I don't have a particular fondness for Korean cuisine, but sometimes I crave stone pot bibimbap, and when that happens, I visit "Kanmokumon" for the delicious bibimbap and jjigae stew made by a Korean woman. The flavors are so good that I can't find them elsewhere. My wife and I didn't want to go far for food after returning from my father-in-law's house, so we decided to visit this place while returning DVDs at TSUTAYA. I couldn't remember the last time I visited this building where there used to be Beer Works Chitose, but the bright yellow storefront immediately caught my attention. It used to be a place where a person who worked at the Chinese restaurant "Chukayen" that I loved used to run a ramen shop. The shop was run by two women, and I noticed that it was a pay-first system as soon as I saw the menu lined up near the entrance. They had a set with ramen and a half-size kimbap, and I chose the bulgogi kimbap and ramen set, and my wife, who loves to imitate, chose the same. When asked if we wanted the ramen soup to be mild, we, who like spicy food, said there was no need. The ramen and half kimbap set arrived on a tray. When I saw the ramen, I realized it was definitely the noodles from a certain instant ramen brand. The soup had a nice spiciness and was delicious, but I couldn't tell if it was made from scratch or had some added flavor. The kimbap, which looked like sushi rolls at first glance, was clearly different in taste as it didn't use vinegared rice, but the texture of the bulgogi and the subtle sweetness were delicious. "It's like the noodles from a certain instant ramen brand," my wife also seemed to have figured it out (laughs). No wonder the ramen alone was only 450 yen, given the low price.

I parked my car at Beer Works, opened the door, took out my wallet from my backpack, and tried to close the car key, but it wasn't in my pocket! I searched inside my backpack but couldn't find it. I thought maybe I dropped it in the company parking lot, but even if I couldn't start the engine, there was nothing I could do to retrieve it... After searching for about 10 minutes, I found the key had fallen next to the car. I was so relieved and tired at the same time! If I had lost it in the company parking lot, I wouldn't have made it here by now (laughs). Alright, let's head to the restaurant I was planning to visit! The restaurant is "Fragrant Taste." I knew they were selling Kimbap exclusively for takeout, but I visited after they moved to Beer Works and started offering dine-in options. I decided to order ramen and Kimbap set! It's available until December 31st, so let's hurry and place our order! (It was limited at the time, but is it still available for order after 2023?) The staff who guided me spoke broken Japanese, which made me feel like it was a Korean restaurant, do you understand what I mean? (laughs) I chose the "Bulgogi Kimbap Half Ramen (¥850)" this time! After a short wait, the plate was served, and there was one thing that caught my attention. If you look at the first and second photos of the Kimbap, you'll notice that the filling is sticking out (laughs). Looking at other people's photos, it seems like the same Kimbap with filling sticking out is served almost consistently, so it might be a service. It seems like they are trying to make it more voluminous by adding a lot of filling. The Bulgogi is sweet, and the rice is cooked firm, and when eating the Kimbap, the rice doesn't fall apart, so you can eat it slowly in 2-3 bites, which is nice. I thought Kimbap was seasoned like sushi rice, but I didn't know it was seasoned with sesame oil and other ingredients. If it was sushi rice, it would be indistinguishable from nori rolls, and the nuttiness wouldn't come through, so this is also delicious. I'll be straight about the ramen - the noodles are instant noodles (laughs), but seriously, they're delicious! The swirling curls and the way the noodles break apart in the soup...! The spiciness of the soup hitting your throat is also typical of Korean cuisine and it's great! It's not a specialty store or a dining room, but if it's a service item, it's passable, and it's a large volume at a reasonable price. Everything tastes delicious when you're hungry, right? The pickled radish also helps moisten your throat and the crunchy texture is great, those who love pickles will love the saltiness! The ramen container was larger than expected and filled me up more than I thought, I'm so full! But satisfied! Next time, let's try a different kind of Kimbap or chicken! Thank you for the meal.

I saw on Instagram that a ramen restaurant had opened, so I decided to go check it out. I ordered a tuna kimbap set with ramen. I sat by the window hoping to see the Chitose River, but they had put up a net because they were renovating. There were two women sitting in the middle seats. When my kimbap and ramen arrived, I found the ramen soup to be a bit spicy and there was no water available. They don't offer water service here, so I had to buy a bottle of water for ¥120. I managed to calm down with some pickles and ended up just eating the noodles without drinking the soup. The pickles were good, and I even asked for a refill. It's funny to come to a Korean restaurant and expect something not spicy, but I guess I'm just a wimp when it comes to spice. The kimbap and pickles were tasty, so I might come back, but I'll probably just get takeout next time.

