And for the second stop in Kushiro today, we decided on this place! Our stomachs were already full, so we ordered whale sashimi and the famous egg pizza. As soon as we took a bite, we thought "Oh, this place is great!" It was so nice to have found this place. I'm looking forward to the rest of the night in Kushiro. Even though I said I wouldn't go anywhere else after this, I ended up going to the restaurant recommended by the owner.

In December 2021, on a weekday night, I went out for a drink alone. I wanted to explore places that open early, so I decided to try "Tonkyu" which opens at 5 pm. I entered the restaurant and the quiet guy behind the counter seemed busy and a bit tense. He reluctantly agreed to take a photo. I ordered a beer and a "Tamago Pizza" because I wanted to try it. Not knowing the size, I ordered just one. I waited while snacking on the appetizer. I tried to strike up a conversation with the guy, but he seemed too busy. Finally, the "Tamago Pizza" arrived. It was an interesting pizza with an egg as the base instead of dough, topped with ingredients, tomato sauce, and cheese, then baked in a pan. It was simple and delicious. The beer went down smoothly, and I ended up having two more. As I started to feel a bit tipsy, the guy became more talkative. He even let me try their homemade tarako. The atmosphere was warm and the guy turned out to be really nice. It seemed like everything in the restaurant was homemade, and they always had charcoal burning. They worked diligently and seriously. It was a great restaurant experience. Thank you for the meal. By the way, it's Christmas Eve, so this will be my last update for the year. Have a great New Year!

A casual traditional Japanese restaurant and izakaya in the town of Kushiro. This restaurant has been in business for 30 years. They serve delicious dishes such as marinated garlic, asparagus grilled over charcoal, and Zangi fried in a one-handed pot. The owner mentioned that despite being the origin of "Zangi" with various theories, locals rarely visit the restaurant. However, during this period of self-restraint, he reminisced about a time when Kushiro was bustling with people, although he couldn't clearly remember when that was. The second-generation owner, who took over his father's proud restaurant, is struggling to keep the business thriving.

This was my first visit to Tonkyu-san. The counter had about 12 seats, and there was a slightly raised area in the back. When I visited, the master was running the place alone. It was my second izakaya of the day, so I was already full and didn't have a strong impression. The prices made me think, "Did I really eat that much?"