As I climbed the stairs, I encountered some tipsy regular old men. It was a bit awkward at first, but they cheerfully called the owner for me. The atmosphere was homey and welcoming, without any pretentiousness. The place was filled with manga and I could relax and take my time. The Hamburg steak set was delicious, as well as all the other dishes. The warm and comforting feeling of the food made me feel satisfied. The variety of dishes and generous portions made me feel more and more comfortable. It was a delicious and comforting place to be.

It's simply delicious. It's great that there are pickles included at such a low price. The side dishes of seasoned vegetables, stir-fried cabbage, and boiled eggplant are all delicious. The meal ends with a serious drop coffee from the tea shop, which is also tasty. Both the cost performance and quality are perfect, thank you for the meal.

Oh, it's been 9 years since my last visit. Time flies so fast. The child born at that time is already a 4th grader in elementary school. My 90-year-old grandmother would be 99 years old now. Time really flies... The exterior hasn't changed much, it's my first time coming alone and I finally realized where this place is located. The parking lot had a sign saying it's okay to park right in front. When I went upstairs... there were flowers decorating the place. I took a picture of it on my way out. A lady came out from inside and brought me something I had forgotten. How kind of her... (´；ω；`) The entrance looks the same as before, but I wonder if I can take a good picture of it?? She told me to take a good picture, so this is how it turned out... I'm sorry. This is the best angle I could get, as there are stairs in the foreground. The menu... I can't remember the prices from 9 years ago. Overall, the prices have probably gone up. But they still seem pretty cheap. The sukiyaki set is only 680 yen. Cheaper than the daily special for 700 yen. There was a man ordering udon for 600 yen, and he asked for no sweetness, so I guess the broth is on the sweeter side. The most expensive item was the grilled fish set (there were several types) for 830 yen. They also have a morning menu... which is available from 10 to 11 am. A bit of a late morning menu, huh? And for some reason, they invited me to play mahjong. You can bring your own mahjong set and play for 1,000 yen per hour. They even have private rooms, which can be used for meetings. The daily special for 700 yen was ginger pork today. Interestingly, the first time I tried this dish 9 years ago was also ginger pork. What a coincidence, right? It must be fate!! The portion size may have changed. Comparing old photos, it seems the portion size may have slightly decreased. The lemon was no longer included as a side dish. There seemed to be more side dishes... maybe they added more side dishes, like a mini salad, simmered dish, grated nagaimo with clams, miso soup, and pickles. The simmered dish was cold, but for this price, it's understandable. Perhaps they increased the number of side dishes because the regular customers are getting older, and they appreciate these dishes more than meat. It's been a while... I've been to many restaurants, but I rarely order ginger pork. The taste of ginger pork doesn't seem to vary much regardless of where you eat it. Even if my mother makes it, it tastes similar... So, what makes ginger pork unique...? The taste of the sauce for ginger pork mainly consists of soy sauce and ginger. So, it's understandable that it tastes similar everywhere. The difference may lie in the thickness and quantity of the meat. In the end, I pile the ginger pork on top of rice and wrap the meat around the rice. That's the best way to eat it. You can even pour the sauce over the rice at the end, and it's delicious too. This might be similar to a "stamina don" dish. Many Japanese people seem to enjoy this taste. The person who first created this dish was a genius. Coffee was also included for 700 yen, which was very nice. They brought it to me after I finished eating. The place had a lot of manga, and some people probably spend hours reading them. The place allows smoking, so there were ashtrays available. I no longer smoke, so I can smell the smoke if someone nearby is smoking. But if no one is smoking, it's not an issue. Oh, it's been a while since I visited Second, but it feels nostalgic... rather, my memory has faded too much.

Napolitan pasta for 600 yen. Today's lunch was at a cafe called Second, where I had a meal. They serve Napolitan pasta with potato salad and side dishes. They also offered coffee after the meal. It felt like a good deal for this price.

