"Rakuten [A famous shop in Otaru loved by locals] 27th July 2023. Ate a lot of delicious food. I was treated by relatives, so I don't know how much it cost. I accompanied my mother, who is over 80, on her return home, as invited by relatives. This should make it clear. This is a shop where tourists don't come. Regular customers who have been coming for decades bring their families, relatives, and friends to introduce them to the shop owner and hostess. After experiencing life in the countryside, you'll understand that there are plenty of affordable and delicious ingredients in the local area, so locals don't visit chain restaurants or tourist-oriented shops with typical local dishes. Because there are really affordable and delicious options available, no one goes to expensive places that are tastier than local ones but not as good as those for locals. That's why I was introduced to this place. I didn't take photos of the menu or most of the dishes that came out, out of respect for the hospitality provided. I only managed to take two photos, one of the shrimp sashimi we had first, and the mackerel sushi we had last. The mackerel sushi was a surprising dish. It wasn't battered or pickled in vinegar, but the fresh and thick mackerel attacked with its umami. The texture was also amazing. It was incredibly delicious. Otaru has such amazing hidden gems like this. If you have the courage to open the narrow and old doors of shops around Hanazono and Inaho, and if you're someone who is confident in navigating without disrespecting the regular customers and shop owners, then please do visit. It was a dreamy level of deliciousness. Happy ending #Otaru #Rakuten"

After a long time, I visited Otaru at night. Despite it being a Friday night, the town was quiet. The first place I stopped by was recommended by the owner of a bar in the Brick Warehouses, and I visited "Rakuten" for the first time. It was around 8 pm. The restaurant had a counter and table seats, with a spacious and calm atmosphere. The lighting was dim, and the moody background music added to the stylish impression. Despite the quiet town, there were a few regular customers inside. It seemed like a popular spot loved by locals. I was seated at a table and placed my order. The ordering system involved scanning a QR code on the table and placing the order using my smartphone. Personally, I found it convenient as it saved the trouble of calling a waiter for ordering or adding more items. I ordered a "Yuzu Sour" as my first drink. It was quite sweet with a strong syrupy taste. - Appetizer (500 yen) *Including a service charge Steamed small fish, boiled baby clams, and salmon roe served as a three-item appetizer. Each dish had a slightly different taste than expected, especially the salmon roe had a miso-like flavor. Regardless of the taste, the presentation was beautiful. - Seasoned herring Herring seasoned with sesame oil, green onions, and ginger. The herring was fatty and delicious, but it would have been better if it was slightly colder. - Sashimi assortment (1 serving) Assorted sashimi with one type of fish per slice. Herring, horse mackerel, octopus, scallop, soy sauce marinated fish, and shrimp. Topped generously with green onions and ginger. - Tomato oden This was my personal favorite. The tomato was simmered perfectly with a slightly sweet sauce that had a marinade-like flavor. It paired well with the gentle dashi broth and the Genovese sauce on top. A harmonious and satisfying dish that matched the stylish atmosphere of the restaurant. Highly recommended. - Rare beef heart cutlet As the name suggests, it was a rare beef heart cutlet, but there was a slight disappointment. The cutlet was too large, making it a struggle to fit in the mouth. The beef heart was very chewy and had a great texture, but it was more challenging to eat than to savor. Overall, the presentation and tableware were stylish and impressive. The atmosphere inside the restaurant was excellent, guaranteeing a relaxing time. Regarding the food, it felt like a creative izakaya with a Japanese influence, with flavors that were neither exceptional nor disappointing. As a side note, I personally appreciated the fact that the BGM inside the restaurant was Nujabes (a Japanese trackmaker known for LoFi hip-hop), which added to the experience.

I made a reservation after seeing high ratings on Tabelog and being impressed by the appetizers like ankimo. When I arrived at exactly 6:00 PM, there were already customers at the counter. I ordered a beer and oolong tea using the touch panel. More reservation customers kept coming in, and I was a bit worried because the place was run by a couple. The complimentary dish was a Caprese with grilled tomatoes, which was delicious with its sweet and sour taste! For food, we ordered a sashimi platter, stir-fried hormone, potato salad, and oden. The sashimi platter was tasty, but the sashimi was all small, which was a bit disappointing. However, the raw oysters with soup were delicious! The hormone was also tasty, but there was not much of it, which was another disappointment. We also ordered sake! The potato salad with plenty of cheese was delicious! It had two types of potatoes, a tangy flavor similar to haskap, and irresistible bacon! The tempura of shiitake mushrooms in oden was also delicious, and the cost performance was great! Since it was getting crowded and there were few rice dishes, we left quickly to eat elsewhere. Unfortunately, they didn't have the ankimo I was looking forward to, and the menu was limited, and the crowd made it time-consuming. It wasn't as good as I expected, but the complimentary dish and potato salad were outstanding! Thank you for the meal!

