I had a really delicious Gokko hot pot at this restaurant before. It was my first time trying fresh mackerel sashimi, and it was delicious. The whale sashimi was also tasty. I wish I could have tried more parts of it. The asparagus tempura was thick and sweet, very tasty. They have a variety of sake, but I couldn't find one that suited my taste. I would like a reasonably priced, clean and spicy sake that doesn't overpower the food. The owner's dishes are all delicious. There are many solo customers, so I thought it would be okay to go alone.

Located in the center of Kitami City, "Tatsuno" is a rare casual Japanese pub that serves small dishes. The restaurant has an L-shaped counter with only 9 seats. You can see the chef's work in action, making it a live kitchen experience. The young chef has a gentle demeanor and a homely atmosphere. He carefully selects seasonal fish and vegetables from the Okhotsk region, and with uncompromising preparation and cooking, transforms them into top-notch traditional Japanese cuisine. The restaurant exudes a strong Japanese ambiance. Please note that reservations are essential, especially during peak hours.

This year's first harvest in Hokkaido is the cod milt, known as "tachi." Among them, the half-cooked "tachi pon" made with fresh cod milt, blanched and served with ponzu sauce, is a delicacy. Sashimi includes halibut, dried squid, Pacific saury, and black rockfish, all representing the flavors of autumn. Fried ginkgo nuts, wild mushrooms, mountain trout, and taro are also enjoyable. The white liver was also delicious! The sake keeps flowing, making it a fun sushi and kaiseki dinner party. The dishes served at the small L-shaped counter are all incredibly delicious!

JR Kitami Station is a 4-minute walk away. This is a small restaurant located on the ground floor of an old food and drink building. The restaurant is located on the side facing the Yatai Jiman Village. It has only 7 seats at an L-shaped counter. Although it can be categorized as a sushi restaurant, the atmosphere is very casual. The menu is limited, but the dishes are carefully selected. The cuisine is focused on seasonal and local ingredients. The flavors are gentle and faithful to the basics of Japanese cuisine, with meticulous work put into each dish. There is no way the food could be anything but delicious. The tempura corn is crispy with a light batter, enhancing the sweetness of the corn and bringing out its natural deliciousness. You can try 3 different varieties. The 5-piece sushi set includes medium fatty tuna, scallop, cured mackerel, mullet, and Abashiri sea urchin, all for a reasonable price of 1,780 yen and well-executed. The toppings are generous and the quality of the ingredients shines through. The precise knife skills enhance the flavors. The sushi rice has a gentle vinegar flavor typical of Hokkaido. Everything is delicious! Additionally, the service is friendly and welcoming. This is a restaurant that definitely requires a reservation.

This is a rare counter-style traditional Japanese restaurant in the bustling district of Kitami. They have a good selection of Japanese sake, and you can expect to spend around 5000 yen in total. Since it's a traditional Japanese restaurant, the portion sizes are not very large. The place can only accommodate around 10 customers at the counter. It's a lovely place where you can easily walk in even if you're dining alone. During this state of emergency, many businesses are struggling. I haven't been able to dine out at all due to self-restraint, and I believe many others are in the same situation. It can be stressful. I haven't posted in a long time, but I've decided to resume posting in order to do what I can by promoting the restaurants I've visited before and helping them with some advertising. I hope this will support them in returning to normal business after the state of emergency is lifted.

I made a reservation in advance for an 8-course meal. So, here is the full lineup of all 8 dishes! 1. Nanohana and urui appetizer: Nanohana, usually known for its bitterness, was surprisingly fresh and sweet. Urui, a spring vegetable, had a slight slimy texture but was delicious. It truly felt like spring in my mouth! 2. Beef tendon and tofu stew: The beef tendon was tender and collagen-rich, paired perfectly with firm tofu. 3. Assorted sashimi: The tuna was incredibly soft and had a fantastic texture. The mackerel was also delicious! 4. Today's hot pot: I thought it was an oyster hot pot, but it turned out to be anglerfish hot pot with a generous portion of fluffy anglerfish hidden under the chrysanthemum greens. The broth was gentle and comforting. 5. Potato and silver cod: Unexpectedly, it was a combination of taro and sweet potato, fried to perfection. The crispy exterior and creamy interior paired well with the silver cod. The accompanying "namasu" had a fruity flavor, with mango adding a unique twist. 6. Lotus root bun: A signature dish that combined various textures and flavors in a harmonious way, making it a delightful experience. 7. Assorted sushi: The ultimate boss battle! The sushi was incredibly delicious, no further explanation needed. 8. Dessert: A refreshing combination of strawberries, La France pears, and oranges to cleanse the palate. This restaurant offers a fun and enjoyable dining experience, with meticulously crafted dishes and a cozy atmosphere. Don't forget to pay attention to the presentation of each dish, including the unique plates they are served on.

