Visited for the first time in August 2022. This is a place I had been wanting to visit since seeing it on MyRebi's blog. Located along the Myoken River, just across the JR overpass, it has a typical Otaru feel. When I entered the restaurant, I saw a lively elderly man in his 70s enjoying his meal. I decided to order some additional dishes, like cold tofu and natto. The friendly female owner recommended the daily specials: rice and miso soup for 270 yen, and squid rings with rolled omelette for 200 yen. I opted for the rolled omelette dish. I also ordered some pickled herring for 100 yen, as I am a herring enthusiast. The pickled herring was not as salty as the traditional kind, but rather sweet. I also tried the simmered dish for 80 yen, which was a comforting mix of green beans, fish cake, carrots, taro, fried tofu, and daikon radish. The female owner, who is around 80 years old, continues to work energetically, just like the elderly man I saw earlier. This "Teishoku Shokudo" embodies the essence of Otaru. I hope they continue to thrive for years to come.

You can drink outside from 7am at this restaurant, but there is only one chair so it's mostly for solo customers. Smoking is allowed outside on the road-facing tables, although not many people smoke. You can bring your own alcohol as they don't serve any. There are convenience stores nearby to buy drinks from. The food selection may decrease in the afternoon, so it's recommended to come early if you want a variety. You can also take out the food. The miso soup is highly recommended. Overall, it's a great place for morning and afternoon drinking.

They told us we could eat outside and even bring our own alcohol, so we bought some at Seicomart and Lawson. It wasn't too hot yet, so drinking outside was the best! My sister also tried drinking outside for the first time. Mom's homemade side dishes were really good, so we want to go back again. My sister said she wants to try Mom's okara dish, and Mom had some leftovers from that day, so she let us taste it and gave us some as a gift. It was so delicious with lots of ingredients! Thank you! She said she will make it the following week, so we have to go back to buy my sister's portion. The simmered dishes are really good! The omelet is also delicious, so I recommend it! The miso soup with seaweed is so tasty that I had seconds. The cod surimi soup is also delicious! I'm happy that there are three types of Bulldog sauce. In most eateries, it's usually like Worcestershire sauce, but I like tonkatsu sauce. I wish the vinegared dish had a bit more vinegar, but it's still tasty even when cold. I want to try freshly fried tempura or fried chicken someday.

This is probably the fourth time I've been here? I'll post images from the second to fourth visit. The basic set for the set meal includes rice, miso soup, and pickles (complimentary) for ¥250, and a large serving of rice, miso soup, and pickles (complimentary) for ¥270. You can choose a daily side dish to go with this set. The food is always delicious. It's like having a meal made by a kind mother, perfect for enjoying with a drink. I always feel healed by the gentle smiles of the mother and the master. After eating, you can relax on the terrace and listen to the murmuring of the Myouken River, which is very soothing. This time, I was oddly drawn to the spaghetti (Napolitan)! When the set is served, rice and Napolitan are side by side, which feels a bit strange. It was my first time eating rice with Napolitan as a side dish, but the flavor was strong so it wasn't bad. I couldn't believe eating rice with okonomiyaki as a side dish, but now I kind of understand it a little bit. But from now on, I don't think I'll need rice when I have spaghetti. Thank you for the meal! I'll be back soon!

Business hours: From 7:00 in the morning to 14:00. I happened to be nearby early in the morning, so I decided to check out a diner that I had been curious about for a while. It's located near the river close to Myoken Market. I used to shop there often but didn't know about this place... (I miss the fried eggplant with miso and shiso rolls from the deep-fried food shop). There are lots of side dishes lined up, which is always fun to see at this type of diner. The prices for the side dishes range from ¥50 to ¥200. There are trays on the tables, so you pick your side dishes and bring them to your table. You also receive rice, miso soup, and pickles from the owner, which you then set on your tray. The set meal that the owner chose for me on that day was ¥500!! In Otaru, this price is truly a bargain! (What? ¥500?! Really? I had to confirm again haha) - Rice, miso soup, pickles (basic set, how much is it really haha) - Omelette ¥130: I thought it was just a regular omelette, but it was filled with ground pork, bell peppers, paprika, and onions. It was incredibly delicious! - Grilled herring ¥150 (?): It had just the right amount of salt and was really tasty. - Simmered butterbur (small) ¥50: Made with fresh butterbur, it had a great aroma, sweetness, and richness of flavor that I love. It reminded me of my grandmother's cooking, so nostalgic and delicious! - Miso soup: This day, it had Nameko mushrooms and tofu, reminiscent of my grandmother's homemade miso soup. It was so good that I wanted to have seconds! The pickles were also delicious! The rice was soft and easy on the stomach, perfect for elderly people... a bit too soft for us, but it's gentle on the digestive system and might be good to have occasionally. Lastly, I was allowed to take photos inside the restaurant. The owner said it was totally okay to take photos haha (but it's good manners to ask before taking photos!). There are ashtrays on the tables to smoke while sitting, and you can enjoy the soothing sound of the river right in front of you. It would be nice to eat here and enjoy the meal. The owners, both the husband and wife, were kind and had lovely smiles. I hope they stay healthy and happy forever. I will definitely come back soon to have another meal! It would be really nice if they served alcohol too haha. I knew they didn't, but I couldn't help but ask haha. I would love to enjoy some drinks with Mama's side dishes! Additional information: Basic set meal - rice, miso soup, pickles: ¥250 Large rice, miso soup, pickles: ¥270 Then you can choose your favorite side dishes.

