Wandering new curry mania / rookie ramen mania, a solo middle-aged man. This is a memo-like review by the old man. If you want concise information about the restaurant and food, please move on to other people's reviews around here. ... I got rejected and rejected, and now I can't help but want to eat! As I get older, I thought I would become more patient, but it seems like I've become the type of person who can't wait... Yes! The day before (Wednesday), the busy "Akira" was not available again. It's also crowded on weekdays during Golden Week, even on Mondays. This day, just after the lunch break was halfway through. Yes, it's a common thing to finish one type of work by 1:00 p.m., so it's convenient to visit at this time. The weather forecast for this day indicated a possibility of "sudden rain/thunder" in the afternoon, but the sky was somewhat gloomy. Yes! Since it wasn't raining, I decided to go today too. The location is in the basement of the Fuji Building, which connects to Nishi 11-chome Station on the Tozai Line. It's like a spiral staircase leading underground to the equivalent of the second basement floor. I entered the restaurant just before 12:45 p.m. (on Thursday). The previous customers were mostly office workers (men and women). About 90% of the L-shaped counter seats were occupied. Today, there were no customers having a "lunch drink." The remaining customers were a group of two men and a group of two new-looking colleagues, a man and a woman. The cheerful and smiling sisters (both of them) who were so bright and energetic kindly directed me to an empty seat, and almost immediately, about 70% of the seats were empty. Yes, it tends to be empty before 1:00 p.m. But if you're late, your favorite menu might be sold out. I overheard the order of the customers behind me, and on this day, the "fried oysters" had just finished. But, well, due to the nature of my work, I can't come before noon. I have to visit at this awkward time. I want to focus on the "Iga Menchi," so I decided to go for a light sashimi dish. Oh, I also want to eat fried horse mackerel. Fried horse mackerel and plum sashimi, Iga Menchi (1 piece) for a total of 1,180 yen including tax. Hmm, is the calculation correct? The lunch menu is 950 yen including tax. Isn't the "Iga Menchi" 250 yen including tax? Hmm, then isn't it 1,200 yen including tax? Is there a system where the combination is slightly cheaper? Well, I obediently paid in advance and then checked the bill. Yes, this restaurant operates on a system of paying in advance when ordering. I plan to visit again soon and try the combination with "grilled pork belly," so I'll check it out then. If there was a mistake in the bill, I will pay it. The order was served in about 5-6 minutes. It's nice to have it served quickly! The "Iga Menchi" was served a minute or two later. I prepared a separate small plate with medium-thick sauce (a bit spicy) and soy sauce to try different flavors. Hmm! The texture is crispy and fluffy! It's delicious even just for the texture. The bothersome bones and fins of the horse mackerel have been properly processed, making it safe to bite into, easy to cut with chopsticks, and easy to eat. The taste of the horse mackerel is good, but hmm, was it richer in Tokyo? Maybe the types of horse mackerel used are different in Hokkaido? Or are they using smaller horse mackerel in Tokyo to offer it at a lower price? Well, as long as the "taste of the horse mackerel" is good, it doesn't matter. I also like it with medium-thick sauce or soy sauce. Tartar sauce is also good, but it's an additional 50 yen. Well then, how about the sashimi on this day? I missed hearing one type, but it included amberjack, raw smelt, flounder, flounder fin, scallop, and amberjack belly meat for a total of 7 items. Yeah, yeah, yeah, it didn't smell fishy at all.

During my visit in August 2023, I went to a restaurant where I tried the Junmai Ginjo sake called "Toyosakari" at 3.64. It was a bit pricey but worth it. The atmosphere was very cool and the sake was served in a beautiful glass. The restaurant also served a summer vegetable cold tofu dish as an appetizer, which was very refreshing. I also ordered a sashimi platter with 7 different types of fish, all fresh and delicious. I couldn't resist trying the summer delicacy called "name-rou" and the crab tempura, both of which were amazing. The restaurant also had a great selection of sake, including a special one called "Nana no Kai", which was recommended by the owner. The service was excellent and the overall experience was very enjoyable. I will definitely visit this restaurant again for the Toyosakari sake.

I was curious about the restaurant name, so I made a reservation and visited. The famous dish? Akira-san greeted me with a smile. The restaurant is full of interesting things to explore. It's a place in Hokkaido where you can taste Aomori cuisine. The owner, as well as the staff, are from Aomori. The restaurant is located directly connected to the station and has only a counter, but it was full of customers coming in and out. It felt very homely and nice, being able to drink while listening to conversations of regular customers. The Aomori Shamorokku Tataki was incredibly delicious! I ordered seconds! The garlic fried dish was also deliciously sweet and tasty. I was so excited to make a reservation, but I couldn't order anything... I will make sure to visit next time with better health. I noticed that the chopstick rest was in the shape of Aomori when I was leaving... The BGM playing nostalgic songs was great.

