In Otaru at night, many shops seem to close quite early, but we were drawn to this cozy-looking place run by a couple. It was our second stop of the night, and we enjoyed some grilled herring with pickles while relaxing. The menu seemed not just for tourists, with a variety of typical izakaya dishes. I later found out that sashimi is their specialty. The place seemed popular with locals too. The rice ball to finish was surprisingly delicious. Even though we were full, we couldn't resist eating it all. It was a great experience, and I definitely want to visit this place again when I'm in Otaru. Next time, I'll make sure to try their sashimi.

Five minutes walk from Otaru Station Dormy Inn, Soba no Ya Ban was closed so we went to Uogokoro diagonally across the street. It turned out to be the right choice. First of all, I was happy to find my favorite tatami seating. Even though they didn't have fresh fish on Sunday, the grilled crab and shellfish were delicious. The grilled rice balls were also impressively large.

The atmosphere inside the restaurant is really nice!!! It has a Showa era vibe that is very calming! The food is delicious! It's enjoyable to eat and drink here! We visited with a group this time, but I would like to come back alone and have a drink at the counter!

I went out for a solo drink in Otaru city after a long time. It wasn't lonely at all. (laughs) The restaurant Otaru Uogokoro is located on Nagasaki-ya Back Street (officially called Shizuya Street) in Inaho 2-chome, Otaru City. It has a cool exterior. I immediately ordered a large bottle for 600 yen. In a retro-style izakaya like this, I always end up ordering bottled beer. There was an old man at the counter, watching the foam gradually rise in the bottle with a grin. That old man was me. The appetizer for 300 yen was simmered eggplant. The daily specials on the whiteboard included deep-fried eggplant and grilled flounder, and I was debating which one to choose when the appetizer arrived. The eggplant was so delicious that my eggplant craving was satisfied just with the appetizer. I also ordered the grilled flounder for 500 yen from the daily specials. It had thick, delicious meat. The plating was simple, typical of a retro-style izakaya. The appetizer and the unexpectedly large flounder had already filled me up to 80%, but I had already ordered the chicken karaage for 680 yen, which they said would take some time to prepare. When the chicken karaage arrived, it was also large. When I picked up a piece with chopsticks, the meat juice dripped down. It was incredibly delicious, but my stomach was already full. I had confirmed with the owner that it was possible to take the leftovers home, but somehow I managed to finish it all. It was a very satisfying experience at Izakaya Otaru Uogokoro. I will definitely visit again. Thank you for the delicious meal.

I randomly walked into this restaurant, but it turned out to be a wonderful place that serves local fish. It seems to be very popular among locals, as it was packed even on a Sunday. They only serve fish that is caught locally, so there is no tuna available. Their chicken Karaage is a standout dish, with a crispy coating and juicy interior. The attentive service by the owner left a great impression on me. I definitely want to visit again.

Having a drink near Otaru Station. Went to an izakaya on the back street behind Nagasakiya. It didn't seem too touristy, so I decided to give it a try. Arrived at 6:30 pm. The place had a counter and a raised tatami area on the first floor, and a private room on the second floor. It seemed like the place was run by the owner and his wife. The other customers were mostly local regulars, like salarymen and elderly couples. I sat at the counter and ordered the recommended Otaru limited sake "Otaru Jigokuzaka" (850 yen). The menu was typical izakaya fare, reasonably priced, and not focused on touristy items like crab or salmon. I also ordered the daily special "Ishigarei sashimi" (700 yen) and the regular menu item "Hirugai soy sauce grilled" (600 yen). The appetizer (300 yen) was macaroni salad and vinegar-pickled wakame stems. The crispy texture of the wakame and the refreshing taste of the vinegar were delightful. The sake was quite dry and full-bodied, with a solid finish. The Ishigarei sashimi had a crunchy texture and was very fresh, with 14 generous slices. Lastly, the Hirugai was huge! It resembled a mussel but was about 3-4 times larger than the frozen ones used in pasta dishes. I've never seen this in Sendai, so it must be from Hokkaido. The taste was milder than mussels, with a lot of meat compared to the liver, and a subtle seafood flavor. It was similar to mussels in taste. With 7 of these big clams, I got a bit tired towards the end, but my stomach was full and the food was delicious.

