On November 1, 2021 (Monday), I passed by a soba restaurant near the Motomachi Station around 12:30 PM, but the parking lot was full. After finishing some shopping, I returned around 1:00 PM and found an empty parking spot, so I decided to visit. It seemed like the lunch rush had just passed as many tables had dirty dishes still on them. I ordered the Squid Tempura Donburi Set with a large serving of soba, which came with a side of black sesame seeds. The squid tempura was delicious with soft squid and a not-too-sweet sauce. The menu had a variety of set options, including dishes with Hakodate Wagyu beef, so I think I can keep coming back without getting bored. The Squid Tempura Donburi Set was satisfying. Thank you for the meal! (^_^)

Woodenko is a highly competitive area for soba restaurants, and this place is the closest to the station. I arrived just before lunchtime and the restaurant was not crowded. They have counter seats, regular tables, and even a raised seating area in the back. They also offer delivery service, as I could hear the phone ringing. I ordered the soba and stamina bowl set. It took a little longer because of the delivery orders, but it was worth the wait. The soba had a wonderful aroma and was perfectly cooked, while the stamina bowl was flavorful with the sauce soaked into the rice and topped with an egg. It was a delightful meal. Families started coming in as I finished eating, showing how popular this place is. They have a wide variety of soba dishes on the menu, so I recommend visiting Woodenko when you're in the area!

Date of visit: December 8, 2018 (Saturday) around 11:45 AM There are many famous brand beef varieties across the country, and in the southern part of Hokkaido, there is also something called "Hakodate Wagyu." It is produced in Kikonai Town in southern Hokkaido and is known as Akage Wagyu. Brand beef is not often available locally, so I decided to visit a restaurant that offers dishes made with this beef. The restaurant I visited was "Soba-dokoro Ruto." It was surprising to find Wagyu beef at a soba restaurant. I ordered the "Hakodate Wagyu set meal," which included soba noodles, gyudon (beef bowl), beef stew, salad, kinpira gobou (burdock root), and pickles. It was quite a luxurious spread. I started with the salad, which had crispy breadcrumbs as a nice touch, giving it a Western-style flavor. The soba noodles were sesame-flavored, with an added crunch from white sesame seeds. The beef stew had a classic taste, but the beef was incredibly tender and melted in the mouth. The gyudon also had tender meat and a slightly Western-style seasoning with a hint of black pepper. Although it was a soba restaurant, the overall taste leaned towards a Western flavor and was quite delicious. The price was 1,520 yen, which is a bit on the higher side for lunch, but I would definitely like to come back again. Thank you for the meal.

This is a soba restaurant where you can enjoy Hakodate Wagyu beef. I had the Hakodate Wagyu beef set meal, which included a mini beef bowl, beef stew, soba noodles, side dishes, and salad. It was very good value for money. The beef stew was so tender that the meat melted in my mouth. The restaurant is conveniently located near the station, making it a great option for a quick meal while waiting for the train.

A popular soba restaurant among locals. The rich flavor of the broth is excellent, and the rice dishes are also delicious. I will definitely visit again.

Grandma and my family arrived at the restaurant at 12 o'clock. There were about 6 cars parked outside and the restaurant was 80% full, but we were seated right away in a tatami room. Even though more customers came in and it became full, we didn't have to wait in line. It took about 30 minutes from ordering to getting our food because it was crowded during Golden Week. We ordered the Hakodate Wagyu burger, a very popular burger made with generous amounts of Hakodate Wagyu beef. The buns are mixed with black sesame and red ginger, which goes perfectly with the beef! We also ordered the Hakodate Wagyu set meal, zaru soba, and duck Nanban soba.

The smooth sesame soba was delicious. The set with squid tempura rice bowl was also to my liking, as the sauce was mild.

I had the tonkatsu set meal and the meat was tender and delicious. The soba noodles were also quite good. The only complaint is that smoking is allowed at the table, which makes the smell unpleasant during the meal. It ruins the delicious meal.

After recovering from an illness, I had some delicious katsu curry, and I almost always order it when I go there. Of course, the soba is also delicious.

The famous restaurant I planned to visit in Shin-uchi was unexpectedly closed. I rushed to drive to Kikonai, only to find another famous restaurant closed as well. What's going on?? So, I ended up at the only open restaurant in the area. It was packed with customers. I ordered the pork cutlet rice bowl with soba set. I thought the cutlet might be frozen, but the seasoning and flavor were great, and it seemed like they fried fresh meat with a crispy coating. The soba noodles were cooked perfectly and the egg topping was delicious. The soba itself was average, but still good. The price of 980 yen for lunch seemed a bit high, maybe because the cutlet was expensive. It's probably just the pricing in the countryside.

This is a restaurant that offers set meals for 600 yen, with a variety of rice bowl and soba set options. This time, I tried the grilled meat rice bowl and soba set for 900 yen. The soba seemed to have been boiled once and lacked firmness, which was disappointing. However, if they are catering to elderly customers who prefer softer food, it may be understandable. The portion size also seemed to be geared towards elderly customers. The soba broth was extremely thin. I felt that the pricing was a bit high, but since this is not a big city, they may have limited customers. Considering this, it seems like they are making an effort. However, for me to consider revisiting, they may need to improve either the portion size or quality to make a bigger impact.

