I went to Hanachan in Asahikawa for lunch to eat my favorite squid and octopus rice bowl. It was mentioned as a soul food of Asahikawa on a TV show, but when I asked the locals, they didn't seem to know about it. I ordered the usual ginger flavor (¥600) with a side of soba noodles (¥100), which was a great deal even with the recent price increase. The bowl was filled with plenty of squid and octopus, and I left feeling full. The restaurant had a very traditional appearance, which my colleague found off-putting, but they were happy with how delicious the food was. Haha!

Today is another hot and humid day, but I couldn't resist coming here to enjoy some delicious squid rice bowl and warm soba noodles. I felt like eating a lot today, so I ordered a large squid rice bowl and a mini warm soba. The squid was fresh and piled high, as you can see in the photo. The female owner kindly asked if I wanted cold soba, but I insisted on warm soba. They don't have air conditioning here, just natural breeze coming through. In the past, the natural breeze in Asahikawa must have been cool, but now it's just hot wind. However, that's okay with me. This unique atmosphere adds to the delicious experience. "Hanachan" is a must-visit restaurant in Asahikawa known for their squid rice bowl. I recommend everyone to try it at least once.

I tried "Geso-don" for the first time at the original shop, "Tachi-nomi Soba-ya Tenyu," and it was delicious. After that, I wanted to try other dishes, so I visited another popular shop known for their Geso-don. It was a bit difficult to find, located in a building behind a parking lot. I visited on a weekday at 12:10 PM. There was only one other customer at first, but later a few tourists also came in. The interior had a retro Showa-era atmosphere, with mainly L-shaped counter seating and some tables outside in the hallway. The shop was run by an elderly couple. I placed my order verbally for the "Geso-don (Shoyu)" with a choice of 3 flavors (leek, salt, or ginger), and also opted for a mini soba set for an additional 100 yen. The dish arrived in about 5 minutes, served on a bed of rice topped with chopped seaweed and fried squid covered in a sweet sauce made with potato starch. The squid was coated in flour and fried in a pan, giving it a slightly raw texture. Although the squid itself was tasty, the flour coating was quite oily and started to feel a bit greasy towards the end. I think ordering it with ginger might help balance out the oiliness. Overall, it was a different style of Geso-don compared to the original shop, and it was interesting to compare the two. Personally, I preferred the Geso-don from the original shop.

I had a quick day trip to Asahikawa. I visited the famous restaurant known for its squid rice bowl, which was closed last time I was there. It's called "Hanachan" and I saw it on TV before. I ordered the squid rice bowl, which was more like fried squid with a coating rather than tempura. I also tried the mini soba for 100 yen. The sauce was a bit sweet and soaked into the soft squid, giving it a unique and addictive flavor. The squid was a bit chewy but delicious. Overall, it was a great meal.

I went to this restaurant because it had good ratings for its local food. There were Eat Log stickers posted all over the place. The restaurant is run by a fairly elderly couple. I went around 11:10 am on a weekday and there was only one customer. By the time I left, the place was full. I ordered the squid rice bowl with soba for 700 yen. I waited for about 10 minutes. When it arrived, the plate was heavy. The squid was thickly coated in a mixture of flour, with a sweet and savory soy sauce drizzled on top. The taste was unique, not quite tempura or fried squid. Some may like it, some may not. The squid itself was fresh with no odor. Overall, it was a good value for money, a B-class gourmet that seems to be on the tourist circuit. It was filling and satisfying.

Riding in my subordinate's car... I arrived at a shop with a serious atmosphere that I would never enter alone. The sign on the door said "Geso Don" - 800 yen for Geso Don and a mini ramen. The ramen was delicious!! The Geso Don (soy sauce) was oily and I ended up leaving quite a bit of it uneaten. When I asked if I could just have the Geso Don, they said "No." What do you do in that situation? Bringing a subordinate who doesn't want to eat rice to a rice bowl restaurant!? Useless subordinate (￣▽￣) He left about half of the Geso Don uneaten! Is it the responsibility of the boss for not doing enough research...

On June 10, 2023, at 11:00, I had my first taste of "geso-don," a representative of B-class gourmet food, here in Asahikawa, where I spent a total of 9 years during my high school and working years. I had seen this restaurant in a magazine about 20 years ago, but never had the chance to visit until today. I planned my visit from the previous night and entered the restaurant as soon as it opened. Both the parking lot and the inside of the restaurant were empty, with only myself as a customer. The geso-don (with ginger) cost 600 yen and it was delicious! As I learned, Asahikawa geso-don comes in two types: one with fried squid and another with squid fried in potato starch, and I had the latter at "Hanachan." The chewy texture of the fresh squid's tentacles remained intact, complemented by a sweet and savory soy-based sauce with a hint of ginger. It was quickly devoured. Payment was cash only. The Kagura Chuo Shopping Plaza, where this restaurant is located, had all other shops closed. Considering the age of the building and the restaurant owner, I couldn't help but wonder how much longer this place would continue. I truly hope this wonderful taste will be passed on for many more years to come. Thank you for the delicious meal!