When I visited Hokkaido at the age of 20, I couldn't afford to eat luxury ingredients like crab and sea urchin, but what I still remember well is the texture of the liver served at a small inn in Shiretoko, and the fresh herring sashimi and salt-grilled herring at an izakaya in Kushiro. As I walked along the freezing snowy road towards Otaru Station, I found the lights of an izakaya. For some reason, I felt relieved, maybe because I am a true drinker at heart. After leaving the representative sushi restaurant "Takara Sushi" in Otaru, I felt like eating the classic Hokkaido izakaya menu. As I entered through the double doors, a warm space appeared, completely different from the cold outside. Local old men in rubber boots were lively and red-faced, creating a heartwarming scene. At the same time, the savory smell of grilling seafood stimulated my appetite, even though I was already full, leading us three to the counter. A large bottle of Sapporo Black Label beer was only 550 yen. I felt happy at its cheapness as I drank it. A beautiful woman sitting alone at the end of the counter caught my eye. She seemed like a heartbroken traveler, judging by the large suitcase she carried... She was enjoying a large raw vegetable salad with hot sake, leaving a strong impression. Since my body was craving the vegetables I couldn't eat at the sushi restaurant, I ordered the same salad. I was surprised when the salad arrived. There were bananas on top, which is unusual. The sweet bananas were drizzled with slightly sour dressing, creating a subtle taste. I heard that in food culture, there are cases where local products form the basis of development and where there is a special custom born out of a longing for hard-to-find items. The salad with bananas seems to belong to the latter category, perhaps representing the luxury of tropical fruits in a northern region (laughs). My son, who was trying liver for the first time, initially said, "This sashimi is still frozen," but he seemed to enjoy the changing crunchy texture in his mouth and the high-quality fat of the salmon. The herring was not served raw but dried overnight, and the condensed umami flavor was incredibly delicious, evoking nostalgia and making me feel rejuvenated. ◆ Liver (680 yen) ◆ Grilled herring (750 yen) ◆ Vegetable salad (650 yen) ◆ Appetizer (300 yen) × 3 ◆ Large bottle of beer (550 yen) ◆ Kitano Homare Junmai sake 300ml (800 yen) The total bill was 4,330 yen for three people. (Alcohol ratio 31%) P.S. For our family, a cozy local izakaya is more comforting and easier on the palate than fancy sushi. Despite the lack of stylish dishes or luxury ingredients, the friendly smiles and wallet-friendly izakaya in the north left a lasting impression.

Today, we were lucky to have a great selection of sashimi ingredients that the store manager was satisfied with. We requested a sashimi platter that was not on the menu for 3000 yen for 4 people, and we were extremely satisfied with the result. In order of deliciousness, we had octopus, salmon belly, and "gaya". The octopus was prepared by the store manager himself, and it had a rich flavor and a firm texture that left a satisfying crunch. When we complimented the taste, we were told that not many sushi restaurants can handle octopus like that. I've had salmon belly at other places before, but this was the first time I experienced such a concentration of sweetness and umami. I don't understand how it's done. Chemically, I think aging stops when you freeze it, but salmon sashimi, of course, is completely different from salmon sashimi. The highlight was the texture and richness of the "gaya". It went perfectly with sake. Looking at the photo, it looks like some kind of small fish. The store manager mentioned that it's small and difficult to prepare. However, the taste was top-notch with a delicious fattiness. We enjoyed it very much. And it was cheap! Thank you for the feast.

Used for drinking with work-related people. Visited with colleagues. Some thoughts: - Located close to Otaru Station. - Had beer and pickles. - Back room is a private tatami room, very relaxing. - Cushions and low tables in the room. - The owner dressed in a stylish kimono-like outfit. - Cozy and homey atmosphere. - All dishes were delicious, especially the grilled chicken cartilage. - Spent a good amount of time eating and drinking, but it was reasonably priced. - Would like to visit again.

In Otaru, we requested an all-you-can-drink deal while enjoying local sashimi, but at 4000 yen per person, it seemed expensive. However, this restaurant gladly accepted our request! They even went above and beyond by serving us herring, tsubo (puffer fish), and overflowing plates of grilled saury, steamed ark shell, and more. Towards the end, they also brought out meatball skewers, which felt a bit heavy. The all-you-can-drink options included beer and shochu, with water, hot water, and ice included in the price. The location is convenient, just a 5-minute walk from Otaru Station (behind Nagasakiya), making it easy for locals to go for a second round. We had our party on the second floor in a tatami room, which comfortably accommodated 10 people. The room could probably fit around 30 people as it had two separate areas. The first floor had a counter and tables, making it suitable for smaller groups as well. The generous portions made the 3500 yen all-you-can-drink option seem like a possibility.

Squid salted guts are seriously delicious! Definitely try it when you come to Otaru.