We walked a lot and worked up a sweat, so we took a shower at the hotel and then walked a few minutes to have dinner. We found a cozy restaurant tucked away in a corner off the main street. We arrived right after they opened. There were three tables in the back, but we chose to sit at the counter. We started with a well-deserved beer after walking over 14,000 steps! Cheers! It was delicious! The appetizer was creative, with tomatoes and cheese, but I forgot the name. When in Otaru, seafood donburi might be the go-to dish, but it seemed too heavy for us older folks. Instead, we enjoyed a sashimi platter and scallop sashimi. The scallops were sweet! The potato salad was also unique, with plenty of powdered cheese and purple...something. When we asked, we learned it was sweet purple potatoes. A new taste for us, but delicious. We switched to shochu and tried the marinated sardines. They were delicate and flavorful, with a gentle dashi broth. Delicious! Finally, we had eel tempura with grated radish and plum. The combination of grated radish and plum was new to us, but surprisingly tasty! We left feeling satisfied and happy. Thank you for the meal. Back at the hotel, we went up to the top floor to enjoy the rooftop hot spring.

Otaru's city... at night, when it comes to tourists, most of the shops close after 8 PM, unlike the overflowing attractions during the day. In the long summer days, after enjoying the night view from Mt. Tengu and returning to the station, I found that most places where you could have dinner were already closed. I relied on internet information to find this place. The inside of the restaurant had a local feel, resembling a spacious snack bar and izakaya, different from the touristy shops. We tried the "Iburi Gakko liver with ankimo" as a starter, along with "oden," "beef tataki," and "tsubugai" among others. Many menu items were sold out. The "Iburi Gakko liver with ankimo" had a deep flavor mixing the smoky aroma of Iburi Gakko with the sweet richness of ankimo, making it an interesting and delicious dish. The "oden" had a refined broth with pale ingredients floating in it, creating a comforting balance. The "beef tataki" and "tsubugai" were also delicious. The initial impression of the place being "snack-like" was retracted, and we were grateful for the well-prepared and delicious food. Additionally, the white wine we had, from a family winery in Mongaku Valley, Yoichi Town, Hokkaido, had a lovely story. It was fruity with a refreshing sweetness, pairing well with the "tsubugai" and completing the marriage of land and sea flavors in Otaru. It was a truly moving experience. In the end, we were very satisfied. The menu wasn't extensive, but overall, this experience allowed us to savor a unique encounter in Otaru at night.

I was able to enjoy delicious dishes. First, there was a Nara pickled ankimo (monkfish liver) salad as the appetizer. It was exquisite! With this, you can have as many glasses of sake as you want! The potato salad had two colors, white and purple, with some kind of berry sauce on top. A lot of Parmesan cheese was sprinkled on it like snow. It was super delicious!! The herring with condiments was Hokkaido-style, and the oden had a flavorful broth. I wonder if this place is run by a husband and wife duo? I was impressed by how well they manage a restaurant of this size with just the two of them. If they had more items on the menu, it would be even more appealing, but it's charming that it's run by just the two of them. It's a place that expands the possibilities of ingredients.

The izakaya in Otaru where everything you order is delicious! I was lucky to get a reservation on the same night when I decided to call. The only downside was that they didn't have a lineup of Hokkaido sake, but other than that, I was satisfied with every dish.

On the third day of camping in Hokkaido, our car broke down shortly after entering Hokkaido. We switched to a rental car and stayed in Otaru for the night. We were tired from a long day, so we chose this restaurant to relax. Although it is called an "oden" restaurant, they offer a variety of dishes including sashimi and other elaborate dishes. Their oden is served with grated yam and kelp on top, which was delicious. They also serve good quality beer. I tried their ramen as well, and it was also delicious. Otaru has many touristy restaurants, but this one seemed to be popular among locals. Thank you for the meal.

I just started using Tabelog! Please follow me if you like! I will follow back~ I checked out a high-rated restaurant on Tabelog. It was a creative izakaya with stylish plating. I don't remember the prices well, sorry, but it was delicious, although a bit on the pricey side maybe. Potato salad was around 800 yen, very stylish. Beef tataki was just over 1000 yen, tasted like my favorite dressing, very delicious. Sashimi platter was 1500 yen, had scallops, horse mackerel, shrimp, whelk, and bonito, I think.

