself. Thank you for the meal.

When it comes to Western food in Hakodate, Goto-ken is the place to go. I visited for lunch with the intention of having curry. As expected from a long-established restaurant, I was guided by the waiter to the Snow Pavilion and eagerly ordered the curry. However, what was brought in front of me was a menu titled "The Western-style restaurant of Showa Retro!" So my desire for curry vanished... I ended up ordering the hamburger plate from the menu. Since it was a trip, I also ordered a beer, Sapporo Classic, of course. First, corn soup was brought out, followed by the hamburger, spaghetti, and other items on a single plate. Yes, it was truly a hamburger from a Western-style restaurant with a Showa-era scent. Finally, I finished with dessert, feeling nostalgic and enjoying the meal. While the curry is delicious, I also enjoyed this Showa Retro menu, which brought a sense of nostalgia and was delicious!

When it comes to Goto-ken in Hakodate, their curry is famous, but all their dishes are carefully prepared. This time, I had the Western set. The portions are generous. The crab cream croquette in the set is amazing. It uses a bechamel sauce extended with flounder broth, and it's a must-try dish. The stained glass halfway up the stairs leading to the second floor is from Tiffany & Co., and there are also casually placed prototype pieces from when the statue of Tatsuko at Lake Tazawa was made. The other artworks and objects are all wonderful. It's a place where you can enjoy a variety of things.

It is a personal feeling, but I had a negative image of old famous shops in the countryside selling retort pouches in historic buildings, with their selling point being more than just the taste. However, this time I was pleasantly surprised. After being rejected by my first choice sushi restaurant, I called ahead before noon to check the crowd and was told they could seat me smoothly, so I decided to try the Russian cuisine set that had caught my eye before. The phone response and service were polite and attentive, and even though I dined alone, I felt comfortable throughout. The seasoning was exquisite, and the cooking and cutting of the ingredients were done with care. The portion size for each dish was just right, leaving a very satisfying feeling after finishing the meal. The casual yet refined deliciousness that never gets old makes this a restaurant I would like to visit 2-3 times a month if it were nearby.

Arrived at the foot of Mount Hakodate after walking through the snow and feeling tired. Upon opening the door... Wow, it's retro. The lunch menu is also reasonable! Although I should probably have curry, I ended up with a kids' meal set, which was nostalgic. The staff and the taste of the food both have a comforting, familiar feel. You can spend a relaxing time here in the cold.

I learned for the first time that the remnants of the former shogunate army defeated in the Boshin War were hidden by the Hakodate Orthodox Church, and as a result, a chef named Goshima served Russian cuisine. It is quite moving to think about what would have happened if the Hakodate War had not occurred. After checking in at the entrance of the restaurant, I was led to a guest room-like waiting area. I learned the etiquette of Goshima-ken and felt like I was in a Western food mode. Soon, I was guided to my table. I had decided to eat curry, so I chose the Meiji Western food & curry set. You can choose between British (beef) or Meiji (pork) curry, but I was a bit confused by selecting the curry ingredients based on country names and years. The taste was a European-style curry with a hint of butter. In the midst of various types of curry competing in the market, the light and simple taste was actually refreshing. I almost have no memory of when I last ate shrimp fry, but the thickly coated one I had, along with the crab cream croquette, was a nice accompaniment to Sapporo Classic beer. I arrived at the restaurant right when it opened, so the customers were sparse, but since it is very close to the Hakodate Ropeway leading to the top of Mount Hakodate, there were still quite a few people visiting. When making a reservation, keep in mind that you need to order a course meal.

First visit. I ordered the Duck Curry, which even the former emperor enjoyed, priced at 3,300 yen. This curry in this location is elegant and luxurious, right? I might have been a bit too greedy... Now, feeling rich for just today, I enjoyed this curry which had the highest price for curry rice. I visited early in the evening, so the place was almost empty. It had a classic Western-style restaurant vibe. They served their original garam masala. Can it satisfy my not-so-sensitive taste buds? Salad, curry, and rice arrived. Plenty of duck in the curry. The curry had a creamy texture, almost like it had milk added on the second day. It looked creamy and tasted delicious. The duck paired well with it. The spoon had a very fancy shape. Once you get used to it, it's easy to eat with. Adding nuts and a drop of garam masala gave it a different flavor. It was quite pricey, but I enjoyed it. I would eat it again if it was around 2,000 yen. Thank you for the meal.

When you come to Hakodate, you have to visit Gotoken. Inside, you can hear the sounds of forks and knives. We ordered the Meiji Western-style curry set, Russian cuisine set, and homemade apple pie. It's great to order a variety of dishes when you have a large group so you can try different flavors.

- Ordered dish... Curry - Cuisine... I entered that famous shop where you can buy at the depachika! I was a bit lonely due to circumstances, but I went alone. The curry was a little spicy. I imagined it would be more thick and gooey. I imagined too much. I thought it must be a famous shop since even the Emperor had eaten there, but it was unexpectedly ordinary. Following Rakipi, this was the second famous shop in Hakodate. It was a bit disappointing that it was just ordinary. - Atmosphere... It's a Western-style restaurant, so you can easily go there as it's near the red brick warehouse.

I decided to travel to Hakodate and have dinner at this restaurant that I had been wanting to visit. The exterior of the restaurant looked quite upscale, which made me hesitate for a moment before entering, as I was dressed quite casually. However, I really wanted to eat there, so I went in. I ordered the Aigake Curry and the Apple Pie. The Aigake Curry consists of two types of curry, one British style curry with beef and another Meiji style curry with pork. They are completely different types of curry, so it was nice to be able to compare them. I personally prefer pork curry, so I enjoyed the Meiji style curry more. Next, the Apple Pie arrived just as I finished the curry. It was the first time I had eaten Apple Pie with a knife and fork. The apples were sweet, and the pie crust was crispy and satisfying. I have eaten the retort curry from this restaurant many times, and although it's not 100% the same, it was quite similar. The high level of reproduction in the retort curry should be commended. However, there is still a special meaning in eating at the original restaurant. Overall, I had a very satisfying meal and would definitely recommend this place for a slightly luxurious dining experience in Hakodate.