Eating and walking in Kitami with my wife. Tomorrow we will climb Mt. Kurodake, so we are using Kitami as a stepping stone. The second place in Kitami is a surprise Chinese restaurant. This place really doesn't like me. "Hacchaki" - this name is misleading. It doesn't seem like a Chinese restaurant at all. But... my wife knew. It's on the second floor. I've been to the neighboring restaurant before. There are counters and raised seating. I was asked, "Counter or raised seating?" I chose the counter and found an acquaintance there. This person has a loud voice. We shook hands. I don't mind being approached, but his voice is loud. However, he left before the mapo tofu arrived. We started with a beer. My wife, who usually goes home early, had two beers at the first place just like me. She usually drinks less. Beer is delicious. The appetizer was scallops in a thick sauce, different from what I expected from Chinese cuisine. It was unexpectedly delicious. The background music was a TV show with Tetsuko Kuroyanagi. I don't dislike her, but she's not someone I want to watch while drinking. We ordered mapo tofu and dumplings. The mapo tofu was silky. I liked it, but what about tofu lovers? It had a strong flavor of Sichuan pepper. For once, I served myself seconds without being asked. I'm not addicted to it, but it's delicious. I'm not contradicting myself. When it got quiet, the raised seating area became very noisy. It didn't bother me because there was someone noisy nearby. A woman's voice was piercing. It lasted for 20 minutes. When they left, the noise of washing dishes and cooking could be heard. This is the natural sound of a restaurant. It's quiet now. The dumplings had a unique appearance, emphasizing the wings. It didn't appeal to me, and the sauce was sour. It must be authentic. I don't understand the point of emphasizing the wings so much, but I can see why some people would like it. Unexpected things happen. The noisy person left, so we sat at the counter with six seats. There were three of us. The woman next to my wife lit a cigarette. I didn't smell it, but she must have been holding back. She should just hold back forever. I'm leaving. The total was 3,600 yen, cheaper than the first place. So, the first place was expensive, not that this place is cheap.

I went to eat ankake yakisoba and mapo tofu. The ankake yakisoba had a ridiculously tender texture, with meat and squid that were chewy yet crispy. It was clear that the cooking technique was skillful. The dishes are all cooked quickly with high heat, so it's like a Chinese restaurant that serves homemade dishes promptly. However, the ankake yakisoba is really hot when it arrives. Even if you think it has cooled down, there is still a heat attack from the sauce inside, so be careful not to eat too quickly even if you're hungry. The seasoning and cooking of the ingredients were excellent. The shrimp was also firm and fresh. The mapo tofu had a well-balanced seasoning without being too watery. Additionally, they offer a body-friendly "healthy tea" which was a nice touch. They have counter seats where you can sit with your shoes on, so it's also recommended for solo diners.

Returning to Kitami City. At night, I went out for drinks with my friends. On the first day, we went to a chain restaurant so no photos. On the second day, we visited Hacchaki-san, who we have relied on many times before. The highlight here is definitely the delicious Chinese food. Spring rolls, shrimp chili, spicy zangi, wasabi pickled nagaimo, zasai chanja...I apologize for only having 3 photos. Hacchaki is known for their "otokomiki sour" but I started with a beer for cheers. For my second and third drinks, I had the otokomiki sour. It costs 700 yen and comes with plenty of frozen lemon in a jug. You can get a refill with just the lemon for 450 yen and they'll add the sour for you. If you want to eat delicious Chinese food in the heart of Kitami, this place is highly recommended. Everything is delicious, so be sure to try it all.

The horse sashimi, shrimp mayo, shrimp chili cheese, Camembert cheese fry, and yakisoba with thick sauce were all delicious.

The liver and leek stir-fry is delicious without any unpleasant smell, and the bean sprouts are hot and crunchy. The liver and leek dish here is much tastier than at King Shou Aeon. The spring rolls were also delicious. The all-you-can-drink option is available for groups of two or more, not for individuals.