Coffee shop in Asahikawa City, Nagayama. They offer a wide variety of lunch options. Lunch time starts from 11:30. When I visited a little after 11:30, about 20% of the tables were already occupied. By noon, all table seats were filled, and the counter seats were also being used. The daily lunch and various grilled fish set meals come with coffee. The grilled fish set meal had 8 different types of fish listed on the board that day. I ordered the daily lunch (ginger pork) and the daily lunch set (with coffee) for 700 yen. The food arrived in about 7-8 minutes. The daily lunch, ginger pork, had a nice aroma. It was seasoned with a sweet and salty flavor, which went well with the rice. The side dishes included "pickled Chinese cabbage," "grilled hokke fish and vegetables," and "grilled saury." They also served pickles. Everything tasted homemade and quite delicious. After the meal, they offered hot coffee and then tea. The interior of the shop is filled with manga books and weekly magazines. It's a relaxing place, like an oasis for salarymen. The owner and staff are very friendly and provide excellent service. I would like to visit again to try the grilled fish set meal next time!

Today's lunch was at the cafe and dining Second. The daily special was ginger pork, so I went with the daily lunch set. It was crowded around lunchtime, but there were enough seats available. The set came with many side dishes, which was satisfying. They also served coffee or tea after the meal. There are plenty of manga to read, so I can see myself coming back here again.

Before I knew it, I find myself visiting Asahikawa once or twice a week. Since my first visit in June this year, I have been there around 40 times haha. Due to the impact of the coronavirus, my business trips have significantly decreased (I haven't been abroad since late February), but still, I am away from Asahikawa for more than half of the month. During my stay in Asahikawa, I always go to Second, so the reviews of Asahikawa hardly increase (lol). The pattern is workplace -> Second -> gym -> home. I have tried various dishes at Second, but personally, I recommend the "Sukiyaki (pork)" and "Omelette rice" and "Hamburger (curry flavor)". As someone from Kanto, I would never admit to eating "pork sukiyaki", but sometimes I crave it here haha. I travel around Japan and eat at various places, but Second is really reasonable. With so many side dishes, it's a balanced meal even when eating out. Thanks to that, I am healthy haha. *All seats are "smoking allowed". As a smoker with a small shoulder, this is a valuable place where I can have a smoke after a meal.

When I saw the new book information on the store's website, I thought it was just a bookstore. But it turned out to be a cozy dining place for regular customers. It was my first visit, and I was warmly welcomed. They only had one lunch option for the day, but there were many other delicious dishes to choose from. I was surprised by the variety and quality of the food, especially the delicious Nameko mushroom soup and high-quality sashimi in the rice bowl. And all of this for just 700 yen, including coffee and even tea! The master even kindly chatted with me at the end. This place is truly a gem, where both the food and the people are wonderful. Thank you for the delicious meal.

Daily lunch for 700 yen. Following dinner the previous night, I visited for lunch the next day. The daily special was croquettes as the main dish. It came with coffee and pineapple. Unlike the evening, it was bustling during the day. The restaurant is relatively spacious, but almost full. It seems to be loved by many people!

◆Asahikawa City, Nagayama, Cafe Second◆ It's dark under the lighthouse. Despite being relatively close to my home, it was my first visit (I didn't even know it existed). I happened to discover it by chance. Dining & Cafe Second is located in Nagayama, heading towards Asahikawa Station on National Route 39. When you see "Daihatsu" on your left, turn left at that intersection. After about 100 meters, you will see a building on your left. (By the way, the parking lot is on the left side of the building). The entrance is marked in the photo. When you climb the retro staircase to the 2nd floor, you will find Cafe Second. The first thing that overwhelms you when you enter the store is the countless manga books, with over 4000 volumes. Here is the menu. Curry Rice... ¥500, Meat Spaghetti... ¥600, Napolitan... ¥600, set meals range from ¥680 to ¥800. This time, I ordered the Kalbi-style grilled meat set meal for ¥800. After about 10 minutes of waiting, it arrived. Which part is Kalbi-style? I'll leave that aside (probably because it comes with grilled meat sauce?). Various side dishes are also included, and all of this for ¥800 is quite cheap, right? At first, I thought the rice portion was normal, but with the variety of side dishes, I ended up feeling full. The taste is also good. After this, I had a hard time running at the gym because my body felt heavy. I asked the owner, and they said it was established in 1984, so it has been 36 years already. I didn't know about it by chance, but when I asked people in their 50s or older, it seems to be quite a famous restaurant. I'll make sure to visit frequently from now on. Thank you for the meal. P.S. All seats are "smoking allowed." Non-smokers may want to reconsider. The customers have a high smoking rate.

