On March 20, 2012, my family and I visited the restaurant called "Robataya Tsurukichi" for the first time. It seems like this place opened about 3 years ago. The location is around the Hanazono Ginza Street (commonly known as Hanagin) under the JR elevated railway. We arrived around 5:30 PM, and we were possibly the first customers. There is a counter and private rooms (zashiki), which are convenient for families. We used a coupon from a certain website, which offered a free drink or dish under 500 yen per person, and the staff kindly allowed us to use it for all 5 of us. We ordered scallop grilled dish, beer, and juice. The menu, despite being a robatayaki restaurant, offers a variety of dishes, which is great for families. I opted for sake and shochu to pair with my food, as my companions could not drink alcohol. We ordered dishes like ankimo, tachipon, and hoya shiokara, which are my favorites. The ankimo still had its unique richness, while the tachipon lacked freshness. The hoya shiokara came with grated radish, which enhanced the flavor. The mackerel and marinated mackerel were likely homemade, with a perfect balance of vinegar and freshness. The marinated mackerel was exquisite in presentation and taste. The buri kama had a good amount of fat and perfect seasoning. The tempura matsutake mushrooms were delicious with a light and crispy batter. The kasube simmered in vinegar was rich in collagen and satisfying. The vinegar miso with slimy konbu was a seasonal delicacy with a great taste. The sushi, though just a taste, was well-prepared with flavorful toppings. Overall, the dishes were satisfying, especially the seasonal specialties. The service was exceptional, with attentive staff even cleaning up a mess made by my child promptly. The restaurant's fundamental philosophy displayed at the entrance was impressive and made me believe that this place will continue to thrive. We had a delightful dining experience once again. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

Otaru Hanazono Area. Family drinking in Otaru. A private room with a raised tatami floor, providing a child-friendly space. Ordered mainly seafood dishes. You can see them cooking at the counter. The main customers seemed to be tourists, and the restaurant was almost full. It was bustling.

I made a reservation for three people to meet up with a friend who lives in Otaru. Personally, I like charcoal-grilled food, and I rarely see robatayaki restaurants outside of Hokkaido, which is why I chose this place. The drinks and food we ordered are listed on the receipt. We were seated in a private room with a sunken kotatsu table. It was impressive to see hotate sashimi on the menu, as expected in Hokkaido. We mainly ordered robatayaki dishes, and the grilled king crab exceeded my expectations in terms of taste. If you come during the cold season, I recommend sitting at the counter to fully experience the warmth of the robata while enjoying food and drinks.

Urgently, we ended up having a meal with my wife's friends, a couple, in Otaru. I was recommended this place by B3coffee, and the information from locals was really valuable and appreciated. The restaurant is located in the bustling Hanazono area of Otaru, and as soon as you enter, you'll see a small sunken hearth. Hokke and sumi-ya-karei, unique Hokkaido fish, are grilled on the hearth, enhancing their flavors. The semi-private sunken kotatsu seating area provides a cozy atmosphere where families with children can relax without worries, and it's no wonder that it's popular with local families. I realized the importance of adapting to local customs and not relying solely on my own information. #Otaru #Hokkaido #gourmet #EnoLog.

I was looking for a place to enjoy dishes cooked over charcoal. In Otaru, there are many restaurants catering to tourists, but this one seemed to have a lot of local customers. The seafood salad was very fresh and delicious! In addition, there were dishes like herring sashimi, grilled asparagus, and grilled thick oysters from Akkeshi, all of which were tasty! The button shrimp with lots of eggs was outstanding. The main dish was grilled king crab! It was full of meat and very satisfying!

Now, let's head to Hanagin in Otaru at night! Walking down the snowy streets, the nostalgic townscape is charming. Warm up your frozen body with some robatayaki and drinks! First, share a bottle of Sapporo Classic! Cheers to a good time at the counter overlooking the robatayaki grill! Let's start with some mozuku vinegar - the crunchy texture of mozuku with the sliminess of nameko mushrooms is a refreshing combination. Next, try the homemade pickled mackerel - the lightly pickled mackerel with rich fat is full of flavor. The craftsmanship in preparing this dish really shines through. Enjoy the hairy crab sashimi - the small hairy crab is full of meat, easy to eat, and generously topped with crab miso. Dig into the crab legs and the meat inside the shell - the rich flavor of the crab miso is delightful. The butter-grilled potatoes are deliciously fluffy and flavorful, with the saltiness of butter enhancing their sweetness. Try the grilled turban shell - the large live turban shell is grilled to perfection, revealing a tender and flavorful meat with a milky sweetness. Indulge in the grilled scallops - the large scallops are bursting with flavor and the aroma of soy sauce. Share a piece as they are quite filling. Although we wanted to try the grilled squid and oysters, the hairy crab was quite substantial. Tonight, we'll stop here! This local spot offers high quality dishes at a very reasonable price. Enjoy the night view of the canal on the way back, cooling off the slight buzz from the drinks.

