Leaving behind the pumpkin, I head towards Itou. In the Kikusui area, besides the pumpkin and one more izakaya, I can't think of any other restaurants. I have been curious about the neon sign of this place for a long time. Since it's on my way home from work, I pass by the front of the store almost every day. What kind of place is it with stairs leading down to the basement? I go down the stairs and enter for the first time. Oh, it's spacious. And it's kind of neat. I settle down at a small raised table where customers are gathered. First, I try Kobayashi Shuzo's Hokutozuusou, with the label saying Itou Izakaya. Yeah, it's delicious. The appetizer is like a fish dumpling. The flavor is condensed and I'm looking forward to it. For food, I have raw squid, a bit white but still very tasty. I got both mountain wasabi and ginger. I'm happy that the braised pork comes with an egg. The melty braised pork was the best. I switch to Oshinshu (Autumn Junmai) for sake. It's fruity and delicious too. The corn tempura has more volume than I expected. And it's interesting to eat it with pink salt. On my way out, I have a brief conversation with the master craftsman. Everything I ate was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

Visited without a reservation. The restaurant was bustling. Waited for a customer to leave before entering. Ordered a bottle of shochu. It seems there is a charge for ice water here as well. The appetizers were ankimo (monkfish liver) and salted fish guts, both delicious and perfect with the drinks. Grilled dried squid was tender and easy to eat. The hot rolled omelette was fluffy, hot, and slightly sweet, but tasty. The hand-made soba was surprisingly good, even though it didn't seem like it was hand-made. The mackerel cut roll was a perfect snack. The mountain wasabi roll was extremely spicy, making my eyes water. Finished a bottle of shochu, so it's time to call it a night. (April 2022)

The head chef who trained at a sushi restaurant and opened his own shop here. I heard good things about this place from locals. The sign here is a bit different from other shops, giving it a more sophisticated feel. We were seated in a private booth for two. We ordered a bottle of shochu with water. The pickled squid is decent, but it seems like a commercial product. The grilled dried squid is delicious and hot. The egg sushi has a good flavor, but it looks more steamed than grilled, which is typical of sushi restaurants. The hand-made soba noodles are actually machine-made. The dipping sauce is of good quality. The mackerel sushi with pickled ginger and mountain wasabi is very good, but the mountain wasabi is too strong, so they should adjust it. I don't like the fake hand-made soba noodles. It's like a deceptive and dishonest act.

Cross the bridge from Susukino in Sapporo to a place without tourists, and you'll find a great restaurant with delicious fish. This place is full of local charm. Tourists, if you can, come and visit! Of course, all-you-can-drink Sapporo Classic beer is available! I'll comment on the dishes with photos, so please take a look! It's a must to enjoy drinking too much and having a great time! Ah, it was delicious. Thank you for the meal. As a bonus, I'll also promote the neighboring restaurant. I haven't been there, but it has a great view from a Sapporo company.

This is a hidden gem of an izakaya called Kikusui that I visited for the first time. Both the seafood and meat dishes are delicious, and the cost performance is excellent. The portions are also very generous, so be careful not to order too much. Each dish has great flavor. I definitely want to visit this izakaya again.

I visited a nearby izakaya called Itou-san that specializes in seafood and skewers. The restaurant was about 80% full on a Thursday. The quality of the appetizers was good. We tried dishes like motsu nabe, ramen salad, and namako vinegar, and overall, everything was delicious! The seafood was fresh, especially the squid which was excellent. Some found the shellfish slightly fishy, but the size was satisfying. The thick omelette was sweet, similar to sushi, and paired well with sake. Overall, the satisfaction level of the food was high. The only thing that stood out was a slight difference in treatment between regulars and newcomers. However, if you become a regular, it seems like a great place to hang out. Thank you for the meal!

The food was average.

This time, I was on a business trip to Sapporo and went on a search for a delicious izakaya. Located about a 3-minute walk from Kikusui Station on the east-west line in Sapporo, the restaurant stands out with its flashy sign in a residential area. Even though it's not in Susukino, it truly feels like Hokkaido. The dishes that come out one after another when ordering seasonal menu items are so delicious. The cuisine that brings out the flavors of the ingredients is truly impressive. This izakaya in Sapporo has become one of my favorites. I will definitely come back again!

I love the appetizers at Mr. Ito's ❤️ They change every time, so it's double the fun! I usually get almost full with the "Today's Recommendation," and I always order the nagaimo steak 🍴 When Mr. Buu from next door delivers Yukkejang Kkupa, I go to bed feeling happy and satisfied. Good night!

On December 22, 2015, around 1:30 pm, there is space for 5 cars in front of the store, but it is a bit high level, so please be careful. As you enter the entrance that looks like an apartment and go downstairs, there are two shops on the left and right. Looking at the signs, it seems that the owners are the same. Today, I will be going to the izakaya on the left called "Itou-san". The one on the right is a charcoal-grilled yakiniku restaurant called "Buuchan" (not registered on Tabelog). I take a seat at the counter. I receive a warm tea pot and an empty cup, along with a warm cloth towel. The waitress hands me the lunch menu. I decide to go for the lunch set available until 2 pm. I just made it in time as it was written on the menu that it's until 1:30 pm. The raised seating area on the right has the lights turned off. But they still kindly accepted my order. Thank you! After some contemplation, I decided to go for the daily special rice in a large portion. It comes as a set with a mini shrimp tempura rice bowl and a choice of soba or udon. I chose the warm soba. I pour myself some tea and wait for my order. There is a TV showing the news on the top right. The weather seems to be changing. The chef, a male artisan, starts frying the tempura on the stove. It sounds nice. Finally, my order arrives: a tempura rice bowl (I upgraded to a large portion, so it's probably a regular size), warm soba, tempura scraps and green onions on a separate plate, and pickles. It's quite simple yet satisfying. The tempura consists of two shrimp, one large squid tentacle, and eggplant. The soba has a nice bonito-flavored broth, and the noodles are cooked just right. The tempura sauce was a bit too thick for my liking, but it's a matter of preference. I finish my meal with a refill of the tempura sauce and quickly leave as it seems like the lunch service is ending. The total cost was 800 yen. It was my first time here, and I'm curious to try their other dishes like hot pot or curry set meals. Thank you for the meal!

I visited this restaurant for the first time with my coworkers and it was just as good as the rumors said. The atmosphere was great and we had a delicious meal. There were so many recommended dishes to choose from that I had a hard time deciding. We ended up ordering ramen salad, Bibai ramen, Muroran yakitori, sashimi, grilled bamboo shoots, and seafood sushi rolls. The 80-minute all-you-can-drink option went by so quickly that we didn't have a chance to try the cold noodles I wanted, so I plan to order them next time! I'm also curious about their mascot, "Bu-chan"...(^^)

An izakaya where you can enjoy fresh seafood dishes and creative dishes using Hokkaido ingredients. They offer a variety of Japanese sake, sweet potato shochu, wine, and other drinks. A recommended dish is the "Tuna Steak (580 yen)" made with fresh tuna from the waters near Hokkaido and a special sauce. They also have hidden menu items not listed on the menu, so be sure to ask the "Whimsical Manager" when you visit the restaurant. They also offer various set meals during lunchtime. The parking lot can accommodate 10 cars.