The other day, when I went back to Asahikawa for a bit, I had lunch at "Cafe & Dining Second" located at 3-21 Asahikawa City, Nagayama 1-jo 2-chome, where I had ramen (600 yen). It came with a small side dish. Coffee was also included after the meal for 600 yen. The ramen was the simple Asahikawa style with green onions, bamboo shoots, and char siu. I had known about Cafe & Dining Second before and knew they served ramen, but this was my first visit. The entrance is up a staircase, and the entrance is on the left on the second floor. Inside, there is a counter in front of you when you enter, with table seats on the left and right, making it quite spacious. However, smoking is allowed throughout, making the dining environment less than ideal. I chose a seat on the right side after entering. There were manga books available, and the place is great for manga enthusiasts, smokers, and cafe lovers. The menu includes daily lunch sets, grilled fish set meals, cutlet set meals, curry rice, omurice, fried rice, curry udon, curry soba, ramen, spaghetti, coffee, and more. There is also a morning menu from 10:00 to 11:00, offering various breakfast sets. The ramen came with a small side dish, and the noodles were on the softer side, typical of Asahikawa style. The soup was made by simmering pork bones, giving it a rich and flavorful taste. It was a satisfying meal for 600 yen with a small side dish and coffee.

Lots of vegetables which is great!

I went to a restaurant using the lunch passport. Asahikawa 4th edition, available for lunch passport from September 15th to December 15th. The lunch passport can be used from 11:30 am to 2 pm. Limited availability. Closed on Sundays and holidays. Parking for 40 cars. 50 seats. Upstairs via stairs. I think this restaurant also participated in the first edition of the lunch passport. I've been here before. (laughs) At the time of the first edition, I didn't review it on the food website, but I remember I had the daily special set meal with butter-grilled asparagus. It felt very Hokkaido-like (laughs). Lunch passport daily special set meal: choice of meat or fish, 3-4 side dishes, rice, miso soup, pickles for 780-880 yen, now 500 yen. It's a nostalgic old-fashioned cafe with a Showa era atmosphere. There are seats for solo diners, including counter seats and tables for one person, making it a safe place for women dining alone. Many regular customers seem to be here. The amount of manga here is unbelievable! The lunch passport says there are 3000 comics. Wow! I don't read much manga, so I don't know what's what (laughs), but I picked up one book and returned to my seat, and the meal was already there! So fast! Today's daily special set meal was A: Sekando-style grilled pork, B: simmered fish. I chose A. It looks delicious! The four pieces of pork loin in the Sekando style have a mild seasoning that is different from ginger, salt, or teriyaki. What kind of sauce is this? It looks like aurora sauce with a cream-colored orange hue, but the taste is different. It's delicious, of course. The side salad (cabbage, cucumber, red bell pepper, kaiware radish, lemon) goes well with the meat. The side dishes are spinach ohitashi, cabbage, carrot, and fried tofu stew, sweet potato, boiled egg, broccoli, roast ham, and mayonnaise salad. Plus rice, miso soup (wakame, carrot, cabbage), and pickles. It's a well-balanced meal with a warm homemade feel. After finishing the meal, coffee was brought at the perfect timing. Oh, nice! It wasn't mentioned in the lunch passport, but it's a service, right? Lucky me! After finishing the coffee, tea was brought. What great service! Sip sip. Thanks to that, I managed to read one manga book. Thank you for the meal. I'll be back!

During a business trip in the city, I had "Lunch A (shrimp and egg) for 680 yen" and it was delicious. It had been a while since I visited this restaurant. The parking lot is spacious so finding a spot was not a problem. The food was cheap, tasty, and the portions were generous, so I left feeling satisfied. What's even better is that you can stay as long as you want without being rushed. Looking around, I saw people chatting, having work meetings, taking naps to cool down, and engrossed in reading and forgetting about work (that's me). This restaurant welcomes all aspects of people's daily lives. I didn't take a photo of the food but ended up visiting for three consecutive days, reading the masterpiece "F" by Rokuda Noboru. "No one will outrun me!" I couldn't help but recall that passionate feeling from the past. I will definitely come back again.

