KUWAGATA
This place is located near the North 24 Jo Station of the subway, across from Sapporo Sun Plaza along North 24 Jo Street. It is a store that offers a variety of food items related to Korea, such as authentic Korean-imported kimchi, changja, dried noodles, sweets, seasonings, and more. The main store is in Tsuruhashi, Osaka, and the Hokkaido location is a franchise store. Personally, I pride myself on being a "lover of spicy food," so I always keep an eye out for spicy items. I first visited this place after seeing it featured on a TV show where you could buy kejang (crab kimchi). Kejang is available from late autumn to winter, priced at 2,100 yen for 400g (1 pack). You have to order it and it will be available a week later. The taste is a blissful mix of sweet and spicy Korean kimchi with the tender raw flesh of the crab. It's a delightful experience! The leftover shells and broth can be used as the base for a kimchi hot pot. The store taught me how to make a Korean-style kimchi hot pot using a clay pot, sesame oil, kimchi, pork, tofu, shellfish, and vegetables. The key is to sauté the kimchi and pork first before simmering, which I didn't know before. The store's standout feature is the abundant "tasting" opportunities. The friendly owner encourages customers to try various kimchi samples, making it a welcoming environment. I purchased the Hotaruika Kimchi, Changja, and Garlic Kimchi this time. The Hotaruika Kimchi has a good texture and surprisingly pairs well with kimchi. The Changja is from Korea and has a tender and smooth texture, unlike domestic ones. The Garlic Kimchi is exactly what it sounds like, so it might be too strong for those who don't like garlic. Overall, this review may not be of interest to those who dislike spicy food, but for those who enjoy it, I hope you found it enjoyable. I will continue to explore spicy foods with unwavering curiosity, seeking out new spicy dishes.