The taste of the food was average, but the presentation and plating were good. However, personally, I did not understand the rules of the restaurant. We ordered 3.4 cups of alcohol per person and when we asked for water, we were told it was an additional charge, so we purchased it. The table next to us was provided water for free, and when we asked again, we were told that water is free when drinking sake. When we inquired about when water is charged, we were told that in Sapporo restaurants, water is charged to encourage customers to enjoy alcohol and food. The rule that water is charged when drinking something other than sake was not mentioned anywhere in the restaurant or menu, and the different treatment of tables and the responses of the staff were confusing and surprising. This review is based on facts, but it would be helpful for customer understanding if it is clearly stated when water is charged based on the table or type of drink. However, we were very grateful to be able to enter suddenly in bad weather. Thank you very much.

We made a phone reservation at 5:00 PM and visited at 6:00 PM. When we arrived, there was one Japanese group, but all the customers who came after us were foreigners, including Europeans and Asians. I wonder if this place is being recommended on TripAdvisor or something. The photo is of the seared mackerel, which was presented stylishly. All the dishes were delicious. I forgot to take more photos, but I will definitely come back.

I took a stroll to Otaru after a long time and visited "Rakuten" located between Otaru Canal and Otaru Station. You order using a tablet. I ordered a draft beer, sake for snacks, oden, and Ezo deer carpaccio. The dishes were elegant and paired well with the drinks. It was the day of the Soccer World Cup, and they were showing it on the monitor. I stayed for about an hour, waiting for the first half to start. It was a nice atmosphere, so I would definitely visit again if I have the chance.

The restaurant was small and cozy, with mostly local customers and regulars chatting casually at the counter. I've been to various places in Otaru, but this time the omakase course was top-notch, with a great combination of ingredients and drinks that went well together. The cost performance was also good. It's a place where you'll definitely become a regular if you're a local, and my wife who came with me was also very satisfied. We chose the all-you-can-drink option this time, but I think it would have been better to taste the variety of a la carte drinks. I'm glad we made a reservation this time, as it was fully booked before 7 pm.

After making a reservation after 8 pm, I visited the restaurant to place my order using an electronic pad. - Appetizer: Nanbanzuke (¥500) It had a refreshing seasoning with the sauce soaking into the crispy coating, which was really delicious. It was the most delicious dish, probably because I was so hungry, haha. - Ezo deer meat tataki (¥950) The visual presentation was beautiful! The meat had no gamey taste and just the right amount of chewiness. Maybe it was the dressing that made me feel a bit heavy towards the end, but it was still delicious. - Oden - Taro (¥160) Many items were sold out, but I decided to try the taro that was still available. It was made with potatoes that didn't easily fall apart, and when I put my chopsticks in, it crumbled softly. It was sweet and delicious! The broth was also very tasty, dangerously making me want to drink it all. - Chicken skewers (¥280) They were tender, had a good amount of fat, and were delicious! The seasoning was not sauce, but only salt.

My 11-year-old grandson and I came to Otaru. We wanted to try a restaurant with a different atmosphere at night, so after researching, we made a reservation at Rakuten. Everything that came out was delicious! The drink cost was separate, but I thought the 3500 yen for the course meal was cheap. My grandson was also very satisfied. I want to go again!

During the Golden Week period, there were a few items that were sold out, but we still enjoyed our meal. The restaurant seemed to be run by a small family, with only one chef in the kitchen, so it took some time for each dish to come out. The sashimi platter was beautifully arranged and it gave us the impression that it was prepared with care. However, I found the system of ordering through scanning a QR code and selecting items from a menu a bit confusing from start to finish.

Great value for money! I got an 8-course meal for only 3500 yen, and every dish was delicious. The ingredients were fresh, the presentation was lovely, and everything tasted amazing. Despite the pandemic causing other nearby restaurants to be empty, this place was fully booked from 6 pm onwards. It's clear that the food here is truly delicious.