On a business trip in the city, I had the "Omelette Rice for 680 yen" for lunch. My boss said, "I'll take you to a nice place," so I followed along. We drove on Route 39 towards Nagayama, turned left at the signal where there is a Hamazushi and Lawson. After driving a bit, we turned left again, and wait, a cafe in this kind of place? You wouldn't know it just by driving on the main road. The restaurant is on the 2nd floor of a building, and it's nice to have two spacious parking lots. When we went up the stairs and entered the store, it was bustling with field workers and local regular customers. What overwhelmed me was the abundance of magazines and manga. There are nearly 5000 of them. My boss aimed for the 680 yen daily set meal (today's choices were A: Asparagus sauté or B: Grilled salmon). My daughter asked me to "find a delicious omelette rice restaurant," so I ordered the omelette rice. The omelette rice that came out was like a classic cafe omelette rice. Hmm, the ketchup rice has a taste of the Showa era. Delicious. And it even comes with a small side dish and miso soup. This is delicious too. As I enjoyed the omelette rice, my boss said, "Would you like some?" and what appeared was pineapple (surprise). I said, "Can I eat this?" and my boss replied, "Just eat it." After finishing the pineapple, he said, "Here you go," and served coffee after the meal (surprise x2). I said, "It doesn't say coffee included on the menu..." and my boss said, "Just drink it." After finishing the coffee and returning from the restroom, he said, "Here you go," and brought out barley tea (surprise x3). I said, "Is this your way of telling me to leave quickly?" and my boss said, "You're an idiot. Look around you." There were people reading manga and sports newspapers, relaxing, dozing off, chatting and having a good time. Ah, you don't need to rush at this place. With a menu, manga, and a relaxing atmosphere, this place was truly an oasis for field workers. Next time, I'll conquer all volumes of Rokuda Noboru's 'F'!

It's been exactly a year since my last visit. The counter is lively with regulars chatting about local topics, while the table seats are filled with salesmen in suits and workers in uniforms. I decided to order the hamburger steak set (with brown sauce and fried egg for 780 yen). The kitchen behind the curtain is sizzling with the sound of cooking the hamburger steak. The plate of hamburger steak looks appetizing with its shiny brown sauce and generous salad on the side. The meat is juicy and the brown sauce is rich. The miso soup is flavorful, and the side dish of komatsuna adds a nice crunch. Overall, the meal is satisfying and affordable. After the meal, I enjoyed a cup of coffee brewed with a siphon. The restaurant is a hidden gem with a cozy atmosphere and a wide selection of manga books. The ramen I ordered on another occasion was also delicious and came with a side of pickled cabbage. The broth was rich and slightly salty, and the noodles were chewy. The chashu pork was thick and flavorful. The price was reasonable for the quality of the food. Overall, the restaurant is a great spot for a casual meal or a break with a good book.

Ramen exploration. I was surprised by this combination! Many people in Asahikawa write blogs about eating ramen as well. So, writing about the same type of ramen as others can be boring. That's why lately I have been exploring ramen at non-ramen specialty shops. Sometimes I discover that there is ramen even at unexpected places, and the ramen at those places can be surprisingly delicious, which makes it fun. However, on the flip side, there are also times when it turns out to be a disappointment. That's why it's like a "ramen exploration". Just like in any exploration or adventure, there are risks involved (laughs). This time, the ramen I tried was this! At first glance, it looks like a normal bowl of ramen, but it came with this unexpected side dish. I'm not sure if it's always served as a set, or if it was just a special service that day, but it's quite a strange combination. The noodles are of the Sapporo ramen style, with a high water content, giving them a chewy texture. The soup is slightly salty but overall quite tasty. And to top it off, they also served strawberries! It's a nice surprise, but again, an unexpected combination with ramen. Lastly, they even included a cup of coffee, all for 550 yen. Checking the menu again, there was no mention of this generous service. Now, as for the location of this place, it's here. Inside, there is a wall filled with bookshelves full of manga, and even nostalgic table arcade games, creating a retro-style cafe atmosphere. It's like an oasis for the salarymen working in the area.

