- No smoking, but there is an ashtray at the entrance - Counter and raised seating area available - There is also a TV, so it feels safe even for solo customers - Mostly run by friendly female staff - Highly recommend the special fried rice as a finishing dish - Complimentary appetizer provided As spring approached, I decided to go on a long-awaited patrol of Otaru. The fourth stop of the day was a place I had been curious about for a while. Located on the right side of Kenta's alley, I felt a bit nervous as I couldn't see inside, but with a little tipsiness, I boldly entered. There were about three customers at the counter. Despite being a bit timid, I chose to sit at the end of the counter near the entrance. The friendly waitress helped ease my tension. I ordered a hot sake and was pleasantly surprised by its rich flavor. Even cheap alcohol tastes delicious here. The appetizer was a delicious salted hirame with kombu. Simple yet tasty, it paired well with the sake. I found a sign for "pickled herring" and decided to order it. The waitress kindly informed me that it had become a bit sour, but she offered to bring out a small portion for me to try. It was quite sour, but I managed to enjoy it by thinking of it as pickles. The homemade salted fish was rich and flavorful, a delight for any drinker. I also tried the charcoal-grilled skewers of live octopus (3 pieces) recommended by the waitress. They were incredibly fresh and tasty, with the added spices enhancing the sweetness of the octopus. Simple yet delicious, I was impressed by the quality. I shared two skewers with the neighboring customer. And then, the special fried rice arrived. It was unbelievably delicious! The first bite was a revelation, and even when it cooled down, it remained tasty. The rice was mixed with finely chopped crab, squid, scallops, and surf clams. I couldn't help but exclaim at the amazing taste. This might be my favorite fried rice in Otaru! I shared a bit with the neighboring customer, who also loved it. The miso soup that came with the fried rice was a nice touch. I was delighted to find ginkgo nuts and greens in it. The owner apparently loves having miso soup with any meal. This hidden gem of a seafood fried rice is a must-try, even better than the seafood bowl or yakisoba. The owner's daughter was managing the place alone as her mother was unwell. Despite any delays, please be patient and understanding. The waitress was friendly and welcoming, making the experience enjoyable. I had a great time chatting with the regular solo customers, including a friendly lady from Kansai. We ended up having multiple refills of hot sake. The food here is simple yet delicious, highlighting the quality of the ingredients. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture of the menu, but the wooden counter had a rustic charm that added to the overall ambiance.

Visited for the 20th time in 2020, Otaru's local boss was drinking alone at a "robata restaurant." The sake looked delicious, and I was thinking about trying it when I saw a review mentioning that they had started serving lunch. Not only that, but the review also said that their fried rice was better than other nearby restaurants. As a fried rice enthusiast, I couldn't resist. The restaurant is located along the road from Otaru Station to the canal, making it easy for tourists to find. However, all the customers seemed to be regulars. Although there may be some tourists at night, it was still relatively quiet. Each customer ordered what they wanted, and the two elderly women working there efficiently prepared the food. Even though it was lunchtime, the charcoal grill was already hot, and the pork for the pork bowl was being grilled over charcoal. The fried rice, priced at 700 yen, was being made in the kitchen behind the grill, most likely using a Teflon frying pan. I didn't have high expectations, but I waited patiently. Visually, it looked like a typical diner-style fried rice, but one bite proved it was delicious. It was a hot fried rice made with lard, with ingredients such as egg, green onion, bell pepper, ham, and even crab. The gentle seasoning and the delicious miso soup with a hint of seaweed typical of Otaru made it a satisfying meal. It was even better than the creative Chinese fried rice I had for 1,100 yen the other day. I'll definitely come back when I crave fried rice, but I'll have to come back at night for drinks as well.

