Visited for the first time in September 2022, the 19th dish of 2022. The Otaru Food Ambassador gave a first review. A small, hidden shop quietly opened in the deep Hanazono district, called "Arashiyama Nakamichi Teppo." Owner Chef Kinoshita, originally from Sapporo, has experience in various genres at restaurants outside of Hokkaido, particularly at a restaurant run by a chef from the Imperial Hotel, where he learned the basics of Western cuisine. Using the Imperial Hotel's Demi-Glace sauce as a base, the lunch menu features curry and omurice as the main attractions, while the evening menu leans towards a bistro style. The interior of the shop was also DIY by the owner. The "European-style chicken curry" for 1,200 yen features a rich homemade Demi-Glace sauce. Rather than focusing on spiciness, the curry emphasizes the richness and umami flavors typical of Western cuisine. The generously cooked chicken adds to the overall experience. The salad was also meticulously prepared, featuring zucchini, carrots, cucumbers, and cabbage. Each vegetable had a special touch, making it a must-visit for dinner as well. It was mentioned that the vegetables are sent by a pesticide-free, organic farmer in Nagano Prefecture, with whom they have had a long-standing relationship since their time on Honshu. When asked about the high shipping costs, the response was that the farmer sends more than ordered, making it financially comparable to local vegetables, all with a smile. It must be Kinoshita's personality shining through. With a young child and a wife unable to assist in the shop, he currently runs it alone. He commutes daily from Teine in Sapporo. When asked about the heavy snow last year, he replied, "I saw those snow mountains and decided on this location." It's clear that such a wonderful person will continue to liven up Otaru. Once again, a lovely new addition to Otaru's dining scene.

Visited Otaru for lunch, aiming for Western cuisine. It was a new restaurant for me. Of course, I ordered the omurice! The narrow alleyways in Otaru are charming. Despite consulting the map, it was hard to find the restaurant! Finally arrived and was greeted by a stylish entrance. The interior had a cozy atmosphere with a handsome bearded chef behind the counter. I ordered the Omurice with homemade ketchup for 1100 yen, and added a Ginger Ale for an extra 100 yen. The meal also came with a chilled soup made with cucumber and zucchini, which was refreshing and delicious. The omurice was served with fluffy eggs on top of ketchup rice, and the homemade ketchup had a unique and tasty flavor. The chicken and butter-infused ketchup rice was moist and flavorful, making it one of the best omurice dishes I've tried. Otaru really excels in Western cuisine. It was a delightful meal - thank you!

Finally, I was able to visit the restaurant "Yo-shoku Kinoshita" that I've been curious about for a while because their omurice looked so delicious. Located in Otaru, they offer a variety of dishes including their signature omurice with a side of vegetable soup. On this particular day, I initially planned to just have the omurice but couldn't resist ordering the caramel banana ice cream as well. The set drink option with iced coffee was reasonably priced at an additional ¥200. The vegetable soup was flavorful with a generous amount of vegetables, beans, and mushrooms. The omurice was served piping hot with a fluffy egg topping the chicken rice, complemented by their tangy homemade ketchup. The iced coffee was refreshing and had a nice depth of flavor without the need for milk or syrup. As for the caramel banana ice cream, it was rich and creamy with a perfect balance of sweetness from the banana and a hint of bitterness from the caramel. I'm already thinking about trying their European-style chicken curry and rare cheesecake next time, as well as their beet ice cream and creme brulee. Overall, it was a delightful dining experience.

On May 13, 2023, I finally visited a Western-style restaurant that opened in Otaru Hanazono on June 10, 2022! The place is located in the Arashiyama Nakamise Shotenkai. The interior is cozy with a touch of wood warmth and nostalgic decor. The owner chef, Mr. Kinoshita, originally from Sapporo, has experience working in various cafes, Italian, and French restaurants in Tokyo. During lunchtime, they serve dishes like omelette rice and European-style curry, while dinner offers a variety of authentic Western dishes to enjoy with drinks. I finally fulfilled my wish of ordering omelette rice! The dish came with a generous vegetable soup, filled with mushrooms, carrots, onions, and other veggies with different textures. The omelette on top of the chicken rice was cute and round, and when you cut into it, it was soft and creamy. The ketchup topping was not too tangy, making it a flavor even kids would love. It was impressive how they could create such a creamy omelette rice! The owner seemed like a nice person, and I definitely want to visit again. Thank you for the delicious meal!