I had been curious about this sushi restaurant for a while. It's located across from Jiman Village, on the site of a former ramen shop. I heard that there are only 8 seats at the counter, so I made sure to make a reservation before visiting. The menu mainly consists of sushi and sashimi, with a variety of delicious side dishes. The owner used to work at a famous restaurant in Kitami, and their lotus root manju is said to be amazing. I definitely can't miss that. I started with beer and an assorted sashimi platter. I also added some blowfish tempura and lotus root manju. The sashimi platter included tuna, striped jack, golden eye snapper, mackerel, octopus, and shrimp. The presentation was beautiful and got me excited. Of course, I had to switch to sake from the second glass. The lotus root manju had a fluffy texture with a crunchy lotus root accent. The sauce on top was incredibly delicious, light yet rich in flavor. The blowfish tempura was perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. I couldn't resist pairing it with more sake. Finally, I added an eel roll, a bluefin tuna nigiri, and a sea urchin gunkan. The sushi here is insanely delicious. The balance between the fish and rice is perfect. The generous amount of sea urchin added a luxurious and satisfying touch. I thought the quality for the price was too good to be true. The sake selection was reasonably priced and offered a variety of delicious options. I was so satisfied with discovering this restaurant and definitely want to come back again soon.

This small restaurant has only 8 counter seats, but the atmosphere is so clean and well-renovated that you wouldn't believe it used to be a ramen shop. The dishes made by the owner are all delicious and impressive. The prices are surprisingly cheap too! Jazz music plays in the background, which somehow adds a calming touch. It's completely non-smoking, which is perfect for someone like me who doesn't smoke. I've already decided to become a regular here! You won't regret going here, guaranteed!

The gateway to Okhotsk, Kitami Station. In front of the JR station, there is a white mailbox with a curling stone and a round curling illustration, yes, that's right, it's the hometown of the Curling Sisters, Kitami. Well, to be precise, it's the old Tokoro Town, but now it's Kitami City Tokoro, right? Now, let's head into the downtown area and visit Tatsuno for a drink. The main purpose of this visit to Kitami is here. When I entered the restaurant, there was a U-shaped counter and a spacious kitchen where the owner and a young woman were busy. Due to COVID, there were hardly any people in Kitami's downtown area, but this place was almost full and making a reservation was definitely the right decision. The owner greeted me and asked for recommendations from the menu. I'll start with a draft beer, please. I reviewed the instructions I received from an acquaintance on my smartphone and ordered a sashimi platter. Also, I'll have the taro tempura, as well as one skewer of liver since the portion is large, and the tripe stew, please. The owner's consideration was much appreciated. The kitchen must be busy preparing all these dishes for the customers, but the owner handled everything smoothly, not neglecting the customers, and his calm operation was truly admirable. Occasionally, he would talk to me, making sure I didn't feel lonely, and the two salarymen at the back seemed to be regulars, making quite a few demands but the owner handled them well. The office lady next to me was happily chatting with the business traveler next to her. The sashimi platter arrived, it looks delicious. It was indeed delicious. The alcohol! I found a sake that I'm not familiar with. Since I'm alone and feeling a bit lonely, I'll have the Kikuhime from Ishikawa Prefecture to accompany me. It's a pure rice sake with a smooth taste that doesn't interfere with the sashimi's flavor, but instead enhances its richness. The liver skewer that was grilled for quite some time arrived. It's impressive! Indeed, one skewer is enough for one person. Although it seemed to be grilled for a long time, the inside was moist and full of the rich flavor of the liver. This is delicious. The tripe stew was unexpectedly light in seasoning, more like a traditional Japanese restaurant than an izakaya. Whether it's the sashimi, or the other dishes, the owner must have trained at a good restaurant, given his demeanor, customer service, and seasoning, which are completely different from those of a small town, more like that of a high-class restaurant or a counter inside a traditional Japanese restaurant. As evidence, the next dish, the taro tempura, was deliciously fluffy. If you put it in dashi, it could turn into a true potato. Eating tempura is not just about the name, it's delicious. Although I've been instructed to eat more and more, repeating alcohol refills has reached its limit for my stomach. The smile of the woman is lovely, and the atmosphere in the restaurant is always cheerful. You have good customers here. It seems to be one of the top restaurants in Kitami, even among the locals. Well, I was introduced to it, so there is no mistake. Towards the end, I chatted with the owner a bit and then said goodbye, swearing to revisit. Thank you for the delicious meal. It was delicious. Thank you.

Elegant✨ Beautiful✨ No matter what I have, it is always delicious and served with great care☺️