I visited a bento shop in Tomakomai City in June 2022. I bought fried chicken and shrimp fry for a drinking snack. The fried chicken had a crispy coating and a well-seasoned, tender chicken thigh meat without any unpleasant sinew. The shrimp fry was crispy all the way to the tail and delicious.

Jinbei is a catering bento company based in Tomakomai City, founded in 1972. They currently operate 10 directly managed stores in the city. Originally gaining popularity for their sushi, inarizushi, and ohagi, they later became known for their delicious rice balls. Their best-selling items include tonkatsu bento, takikomi bento, and chicken steak bento, but their karaage (Japanese fried chicken) is also a popular and original item that has remained a favorite over the years. This review focuses on their karaage and ebi fry for enjoying with drinks. The karaage is made with tender chicken thigh meat, with a crispy coating that has a unique salty and spicy flavor reminiscent of snack chips. It is said that they blend two different red and white powders that are different from the manufacturer's direction. The karaage is very delicious, and it is recommended to enjoy it freshly fried. Recently, as a chain that seems a bit lacking in energy, I hope that Jinbei in Tomakomai can regain its former momentum. The key is to maintain the original flavors that were once well-received.

Located along the circular road in Yamanote-cho, 1-chome in Tomakomai City, there is a bento shop. I visited Tomakomai at the end of summer and this was the last shop I visited in an unfamiliar area. The shop was crowded with customers and it is a popular spot loved by locals. Surprisingly, there was sake in the refrigerator inside the shop, which was a first for a bento shop. I wanted to buy the Hokki rice cooked bento, but it would take a long time to get home, so I gave up. Instead, I bought fried chicken and fried squid. They would be a great snack for the JR train ride back to Sapporo. However, the current JR train environment is not suitable for drinking alcohol and eating snacks, as there are many face-to-face seats. It's a tough world we live in. When I visit Tomakomai, there are not many people around so I can drink alcohol openly. When I got home, I reheated the food in the oven. The fried chicken was delicious, but the fried squid was also very tasty. It seems that squid is not easily caught. As someone whose diet consists of 90% squid, this is quite sad. I hope the situation with squid improves. Thank you for the meal.

I feel nostalgic. I used to buy ohagi and other snacks here a lot. It seems like they are still only in Tomakomai. It's nice that they haven't expanded. I bought onigiri and potato salad, which I like. Hmm, it brings back memories. I thought I would feel sentimental, but come to think of it, I used to eat ohagi and inarizushi. However, the onigiri here tastes different from convenience store ones, it has a rural flavor. I can't quite describe it, but it made me feel warm inside. Then there's the haskap berry onigiri. It sounds interesting, but I would never order it... haha. Overall, it's a nostalgic shop with a soothing atmosphere and flavors from the past. Thank you for the meal. I will definitely visit again.

The other day, when I went to Tomakomai City for work and didn't have time to eat out, I decided to have lunch in my car and visited "Jinbei Main Store" after a long time. "Jinbei" is a bento shop with 10 stores only in Tomakomai City, and it is so famous locally that almost everyone knows about it. The bento box has the official character of Tomakomai City, "TomaChop," drawn on it. I ordered the fried chicken bento for 650 yen this time. It was quite a big portion, and honestly, I couldn't finish it all. But the fried chicken was crispy and not greasy, so I managed to eat all of it (although I couldn't finish all the rice). It was a delicious bento that made me think "as expected of Jinbei." I think it's a good idea for women to order the bento with a smaller portion of rice. Next time, I would like to try the famous "Hokki simmered bento" in Tomakomai as well. Thank you for the meal. Jinbei Main Store http://jin-bei.jp/ Tomakomai City Yamate-cho 1-3-2 TEL 0144-71-2211 / [Business hours] 6:00-21:00 Closed on New Year's Day

On Sunday, September 9, 2018... I went to the convenience store to buy onigiri or bread as requested by my family, but they were all sold out due to the lingering effects of the earthquake. I remembered passing by a local restaurant with its curtain already up last night, so I decided to head there. Luckily, they were open for business. It was a relief to find a place that was still operating, unlike the nearby franchise store which was closed. I was able to purchase my meal without any restrictions. I bought a hot and freshly made donburi and thick tonkatsu bento box. It was delicious and I am grateful for being able to enjoy a good meal during these tough times.

