Today, I decided to challenge a cozy restaurant that my girlfriend has been interested in for about 2 years but has never been able to visit due to always being fully booked or reserved. The restaurant is located on the first floor in front of the Minamihiragishi subway station, but the sign of the second-floor Bibai Yakitori restaurant stands out, giving the impression of a quiet hidden gem. Peeking into the restaurant through the curtain gap, I saw customers but also some available seats, so I bravely entered the restaurant. The staff asked, "Do you have a reservation?" so I started to worry if it was fully booked. I replied, "No, I don't have a reservation, is it okay?" After confirming with the chef in the kitchen, I was led to a table and finally fulfilled my girlfriend's dream after 2 years! Looking at the menu brought to me, there was a wide variety of dishes and sake, with a focus on creative dishes and sake from Nara, known as the birthplace of Japanese sake. The creative dishes were mostly new experiences for me, so I struggled to decide on my order but ended up choosing some basic items. Before the beer arrived, we were served "Chawanmushi" as a complimentary dish. Tasting it, the dashi flavor complemented the sweetness of the egg nicely, with the umami of the shimeji mushrooms and clams being strong. After trying the chawanmushi, my anticipation for the upcoming dishes increased even more. The "Sashimi Assortment (1 serving/900 yen)" included mackerel, bluefin tuna, octopus, octopus, flatfish with karasumi, and grilled frosted saury, totaling 6 items. Not only were they fresh, but each ingredient's deliciousness was brought out satisfactorily. The "Fresh Cod Ponzu (1 serving/750 yen)" was creamy and paired perfectly with the ponzu sauce, which wasn't too sour. The "Rolled Omelette (600 yen)" was made with a soft texture and a gentle dashi flavor, similar to the chawanmushi. "Namero (650 yen)" is usually seasoned with miso, but this one was based on shiso, green onions, and myoga, with no fishy taste and a strong flavor of horse mackerel. I would love to eat this with white rice too. The "Deep-fried Cod with Tartar Sauce (750 yen)" had a crispy coating with a light texture and a fluffy cod. The homemade tartar sauce complemented it perfectly! It was so delicious that I wanted to take it home! Since the dishes were so delicious, we decided to order more! First, the "Fried Ginkgo Nuts from Aichi (550 yen)" were juicy and flavorful, with each nut being large and seasoned with salt, enhancing its sweetness. The "Cream Cheese in Soy Sauce (450 yen)" paired the richness of cheese with the savory soy sauce, a perfect side dish for rice. At the last order, as a finishing touch, the "Pasta with Green Pepper and Egg Yolk (880 yen)" was incredibly delicious. The rich and creamy egg yolk flavor combined with the flat pasta was amazing. The spiciness of the green pepper added a kick, making us finish it in no time. We started with "Suntory Premium Malt (550 yen)" to quench our thirst, and then enjoyed the recommended sake from Oily Sake Brewery. The "Kaze no Mori Yumachi 807 (120ml/770 yen)" was very fruity and easy to drink, with a dry taste profile. The "Kaze no Mori Dew Leaf Wind (120ml/700 yen)" had more sweetness than Yumachi 807 and a unique taste with a hint of acidity. It would pair well with richly flavored dishes.

I wonder if there is an all-you-can-drink option. Starting with red wine. Appetizer: steamed clam and bonito with yuzu pepper, 6 assorted appetizers for 800 yen for 2 people. Pistachio marinated in mentaiko, water eggplant and myoga with plum, raisin dried persimmon with sake lees butter baguette. Each dish is small but very delicious. The finale of dried fish Chinese noodles is also well done. The floor staff is very attentive.笑 (July 2023)

