jinworks
I visited "Costco Ishikari Store" on July 3rd, my fourth time this year? Please follow Google Maps for the location. This is the second Costco store in Hokkaido. It is a suburban store with a vast parking lot. Unlike the Costco in Kiyota where you have to park on the 2nd or 3rd floor of the building, which can be a hassle, the Ishikari store is the better choice for parking convenience. I am registered as a family member under my wife's membership, so I have a family card. I have never visited alone, so I have never paid at the store (laughs). My wife handles the payment for purchases at the store, but I take care of the payment at the food court after checkout. Every time, I order the Clam Chowder Soup Prokogi Bake combo at the food court. Actually, I prefer the cost-effective Quarter Pound Hot Dog for 180 yen, but it's difficult to carry it while pushing a cart with purchased items (laughs). This time, the Clam Chowder Soup was replaced by Chicken Tomato Bisque Soup. The Chicken Tomato Bisque Soup costs 380 yen, a bit more expensive than the Clam Chowder Soup. Also, the crackers that used to come with the Clam Chowder are no longer included. The paper lid that comes with the soup is quite ingenious, securely sealing the container in an environmentally friendly way. However, the spoon provided is disposable plastic. The soup has a red color due to the tomato base, and it has a rich and creamy texture with a hint of tomato acidity. It contains sliced mushrooms, which I believe are raw, and diced chicken breast meat. The mushrooms provide a nice texture, and the diced chicken meat has a surprisingly good chewiness. It's like an upgraded version of cheap chicken breast meat. I have grown quite fond of it. For the second item, I ordered the Chicken Nuggets & Potato for 780 yen, which is quite generous in portion. It's actually a souvenir for my daughter who couldn't join us today (laughs). The potatoes are cut in a V-shape with the skin on and lightly salted, but I think they could use a bit more salt when eaten on their own. Perhaps they don't come with sauce so that you can use your favorite sauce at home. However, by the time you get home, the potatoes are quite dry. They need some extra effort in an oven or toaster to be enjoyable. The photo may look like it has a shallow portion due to the wide-angle shot, but it actually contains plenty of nuggets and potatoes (just like the Chicken Tomato Bisque Soup). For the third item, I got the Bulgogi Bake for 580 yen, which is very jumbo. It feels heavy when you hold it. It used to be wrapped in silver paper, but this time it's in brown wax paper. Perhaps they are using the Bulgogi Beef sold in the Costco store? The outside is crispy, and the cheese topping is nicely toasted, giving it a savory aroma. Inside, there is a satisfying amount of bulgogi, which is not spicy, so even my young daughters could enjoy it. The jumbo size makes it ideal for sharing with the family. Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside. I enjoy it every time. These three items are usually the limit of what I can carry alone (laughs). I would love to have a Quarter Pound Hot Dog for a drink in the car, but I definitely can't handle it (laughs). Thank you for the meal. Looking forward to the next visit.