★Katsu sandwich 650 yen ★ Donguri 500 yen I remembered that "Fukumanpai Matagami" Chan, who is a fan of onigiri, reviewed this place, so I decided to stop by. I love onigiri, so I got the Donguri set, which includes onigiri and side dishes. The onigiri was filled with salmon and bonito flakes, and the side dish of sweet rolled omelette was delicious. My husband was feeling a bit hungry, so I also got a katsu sandwich. They asked if we wanted mustard, and of course we said yes. The thick-cut pork cutlet was tender and the bread was soft and fluffy. The crust of the bread was transformed into sugar rusks, which was a nice touch. I want to try other items on the menu next time! Overall, great quality food at this place. Can't wait to try more dishes!

Welcome.---------- June 2016 ----------A long-established bento shop beloved by locals, located next to a factory on a main street, has a surprisingly small entrance. |o| °д°)ﾉ Clang clang. There's a parking lot in the back, so I entered from there and found myself in the busy kitchen making lunch boxes. "Welcome, oh, it has a quaint atmosphere♪" I was looked up and down by a slightly plump lady. Can she tell by the sound? Well, the surprise was that there were two limited edition bento boxes at the main store: "Sirloin steak bento, omurice." "The omurice is ready♪" So the bento is not just a bento, which was surprising. The demiglace sauce had a good balance of sweetness and saltiness, with a smooth texture that complemented the runny half-cooked egg. The chicken rice with a hint of ketchup did not interfere with the flavor of the demiglace sauce, creating a light and well-balanced trio. Overall, it was a well-coordinated dish. Since it's a bento shop, the quality is high regardless of the genre. The salad on the one-plate meal was kept fresh with a large lettuce leaf to prevent the heat from the omurice. The crisp broccoli and finely shredded cabbage maintained their coolness. It may be just a one-coin salad, but it's still a one-coin salad. The taste of Western cuisine, not typical of bento shops, shows the skill and experience of the chef. Thank you, it was a delicious meal.

"In May 2017, revisited - "Jinbei" is a bento specialty store located mainly in the Iburi area, and it has become a popular store known for its wide variety of menu options and delicious flavors. Among the many branches, the main store has some unique features. Firstly, it opens at 6:00 in the morning, while other branches typically open at 10:00, making it the only store where you can have breakfast. Secondly, the main store offers exclusive menu items that are not available at other branches. Although it is no longer listed on the official website, until this spring, the "Sauce Yakisoba" was an original menu item only available at the main store, and even now, items like "Omelette Rice," "Inari Sushi," and "Nori Rolls" are sold exclusively at the main store. The prices range from under one coin to around 700 yen, with the exception of the "Sirloin Steak Bento" priced at 1580 yen, which is still reasonable. Personally, I wish the Yanagi-cho branch in the eastern part of Tomakomai city would also open early in the morning, but when heading to Shiraoi or Noboribetsu for fishing, this is a convenient store to visit."

On May 3, 2016, I tried two bowls of ramen in Tomakomai for the first time, but I couldn't resist having more food. Today, the "we love Hokkaido" series starts at the Sapporo Dome. My wife went to watch the game, so I'll be home alone. I decided to have a drink and watch the game from home. I bought some food from Jinbei Honten. I ordered a large portion of fried chicken, which was freshly fried. The smell of the fried chicken filled my car, making it hard to resist, but I managed to resist since I had already eaten two bowls of ramen. I drove home listening to the radio, and the game had already started. Leard hit a home run, and I had high hopes for the game. I arrived home around 3 pm and started watching the game while eating the fried chicken and drinking sweet potato shochu. The fried chicken had a simple and crunchy coating, making it a great snack. The game turned out to be frustrating, especially due to the poor performance of the relief pitchers and closer. I finished the fried chicken and watched the game until the end. After the game, I felt frustrated and had a few more drinks before falling asleep. The fried chicken had a decent flavor. The bento boxes at the restaurant also looked very appetizing. It was a popular spot for locals. The food was delicious!

