In early spring of 2023, in front of the facilities of "Michi no Eki Utonai Lake," there are three separate dining establishments. One of them, "Matsuriro Shoten," was open when I visited this time. It is a one-woman operation run by a friendly middle-aged woman. They offer items such as shrimp senbei, chocolate banana, tropical juice, haskap smoothie, and special zangi. I purchased the "meat-wrapped rice ball @500" (paid with PayPay). It was handed to me in a transparent plastic pack with a rubber band and a shopping bag. The rice was sticky and soft, wrapped in pork, with a sweet and savory sauce that could have been a bit stronger. It had a good garlic flavor but the cost performance was not the best. However, perhaps this is what you can expect at a tourist spot. Thank you for the meal.

This is a roadside station in Tomakomai. I was planning to eat in Tomakomai, so when I searched the city, I found out that the roadside station had been renovated. I decided to stop by the station and try the food. I tried the small size of "Las Potato" for 300 yen. It was a bit crowded, so I almost passed by, but luckily found a parking spot. Inside, I asked at the information counter and learned that the outdoor shops were new. I was curious about what "Las Potato" was. It looked like fried potatoes, but apparently, it is a type of fried potato that is a bit more time-consuming to make but delicious. The flavor was strong, and it was a bit greasy, maybe because it had cooled down. It might have been different if it was freshly fried. Heating it up a bit improved the taste. I also noticed other items on the menu like "Zangi," "Shrimp Senbei," and "Smoked Quail Eggs." I was intrigued by the cute shop attendants. Thank you for the meal.

"In April 2023, I visited a shop called "Matsuriro Shoten" at the "Michi no Eki Utonai Lake" located on the shore of Lake Utonai in Tomakomai City. The shop is one of the four connected shops on the left side as you head towards the main facility of the Michi no Eki. Their main product seems to be "ebisen," but they also sell hot snacks like "zangi" and "fried potatoes." I decided to try each of these items. The zangi came in a pack of six small pieces for 500 yen. The flavor was not bad, but the garlic was quite strong. However, I felt that the chicken varieties sold at "Seicomart" under the "Hot Chef" brand are much more reasonably priced. The potatoes, on the other hand, were priced at 500 yen for a large size and 300 yen for a small size. The portion size for the price was not very satisfying. While these snacks could be a nice treat during a trip, I don't think they are worth going out of your way for. ============================== ◇ 800 yen (Zangi 500 yen / Small Potato 300 yen) ------------------------------ ◆ Food/Taste 3.0 / Service 3.5 / Atmosphere 3.0 / Value for Money 2.5"