It's been a while since I visited this restaurant. I wonder if the lady there still remembers me... It's been so long that she might have forgotten. There's a parking lot at the back, not in the front. If you go by car, park at the back. You can enter from there too. People who know this place come directly here. Luckily, they were still open until 3:00 pm. So even after finishing Hill Moriita, I made it just in time. Phew, that was close. It would have been sad if I came all the way here and they were closed. A few years ago, there was news about squid shortage in Hakodate. Even now, the price of squid has gone up significantly. But they didn't want to reduce the amount of squid. So, they raised the prices a bit. Still, it's only 600 yen. And the mini soba udon is 100 yen, and ramen is 200 yen, which is incredibly cheap. Ah, I found it! A long time ago, I signed something here. They still have it displayed. It's from 2009... Even though it's been a while, the lady remembered me. I'm happy. I ordered the squid rice bowl with soy sauce and a mini ramen. The squid rice bowl is 600 yen, with options of soy sauce, negi salt, ginger flavors. I chose soy sauce. And I added a mini ramen for 200 yen. The squid is soft, coated with starch and stir-fried. It's not completely fried though, giving it a slightly chewy texture like monja ingredients. But this is the lady's insistence on not making the squid too tough. It's soft and easy to chew. Delicious. I tried negi salt before, but personally, I prefer soy sauce. The ramen has a gentle, refreshing taste. It's not too strong. It's adjusted to complement the squid rice bowl. The noodles are curly and slightly firm, which goes well with the squid rice bowl. Ah, it's been a while since I last ate here, but it's still delicious. And seeing the lady's cheerful face made me happy. It's been two years, but I should come here at least one more time this year. Thank you for the meal.

I visited Asahikawa City the other day and searched for a restaurant to visit. I tried the popular squid bowl, which came with ramen as a set. The squid came in three different flavors to choose from, and this time I ordered the soy sauce base. It wasn't as strong as I expected, and the portion was very generous and reasonably priced.

I heard a rumor that the shop I always used to go to stopped serving squid rice bowls due to rising food costs, so I felt like having one and searched for it. It seems this shop is famous in Asahikawa. Looking at the reviews on Tabelog, the prices have been increasing quite a bit, but it's unavoidable and still cheap and delicious.

I finally got to visit a famous restaurant that my senior at work recommended. There were about 6 parking spaces at the back of the restaurant, which was a relief because I had heard there was no parking. I ordered the mini ramen set with squid bowl for 800 yen, wondering if it would be enough, but it was quite filling. The soy sauce ramen was delicious. The highlight was definitely the squid bowl. There was a generous amount of squid, and it was not too salty, so I didn't get tired of eating it until the end. It was really delicious. And for 800 yen, it was a great deal. Just so you know, they don't accept electronic money.

On a holiday, I worked in the morning but finished before noon. Feeling energetic, I decided to make an appointment and head to Asahikawa, which is about a 1 hour and 30 minute train ride away. I just made it in time for the opening hours! I visited a restaurant called "Hana-chan" where I ordered the "Geso Don with soy sauce + mini ramen" set. The main highlight was the Geso Don, which had deep-fried squid with a sweet and salty sauce over rice. The portion was generous and the flavors of the sauce and oil paired perfectly with the rice. I also had a mini ramen, which was quite ordinary. Geso Don is a specialty here and it was absolutely delicious. After enjoying my meal, I headed to the city center to check into my hotel to meet the person I made an appointment with.

I didn't know about this restaurant even though I have been to Asahikawa quite often, but I recently found out about it. They only serve lunch, so I arrived around 11:30. The squid bowl costs 600 yen. I thought it was soy sauce fried squid, but it turned out they coat it with potato starch and fry it in a pan. It is placed on top of rice with chopped seaweed and stir-fried squid on top, with a sweet soy sauce dressing similar to Obihiro's pork bowl. It's delicious with a generous amount of squid, making it hard to reach the rice. It's surprisingly good value for money. The pickled radish kimchi and cucumber pickles are a nice accent for a refreshing finish. It's no wonder the local customers keep coming back. Thank you for the meal!