Hokkaido, Tomakomai City. It's just over an hour by highway from Sapporo. Here, along a major street just west of JR Tomakomai Station, is a bento shop called "Jinbei Main Store". I like ohagi (botamochi)♪ But making one or two by hand is too much trouble, so I buy and eat them instead. I like ohagi from traditional Japanese sweets shops, rice cake shops, and even from Sazae♪ This bento shop in Tomakomai has a few locations, and I heard recently from my sister who lives in Tomakomai that their "karaage" (fried chicken) is delicious, so I decided to try it out. I brought it home to eat. - Ohagi (botamochi) 2 pieces / around 200 yen: The size is small. The red bean paste is a chunky type, and it's more moist than fluffy. The rice cake part is slightly soft, which is a personal preference, but the rice cake itself is delicious. The sweetness of the red bean paste and the balance with the rice cake are just right. This goes well with hojicha instead of green tea. - Karaage: I forgot the price. It's a large piece of fried chicken that almost spills out of the pack. The meat is tender, and the batter is slightly strong in flavor, which would go well with beer (I prefer it with ginger ale). It has a slightly spicy and crispy taste. I reheated it before eating, but it would probably be even more delicious if eaten hot. I went back near the shop in June and bought ohagi again. - Ohagi (botamochi) 1 piece / 100 yen (tax included): Each ohagi is handmade at each store. You can feel the handmade touch, and it's delicious. The fact that it's 100 yen each is nice. With tax included, you can buy ohagi with a 100 yen coin, which is a nice feeling. In December, I added a photo of the bento. - Salted Salmon Rice Bowl with Shio Koji: 550 yen. This was quite tasty. The salmon is moist, probably due to being marinated in shio koji. The seasoning is just right, not too salty. The portion size is a bit generous for a bento, which might be appreciated by men. The price of 550 yen is also a nice touch.

Sequel to when I had a streak of bento boxes due to circumstances. This time, it's the main store of a famous local bento shop. The office is attached to the store. Unable to park on the main street, we parked in the back parking lot of the store. There's also an entrance to the store at the back. I finally got to try the "Hokki Curry" that I've been wanting to eat for a while. My wife ordered the "Salt Koji Pork Bowl" and we also got the "Squid Rings". Now, for the taste test! Me: "Oh, finally trying the Hokki Curry. The Hokki is good but... the curry could use more work, maybe?" Wife: "Salt koji was popular a while back, right? The meat is tender and the flavor is good." The restaurant industry has really leveled up now, and diners, especially those on food review sites, have also leveled up. So... it's important to self-assess and make sure you're not left behind with outdated food concepts!

I hurriedly checked out the review that Smile Sensei uploaded, so I'm going to skip it. I left Sapporo early in the morning. The plan was to leave at 6:00, but I was ready earlier and left around 5:00. I had to go to Noboribetsu for work, but since it was a weekday, I didn't want to waste money on the highway, so I decided to take the local roads. I was making good progress and it seemed like I would arrive early. I was thinking about what to eat... While normally I don't have breakfast, I continued driving. I passed Tomakomai at 6:40. I spotted a bento shop on the right side! Even though I saw one on the left earlier, I ignored it because I didn't want to stop, but this time I made a U-turn. It was only 6:00, but I went in. No one came out, so I took some pictures and decided on a "mixed rice bento." Where should I eat it? I drove while thinking about it. I didn't want to drive too much because the bento would get cold, but at this time, there were places where I could park easily. I parked in a random spot and had my breakfast. This was a first for me. The warm mixed rice was delicious, not too strong in flavor. The meatballs were cold when I ate them, which was a bit surprising and disappointing. The kabocha tempura was decent, should I take it to Hakodate? The fish fry was warm and tasty. I'm a soy sauce person, so I poured some on, but underneath was the nemesis shredded cabbage. I was worried it would make the fry soggy, but it turned out fine. I didn't eat the cabbage though (no mayo or dressing). I like hijiki simmered dish, but it was too cold to comment on the taste and it hurt my teeth (just kidding). I didn't eat the pickles. This was probably the first time I bought a bento like this. I used to dislike them, but I was pleasantly surprised by how delicious it was.

