ペコちゃん@食べログ
At the entrance of Kabukicho in Shinjuku, there’s a sign for a restaurant called "Hokkaido Restaurant with Wood Carved Bears" located in a goods building next to Don Quijote. This restaurant showcases around 1,000 wooden bears, and both the bears and walls are painted in gold, creating a luxurious ambiance with clever lighting. The combination of bears and gold reminds me of the anime "Golden Kamuy"! Inside, there’s a semicircular counter in the center, surrounded by table seats. I usually prefer to eat sushi while watching the chef at the counter, but on this day, we opted for a table seat! We arrived on a Saturday at 5 PM, and the restaurant quickly filled up, indicating its popularity.
This time, we chose the restaurant's most popular option, the "Unkai Course," which features 21 dishes! Here’s the rundown:
- **Chawanmushi**: This steamed egg custard is stunningly presented, showcasing great attention to detail! Inside, it’s filled with crab and white fish, and the seafood broth flavor is rich and smooth — truly a signature dish! Starting off with such quality sets high expectations.
- **Grilled Medium Fatty Tuna Nigiri**: The medium fatty tuna, lightly grilled and intricately sliced, is presented beautifully. The rice is flavorful, and the lightly seared tuna has a slightly firm texture while still being melt-in-your-mouth tender. The grilling reduces the fat, making it a lighter, healthier option.
- **Three Hokkaido Delicacies**: This includes Matsumae-zuke (pickled vegetables), wasabi-flavored surf clam, and cod milt with ponzu. Each dish pairs perfectly with sake! Matsumae-zuke is a local dish from Hokkaido, the surf clam is found in cold waters, and the cod milt is a winter delicacy from Hokkaido, emphasizing the connection to the region.
- **Marinated Lean Tuna and Two Types from Hakodate Market**: Freshness shines through in the gloss and sheen of the tuna, scallops, and sea bream. The scallops are sweet, and the sea bream is likely kombu-marinated. The marinated tuna is to be savored as it highlights the natural flavors of the ingredients.
- **Grilled Seasonal Fish or Shiretoko Chicken**: We ordered one of each to share! The seasonal fish was black cod, perfectly seasoned without being too strong or too light — an excellent accompaniment to alcohol. The Shiretoko chicken was a first for me, with crispy skin and juicy meat that pairs delightfully with what seems like yuzu pepper and grated daikon for a refreshing touch.
- **Salmon Roe Mini Rice Bowl**: A cute, bite-sized bowl filled with salmon roe that bursts with sweetness and umami with every bite, complementing the rice splendidly! There's an anticipation that the sea urchin to come will also be fantastic!
- **Tempura (Shrimp, Anago, Asparagus)**: The asparagus is sweet, the anago (conger eel) light and flavorful, and the shrimp are plump! They were crispy and freshly made! I enjoyed them simply with matcha salt, and they were not greasy at all; truly an impressive display of tempura!
- **Two Types of Hosomaki (Thin Rolls)**: The anago roll is quite rare! The ume and cucumber roll was refreshing.
- **Dasima Tamagoyaki (Japanese Omelette) with Salmon Roe**: Flavored with a rich dashi broth and topped with plenty of salmon roe — simply perfection! The salty flavor of the roe pairs wonderfully with the umami of the dashi.
Here, my dining companion remarked, “If the roe is good, the sea urchin must be amazing too!” which seems likely!
- **Three Seasonal Nigiri**: These included Hokkake (a type of cod), black rockfish, and yellowtail. The staff kept encouraging us to memorize the names of the three fish, which was quite amusing! The black rockfish is often called the "sea bream of Hokkaido," and the yellowtail in season is rich with fat. I remember enjoying a large Hokkake in a seafood izakaya in Hokkaido. I had never tried it raw before! The size of the rice served progressively diminishes, which many ladies appreciate.
- **Clam Miso Soup**: Loaded with clams and flavorful dashi broth — it's such a treat to end the meal with miso soup!
- **Bite-Sized Crème Brûlée and Fruits**: The fruits, especially the sweet persimmons, were perfect for fall! The crème brûlée was just a couple of spoonfuls, but the rich custard was delicious too.
- **Drinks**: They had "Akaboshi" and many other rare drinks available, which is one of the characteristics of this restaurant. Be sure to check out the photos I posted!
We left with satisfied stomachs! Thank you for the wonderful meal!
**Ordered Items**:
- "Unkai Course" featuring all 21 dishes; priced at 6,600 yen (including tax).