I wandered into a shop with lanterns and signs glowing inside the station. The shop owner greeted me with a strong accent, seemingly from Aomori Prefecture, where they had many products directly from Aomori. Choosing from the menu was difficult as there were so many tempting options. I started with some fresh sashimi, each piece tender and flavorful. I also ordered several Aomori local dishes, both meat and seafood, all delicious. I tried two types of sake, one made with wine yeast and the other with apple yeast, both sweet and easy to drink. I couldn't resist the salted fish roe, octopus fritters, and oden, which paired well with the sake. The nostalgic music playing in the background made me feel at home. I could have stayed longer, but I had been there for quite a while, so I left with a feeling that I would return. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

"Akira, the man who crossed the Tsugaru Strait" was a popular izakaya that I had been curious about for a while. I made a reservation the day before and went there. It was just past 5:30 pm on a weekday, so I was the first customer, but it quickly filled up. Reserving in advance was definitely the right decision. The restaurant had a cozy atmosphere with only a counter surrounding the kitchen, and the staff were friendly and welcoming. Akira, the owner, greeted us warmly and recommended a sashimi platter to enjoy with a highball. The menu mainly featured Aomori specialties, and we tried a variety of recommended dishes. The "Akira's 8-kind sashimi platter" was fresh and delicious, served individually at a good price. The "Grilled Miso Clams" was tasty but a bit lacking in portion size for the price. The "Fried Squid Meatballs" were crispy on the outside and fluffy inside, but small for the price. The "Horse Sashimi (2-kind platter)" was made with high-quality ingredients but seemed a bit pricey for the portion size. The "Grilled Local Chicken" was seared in front of us and had a great rare texture. The "Ham Katsu" made with Unzen ham was flavorful but a bit small in portion. The "Potato Fries" were frozen and served with salted kelp butter. The "Fried Squid" was a typical tempura dish. The drinks included highballs, local Aomori sake, and more. The delicious food, warm hospitality, and cozy atmosphere made it a popular spot, but the portion sizes seemed a bit small for the prices. The location in Nishi 11-chome was a bit inconvenient for me, but I would like to visit again if I have the chance. It was a tasty meal, thank you.

Visited for a lunch during a business trip to Sapporo. Ordered the sashimi bamboo set and a single dish of fried horse mackerel. You can tell that they carefully source fresh fish every day just by trying the horse mackerel! The sashimi was also delicious. It was lucky that they had herring, a spring delicacy. It's sad news for business people that the lunch service will end at the end of March after 23 years. I've decided to come back for dinner on my next trip.

When I heard about this place, I was told it's not what I expected. I was searching for izakayas in Sapporo and came across this one. The name caught my attention and I knew I had to go. It's located right by Nishi 11-chome Station on the Sapporo Municipal Subway Tozai Line, exit 2. It's also about a three-minute walk from the Chuou Ward Office tram stop. It was almost full on a weekday, but I managed to get a seat. I ordered a sake tasting set with three different types: Toyosai Tokubetsu Junmai (Hirosaki Miura Shuzo), Hatomasamune Tokubetsu Junmai (Towada Hatomasamune), and Rokkon Ruby Junmai Ginjo (Hirosaki Matsumidori Shuzo) @1300 yen. I also ordered a sashimi platter for 500 yen and baked clams for 730 yen. The sashimi platter was amazing for the price, all fresh and not frozen. The quality was way better than sashimi platters that cost 1700-2000 yen at other places. When I asked the chef if he was making a profit, he said no, but all the customers who eat here leave with smiles on their faces. The baked clams were a mild and delicious Aomori specialty. Toyosai is always delicious, and Rokkon Ruby was new to me, but it had a fruity and elegant taste. I ordered another sake tasting set with Toyosai and Rokkon, but changed Hatomasamune to "N" Junmai (Hirosaki Miura Shuzo) @1300 yen. "N" was smooth and easy to drink, perfect with any dish. I also ordered oden - daikon, egg, and hanpen for 170 yen each. Hot oden and sake go so well together. I visited this place based on its name alone, but the food, people, and atmosphere were all fantastic. It might already be popular, but I can see it becoming even more so in the future. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

