Located next to the Utonai Lake Wildlife Bird and Animal Protection Center, there is a take-out only shop called Dessert Park at the Michi-no-Eki Utonai Lake. They offer bubble waffles made with rice flour and tapioca flour, giving them a unique appearance. The "Gorotto Ichigo Milk" bubble waffle is made with special Hokkaido milk and looks cute with its pink and white colors. The shop also has a refreshing Haskap milk float, although the price of 700 yen might be a bit high. In addition to drinks, they offer "Hokki Maru," "Zangi Stick," and fried potatoes, making it a good option for a quick snack during a drive. The "Hokki Maru" is made with strings and meat of Hokkaido-grown surf clams, with a sauce made from surf clam soy sauce, offering a unique gourmet experience. The shop accepts PayPay payments.

In June 2023, I visited a roadside station called "Michi no Eki Utonai Lake" in Tomakomai City. It is a store located next to "Saitaro Shoten" and "Soba Ifu" that I introduced before. The main product is called "Bubble Waffle," which is like a crepe made with waffle batter and seems to be popular with female customers and children. This time, I bought a product called "Hokki Maru," which is basically a Hokki version of takoyaki, with Hokki replacing octopus. It costs 500 yen for six pieces, which may seem expensive compared to takoyaki, but considering the Hokki shellfish used, the cost performance doesn't seem too bad. It is topped with sauce, mayonnaise, and chopped seaweed instead of bonito flakes like takoyaki. The sauce has a slightly Japanese taste, different from takoyaki, but the texture is similar. However, using Hokki instead of octopus doesn't make it exceptionally delicious, more like something to talk about. Honestly, if they also offered takoyaki at a slightly lower price, it might sell well. Additionally, some people might want to buy both for comparison.

Before heading home, let's make a detour to a roadside station and try out just one new place! I don't feel like having a meal, but I'm up for some dessert! I visited "Dessert Park," a newly opened dessert spot after its renovation for the first time! If the dessert with crepe is heavy, is the waffle heavy too? But it's not as heavy as the waffle that opened at the Aeon in Chitose, right? So, based on my subjective opinion, I ordered the "Bubble Waffle with Haskap (¥750)." For toppings, I requested "Caramel Sauce." They kindly suggested, "Since the weather is bad, please enjoy it inside the roadside station," showing great care and consideration, which left a good impression on me. It's not just about the taste, but good customer service can lead to repeat visits and boost the success of the roadside station. Especially because of the unfortunate incident that happened at the Chitose roadside station, I hope either Hanaroad or this place can succeed as an interim replacement until it is reborn... As for the product review, the skin is made with tapioca flour, giving it a chewy texture. For those who value a satisfying eating experience like the old-fashioned crepes, this could become addictive! The cream is mildly sweet, and the amount is just right, so there's no need to worry about it overflowing. The Haskap berries are locally sourced, and just biting into one activates its juiciness and sweetness from within, making it delicious! I couldn't get a plastic cup like others did, probably because I'm clumsy and struggled to unwrap the packaging with one hand haha. I had no place to stand the crepe, and it was difficult to take a photo with my phone (laughs). The price may not be as sweet as the dessert, but if you're a repeat customer, why not try it again? However, I'll leave it to others! Thank you for the meal.

I came to a newly opened store, but it was unexpectedly closed... Feeling disappointed, I found a nearby unvisited store, "Michi no Eki Utonai," which is a takeout-only outdoor stall style shop. It opened on March 17, 2023, called "Dessert Park." The operation is handled by a single staff, a friendly lady. The menu includes "Bubble Waffles, Zangi sticks, and drinks." I purchased the "Hokki Maru @500." Payment is cash only. The Hokki Maru is like a Hokkaido version of takoyaki, with a chewy Hokkaido clam and a delicious sea flavor. It comes with sauce and mayo, served with toothpicks and rubber bands. I enjoyed it in my car. I would prefer it to octopus takoyaki. I wish they were freshly made instead of pre-made. The price for 6 pieces seems a bit high, I wish they offered 8 pieces. I am curious about the Bubble Waffles on the menu. Thank you for the meal.

Roadside Station Utunai Lake, which reopened on March 17, 2023, head to the newly opened outdoor dessert park. Among the shops that were open (the other two were closed...), Bubble Waffle with Strawberry and Banana for 750 yen (tax included). You can choose from four different sauces, and I chose chocolate. The waffle is made with rice flour and tapioca flour, not wheat flour. It was not too sweet and had a very chewy and robust texture. However, as time passes, the waffle becomes softer and may struggle to support the fruits and whipped cream inside, so be careful.

At the Michi-no-Eki Utanai Lake in Tomakomai, there is a Bubble Waffle with whole banana and chocolate sauce for 700 yen. The Bubble Waffle is like a crepe, but with a fluffy waffle filled with ingredients. There are four waffle options: Hokkaido strawberries, Haskap berries, strawberry banana, and whole banana. You can choose from chocolate, caramel, Haskap, or strawberry sauce toppings, with options to add Oreo for 50 yen or vanilla ice cream for 100 yen. The waffle batter is made from rice flour and tapioca flour, making it chewy. Despite its large size, the waffle is light on cream. It's great that they use local Haskap berries and strawberries from Tomakomai. The waffle comes with a plastic cup underneath for easy handling. On this day, the weather was good but windy and cold. When it warms up, more people might choose to eat outside. Thank you for the meal.