Visited for lunch. Stopped by on my way back from Wakkanai on a business trip. This time, I ordered the "Squid Bowl" and "Mini Shoyu Ramen". The amount of squid in the Squid Bowl is amazing! It's packed with squid. It's satisfying and delicious. The ramen is mini-sized, but it feels like there's more than a typical mini portion. The taste is okay. I would like to come back to eat the Squid Bowl again. Thank you for the meal!

Sapporo to Kitami is a frequent round trip for me, and Asahikawa is the midpoint. Feeling closer to Sapporo, I decided to stop by Hana-chan for a meal. It's been how many years? 16 years, I think (laughs). Back then, I was so young, in my 20s (laughs). The parking lot is right behind the building, so don't park in the side lot! Drive around the residential area and park at the back of the building. Now, it feels nostalgic. I ordered the Squid Bowl and Mini Ramen. The Squid Bowl costs 600 yen. It seems more expensive now, wasn't it around 350 yen before? I watched the process of cooking the squid for the bowl - they fry the squid coated in potato starch in oil, sprinkle seaweed on top of the rice, pour soy sauce over it, and it's done (laughs). The taste is a bit fishy at first, not sure if it's from the seaweed or the squid. Since it's not deep-fried, it's a bit oily and has a slightly chewy texture. Definitely a C-grade dish! It might give you heartburn, so older people should avoid it! The Mini Ramen costs 200 yen. It's a basic ramen with commercial soup, Asahikawa noodles, naruto, bamboo shoots, and green onions. Nothing special, but for 200 yen, it's worth it. It can serve as a soup to go with the Squid Bowl. Inside the restaurant, there's an illustration of Goku from DRAGONBALL, which clearly... After looking it up, the signature is definitely...

When searching online, it seems to be a famous dish, so I decided to visit! The parking lot is a bit hard to find, located on a side street off the main road. The store is the only tenant in the building besides Hana-chan, making it seem like a ghost building, but it's a place that has been featured on a popular TV show! I ordered the popular combination of squid bowl and ramen set! The squid bowl had a huge amount of squid!! The ramen was also of high quality, not what you would expect for only 200 yen! Even though it was lunchtime, the constant stream of customers coming in made it clear why this place is so popular!

I felt like having squid rice bowl recently, so I happened to be nearby and decided to go to Hanachan in Asahikawa, known for their squid rice bowl. There is a parking lot behind the restaurant. I ordered the squid rice bowl set and just the squid rice bowl. We also got a mini soba and a mini udon for the kids. The squid rice bowl used to be ¥350, but now it's ¥500! According to the information on Tabelog, it was supposed to be ¥380. The place is run by a busy mom, and the restaurant was packed with customers, so the wait was quite long. However, the food was delicious, so it was worth it. Thank you for the meal. It was so tasty!

It's been a while since my last visit. Whenever I come here, the atmosphere in this space remains unchanged, as if time has stopped. I ordered a set of squid tentacle rice bowl and mini ramen. The dishes arrived in about 15 minutes. The ramen had a nostalgic taste to it, while the squid tentacle rice bowl stood out with its generous portion and unique frying method. It's a dish that I occasionally crave.

There are many restaurants in Asahikawa that serve the B-grade gourmet dish "Geso-don," but this particular restaurant in Kagura, Asahikawa is known for being cheap and delicious, often featured on gourmet TV shows. The interior of the restaurant is filled with photos and autographs of celebrities who have visited. The parking lot is located behind the restaurant, which is the only one currently operating in the Kagura Chuo Shopping Plaza. I ordered the "Geso-don" for 500 yen and added a "Mini Ramen" for an additional 200 yen. The "Geso-don" was topped with plenty of crispy fried squid tentacles covered in a slightly sweet sauce that soaked into the squid and rice, creating a delicious flavor. The squid was surprisingly tender. The "Mini Ramen" was not actually mini, as the owner mentioned it was light and simple to complement the "Geso-don." The ramen had fish cake, bamboo shoots, and green onions as toppings. The cost-effectiveness of adding the ramen for only 200 yen was impressive. The restaurant has been open for 24 years, and I hope it continues to thrive for many more years to come.

Geso donburi (soy sauce) 500 yen, Mini soba 100 yen [Total] 600 yen. The geso donburi is a B-class gourmet dish in Asahikawa. It consists of fried squid legs with sauce served over rice. It had a unique B-class gourmet flavor and was delicious. It was my first time eating so many fried squid legs at once in my life! The mini soba was also satisfying. Thank you for the meal.