On August 20, 2021, what I can do now is to support at least the food and beverage establishments while being very cautious. Let's all do our best! Today, I visited a coffee shop called "Coffee Shop Pepe" for the first time in Obihiro. The exterior is a two-story building with white walls. Inside, it has a charming Showa-era coffee shop vibe with a counter seating for 6, 3 tables for 4 people, and 1 table for 6 people. I arrived at exactly 11 o'clock and asked if I could have a meal. I ordered the omurice for 750 yen (tax included). It arrived in about 8 minutes. The ketchup rice had simple ingredients like ham, onions, and green peppers. It was delicious with a rich ketchup flavor, giving a nostalgic and homey taste. Next time, I will come to try the yakisoba. Thank you for the meal. Coffee Shop Pepe's business hours are from 10:00 to 18:00, and they are closed on Sundays.

I went to a coffee shop called Pepe! It's a retro-style cafe with a Showa era vibe both outside and inside. I decided to have lunch there, and there was only one lady working. I sat at a table with a table game machine and looked at the menu. They had fried rice, pilaf, spaghetti, curry, and kimchi fried rice. I ordered kimchi fried rice, but they were out of it, so I got spaghetti instead. The lady apologized and said she was taking a break because it was hot. I ended up ordering yakisoba for 650 yen. It was ready in about 6 minutes and had various ingredients like green peppers, onions, bean sprouts, shimeji mushrooms, and eggs. It had a slightly Chinese fried rice vibe. The portion was small, but the flavor was just right, not too salty. The yakisoba was a bit stretchy, and I enjoyed the generous amount of pickled ginger. I realized later that I had only looked at half of the menu when ordering. The lady next to me was playing mahjong while smoking a cigarette. I finished my meal in 3 minutes and left quickly. I wonder if I can try the kimchi fried rice next time I visit?笑 Thank you for the meal!

On a Saturday afternoon, I stopped by a cafe called Pepe. The interior had a retro vibe with game tables and an old telephone booth, creating a nice atmosphere. The counter seats were occupied by what seemed to be regular customers chatting with the owner. Just a heads up, smoking is allowed inside so be careful as the smell may stick to your clothes. I decided to sit at a game table and ordered yakisoba and coffee for dessert. The yakisoba arrived with pickled ginger on top, along with bacon, onions, green peppers, shiitake mushrooms, and a small piece of fried egg, giving it a unique and interesting B-class feel. I mixed it all up and enjoyed the dish. While sipping on my coffee after the meal, the owner surprised me with a complimentary strawberry-flavored baumkuchen. It was a delightful gesture for a newcomer like me. I listened to the conversation between the regular customers and the owner as background music while enjoying the refreshing taste of the coffee. The customer joked about the price of tomato juice, and the owner shared the origin of the cafe's name, Pepe, which was inspired by a popular freckled doll from the past. Before I knew it, I was caught up in the conversation and ended up staying longer than planned, leaving with the smell of cigarette smoke on my clothes.

I had been curious about the neighboring coffee shop Pepe, so I decided to pay a visit. When I arrived, there were two customers playing retro games at a table with game consoles. I sat down at a table and immediately the friendly owner opened the window for me since smoking was allowed inside. I ordered the omurice for 750 yen. After a few sounds of chopping, sizzling, and whisking, my dish arrived in about 13 minutes. The owner mentioned something about adding hot water to the soup if it's too salty. The omurice was served with a side of soup, which had grated yamaimo (yam) in it. The rice was generously coated in ketchup and wrapped in a thin omelet. The dish had a nice retro feel to it. The soup became saltier as I ate, so I understood the need for hot water adjustment. The owner was friendly and struck up a conversation with me, so I decided to order a blend coffee for an additional 400 yen, but since it was a set with the meal, I got a 50 yen discount. The siphon coffee was carefully brewed and tasted delicious. We chatted about the decrease in traffic outside due to a new road opening, and I enjoyed the local conversation. It was a pleasant experience at this cozy café. Thank you for the meal.