Visited a highly recommended restaurant by Mairevi in July 2020. As someone who frequents Otaru daily, I must go there. I refrained from going out since March due to the pandemic, but it's now allowed. However, the number of customers seems to be lacking. The counter is also practicing social distancing. The menu appears to be quite limited. The "otoshi" was a summer-themed dish, possibly made with junsaI from Lake Onuma in Hakodate. It's a unique otoshi for an izakaya. The "sashimi assortment" for 1,200 yen included tuna, herring, mackerel, amberjack, and horse mackerel. The amberjack came with anglerfish liver sauce. The owner mentioned that anglerfish in this area is in season during summer, which I didn't know. The "gindara" for 1,200 yen was thickly cut and cooked perfectly. The "nama uni yuba manju jelly" for 950 yen featured a creamy yuba manju with rich sea urchin, a perfect combination. The "duck breast with orange from Hakata" for 950 yen would pair well with red wine. Of course, sake goes well with these dishes. The owner and the hostess were very friendly and provided excellent service. The family-run business, with their daughter helping out with a baby, had a warm and welcoming atmosphere. All the dishes were reasonably priced for an izakaya, and the creative Japanese cuisine was outstanding. The "oden" is also a specialty dish, but I'll have to try it when it gets colder. This restaurant is located in a small alley in Otaru. Truly, Otaru has hidden gems.

I'm drinking in Otaru, or rather, I was drinking in Otaru. My wife is saying, "Let's go home already!" We stop by a wine bar, but it seems like we're just going to have wine there and go home. I try to encourage my wife to visit another place, but she's not interested. I've been drinking since morning and we've already been to two places in the evening. But my wife, she's like, "We just got here, right?" In a last-ditch effort, I suggest, "Let's try one more place, and if it doesn't work out, we'll go home." The plan was to find a place that was less crowded at that time. However, on our third attempt, the place was the most crowded. Oh well, all hope is lost. Feeling dejected, we start heading back to the hotel. My wife says, "Should we stop by that yakitori place we passed earlier?" She seems to be considerate of my disappointment. "Great idea!" I respond, and we walk down the arcade street. At each intersection, we look around, but suddenly, my wife pushes me. Huh? I can see "Rakuten" but why? It seems like she knew about this place. I felt a bit hesitant to enter because I was in the mood for yakitori. But it turned out that it wasn't a bar as I had thought. It was quite a mysterious place. My wife seemed to know about it. Why did she know? I wondered if the previous customers were family members. I didn't offer to help, but it felt strange. In the back, I couldn't see, but there were young people making a bit of noise. I started with sake: a rich one, a strong one, a smooth one, and a bold one. I continued with my order like that. Not many places will serve you based on your preferences. The Akita sake that the lady recommended was given to my wife to try. When I asked for another type, this time the lady asked her husband and brought out a sake from Kagawa. Both the husband and wife seemed to understand. They usually serve dry sake. The Kagawa sake was slightly sweet but had a rich flavor. It had a unique taste and was quite good. I felt like I could trust this place. My wife and I had two drinks each. The appetizer was firefly squid. I'm not a fan of eating internal organs, but I tried it. It was good, with no bitterness at all. The ingredients must be of high quality. We also ordered oden and "mochi pouch." The oden had a delicate soy sauce flavor, not too strong, and no unnecessary seasoning. It was clear that there were no artificial additives. The mochi pouch was unexpectedly delicious. I couldn't stop eating it. The foie gras sauce was excellent. It was thin and chewy, and the sauce was a perfect match. Everything was so delicious that we couldn't stop eating. The frugal couple was afraid of finishing the food too quickly. There was a baby who occasionally cried. When I tried to comfort the baby, she smiled. I wanted to hold her, but I hesitated. The staff, including the owner, were all very nice people. It was an amazing restaurant.

Located in a narrow alley off the main street of Otaru's arcade, this stylish oden restaurant offers a unique dining experience. I sat at the counter and started with a glass of red wine, which was easy to drink and had a rosé-like flavor. The appetizer was more like an amuse-bouche, with cookies topped with cheese and marinated herring. For food, I ordered a variety of oden, tachipon (hot pot), and a trio of grilled skewers. The oden was delicious, cooked in a Kansai-style broth that was elegant and flavorful. The tachipon was fresh and comforting, a winter favorite. The skewers, including liver, heart, and chicken gizzard, were perfectly grilled and tasty. I paired the meal with a Japanese sake that was fruity and reminiscent of white wine, a pleasant surprise. The cozy and clean atmosphere of the restaurant made for a delightful dining experience. Although I only made a quick stop for a second round of drinks, I look forward to returning for a more leisurely meal in the future.

I tried entering the interestingly named Izakaya Rakuten in Otaru and enjoyed various dishes while having local beer. The herring sashimi for 750 yen can only be found in its place of origin, and it was delicious! The lightly pickled mackerel sashimi for 850 yen, and the beef tendon oden for 250 yen were very affordable. The assorted oden and the potato salad with abalone steak were also delicious and reasonably priced. I would definitely want to visit this restaurant again when I come back to Otaru.