In short, I love hamburg steak, so whenever I see it on the menu at a casual cafe, I always order it. Each place has its own unique style of hamburg steak in terms of meat texture, binding ingredients, cooking method, and sauce. This particular hamburg steak was soft and fluffy, it didn't fall apart when picked up with chopsticks, but it easily crumbled in the mouth, almost like it was enveloped in air. I ordered it with demi-glace sauce this time, but they offer other sauces as well. The plate also came with shredded cabbage and lettuce, simmered eggplant with a non-spicy bean paste sauce, miso soup, rice, and pickles. The sauce tasted similar to the one at a certain popular hamburger chain, but the hamburg steak itself was delicious. The restaurant was a peaceful oasis for office workers during lunchtime, with plenty of comic books available. The turnover was smooth, allowing customers to linger comfortably.

I went to a restaurant with a lunch passport. It's always busy at the end of the month. Around 1 o'clock, my stomach started growling and I thought, "I need to eat now!" This is the 5th round of the Asahikawa Lunch Passport from June 25th to September 25th. The available time for lunch passport use is from 11:30 to 2:00. Once it's gone, it's over. Closed on Sundays and holidays. Parking for 40 cars. 50 seats available. The lunch set includes a main dish, 3-4 side dishes, rice, miso soup, and pickles for 780-880 yen, but with the passport, it's only 500 yen. Last time, they had a huge grilled salmon! It was amazing! This time, I chose the sweet and sour meatballs or the rolled omelette. Oh my, the rolled omelette that other customers were eating was huge! There were like 4-5 eggs in it! It looked so good! It arrived in less than 5 minutes. The sweet and sour meatballs were like sweet and sour pork with about 5 meatballs. They were delicious with bell peppers, shiitake mushrooms, and onions in a sweet and sour sauce. The pickled cabbage and sweet miso eggplant were gentle in flavor. The asparagus salad was a lucky find for this season. I enjoyed it with mayonnaise. The simmered eggplant was flavorful all the way through. The pickles added a nice touch. The miso soup was also tasty. As soon as I finished eating, they offered me coffee. And just as I was finishing my coffee, they served me some oolong tea. It was a wonderful dining experience. Thank you for the meal!

I went to the restaurant with a lunch passport. Hey everyone, are you sleep-deprived? I stayed up late watching soccer from 3 am. Even if you didn't watch the game, the rain warning alerts from Asahikawa kept ringing on your smartphone. Honestly, I haven't slept. (￣▽￣) The 5th round in Asahikawa from June 25th to September 25th. Lunch passport can be used from 11:30 am to 2 pm. While supplies last. Closed on Sundays and holidays. Parking for 40 cars. 50 seats. Lunch passport daily set meal from 780 yen to 880 yen → 500 yen Main dish (meat or fish), 3-4 side dishes, rice, miso soup, pickles, coffee. I went up the stairs, and the daily menu was written on a blackboard at the entrance. Today's options were Ham and Eggs or Grilled Fish (Hokke). Inside, I placed my order at the counter with the owner. "I'll have the Hokke." This place has a huge collection of manga books! They cover an entire wall of bookshelves. There was also a notice about a manga book on top of the daily set meal blackboard. The interior is old-fashioned. The sofas are worn out and dirty, but it adds to the charm, right? ( =＾ω＾) Anyway, my meal arrived in 5 minutes. Why so fast? Did they anticipate my order? The grilled fish Hokke was huge! It's only 500 yen with the lunch passport! What a deal! The Hokke was about 28 cm in diameter and had a thick, satisfying meat. It could easily cost more at an izakaya. It came with grated daikon and lemon on the side. Delicious! The four side dishes were: boiled greens, celery with soy sauce, salad, and simmered pumpkin. The rice was tasty, and the miso soup was full of ingredients. I ended the meal with a well-timed cup of coffee. A delightful blend. Thank you for the meal!