On a certain holiday, I happened to drive far and wide and ended up visiting a Kimbap and Korean fried chicken restaurant located in the eastern outskirts of Chitose City. The parking lot is located in the back or front of the building, where you can park a large number of cars. The restaurant is on the first floor of a large building that used to house many other eateries, making it a quiet place during the day with not many surrounding shops open. The interior is relatively compact, with a small counter at the entrance, seating for 2 at the counter, and a table for 3. Local pop music plays in the background. From the menu, I chose a set menu starting with "Vegetable Kimbap and Chicken Set (600 yen)" and was informed by the waitress that they didn't have water, so I ordered "Black Rice Roasted Tea (150 yen)" from the refrigerated case. After a slightly longer wait, the food was ready. The vegetable Kimbap was as expected, with a good balance of ingredients and flavors. The roll was filled with sweet boiled carrots, flavorful crab sticks, thinly sliced burdock, cucumber, a hint of salty pickled radish, and a slightly salty rolled omelette. Next, the chicken had a sweet aroma, and upon tasting it, I was pleasantly surprised by its unique flavor. The chicken pieces, similar to bento size fried chicken, had a slightly lighter coating than in Japan, but upon closer examination, I could taste the unusual buttery flavor. Additionally, a generous amount of fine sugar was sprinkled on top, initially causing some confusion in my taste buds, but as I continued eating, I could also detect a subtle hint of acidity. The meal also included a refreshing pickled radish salad made with fruity vinegar, and an egg and vegetable soup. The black rice roasted tea had a fragrant and toasty flavor, similar to corn tea, which might be familiar to locals. Lately, I have come across Kimbap at specialty shops with high prices, but I truly enjoy this kind of casual and affordable Kimbap. Thank you for the meal.

After finishing up some errands, I decided to stop by #MiLABO, a place with a Korean cuisine vibe that I found on Tabelog. It is located on the first floor of Beer Works Chitose. The adjacent revolving sushi restaurant had a long line, but #MiLABO was quiet. I bought Kimbap and chicken, and tried a piece of Yangnyeom with cheddar cheese. It was a burst of flavor in my mouth. As I drove back, I enjoyed the clear sky on the left and the approaching rain clouds on the right. The gray sky made me think of the depth beyond, reminiscent of the sky in a painting by a modern artist, Boudin. On the way back from the airport to Sapporo, sudden rain reminded me of Boudin's gaze towards the sky. The staff at #MiLABO seemed to be mostly Korean, but there were also Japanese staff. The Kimbap was delicious with a good balance of vegetables, rice, and seaweed. The Yangnyeom chicken with cheddar cheese powder was crispy and flavorful. The soup was light and slightly spicy. The chicken came with pickled radish cubes. They offer a variety of flavors for the chicken and Kimbap, so the menu may change. The set menu seems like a good deal.

I visited the newly opened Beer Works on September 22nd, which had a temporary location in Rentaru LABO in Shimizu-cho while looking for a permanent store. I'm glad they found a place. I ordered a set of not-so-spicy cheese kimpa half and fried chicken. The set was a good deal. I also received a cute eco bag as a grand opening gift. Although they didn't have dine-in service at that time, it seems like they have it now. I would like to go back when things settle down.

I went to Kaoru Aji, which opened on the 17th of this month. They were temporarily operating at Rental Labo in Shimizu-cho until they found a permanent location. I chose the half portion of cheese that didn't seem too spicy, and also got the fried chicken as part of the B set which was said to be a better deal. They were giving out cute eco bags as part of their grand opening promotion. It seems like I might not have many opportunities to go since it's only until 2 PM on weekdays, but I would like to visit again if I get the chance.

I love Kimbap. I found out about a delicious Kimbap shop in Chitose through Tabelog, so I stopped by on the way back from picking up my family at the airport. I bought two types of Kimbap and honey butter Yangnyeom Chicken to take home. It was very delicious! The Kimbap is carefully made, so it looks beautiful and each ingredient is tasty. The chicken has a different deliciousness from Zangi. It is seasoned with spices, tender, and perfect for beer snacks. The taste and price are satisfying, but it took a very long time for takeout, we waited about 50 minutes after ordering with two other takeout customers in front of us. So, I deduct half a star ⭐︎. I wonder if it takes this long for dining in as well? Next time, I will definitely make a reservation in advance before going!

This is a Korean cuisine Kimbap restaurant. It was operating in a rental kitchen until July, but now it is officially open. The location is on the 1st floor of the Bia Works Chitose Building. The menu includes Cheese Kimbap with Chicken for 650 yen. The restaurant Bia Works Chitose closed down, leaving the building empty, so it's good to see a new tenant. The menu offers Kimbap and Chicken as individual items, as well as a set with both. I had the Cheese Kimbap which had a generous amount of vegetables and a mild flavor. There are also other options like Vegetable/Tuna with Wasabi/Teriyaki with Wasabi. The Chicken comes in different flavors like Honey Butter, Fried Chicken, and Yangnyeom Chicken (spicy/sweet soy sauce). I chose the Honey Butter Chicken which had four large pieces with a crispy texture. The set options include a half portion of Kimbap with Chicken in either small or large size. You can also eat in the restaurant, which has a nice atmosphere. I saw someone with flowers, so they must have taken it to go. They also mentioned that ramen will be served in the future, so I'm curious to see what kind of ramen they will offer. Overall, it was a satisfying meal.