I went to my second solo drinking spot in December 2022. When I entered, there was a master sushi chef and a female server, exuding the aura of true sushi artisans. It was a very cold day, so I requested hot sake and a mixed sashimi platter. The sashimi from the north was incredibly delicious, like it had just been taken out of the ocean - juicy and full of the taste of the sea. The salmon was also fatty and delicious. I thought it paired well with the sake as I ate, but the master chef remained silent, watching TV. I wanted to make some conversation, but he seemed a bit intimidating. I decided to order a tekka maki roll while waiting. How long has this restaurant been around? "About 50 years..." And with that, the conversation ended. The tekka maki was delicious. I ordered another hot sake and enjoyed my meal in a state of solitude, lost in my own thoughts. Fresh sushi really is the best, isn't it? I left satisfied. Thank you for the meal.

When I went on a business trip to Kushiro, I relaxed my travel fatigue with beer and fried chicken at a specialty fried chicken shop for the first round. Since the fried chicken shop mainly served meat, we wanted to try some delicious fish in Kushiro, which led us to this restaurant. The restaurant is located in a prime location in Kushiro's drinking district, but to be honest, the atmosphere inside was lacking in liveliness, and I thought, "Did I make a mistake?" We were planning to have a light meal and then move on to the third round, but after a while, we realized that our judgment was wrong. The reason was simple: the sushi and appetizers that came out were delicious and had great value for money. In particular, the seaweed rolls were so tasty that we kept ordering more. The deep-fried tofu and soup were also perfect with hot sake. We were able to use the GO TO EAT campaign and were very satisfied! In the end, we ate our fill at this sushi restaurant, so singing at the karaoke box for the third round was more than enough. Thank you for the delicious meal!

Visit date October 27, 2020. For dinner on this day, I visited Sushimasa with a companion. We arrived around 9:00 PM, and there were no other customers before or after us. Our order consisted of: - Medium-sized Chirashi (assorted sashimi on rice) - large portion for 1600 yen - Premium sushi set for 2100 yen - Beer for 550 yen - Oolong tea for 320 yen The medium-sized Chirashi included egg, tuna, yellowtail, flounder, octopus, scallop, salmon, flying fish roe, salmon roe, and whelk. The tuna was likely bluefin tuna. The assortment was luxurious for a medium-sized Chirashi, with thick and fresh slices of fish that were delicious without any fishy taste. The rice was seasoned just right, with a normal firmness. The premium sushi set, chosen by my companion, included white fish, tuna, scallop, crab, surf clam, shad roe, shrimp, salmon roe, and flying fish roe, topped with wasabi gan. My companion, who is not a fan of wasabi, did not particularly like the rice here. However, the quality of the fish was excellent. The miso soup served with the meal had shrimp heads but lacked depth in flavor, being a bit salty. Different soy sauces were provided for the nigiri and Chirashi. The head chef looked intimidating but was friendly when spoken to. The woman, likely the chef's wife, was elegant and friendly, seeming to enjoy conversing with customers. I had been meaning to try this restaurant for a while, and I was not disappointed by the delicious food despite the slightly cold and dim atmosphere inside the restaurant. I noticed an unfamiliar sake called Sakuraku by Fukushi, so I look forward to trying that next time. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