- No smoking - Counter and table seating available - For those who like ordinary omurice, the homemade ketchup might be recommended! - The homemade demi-glace sauce omurice might be more suitable for Western food enthusiasts - Ended up coming here for lunch because the other place I wanted to go was closed - Special omurice with demi-glace sauce for 1300 yen (comes with vegetable side dishes) - Lunch highball for 400 yen It was just before noon, so I decided to try this place for the first time. When I entered the empty restaurant, I could smell cumin and spicy curry... which made me lose my omurice mood a bit. But I still ordered the omurice! I was a bit cold, so I wanted to have some hot sake, but they didn't have any! They didn't even have hot wine, which would have been nice in freezing Otaru winter! Anyway, I ended up ordering a lunch highball! It came in a cute round glass, and it was just the right strength, not too strong or weak. The lunch highball was 400 yen, which was a bit of a deal (it's 550 yen in the evening). - Vegetable side dishes I love these kinds of appetizers! But even though there were no other customers, the staff didn't explain what the side dishes were when they brought them... It would have been nice to have some explanation, even if the place was empty. - Carrot rape: Refreshing with a hint of sourness and aroma, very delicious - Potato salad: Had a cumin flavor and a slightly chunky texture, reminded me of hummus mixed with couscous maybe? I'm not sure. - Couscous, sweet potato: It had the natural sweetness of the ingredients - Shimeji mushrooms & komatsuna (maybe?): Crunchy and delicious, but I couldn't really tell what it was - Omurice with demi-glace sauce The omurice style was supposed to be fluffy and packer, but when I cut into it, it was a bit hard... maybe it got overcooked and couldn't spread properly. It wasn't as fluffy as I imagined, and my enthusiasm went down a bit. But after taking some photos, it got a bit hard because of the heat? Anyway, I took a bite... it was slightly bitter and had a bitter taste, definitely for adults! This was truly an adult omurice. The rice was a bit firm, which was okay. But it was quite filling, so I felt satisfied after eating half of it (even though I finished it all). At some point, I felt like having some soup... omurice usually comes with soup, right? This might be more suitable for those who are into Western or demi-glace flavors, not for those who like ordinary omurice. For those people, the homemade ketchup version might be better. As I finished the omurice, another group and then another came in. When I asked for the bill, they said, "It's 1800 yen." I thought, "Wait, isn't it 1700 yen?" "Is that including tax?" "Yes." "Hmm..." The extra 100 yen bothered me a bit. Was it for a seating charge or something? Beer and wine are 500 yen, but still, I wondered if they made a mistake. I didn't get a receipt, so I couldn't tell. Personally, the omurice was okay, but the side dishes were delicious, so maybe the evening menu is better? For a lunch in Otaru, having drinks separate makes the cost performance a bit poor. The omurice was quite filling, so maybe making it a bit smaller and adding soup and a drink for that price would be nice. The side dishes were good for getting your veggies in and went well with alcohol, but maybe a bit less would be better, with soup added for that price. In Otaru, having soup and a drink with the side dishes for that price would be ideal. The side dishes had a beautiful presentation, were delicious, and got me excited! The side dishes were delicious, so 3 stars from me.

The restaurant has 6 counter seats and 3 table seats at the back, with a deep interior. The plants, radio, and antique goods are well-maintained and contribute to the chic interior. For lunch, I had the European-style chicken curry with demi-glace sauce. It came with vegetable side dishes. You can customize your meal by adding a drink for an extra 200 yen or dessert for an extra 300 yen. The potato salad had a hint of cumin, the pumpkin was very sweet, and the carrot salad had a trendy flavor. The vegetable dish with just green onions was unusual but delicious. The cold eggplant dish was a unique touch. The omurice arrived after a short wait and had a bitter demi-glace sauce, giving it an adult-oriented taste. For dessert, I chose the corn ice cream, which was delicious with a homemade texture. I would like to try their pasta next time. They seem to allow daytime drinking as well. The restaurant got busy after my visit as they had to prepare over 10 servings of omurice with only one staff member. The food was made with care and took some time, so be prepared to wait. Thank you for the meal!

