My companion suggested going to an event at Monbetsu Racecourse, so we decided to grab lunch here during our free time. Due to the event, there was a long line to order... It took about 20 minutes to finally place our order. I had the kashiwa mountain vegetable soba, and the thickness of the soba noodles matched well with the sweetness of the broth. It was delicious. Perhaps due to the crowd, the soba noodles were a bit soft and lacked firmness. It felt like you could chew them even without teeth. I wonder if this is how they are supposed to be. The broth was tasty, so I would like to confirm with the staff about it.

I came to the Monbetsu Racecourse for the first time in a while because there was a mini live performance by Shuudai Uesugi. I remember coming here about 15 years ago, but it looks completely stylish and clean after the renovation. After enjoying Uesugi Shuudai's live performance, I had soba at Izumi Shokudo in the racecourse. The main branch is always crowded, so it can be intimidating, but you can easily enjoy it here, so it might be recommended. Even though it was quite busy due to Golden Week, I enjoyed the mountain vegetable soba. You can help yourself to tempura flakes.

Izumi Shokudo, our local diner, is an annual tradition. Eating soba at the racecourse is quite luxurious. The pork soba here is truly loaded with pork. The soup has an exquisite flavor. I remember seeing Saito Yu from the Yomiuri Giants eating here on the day I visited. Delicious!

Hokkaido gourmet "Kashiwa Soba" for 980 yen. The main store is a famous shop in Monbetsu, but it was closed for the day to watch horse racing. I enjoyed dinner here while watching the races. The unique and uneven soba noodles are a specialty of this shop. I was able to fully enjoy Monbetsu with the horse racing track, hot spring, and soba noodles. I wonder if I can come back next year?

I decided to have soba as my final meal at the racecourse. There was a famous diner near the Monbetsu Racecourse that caught my interest, and they were serving their specialty soba. I ordered the chicken soba (950 yen) and it was ready in 2-3 minutes. The noodles were thick and uneven, giving off a rustic vibe. They had a good chewiness and the broth had a strong soy sauce flavor with a hint of sweetness from the chicken. The toppings included chicken and two types of green onions. It was a nice local cuisine experience at the racecourse. I would like to try it at the main restaurant someday.

Category: Favorite Izakaya (Hokkaido and Tohoku) Today, we passed through the Nikko Pass from Shibetsu to the Monbetsu Racecourse. It's a race day, so there are lots of cars parked here. We took a break after watching a few races and stopped by "Izumi Shokudo" for their limited-time cold tan-tan soba. The soba noodles were thick and hand-made, giving them a unique charm. The sesame sauce on the soba was quite delicious. Among the standing soba stalls at the racecourse, this one was of a high standard. The tan-tan had a nice kick to it, and we enjoyed it until the last bite. Now, let's head back to the races. Thank you for the meal! "Izumi Shokudo Monbetsu Racecourse Branch" 76-1 Tomikawa Komao, Hidaka-cho, Saru-gun, Hokkaido

☆ Izumi Shokudo Monbetsu Racecourse Branch (Hidaka Town, Soba Restaurant) Overview ☆ Izumi Shokudo, a long-established soba restaurant in Hidaka Town founded in 1955, operates a limited-time shop at the Monbetsu Racecourse during the Grand Shario Nighter event held from mid-April to early November every year. I visited this restaurant on my way back from horseback riding in Urakawa. It is located a 15-minute drive from the Murakawa I.C. on the Atsuma Monbetsu Road. It is located inside the Polaris Stand at the Monbetsu Racecourse. 1. Atmosphere: When it comes to local horse racing tracks, there can be a somewhat intense atmosphere, but at Monbetsu, there is a homely atmosphere where you can feel the unity between the racecourse organizers and the spectators. Everyone seems to love horse racing, and this feeling is palpable. The food and beverage establishments, including Izumi Shokudo, also have a friendly atmosphere where everyone enjoys discussing horse racing. 2. Food: The main menu includes the following options, and I ordered the "Gobou Tempura Soba" and "Mushroom Sansai Soba." The soba noodles are hand-cut with a thick texture and made from Hokkaido Tokachi soba flour, giving them a rich aroma. The broth is a clear type with a mild sweetness, making it easy to drink. Personally, I preferred the Mushroom Sansai Soba, which had a harmonious blend of mushroom and soba flavors. On the other hand, the Gobou Tempura Soba had a crunchy texture from the tempura that made it a bit challenging to chew along with the soba. Overall, the use of quality Hokkaido ingredients is evident in each bowl. 3. Overall Impression: At Monbetsu Racecourse, Izumi Shokudo and Tonekko Jingisukan stand out as the top two food establishments. If you want to stay sober and focus on placing bets, Izumi Shokudo is recommended over the latter, which serves alcohol. The Grand Shario Nighter event will soon come to a close for this season, but I definitely plan to visit again next season to enjoy horse racing and delicious soba noodles.