It's been a while since I visited Otaru, and it's a bit early for lunch, around 10 o'clock. Many restaurants in Otaru start opening early, so there are plenty of options to choose from. I walked towards Hanazono from the station and came across "Temari." It's located a bit off the main road, but you can easily spot it by the many flags outside. Upon entering the somewhat nostalgic and melancholic restaurant, I saw two women sitting and chatting with their backs turned. The owner, a woman who seemed to be the mother, stood up and greeted me with a "Welcome" as she prepared a glass of water. The previous customer had just left, and there were various side dishes displayed in a glass case with prices attached. I ordered the "Nabe Udon @500 (tax included)" with an added egg (+50) from the menu on the wall. The owner started cooking the udon in a clay pot over a gas flame and disappeared into the back of the restaurant halfway through. I got a bit worried and peeked into the kitchen, but she soon returned and added the egg just before it was done. After about 8 minutes, the piping hot clay pot was placed in front of me on a tray. She asked if I wanted some pickles, and I gladly accepted the "pickled Chinese cabbage." The chopstick holder contained plastic chopsticks and some from other restaurants, but I chose the disposable chopsticks for convenience. The udon, cooked by the elderly lady, had a surprisingly light flavor and included ingredients like green onions, wheat gluten, rice cake, seaweed, tempura crumbs, fish cake, and egg. It was a great deal for the price. The broth was a bit on the watery side, so having tempura as a side dish would be nice. The pickled Chinese cabbage served as a complimentary side dish was delicately seasoned with a hint of ginger and was delicious. I look forward to trying their set meals next time. P.S. The owner must have been a beauty when she was young, right? Well, she's still quite lovely now. (Review by "飛んだ決まった" with a photo of the owner available)

In November and December 2018, I mentioned that another old-fashioned diner run by an elderly lady had closed down. However, while checking on Tabelog, I came across a place called "Temari" in Otaru city, which I had never noticed before. The restaurant is located facing the Myoken River and is a small place with only 3 tables. The owner, Fusako, who is 76 years old, has been running the place since she was 38. The restaurant serves breakfast from 7 am to 2 pm. I visited twice, having a set meal for lunch the first time and hot pot udon for breakfast the second time. The set meal allowed me to choose from various side dishes like tempura, rolled omelette, stewed eggplant, rice, and kajika soup. The taste was homely and comforting. The hot pot udon had a good balance of flavors and toppings like fish cake, green onion, spinach, seaweed, rice cake, gluten, and tempura. The noodles were firm and the broth was just right. The surprising part was that even with an egg topping, it only cost 550 yen. I have found a new spot for morning udon in Otaru, alongside the morning ramen and soba places I already frequent. I hope Fusako-san continues to run her restaurant with good health and energy.

This is a true local eatery in Otaru! It is a dining spot that is just as good as the nearby "Hare Ruya Shokudo" (Hare Ruya Shokudo http://r.tabelog.com/hokkaido/A0106/A010601/1000961/). The location is behind the Myoken Market, which extends towards the Yamate area from the guard underpass just before arriving at Otaru Station from Sapporo. The Myoken Market is actually built on top of a river called Myoken River. The building is constructed on top of a culvert. It is a neighborhood kitchen that has survived through the ages. This eatery is located at the back of the market, or rather, by the "riverside" of the Myoken River. I think it serves as a resting place for shoppers using the market. The interior of the restaurant is a small eatery with only three 4-person tables. 2010 January Revisit On a clear morning, the red alcohol column on the thermometer outside the house indicated minus 14°C. It didn't feel that cold, but by noon, it turned into a blizzard where I couldn't see in front of me. It was a whiteout. The wind chill made it feel much colder, and the snow flying in stuck to my face if it wasn't covered by a scarf. I was thinking if there was a place to take refuge, and then I remembered this eatery nearby and decided to revisit. I wanted to try the "oinari-san" that I couldn't eat last time, showing my determination to eat even in the cold. The "oinari-san" costs 300 yen. It was packed for takeout and placed in the showcase, but when I mentioned that I wanted to eat it at the shop, they served it on a plate. The fried tofu was soaked in a slightly sweet and salty sauce. The rice was packed a bit firmly, so it's best to eat it while sipping on the hot tea from the pot to keep your mouth moist. It may be a regular "oinari-san," but it brought a nostalgic feeling of having lunch in a lodge while skiing. Looking out through the glass, I couldn't see anything due to the sideways snow. Eating the "oinari-san" while wiping away the dripping nose was a reminder of the gratitude for being able to eat. 2009 February First Visit Now, let's have lunch. Me: Excuse me. Ramen, please! Proprietress: I'm sorry. We don't have any meat. We have shiitake, but no chashu. (Note: The intonation is not standard Japanese. Please understand it as the pronunciation in Hokkaido dialect.) (Me: Here we go. I've come to the ultimate high-risk, high-return eatery, the high-risk eatery...) Me: Do you have set meals? Proprietress: The herring is delicious. How about this? Me: Then, leave it to you... Proprietress: It was snowing heavily until just now, but it finally cleared up. (Me: She's trying to change the subject...) There is a showcase on the counter with reasonably priced side dishes lined up. Customers can choose dishes and have them with rice. One of the dishes selected by the proprietress is the grilled herring. Although it doesn't have a set meal name, it's basically a "grilled herring set meal." The set meal consisted of 1. rice with pickled radish (170 yen?) 2. miso soup with seaweed and tofu (100 yen?) 3. simmered shirataki and chicken (100 yen?) 4. grilled herring (200 yen?). Proprietress: This is leftover, but do you want to eat it with horseradish? Me: Oh, thank you. Proprietress: Do you want to eat this too? I'll give you some fried food as a service. Me: I'm sorry. Now, let's have some rice. The herring was cooked thoroughly, tender, and delicious. It was male herring with milt, not roe. It melted in my mouth. I didn't mind the small bones and just enjoyed it. The simmered shirataki and chicken was truly a home-cooked meal. Even spinach and warm fried food felt very comforting.