The first restaurant was disappointing in terms of cost performance, so I decided to try a second place. Many stalls in the street were closed on Mondays, so only about 60% were open. Already feeling quite full, I ordered squid sashimi and octopus tempura. The squid sashimi had the liver attached, which was nice, but the octopus tempura was disappointing as it was too mushy. The place seemed to be popular among pro wrestlers, as there were many autographs from wrestlers on the walls, but I probably won't visit again. It seems like a place known for its dumplings, so maybe I'll come back if I really crave dumplings.

At the second stop in Hakodate Sankaku Yokocho, we had a lemon highball for 500 yen. The appetizer was deep-fried tofu and komatsuna for 300 yen. We also tried the squid ink dumplings for 500 yen, which were recommended to be eaten as they were with sesame oil and salt flavor. They were juicy with plenty of meat juice. It's not cost-effective when appetizers are automatically served during bar hopping. The 500 yen highball seemed a bit expensive for this type of establishment.

Last month, when I stayed in Hakodate to collect station stamps in the Do-nan road, after eating yakitori, I wanted to drink a little more, so I wandered around Odori Yokocho. Every shop in the alley was packed with counter seats, so I didn't like it! But then, a voice came from behind my companion who was being picky, saying, "We can guide you to a table seat right now!" So we went in right away. I was happy to see various types of gyoza, my favorite food! I ordered the normal "yaki gyoza" and "Genghis Khan gyoza"! And when you come to Hakodate, you must eat "ika sashimi." First, I toasted with a Sapporo Classic (700 yen)! The ika sashimi was brought to us right away, with a transparent and fresh appearance, a crunchy texture, and a sweet and delicious taste. It also came with ika guts on the side, which was rich and delicious when eaten as is, but also tasted delicious when mixed with soy sauce. Next, the "yaki gyoza" (480 yen) was brought to us. They were small, but well-balanced with vegetables and meat, with just the right amount of garlic and juicy deliciousness! The "Genghis Khan gyoza" (550 yen) came with Genghis Khan sauce. When you put it in your mouth, the aroma of lamb spreads. Both were delicious, and I'm really curious about the ika ink gyoza, baron gyoza, gakome konbu gyoza, and King of gyoza, so I definitely want to visit again when I go to Hakodate! Thank you, Ikaya!

The shop seems to focus on catering to the common people, but the service is a bit careless. The yakisoba was delicious! However, the fried chicken was just average. The interior of the shop was dirty, with a pile of junk next to where we sat. It was really a huge pile! It's been a while since I've encountered a restaurant that I don't want to visit again.笑笑

We were drinking in front of Hakodate Station and decided to go to Hikari's food stall at Odori Yokocho for our second round. The menu mainly focuses on gyoza, but there are other options as well. With a group of 10 people, we were able to split between indoor and outdoor seating and enjoy our drinks at a leisurely pace. The onion rings were delicious too.

At "Hakodate Ikaya" in Daimon Yokocho, I was intrigued by the pitch-black gyoza in the lineup of drinks and decided to enter! The "Squid Ink Gyoza" is a recommended menu item. As expected of Hakodate, it's all about squid! Squid ink is kneaded into the skin, and there is squid hidden inside the filling. It has a hint of salt which makes it perfect as it is. The saltiness is just right, and it goes well with alcohol. It's not heavy, so you can eat it quite easily. The appetizers, simmered dish and potato salad, were served quickly, so we nibbled on them while waiting for the main dish. Both had a gentle flavor. There were also gyoza made with potatoes, which felt like a typical Hokkaido menu item!

I feel like there aren't many locals around here. It's a place with small food stalls that foreign tourists would love for taking photos. It's called Daimon Yokocho. After some hesitation, I decided to try the Ikasumi Gyoza, which seemed the easiest to get into and had the most seating capacity. I ended up sharing a table with strangers, which was a first for me. The place was cramped, with about 15 people squeezed in. The couple at the next table seemed to be getting along well. I wish I had their level of social skills! The taste was overall ordinary. The Ikasumi Gyoza didn't have a distinct squid ink flavor. I remember enjoying the Zangi, which was crispy and served with a plum mayo sauce. The cost-performance ratio wasn't great, but it wasn't overly expensive for a tourist spot either. It was a bit tough not being able to hop around different stalls due to the lack of free appetizers. Despite that, it was a valuable experience. Thank you for the meal!

Just a few minutes' walk from Hakodate Station, there is a small and unique food stall village where various shops line the streets. Some shops are crowded, while others are not so busy, but both locals and tourists mingle in this lively food stall village. This time, I really wanted to eat sauce yakisoba, so I googled and ended up entering "Hakodate Ikaya". This shop seems to put a lot of effort into their gyoza, and I hesitated whether to order the gyoza or not, but in the end, I just had the yakisoba and a lemon sour. It cost 1,450 yen. With just this, I politely left and went home.

I went to Daimon Yokocho with my colleagues. It was a windy and rainy day, so I didn't feel like walking much. Daimon Yokocho seems to be popular among tourists lately, as there were many loud foreign visitors there that day. We ended up going to Hakodate Ikaya, but it was quite expensive. Just a little food and drinks cost nearly 4000 yen per person. Maybe it would have been better to go to the proper izakaya across the street. The food was just okay, so one visit to this place was enough. (laughs) Thank you for the meal.

The alley had a nice atmosphere! I stopped by after taking a bath! As a tourist, I had a great time.

I ate seafood dumplings with squid ink! The inside was chewy and it was a new experience! It was delicious. Perfect for a first stop.

The dumplings are amazing. The owner is friendly and we had a great time. I think this place is a hidden gem. I would love to visit this restaurant again.