Momen's Nationwide Food Journey - Kushiro Edition My work in Sapporo has finished and tomorrow marks the start of a 3-day weekend!! Instead of heading back to Osaka, I decided to travel around Hokkaido! This time, I chose to explore Eastern Hokkaido because I want to visit Hamanaka Town. From Sapporo to Kushiro, I took the Super Ozora Limited Express which takes over 4 hours. I boarded the last train to Kushiro departing from Sapporo at 7:40 pm and arriving in Kushiro at 11:55 pm. However, due to hitting a deer along the way, the train had to make an emergency stop for inspection, causing a significant delay. Eventually, I arrived at Kushiro Station at 12:15 am. It was exhausting. Also, when I previously rode the Super Ozora, they used to have in-train sales, but now it has been discontinued. Isn't it problematic to discontinue in-train sales on a route that takes over 4 hours? Come on, JR Hokkaido! Before boarding the train, I bought a can of beer and a pack of chips as a snack, but I was still really hungry. So, in Kushiro at night... after dropping off my luggage at the hotel, I headed to the downtown area to explore. Kushiro has many sushi restaurants open late at night. Although I've been to Kushiro many times before, it's a familiar town for me, so I easily found my way from the hotel to the downtown area. I arrived at the downtown area in Kushiro and started looking for a place to eat. Surprisingly, despite the late hour, there were quite a few eateries open. Among them, I chose "Sushimasa" this time. About the restaurant: Located in a small tenant building next to the popular Tsubugai-yaki restaurant "Kadoya" in a corner of Ei-machi, Kushiro's downtown area. The interior of the restaurant has a somewhat old and historical atmosphere. The restaurant is run by an elderly couple, and there are 6 counter seats facing the kitchen and also private rooms in the back. I ordered some dishes to go with my drinks and tried out the following dishes that night: - Assorted sashimi: Octopus, Flounder, Surf Clam, Scallop, and Salmon - Tachipon (Cod Milt in Ponzu Sauce) - Sushi: I let the chef choose for me Overall, the food was delicious, and the highlight was the fresh sashimi and unique dishes like Tachipon. The night ended with a satisfying meal, and I headed back to the hotel to get some rest for the next day's journey to Hamanaka.

The average sushi customer was just me.

Omakase Sushi

I visited the restaurant on a weekend night before 8 o'clock, and there were no other customers when I entered. It seems like the place is run by the chef and a woman who might be the owner. There is a counter and a raised seating area, and I chose to sit in the raised area. They offer several dishes on the menu, and after hearing the explanations, I ordered the simmered sea snails in a pot (730 yen) and the deep-fried crab shell (850 yen). The simmered sea snails dish was like a steamed dish with a rich broth and tender sea snails, bamboo shoots, and shiitake mushrooms. The deep-fried crab shell was like a gratin with plenty of crab. Lastly, I ordered the special sushi (2,940 yen), which was all delicious. The sea urchin, salmon roe, and tuna were all fresh and tender. The prices were reasonable for the quality, and the dishes were well-prepared. Overall, I think it's a great restaurant. Thank you for the meal! ☆

I went to Hokkaido last weekend. I saw cranes, experienced robatayaki at Kushiro Aburiya, and also visited Fukushi Sake Brewery. I wanted to visit more places, but some roads were closed, so I had to give up. After having robatayaki, I felt like something was missing. Maybe I didn't drink enough? Let's have some sushi to top it off. I don't remember why I chose this place, maybe because I was a bit tipsy. There was a sign that said "明朗会計" (clear billing), but my memory is a bit fuzzy due to being drunk. First, beer! The chef seemed to give off an outsider vibe, but I didn't care because I had alcohol in me. The menu had prices listed! I asked if I could take a photo of the sushi. The chef seemed surprised and asked what I would use the photo for. I explained that I would post it on my blog to show what I ate. The chef seemed puzzled and asked if it was a diary. I felt more relaxed here than at a sushi place in Susukino. The recommended dishes were displayed, and I received one. The squid, red snapper, octopus, and ark shell were all delicious, with the red snapper being exceptional. The crab was also tasty. The miso soup had an elegant taste and a nice aroma. The only downside was the rice, which was a bit soft. The chef's wife brought the miso soup to us, and she was very kind. The restaurant had only one regular customer. It might be easier to enjoy the meal when left alone rather than being engaged in conversation. Overall, it was a great dining experience. I would love to visit another sushi restaurant in Kushiro next time I visit.

I stopped by for a snack after a beer party. The restaurant is run by a husband and wife, and it was quiet inside. I ordered a set of nigiri sushi which included tuna, scallop, crab, shrimp, salmon, ikura, tobiko, and tatakai for 2100 yen. The rice and the sushi itself were to my liking, but the vinegar was a bit on the sweet side. Overall, the taste was average. It was a rare treat to have tatakai included in the set. Eating sushi at a counter in a sushi restaurant is a rare occasion for me, so I was a bit nervous.