July 2022. Day and night review of my first visit. A new Western-style restaurant opened last month in Hanazono called "Arashiyama Nakamise Koji," so as a fan of Western cuisine, I had to go, right? By the way, this is just my opinion, but I think this place will be featured in a certain magazine's "Otaru, Niseko, and Hokkaido Special" if they make it in time. The owner, originally from Sapporo (commuting from Sapporo?), gained experience in various restaurants in Honshu (across different genres) and decided to open his own restaurant in the beloved town of Otaru. - Euro-style Chicken Curry with Poached Egg on Top (1,150 yen) First, a salad was served, but unlike just tossing some raw vegetables with dressing as a side for the curry, this salad seemed well-prepared. The curry, upon the first bite, tasted like it had been carefully cooked with a rich flavor, probably from caramelizing the onions until they turn amber, along with a stock made from chicken bones, aromatics, and about 20 different spices. It had a different impression compared to the roux curry I had at "Ichimonji" in Sapporo recently, but it was unexpectedly delicious! The ginger ale I ordered after the meal was a Wilkinson's dry one. This made me curious about the dinner menu, so I visited with my family the next night. - Assorted Appetizers (1,000 yen) The image shows a serving for two, and while the presentation was a bit rough, it included Carrot Rapé, olives, white liver paste, salami, pork rillettes, North Island pork pâté de campagne, and about 8 other items. It felt like a good deal and was served quickly, so I want to order this every time. - Hokkaido Beef Lamp 100% Hamburger (1,900 yen) I just tasted a bit of what my son ordered, and the umami of the meat came through fully, and the sauce had an adult-like taste, so it felt like a waste to let the kids eat this! - Sautéed Chicken Tenderloin and Mushrooms with Blue Cheese Sauce (1,000 yen) I shared this with my wife, and the mushrooms were simply delicious. The sauce, made with blue cheese, shallots, and vermouth, had a taste that we had never experienced before, and we exchanged looks, thinking it was innovative? and interesting, and it also tasted good. - Puttanesca Pasta (1,100 yen) The blue cheese pasta was sold out, so I chose this unfamiliar dish, and apparently, Puttanesca in Italian means "prostitute-style." It is seasoned with tomato sauce, olives, capers, anchovies, and other ingredients, and the goodness of the ingredients is the key to the taste! The noodles were quite thin, cooked al dente with a firm bite. I'm not a big fan of tomato sauce-based pasta, but I ordered this out of curiosity about the unfamiliar name, and it was delicious! While this place is categorized as a Western-style restaurant, I felt it was more like a mix of taverns and bistros, with a wide variety of international influences. Lastly, a little complaint. In the drinking district of Hanazono, there have been a few Western-style restaurants over the years, but almost none have lasted. Especially in the past when there was no internet, and few locals were willing to support even a good restaurant once it opened. This is also the reason why I started using Tabelog. It's good to have your favorite places, but since people from other regions seem to like Otaru and a good restaurant has been established, I wish that once in a while, people would visit such places too.

This is an omurice activity. I haven't been out to eat omurice recently, but I was thinking I wanted to. Then, my reliable friend recommended a Western-style restaurant called Youshoku Kinoshita, which seems to serve delicious omurice. It's located next to Coast in Hanazono. The owner runs the restaurant alone and I saw on Instagram that he did the interior design himself. It looked very stylish. There were various menu items that caught my eye, but I decided to go with the demi-glace sauce omurice (1300 yen) and creme brulee for dessert (500 yen). The omurice here is a rice-topped omelette style. The rice is...maybe butter rice? The demi-glace sauce is quite bitter, but delicious! It's like a bitter adult omurice. I quite like it. The creme brulee, I prefer it chilled, but this one is not chilled. However, the satisfying feeling of the crispy surface cracking with each touch is enjoyable. It seems like there aren't many customers yet, probably because the restaurant is not well-known. Keep up the good work, I will definitely visit again. Thank you for the meal!

Omelette rice with elegant demiglace sauce in the Hanazono area of Otaru. It's a delicious dish that makes you want to come back for more. The stylish interior, pleasant music, and enjoyable Western food and drinks make it a very cozy place to relax.

I visited for the first time. I enjoyed a leisurely time with appetizers and wine. Many people were eating omurice at the counter. I will definitely try the omurice next time I come.