Nanpila drinking session٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و The second place we visited was here. It's just a stone's throw away from the first place. This restaurant is located along Shiraishi Moiwa Street (the street in front of Namboku Station, the street in front of the old HTB building). My drinking buddies had checked this place as the second stop in advance, and it turned out to be a great choice! The food here was incredibly delicious! While typical izakaya menus are easy to imagine, the food at this place was quite unique. We ordered "Pistachio Mentaiko," "Raisin Dried Persimmon with Sake Lees Butter Baguette," "Water Eggplant and Myoga with Umeboshi," "Assorted 6 Sake Appetizers," and "Dried Sardine Ramen." They served two types of appetizers for sharing, and we toasted with organic wine! They had a wide selection of sake and the wine was also delicious. The food pairings were all excellent! The standout dish was the Eggplant and Myoga with Umeboshi. It was an exquisite blend of flavors! The crispy texture of the eggplant paired perfectly with the myoga and umeboshi. I could eat it forever! There were many other intriguing menu items, so I definitely want to come back here again! Nanpila is so exciting♡ We walked back home, as taking the subway would have taken us further away from home haha. It was delicious! Thank you for the meal(＊´ㅂ`＊)♥

Seafood izakaya located in front of the Nango Hiranishi Station on the Sapporo Municipal Subway Namboku Line. Although it is called an izakaya, it does not look like one from the outside, more like a café or bar, so be careful. Visited with 3 people at 20:00 as the second stop after drinking with business associates. ● Customer Service The restaurant is small, with one chef and one floor staff member on the day of the visit. The number of seats is appropriate, so the access such as serving dishes is not bad. ● Atmosphere The restaurant is narrow and long, giving a slightly cramped feeling, but it is within an acceptable range. The interior matches the stylish bar-like atmosphere of the exterior. ● Menu Recommended menu for the day (not a wide variety) and the regular menu. The menu is a mix of creative Japanese and Western fusion dishes and standard seafood dishes. There is a wide variety of drinks, especially standout Japanese sake. A perfect place for drinking companions. ● Food Quality The fresh seafood is surprisingly delicious, even though it doesn't match the atmosphere of the restaurant. The presentation is creative, but the ingredients are not only fresh but also well-prepared, which was a bit surprising. ● Overall Impression As it was the second stop and we had consumed a considerable amount of alcohol, we couldn't fully enjoy the food. However, even with just a little taste, it was undeniably delicious, and the restaurant is definitely worth visiting from the first stop. ■ Today's Order ★ Appetizer - Chawanmushi-like starter. Ingredients are mushroom-based, and the dashi broth complements the egg flavor without being overpowering, making it a delicious dish. - Assorted side dishes - 5 varieties in a small dish. Not elaborate dishes, but perfect for accompanying drinks. - Sashimi (6 varieties) - Was not expecting much, but was pleasantly surprised by the deliciousness. Especially the Kanpachi was excellent. Personally, I am not a fan of fish with too much fat, but the Kanpachi served here was not overly fatty, had a light texture, spread sweetness in the mouth, and made me glad that I ordered it. ■ Interior - Counter seats x 5 - 4-seater tables x 2 ■ Visit Details - Visit Time: Thursday: 20:30 - Number of Visitors: 3 - Reservation: None - Crowdedness: 2 groups of previous customers, no subsequent customers - Waiting Time: None - Serving Time: About 10-15 minutes ■ Amenities - Wet towel: Cloth - Chopsticks: Disposable - Restroom: Unisex, Western-style, Washlet, Cleanliness: S (S to C)

This is a stylish izakaya right in front of Minamihiranishi Station. You can feel the owner's sense in the atmosphere of the restaurant and the use of tableware. I was curious about the selection of drinks, but since I'm not a fan of sake, I ordered natural wine after beer. The steamed egg custard served as an appetizer was delicious and piping hot. The menu also has many appetizing dishes. However, since I visited suddenly after dinner, I couldn't order much. I tried the "Avocado and Octopus Salad," "Whale's Song," and "Sake Kasu Raisin Butter," all of which were exquisite. Next time, I want to go when I'm properly hungry and order a variety of dishes.

Delicious sake and stylish snacks at a chic izakaya in Hiragishi ☆ I was taken there by my coworkers for a night out in Hiragishi (°▽°) We found a promising restaurant and decided to give it a try! Jackpot ☆ Cheese pickles ☆ Tasty seasoning! Oma tuna red meat ☆ Delicious without any strong taste! They only serve sake from a specific brewery! Personally, I feel that the sake goes well with the food than Hokkaido sake (^^) Mingus coffee with black tea shochu?? This is... unexpectedly delicious! Overall, I really liked the atmosphere and the food at this restaurant ☆ If it was closer, I would definitely go back a few times! Thank you for the meal.