In June 2020, I revisited "Kiraku," which left a good impression on me the night before. I was curious about their lunch menu, so I decided to visit again. I tried their Special Fried Rice (760 yen tax included) and Charcoal-Grilled Pork Bowl (700 yen tax included). The Special Fried Rice had tiny pieces of crab and surf clam in it, which was surprisingly delicious, similar to the fried rice you would find in a cafeteria. It also came with Nameko mushroom soup and potato salad, making it a good deal for 760 yen. The Charcoal-Grilled Pork Bowl featured roasted pork shoulder with a smoky flavor. The meat was tender despite being frozen, and the slightly sweet and salty sauce made it easy to eat. Additionally, the bowl came with meatballs and a soft-boiled egg, making it a luxurious dish for 700 yen with side dishes and miso soup included. I had a great impression of "Kiraku" in the evening, and I was equally impressed with their lunch menu. I would love to revisit for their yakisoba and maybe even enjoy some daytime drinking since they offer alcohol during lunch hours.

Visited a restaurant called "Kirakurobata Yaki" located straight down from Otaru Station and down a alley with a KFC. When I arrived, I was the only customer, but I was greeted by lovely older ladies who have been running the place for over half a century. The menu seemed to focus on fish dishes, so I asked the ladies for recommendations and ended up ordering the following items: - Cod - Grilled octopus - Flounder sashimi - Salted fish ovaries - Salmon roe with minced fish - Sea urchin salted fish ovaries The salted fish ovaries were a perfect accompaniment to my alcoholic drinks, and I was introduced to a unique type of warm sake called "goppe" which was served in a rare ceramic vessel. I enjoyed it at a slightly lower temperature than usual, known as "darakan," which was surprisingly delicious to me. The cod marinated in miso was outstanding, and the grilled octopus, a specialty of the restaurant, was seasoned simply with salt and pepper but cooked to perfection. The flounder sashimi with ponzu sauce was a unique twist that I preferred over the traditional soy sauce. The homemade salted fish ovaries had a simple but flavorful seasoning with a hint of squid, best enjoyed with grated radish. The minced fish with salmon roe was a typical Otaru dish, and the sea urchin salted fish ovaries were a delicacy that I would love to try with rice balls. The restaurant originally started in Hanazono for about 8 years before moving to its current location. Despite having visited over 700 restaurants in Otaru, this was my first time dining here, much to the surprise of the ladies who jokingly scolded me for not coming sooner. They also recommended trying their lunch menu, particularly the fried rice and pork bowl, which I plan to do on my next visit.

After leaving the first place and pondering where to go, I ended up visiting this restaurant. The appetizer was "mentaiko (spicy cod roe) mayo salad," which was quite delicious and raised my expectations. - The crab omelette had just the right amount of sweetness and was delicious. - I only had the image of sashimi when I heard "hakkaku gunkan-yaki," but it was actually a type of grilled dish. It goes well with shochu or sake rather than beer. Crispy bone senbei crackers were also served. Since it's close to Otaru Station, I'd like to stop by as the first place again and try various dishes when I have the chance.

It seems that the restaurant is run by four women, including the owner, who were all very kind and made our time there enjoyable. The dishes, such as fresh sashimi, grilled skewered octopus, and grilled fish, were all delicious. The fried rice we had at the end was also excellent. I enjoyed a potato shochu on the rocks, which came with a large round ice cube, showing attention to detail. Thank you very much. If I have the chance to visit Otaru again, I will definitely come back.

Located in a street between Otaru Hokuriku Bank and Kentucky. When I was in Otaru for work, I asked the hotel owner for a recommendation on a local delicious place and decided to visit. Started with a beer and some small fish as an appetizer. I couldn't tell what kind of fish it was, but it was delicious. I chatted with the landlady and asked for her recommendation, and she suggested trying the fresh herring sashimi, which was indeed tasty. It's light but makes a perfect appetizer. It's not often you get to have herring sashimi. I also wanted to try some grilled dish, so I ordered grilled hokke. When it arrived, it was so big that I was surprised. I told them I only needed a quarter of it. After eating until I was full, I promised to come back again, not knowing when. Asking locals for recommendations really pays off. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

From Otaru Station, head towards the canal and turn right at the corner of KFC. You'll find a shop in an unexpected place! There is a parking lot, but the ceiling is low so it might be scary for larger cars. Inside, there is a counter, table seating, and a raised seating area. I sat at the raised area and ordered a beer, which was smooth and delicious. I started with the special yakisoba, which was filled with various seafood and very tasty. The shishamo was tender and juicy, and the fried natto was fragrant and flavorful.