I went to Tabibito Shokudo for the first time in a while. It's a restaurant that serves Okinawan cuisine. Excuse me... as I entered the restaurant, the old man inside was so engrossed in playing the sanshin and singing that he didn't notice me. It really had that Okinawan vibe. After he finally noticed me, I sanitized my hands, took my seat, and looked at the menu. Currently, they are in the middle of a liquor ban, so no alcohol is being served. There are slightly more menu options now compared to my last visit. I was curious about the Okinawan-style Napolitan, but today I felt like having something with rice. I ordered the taco rice, soft bone pork ribs, curly fries, and root beer. The Tabibito-style baked cheese taco rice had a unique appearance. The top layer looked like scrambled eggs, but it turned out to be minced meat inside. Underneath that were tomatoes and cabbage, all covered in a sweet and savory sauce that really hit the spot. It was right up my alley. Delicious! The shovel-shaped spoon was also cute. The soft bone pork ribs were incredibly tender and gooey! It was so soft that I was worried it might break in half when I picked it up with chopsticks. It was also extremely delicious! So tasty! The curly fries turned out to be like fried potatoes. Unlike the salty fried potatoes I usually eat, these were less salty and had a light taste. They might not be satisfying for those who prefer their fried potatoes salty, but I liked them. They didn't make my throat dry, which was nice. The root beer was available even in Otaru. It's a junky drink that smells like medicine, but surprisingly, I don't mind it. I sometimes crave it. Everything was delicious, and I'm satisfied. Thank you for the meal!

I don't remember how many times I've been there (laughs), but this is the only place in Otaru where you can eat Okinawan cuisine. I always start with an Orion beer, tofu, and pickled island radish. Then I move on to Champuru dishes or Tebichi, Mimiga, and other meat dishes, along with delicious tsukune. Towards the end, I enjoy some awamori and finish with either taco rice or Okinawan soba. Everything is cheap and delicious. I haven't tried the hot pot yet, so next time I'll go for the motsu nabe. Oh, I also want to try root beer (laughs).

Taste ☆4.0 Price ☆4.0 Service ☆3.0 Cleanliness ☆3.0 Okinawan cuisine! Sea grapes! Goya champuru! Taco rice! Rafute! Soki soba! And many other delicious dishes! Cheap, generous portions, and tasty! Awamori also very affordable at under 450 yen! A highly satisfying restaurant! They also have private rooms! Great cost performance for everyday use!

Tourists have completely disappeared and Otaru feels lonely. Since all the restaurants seem to be struggling, I decided to support the local businesses by visiting various shops in Otaru. I visited Tabibito Shokudo, which relocated from Sapporo at the end of last month. It is conveniently located right in front of a bus stop, making it easy to reach by bus. Since there is no parking lot, I parked my car at the nearby Times parking lot and walked to the restaurant. The interior of the restaurant has a nice Okinawan atmosphere. From the menu, I ordered the Nankotsu Soki Soba (680 yen + tax), Beniimo Ice Cream (380 yen + tax), and a soft drink, Shikuwasa juice (250 yen + tax). The Shikuwasa juice was my first time trying it, and I found it to be delicious - a refreshing and not too sweet orange juice. The Nankotsu Soki Soba had a broth made from pork and bonito, which was very gentle and tasty. The noodles were flat and had a chewy texture, while the Soki was tender and flavorful. The Soki Soba was very delicious, with the red pickled ginger adding a nice touch. I finished every last drop of the broth. The Beniimo Ice Cream didn't have a strong sweet potato flavor, but it was a delicious and creamy vanilla ice cream. Overall, I was very satisfied with everything I ordered. Despite opening during a difficult time with the virus outbreak, I hope Tabibito Shokudo will thrive in Otaru. Thank you for the meal!

In early March 2020, my family visited a new izakaya called "Otaru Tabinchu Shokudo" near the Insen Jujigai bus stop in Otaru, which opened on February 27th and offers Okinawan, Kyushu cuisine, and yakitori. The owner is originally from Monbetsu and has worked at hotels and izakayas in Okinawa and Kyushu before opening a restaurant called "Tabin Shokudo" in Sapporo, only to face eviction. Therefore, he decided to start fresh in his beloved Otaru this time. The restaurant has a cozy atmosphere, with a counter, tables, and even a tatami area, all decorated in a tropical Okinawan style. The menu features Okinawan classics such as motsu nabe, chicken nanban, toriten, as well as Kyushu dishes and yakitori. The drink selection includes a variety of awamori and other beverages. I enjoyed an Orion draft beer and awamori, which was dangerously easy to drink due to the smoothness of the beer. The appetizer of wasabi-pickled nanohana was a delicious treat, and the Okinawan soba and soft bone soki soba had a light and flavorful broth that my wife thoroughly enjoyed. The noodles were similar to udon, making them easy for those unfamiliar with Okinawan soba to enjoy. The Rafute had a rich flavor from the black sugar that paired perfectly with rice, and the Tebichi had a collagen-rich and slightly medicinal taste that would appeal to women. The Mimi-ga aburiyaki had a unique texture that I enjoyed, and the deep-fried Okinawan fish Gurukun was crispy all the way to the bone, showcasing the chef's skill in frying. The lightly pickled island rakkyo was a refreshing palate cleanser. The only dish that was a bit lacking was the Juicy-style cooked rice, which was slightly soft and bland for my taste. However, overall, every dish we tried was delicious and left a great impression. The restaurant is located in the Insen area, close to the Hanazono district in Otaru, which seems like a promising location for attracting customers. Despite any challenges, I found this restaurant to be charming and look forward to visiting again in the future. Additionally, they may offer lunch service occasionally, as they have regular customers from Sapporo who they still supply bento boxes to.

There is a wonderful shop in Otaru! The Soki soba was incredibly delicious! If you love Okinawa, you should definitely go try it! The Huu Chanpuru was also delicious!