The second stop for solo drinking in Kitami is Hacchaki, a Chinese izakaya located on Yamashita Street, on the second floor of Hanamaru Tei. The atmosphere is quite homey, with a counter seating for 5 and a raised tatami seating area. The menu consists of classic Chinese dishes such as fried rice, fried foods, grilled dishes, salads, and small plates, as well as Miyazaki-sourced horse sashimi and chicken tataki. They also offer half portions, which is quite convenient. Despite feeling full from the first stop, I ordered mapo tofu, a spring roll, and red chicken tataki. The appetizer was a delicious clam and takenoko (bamboo shoot) ankake. It was surprisingly satisfying with just this and a beer. The mapo tofu was served bubbling in an iron pot, with a generous amount of minced meat and a smooth texture from the silk tofu. The touch of sansho pepper was a nice touch. I can imagine it being even better served over rice. The spring roll, which I had heard good things about from friends, did not disappoint. It went perfectly with a cold beer. The red chicken tataki was served with garlic soy sauce, a perfect match for a glass of on the rocks sweet potato shochu. I wanted to try more dishes, like zangi and horse sashimi, but I was too full. I'll have to come back for those next time.

I used it for a year-end party with my drinking buddies. <<Crowdedness and atmosphere when visited>> I made a reservation for 4 people on Wednesday at 8 pm. The restaurant is relatively small but has a cozy atmosphere. I had heard that this restaurant was opened by someone who was in charge of Chinese cuisine at Hotel Kurobe, so I had high expectations. We decided to get the all-you-can-drink option and try various dishes. <<Dishes we ate>> ☆Spring roll ☆Gyoza ☆Mapo tofu ☆Crab fried rice ☆Char siu fried rice ☆Special zangi ☆Grilled butter chicken ☆Jellyfish vinegar dish ☆Onion salad marinated in Shaoxing wine ☆Wasabi-marinated long potato <<Overall impression>> All the dishes were delicious. The classic Chinese dishes like spring rolls, gyoza, and mapo tofu were great, but the "onion salad marinated in Shaoxing wine" was surprisingly tasty. The onion salad marinated in Shaoxing wine had a smooth texture like eating Camembert cheese and the flavor of Shaoxing wine, making it addictive. The crab fried rice was light and refreshing, perfect for my taste. The manager and staff were friendly and provided attentive service, and the speed of serving dishes and drinks was just right. I would like to go back and try other menu items at this izakaya.

I used it for the annual year-end party with friends. This time, I made a reservation for 4000 yen for a plan with all-you-can-drink from 3500 yen and entered the store! We entered at 7:00 PM and the place was almost full, with a lively atmosphere due to the year-end party season. We were guided to a raised tatami seating area, and first ordered draft beer. The appetizer, pickled in Shaoxing wine, was served immediately, and the aroma of Shaoxing wine soaked into the appetizers, giving a unique flavor. The draft beer that was brought over was properly chilled, with foam rings stacking up in the glass with each sip. The presentation of the clean beer glass was impressive. Next came the sashimi platter, with neatly cut fresh slices. Then, a large portion of fried chicken, long spring rolls, piping hot. Be careful not to burn your mouth! After that, we had oyster omelet, salad, shrimp chili, stir-fried scallops, all classic Chinese dishes with a well-balanced flavor and served at the right temperature. The timing of each dish's arrival was just right, and the atmosphere of the party was lively. At this point, I had already consumed 3 beers and 2 highballs, and was feeling a bit tipsy. The final dish was the five-flavor crispy rice, served in a hot iron pot, with the server pouring the five-flavor sauce over it at the table. The sound of sizzling and the rising steam created a wonderful aroma. The first serving was slightly crispy, while the second serving was soft and flavorful. My stomach was at its limit by this point. Overall, the dishes were not too oily and had a light Chinese flavor, which suited my taste preference. I discovered a high-level Chinese izakaya that mastered the basics of Chinese cuisine and sashimi. I would like to try their a la carte dishes next time. It was delicious, thank you for the meal. Let's go again next time!

Reasonably priced authentic Chinese izakaya. Overall, the food is consistently delicious and you can feel at ease trying anything on the menu. The service from the owner may be lacking, but the female server who takes orders is friendly. The shrimp chili is a classic dish with plump and juicy shrimp. The yakisoba comes in two varieties: seafood with thick sauce and hormone with thick sauce, each with a different savory topping. The seafood is fresh and cooked perfectly!