I took the Hokkaido Shinkansen and got off at Kikonai Station near Hakodate for lunch. Since the restaurant at the Michi-no-Eki was crowded, I decided to try Ruto, a soba restaurant nearby. I was surprised by the variety of menu items including soba, udon, and set meals, and most importantly, the set meals were very affordable!! I ordered the Tonkatsu Set (980 yen) which came with a large tray filled with tonkatsu, soba noodles, and a generous portion of rice. The tonkatsu was crispy with minimal fat, and the set also included sesame seeds for grinding with the sauce. The portion size was so big that I couldn't believe it was only 980 yen. It's definitely recommended for men who have a big appetite! I also ordered the Plum Oroshi Soba (900 yen), which was today's special menu. The soba noodles were light in color and had a strong texture and a refreshing taste when dipped in the cold broth. The toppings included plum, grated yam, perilla leaf, seaweed, and bonito flakes, making it even more delicious. The meal came with a side of small rice and a mini salad, providing a satisfying volume. Another highlight was the Hakodate Wagyu Beef and Burdock Soba (900 yen), which used the famous Hakodate Wagyu beef for a warm soba dish. The beef broth and the flavor of the burdock were incredibly delicious, with a hint of sweetness that made it irresistible. Lastly, I couldn't resist trying the Hakodate Wagyu Burger (500 yen) to-go, which was made with black sesame buns and red ginger. The burger was a perfect match for the Wagyu beef, and the unique buns added an extra layer of flavor. This restaurant near Kikonai Station, where the Hokkaido Shinkansen stops, is definitely worth a visit if you have the chance.

I found out about a place where you can enjoy Hakodate Wagyu beef and soba through a magazine recommendation, so I decided to visit when I was in Kikonai. The location was not showing up on food review websites or map apps, so I had to ask locals for directions. It seems like the area has changed a lot since the information was published, causing the discrepancy. I tried calling to ask for directions, but no one answered the phone, and the number seemed correct. As for the food, I had the cold Wagyu beef soba for 900 yen. The noodles were thin and white, with a good chewy texture. The beef had a strong punch of flavor, making it hard to taste the soba itself. The noodles had a smooth and pleasant texture. The Wagyu beef was tender and delicious, with a sweet and spicy seasoning, resembling a cross between gyudon and sukiyaki.

I came to Kikonai to see the Hokkaido Shinkansen. The restaurant is located near JR Kikonai Station and Michi-no-Eki Misogi-no-Sato, within walking distance. I wanted to have lunch at Michi-no-Eki, but it was crowded with a wait, so I decided to try this restaurant instead. There is also a large parking space next to the restaurant. I was looking for a place where I could eat Hakodate Wagyu beef, and I found out online that they have a menu called Wagyu Beef Set. Since I came all the way here, I wanted to try something unique to the Do-nan region... There were no other customers in the restaurant, and the interior was a bit chilly... The menu had the Hakodate Wagyu Beef Set that I was looking for, and another item from the daily special menu. You can choose from warm or cold soba as a set, and since it was cold today, I asked for warm soba! *The photo of the Wagyu Beef Set is different from the actual rice, which is quite common. The same goes for this menu, the beef bowl had little meat... I ended up with leftover rice. I wish they had given me more toppings... (^^;; Also, there was only one piece of beef in the beef stew... I wanted to taste at least one more piece! The beef bowl had a sweet and salty flavor, similar to a certain chain restaurant. The beef was tough, and there was no distinct texture or deliciousness to the meat itself. The beef in the beef stew was tender, but the demi-glace sauce had a familiar taste. The side potato seemed frozen. What bothered me more was that the serving temperature was lukewarm... (^^;; Well, both dishes were delicious in a normal way because they had familiar flavors. The soba was slightly white in color, perhaps a more refined type? It lacked firmness and had a slightly flat texture. When dipped in soba broth, it could be slurped down smoothly. The last thing to mention is the soba-yu, which was surprisingly clear! Wait, is this just hot water!? I thought, but when I opened the lid of the hot water pot, I found a thin sediment of soba flour at the bottom, so I stirred it with chopsticks and poured it back into the soba broth. It was light and almost like water... (-.-;) *Yakitori Don Set The soba was kake soba, with a slightly sweet taste in the soba broth, and the dashi had a classic flavor. The yakitori was made with pork instead of chicken. It had a sweet and salty seasoning, which was quite good. Oh, the yakitori don set also had little toppings... I ended up with leftover white rice again (^^;; If there was a little more sauce, it might have been more satisfying... The lunch turned out to be a bit pricey, but it had a decent portion size. However, regarding the Wagyu Beef Set, I can't shake the feeling that the cost performance is a bit low... While we were eating, a customer came in asking for a beef bowl bento. They also have a Hokkaido Shinkansen bento on the menu... for a whopping 1200 yen! It seemed to have the same ingredients as the beef bowl we had... but for 1200 yen... I was surprised by the high price (-.-;) We came to the Do-nan region this time to take photos of the Hokkaido Shinkansen, but I wonder how long this Hokkaido Shinkansen boom will last. I left the restaurant with this concern in mind... Thank you for the meal.