We had a year-end party with a close family we hadn't seen in a while! There were 4 adults and 6 children, and we chose this restaurant to enjoy fresh seafood and grilled dishes in Otaru. Since it was a Friday night, the restaurant was bustling with many people! We enjoyed dishes like hot pot, scallops, and grilled squid! The beer was delicious!

I usually use this izakaya in Otaru when I'm in trouble! Depending on the season, the hokke fish is always big and delicious! People from outside Hokkaido are always surprised. Tempura, vegetables, and seafood in summer are all delicious without any misses. I just wish they had a more extensive selection of alcohol! I will definitely continue to visit regularly.

I visited Tsuruyoshi for the second time! This place allows smoking inside. It had been a while since my last visit. My stomach was full and I was feeling pleasantly tipsy, so I decided to have some light drinks. I opted for the all-you-can-drink option. The drink menu wasn't very extensive, but they had highballs, beer, and even sake, which was enough for me. They didn't have many sour options, so if you only enjoy sweet drinks, you might find it lacking. They also served hot shochu with hot water, which helped warm up the still chilly night. I tried the recommended grilled beef tongue, which was served quite rare. It had a delicious smoky aroma and the flavor was rich when chewed. The salmon sashimi was light and not oily. However, when I ordered the salmon sushi, it was beautifully presented with a generous amount of oil on top. It was delicious. Next time, I want to try the grilled hokke with an empty stomach. Thank you for the meal.

Visited a restaurant in Otaru with a friend from high school who was back in town. He had returned due to remote work during the pandemic and no longer needed to stay in Tokyo. He reminisced about his childhood in Otaru, where he spent his elementary and junior high school years. We explored the area around "Hanazono" until my work ended. In high school, he had taken me to places like "Sakejirou" and "Umegoya", so he must have been quite a mischievous kid back then. We decided to try a new restaurant in "Hanazono". We had some appetizers, including octopus and herring sashimi, pickled herring, homemade fish cake, and fried squid legs. The sashimi was delicious, especially the herring. The pickled herring was a traditional Hokkaido winter dish, and the homemade fish cake was made with high-quality surimi. The fried squid legs were crispy and tasty. Although the restaurant specialized in charcoal grilling, we only ordered grilled ray fins. We saw another customer order grilled saffron cod, which seemed to be a popular choice. Overall, it was a satisfying experience at this casual izakaya with a lively atmosphere.

I went to Otaru without a plan! I love to wander around and spontaneously dive into places. Following my motto "In Hokkaido, you can't go wrong with a robatayaki restaurant!", I entered a robatayaki restaurant. There was a large grill inside the counter, with delicious looking fish and meat already tempting my appetite. However, since I planned to enjoy some sake, I only ordered a small amount of food. I ordered grilled shrimp and tsukune skewers. It wasn't mind-blowing, but it was tasty. The selection of sake was limited and there were no standout brands, which was disappointing.

I made a reservation and went. It was good that I made a reservation because many people without reservations were being turned away. When I made the reservation, I was asked if I preferred to sit at the counter or a table, but I chose the counter and it turned out to be the right choice. I got to sit in a great seat! The surf clams were amazing, as expected. The only ones you can eat in Osaka are the red ones. I also tried oysters, scallops, and other shellfish, and they were all delicious! As a shellfish lover, I really enjoyed the taste of Hokkaido. I also had squid, ankimo, and tsukune. I paired them with sake, which was really good! I felt so happy and satisfied. Thank you for the delicious meal, Otaru!

Visited Robata Tsurukichi in Otaru. The atmosphere was nice. The food was decent, but as a Hokkaido local, it might not be satisfying. It felt like it was priced as a tourist spot. Giving a critical review as a local.

I had a local fish called "komai" at this restaurant. It offers high cost-performance.

I went for a banquet course! All the dishes were delicious, especially the huge sailfin sandfish was surprising! The atmosphere of the restaurant was also nice, and we had a fun and enjoyable time drinking delicious sake with everyone chatting and laughing.

I visited this restaurant with a former classmate on a Sunday and wandered around. I thought the ingredients were good.

It was great. I got to go to the class reunion.