I wandered around the city looking for a place to use the coupon I got while traveling, but the hotel restaurant had already closed after 9 pm. I couldn't find the restaurant that accepted the coupon, so I decided to enter a random one. I went in alone and found out that the place was surprisingly quiet, almost like it was reserved just for me (laughs). I sat at the counter by myself and looked through the menu. Even though they were able to adjust the sashimi platter for one person, it was a bit disappointing that they didn't have local oysters. Overall, it was a satisfactory solo dining experience (laughs).

A great place for solo drinkers as they offer all-you-can-drink options. The beer selection is classic and the complimentary pumpkin salad was delicious. The salted chicken tartare pairs well with alcohol, with just the right amount of saltiness. The owner doesn't talk much, mentioning that they're not good at small talk. The female staff provides good service. The owner has a good vibe. The food is tasty and they offer all-you-can-drink. A great place to visit again as they have items on the menu that I want to try.

The other day, three of us visited the restaurant without a reservation, but luckily there was a table available. The all-you-can-drink option was reasonably priced. We ordered a variety of dishes, and the skewers were quite tasty. It's hard to find a place where yakitori tastes bad, so it was decent here. The chicken karaage, however, was bland with no seasoning and a pale coating. One thing we really liked was the Genghis Khan fried chicken, which is usually flavorful no matter where you go. The coating was crispy and well-seasoned, unlike other places where it disappears quickly. The restaurant seemed a bit inexperienced in handling large groups, as the table next to us had some issues with their orders towards the end of the night. Overall, it had a nice cozy atmosphere similar to a countryside izakaya.

The deep-fried dish with ponzu sauce was delicious.

This is the second bar we visited in Kitami with two people, and it was also a spontaneous decision. The name of the place is "Hanamaru-tei," which is a common name for a restaurant. It was not crowded, with a long counter and a raised seating area with four tables. One of the tables had two customers from before. There was a lively atmosphere with a party going on in one of the rooms. We ordered beer to start and had simmered herring, which was delicious despite the broth being a bit watery. The herring had bones, but they were not handled carefully. The jazz background music added to the ambiance. We also ordered young corn tempura and assorted skewers. The skewers took about 15 minutes to be served and were crispy. The pickled ginger was a bit tough but tasty. The okra skewer was as expected, while the sweet potato was delicious. The pork belly skewer had delicious fat and sweetness. My wife, who usually doesn't eat sweet potatoes, enjoyed them. She particularly loved the young corn tempura, saying it was excellent and praising the fact that they fried it with the husk. The tempura was well-cooked, and the flavors were well-balanced. She also loved the egg with spicy cod roe and cheese, which was perfectly cooked with a creamy texture. Overall, she was impressed with the quality of the food and the hospitality of the restaurant, giving it a rating of over 4 points. It was a surprising find for a spontaneous visit.

◆January 2016◆ We had a New Year's party at Hanamaru-tei in Kitami. The restaurant is located on Yamashita Street, with a Chinese izakaya called Hatchaki on the second floor. Despite the appearance from the outside, the interior is actually new and clean. There are counter seats, sunken kotatsu seats, and a few other seats in the back. It's not very spacious, so it's recommended for groups of around four people. [Menu Overview] The menu includes sashimi, grilled dishes, fried foods, and other typical izakaya items. There are two all-you-can-drink courses for 1580 yen and 2000 yen for 2 hours. While there is a rule of ordering 2 dishes per person, it's a good deal. The dishes we tried were chicken and tofu salad (otoushi), chicken with wasabi, dashimaki tamago, chicken karaage in Hanamaru style, and long yam with mentaiko mayo and chicken with wasabi. The dashimaki tamago was fluffy with a hint of sweetness from the dashi. The chicken karaage had a crispy coating with a salty sauce. Surprisingly, the long yam with mentaiko mayo paired well with sake. There were other tempting dishes like fried vegetables and thick-cut pork loin with garlic sauce, but we had to skip them as we planned to visit another restaurant. If you plan to stay and drink, adding the all-you-can-drink option is definitely worth it. The food is delicious and the atmosphere is great, so I highly recommend it.

When I went there for the first time, they had all-you-can-drink options and every dish was delicious, so I thought I would like to use it for a party next time. I used it for a year-end party. The hot pot, sashimi, pork steak, everything had a good portion and was delicious. The staff were also smiling and the atmosphere was nice, so I have visited several times.