Haskap Rice Ball at Jinbei: This red item is made from the specialty of Tomakomai, "haskap". Jinbei, a bento shop in Tomakomai, offers an original product - Haskap Rice Ball. While one might imagine haskap jam used in bread or cake, the haskap used in this rice ball retains its natural tartness without added sugar. It tastes similar to eating a plum rice ball, and blends well as a rice ball filling. Price: 157 yen each. Location: Jinbei Main Store, 1-3-2 Yamatecho, Tomakomai, Hokkaido. Phone: (0144) 71-2211. Hours: 6:00-21:00. Website: http://jin-bei.jp/

I entered the store without knowing anything, haha. I always rely on other Jinbei-san. I don't have a specific store in mind, I just go to a nearby one when I feel like wearing a Jinbei. So I won't mention specific store names. Each store has its own unique charm, but I'll just write about them together. I always have a hard time deciding what to get. Should I get a bento or onigiri? Usually, I go for onigiri with miso soup and a small portion of fried chicken. I love the onigiri with cheese and mentaiko, and pickled vegetables. I can't resist them! The miso soup is full of ingredients and the fried chicken has a crispy coating, so I end up eating too much. I will continue to rely on them in the future. Thank you for the meal!

At the beginning of the month, we have a meeting with the branch managers at the head office in the morning, so we need to order lunch for everyone at the company... Sometimes there are people who complain about things not suiting their preferences, but when we order from Mr. Jinbei's tonkatsu bento, no one has any complaints. It's delicious. Maybe next time I'll ask for extra rice?

I visited around 12 o'clock noon. There was only one person waiting, so I took my time deciding what to order. I chose the clam bento box and went to a nearby park to eat under the blue sky. It was incredibly delicious. It was a memorable visit to the bento shop, and the staff's smiles and service were excellent. I would love to go back again. Thank you.

I revisited "Jinbei" in January 2023. I had previously tried their "Sakurahime Chicken Steak Bento" and it was delicious, so this time I decided to visit the main store for breakfast. While "Jinbei" usually opens at 10:00 am, the main store opens at 8:00 am, making it convenient for breakfast. This time, I opted for a lighter option with the "Chicken Steak Donburi." It was still delicious. The grilled chicken seasoned with salt sauce was just right. Unlike other salt-seasoned dishes like takeaway yakitori, which I usually don't enjoy, this one was surprisingly tasty when freshly grilled. The dish consisted of shredded cabbage on rice with mayonnaise topped with chicken steak, giving it a slightly cheap but appealing touch. The side pickled wasabi... or is it pickles? Anyway, it was delicious. The only downside, as I mentioned before with the "Chicken Steak Bento," is that the portion of chicken could be a bit more generous. Priced at 660 yen, it is reasonable for breakfast, but for lunch or dinner, it might feel a bit lacking. It would be great if they offered a larger portion option for around 820 yen. ============================== ◇ Sakurahime Chicken Steak Donburi 660 yen ------------------------------ ◆ Food/Taste 4.0 / Service 3.0 / Atmosphere 3.5 / Value for Money 3.5

Jinbei-san along the national highway. There is a parking lot in the back, not the front. When you go in, you'll be surprised! There is a unique deli corner. They sell yakisoba, sweet and sour chicken, onigiri, rolls, and inari sushi. I've never seen this at other Jinbei locations. ★Wasabi inari sushi - Inari sushi with wasabi on top instead of inside. The smell of wasabi hits you as soon as you open it. There is chopped wasabi on top and inside. It's not very spicy, but it has a great wasabi aroma. I enjoyed this unique inari sushi. The sweetness of the tofu skin and the spicy wasabi go well together. ★Daily bento box - Saturday is karaage (fried chicken) Every day except Sunday, there is a daily bento box, and on Saturdays, it's karaage. It comes with freshly fried karaage, cabbage, rice, and salad. The daily bento box is 100 yen cheaper than buying each item separately. The karaage had a thick batter like tempura. Thank you for the meal!

I had a meeting in Tomakomai starting at 11:00. People who came from Tokyo were speaking passionately without a lunch break, and I started to feel hungry. When I suggested going somewhere to eat, the person in charge in Tomakomai said we could get bento boxes. I asked if we could order around 1:00, and they said it should be fine. They delivered the bento boxes before 2:00. Ah, it's the famous Jinbei bento after all. It was my first time trying it. The presentation is quite colorful. The side dishes were all above average with no disappointments. The rice was also delicious. The portion size was sufficient. Thank you for the meal.