I had bookmarked a review from Ayapapa2 before, and finally had the chance to visit the restaurant. It was my first time at this place, so I was a bit nervous. The restaurant is located on the basement floor, and when I opened the door, I was greeted with a warm smile and a welcoming "Irasshaimase" from the manager and a female staff member. The atmosphere was fantastic right from the start. I decided to start with some day drinking, ordering beer, a sashimi platter called "松", and ham katsu. The sashimi platter included homemade mackerel, live octopus, amberjack, raw herring, scallops, blue herring, minced fish, and salmon roe. The sashimi was delicious! I enjoyed it slowly with my beer. The friendly service from the female staff member added to the pleasant experience. For the main dishes, I ordered fried horse mackerel, a platter of marinated mackerel, and the Igamenchi that Ayapapa2 had recommended. The manager commented, "You're really going all out! I'm glad!" The fried horse mackerel was fluffy and delicious. The Igamenchi had a nostalgic smell to it, which added to its appeal. It goes really well with beer as a snack. I'll definitely be back for more day drinking with this dish next time. The restaurant played music from artists like Ozaki Yutaka, Aikawa Nanase, and Mr. Children, which perfectly matched the generation of customers. Despite the many regular customers, the staff managed to provide excellent service without making me feel out of place. Overall, I had a delicious meal. Thank you for the great experience!

I went to a small L-shaped counter-only restaurant. When I entered, I noticed that the owner was not wearing a mask, which made me concerned because my companion is very considerate of their family and is quite cautious about these things. The employees were wearing masks, but why wasn't the owner? The menu had fewer items than I expected, but there seemed to be a good variety of sake. I started with a beer and then tried a few different types of sake. The owner, without a mask, explained the sake to us right in front of us, but I was more focused on my companion who seemed uncomfortable. The food was tasty, but it didn't quite exceed my expectations. My companion quickly put their mask back on whenever they weren't eating or drinking, so I thought it might be best to leave early. I still feel a bit uncomfortable seeing someone not wearing a mask while preparing food and laughing with customers. Thank you for the meal.

Today, I had to work at an event, so we had a small year-end party with the team and decided to visit Akira-san's place by crossing the Tsugaru Strait?? (lol) We started at 4 pm, so we had the place to ourselves at first! We ordered a lot of appetizers for our early drinking session \(//∇//)\ The freshly cooked rice for TKG was delicious⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎

After a long time, I visited Akira at Nishi 11-chome Station. The chef's name is not Akira though (lol). The young female proprietor recommended the ginger miso, so we ordered it as a complimentary dish for the whole group. It goes really well with the mackerel miso! And of course, we ended up ordering too much again today (lol). We'll be back again this week♪♪♪

Lunch was amazing! The photo is a sashimi platter with fresh tuna, only 1000 yen! Unlimited rice and miso soup refills! \(//∇//)\ I brought a friend who has been working at a high-end fish store for many years, and they praised it saying, "It surpasses our store! I want to come back again!"

Located at 11th Street West 2022/10, B2 connected to the subway, this izakaya "San" offers Aomori's local sake and Tsugaru Strait cuisine. The place is quite popular, so it can be hard to get a seat quickly after work. The cheerful and friendly owner welcomes guests with a lively outdoor sign. The izakaya is designed for small groups, with a counter-only setup. I tried their fragrant roasted tea highball for 540 yen, with refills at a discounted price of 330 yen. The appetizer was a delicious "Nameko and Wood Ear Mushroom Salad". Their recommended dish was an assorted sashimi platter with 8 thick slices of fresh fish for only 500 yen - an amazing deal. I also ordered the rare "Car Fu" for 220 yen, a giant piece served in a flavorful broth. It was slightly firm, but I prefer a softer texture. It came with homemade ginger miso, a common way to enjoy it in Aomori. By 6 pm, the place started filling up with office workers, so I finished up my meal and left. It was a delightful dining experience.

Located at Nishi 11-chome Station on the Tozai Line, this restaurant is conveniently connected to the station, making it easy to find. When I visited, I was lucky to find two seats available. The interior of the restaurant consists of only an L-shaped counter, and there are two staff members, the young master and a female employee, who are always busy. The service for food may be a bit slow, so take your time when ordering. The young master is from Aomori Prefecture, and it seems that Aomori cuisine and sake are specialties here. I started with a reasonably priced sashimi assortment, which was delicious and made with fresh ingredients. The herring sashimi was particularly satisfying. The Aomori sake, such as "Toyosakura" and "Gotokku," was also delightful. The Aomori Shamo chicken tataki was a standout dish with its crispy skin and tender meat. The horse sashimi trio was a small portion but incredibly tasty. The tsubugai (whelk) salted and marinated dish was a unique and enjoyable surprise. The Aomori-style igamenchi, with its soft and fluffy texture, paired well with the sake. To finish, I had oden, which had a delicious broth and was a perfect way to end the meal. Overall, every dish was delicious, and I look forward to visiting again. Thank you for the wonderful meal! Rating: 3.60

I couldn't handle the crowds at the main event on the street, so I wandered off to an underground restaurant. It's a lovely place that's open from lunchtime. The appetizer was delicious, especially the simmered buri (yellowtail). The sashimi platter had 8 types of fish, including octopus, mackerel, scallops, and bluefin tuna. It was a perfect dish to go with drinks. The chicken liver sashimi was recommended as it was cooked at a low temperature and had no unpleasant taste. It's a must-try for liver lovers. I also tried a selection of Japanese sake, including Shirakami, Kamekichi, and Ando Suigun. The restaurant also had various types of Earl Grey highball cocktails. Even if you're not familiar with sake, the owner will kindly recommend and explain different options. It's a great place to go for day drinking!

After having a couple of drinks, I went to visit Akira-san in Nishi 11-chome for the second time. (The owner's name doesn't seem to be Akira, haha) First, I ordered some oden. It was really good, with a nice dashi flavor! I also tried the Aomori garlic back bacon that I had been curious about. It was piping hot with lots of garlic (laughs). Despite almost burning my mouth, I used the garlic as a COVID-19 precaution (laughs). The manager and staff's customer service skills were fantastic, and I ended up ordering more than I intended. Ate too much again today! \(//∇//)\

You crossed the Tsugaru Strait, right? This place is always crowded and hard to get into, but today I managed to get in right when they opened! Finally made it across... So let's start with a beer. The bright and cute waitress served it in a cute glass. Aomori is here~ The recommended dish is the hamo tempura, as suggested by the manager. I was so excited that I eagerly attacked right when they opened, so that's why. The appetizer was shrimp, a bit spicy and goes well with alcohol. The sashimi was fresh and delicious. Just the right amount for one person. The hamo tempura was soft and tasty, with a sweet sauce that complements it well. There were many other delicious-looking dishes on the menu, but I couldn't eat anymore today, so unfortunately that's all I had. The group sitting nearby even asked if they were too loud, but I reassured them that it was not a problem. I'm just a light eater, that's all. The staff saw me off cheerfully, making me feel uplifted. I will definitely visit again. That's how I feel.

By chance, I discovered a Showa retro dining street on the stairs leading up from Nishi 11-chome Station. I looked up online and decided to go there. It was a great restaurant! Unfortunately, they had a private reservation starting from 7 PM, so I could only stay for 30 minutes, but I was completely satisfied. I'm looking forward to going back for a leisurely drink next time.

The convenient location directly connected to Nishi 11-chome Station. I didn't go down to the basement floor very often, but there are so many izakaya restaurants here. So today, I visited this Akira-san. The interior of the restaurant is only a counter, but it can accommodate more than 10 people. There are many types of Aomori sake, some of which I have never heard of, but they were all delicious and amazing (I ordered about four types). There are plenty of dishes that go well with sake, and the assorted sashimi platter is a must-order item. It's amazing for only 500 yen ^_^ Tuna, scallops, marinated mackerel, greenling, bonito, and more. They were all delicious, and the cuts were just right, not too big, and all raw, so you won't get tired of them. Then there was liver sashimi. It had no strong taste, the portion was just right, and it was amazing. The garlic-flavored oysters were a bit pricey, but still good. The Aomori ginger miso that came with the oden was exquisite. However, I drank too much and forgot to buy some to take home... Next time, I'll bring a Tupperware to purchase some!

I had been to this restaurant for lunch a few times, but this was my first visit at night. The sashimi platter they offer for 500 yen is really good. It may look like it has less volume because there are no side dishes, but it's a perfect amount for drinking, and considering the quality, the price is very reasonable. They really don't skimp on the quality. The sashimi was amazing, just like it was during lunch. I thought about ordering more, but this place is so fair in pricing that I felt like I wanted to contribute to their sales by trying other dishes and drinks (actually, I just wanted to drink more, haha). They also have a good selection of sake, including fruit sake for women, and the other dishes besides sashimi are also delicious. Everything I ate was tasty, in other words, this place is the best. I got pretty drunk and went home after a long time... Thank you for the wonderful meal!

The members who came to Sapporo by crossing the Tsugaru Strait have been transferred to Saitama through the same strait (tears), and Akira-san visited for the first time (lol) There is a good izakaya in Nishi 11-chome station, but I didn't get on from the 11-chome side, so I thought it was such a good Aomori izakaya ( ^ω^ ) I relied too much on Sapporo beer for appetizers, ahaha Akira's 8 kinds of sashimi assortment is very cheap, but fresh and delicious!! This is a great deal♪ The Aomori-Hirosaki specialty Igamenchi is a squid-like textured paste with a taste similar to okonomiyaki (°▽°) The shijimi ramen we ordered for the finish is also calming♪ As usual, we ordered too much, haha Everything is so delicious!!!! The manager and staff are friendly, so I will definitely come back to sit at the counter again =(^.^)= Oh! The oden with ginger miso is also amazing⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