In Asahikawa, after being turned down by a few restaurants, I stumbled upon a place called "Manmaru Mahoro" that caught my eye. I was able to enter without a reservation. They provided hand sanitizer and a drink of plum vinegar mixed with hot water, which was refreshing. The miso-marinated cheese was surprisingly tasty, and I couldn't resist having it with wine. Although not on the menu, they mentioned that locally grown asparagus was in season, so I had to try it. The dishes, such as the dashi-flavored egg omelette, inari sushi, and fried tofu, were all delicious and comforting. I'm glad I found this wonderful restaurant where I could relax and enjoy a good meal.

Located in a good spot for having a drink during the day at Asahikawa Harete♪ The opening time is listed as 14:30, but it may vary depending on the day, and reservations seem to be necessary now, so it might be better to call before visiting even if you're drinking alone. I visited after a daytime drink for the first time in a while. There is a "light drink set" available until 18:00 for 1600 yen, but it didn't feel like a great deal, so I ordered a la carte instead. They have two types of draft beer: Kirin Heartland for 500 yen and Kirin Lager for 500 yen. The appetizer costs 600 yen and includes a few simmered dishes. I ordered some light dishes, but I couldn't resist ordering sake afterward. I asked for a fruity type, and they recommended three kinds for me to try. I chose a half-size serving and tried different varieties. I also ordered a dish that caught my eye: "Ayu no tawara age" for 950 yen, which is fried ayu fish wrapped in somen noodles. It was delicious but very difficult to eat neatly. The restaurant has reduced the number of seats, implemented thorough infection prevention measures, and provides very polite service. It's a great place.

I had been checking this restaurant out since I saw it in a magazine. The atmosphere is nice, located a short walk from the main street. The interior is not too big or too small, and it's clean. The owner and the hostess are friendly and easy to talk to. The dishes are carefully prepared, and the appetizers that come with the meal are a nice touch. Each dish has depth and you can feel the owner's passion for the ingredients. Overall, it's a cozy izakaya with a unique taste and a welcoming atmosphere.

Last November, a shop opened in the shopping park that operates from 2 pm. The interior is very clean and pleasant. The dishes on the shelves are neatly arranged, which is nice. From 2 pm to 4 pm, they offer a "light drinking set" which is a great deal for enjoying a daytime drink! The light drinking set (880 yen including tax) includes one drink (draft beer, sake, highball) and three snacks. It's a good idea to start with this and then add your favorite drinks or dishes for a great daytime drinking experience. I ordered a draft beer. The three snacks of the day were "steamed whitebait," "boiled edamame," and "simmered eggplant and thick-fried tofu." The snacks were surprisingly authentic. The steamed whitebait and simmered dish had a very refined taste, and the edamame was boiled in a sweet and salty broth, showing attention to flavor! I ordered two additional dishes (and ended up having two more glasses of sake lol). The "beef tendon stew" (550 yen, excluding tax) had very tender beef tendons stewed in a miso-based, slightly spicy sauce. It had a sweet and savory taste. I added some shichimi pepper, which added more spiciness and complemented the alcohol well. The "okra tempura from Harasaki Farm" (500 yen) used okra from Harasaki Farm in Takasu Town. The tempura was crispy on the outside and you could feel the sliminess of the okra inside. It was fried perfectly. It was served with burdock tempura and shiso, making it visually appealing. The tableware and presentation were all beautiful! I had two glasses of dry sake, "Koshino Matsutake Dry Special Honjozo" and "Fukushi Honjozo Dry" (both 450 yen). With the light drinking set, two dishes, and two glasses of sake, I had a nice buzz (even though it was daytime lol). They have excellent measures in place for preventing infections, such as not filling up all seats and leaving enough space between customers. The owner and staff were friendly, making it a safe and pleasant place to visit!

A while ago, during the day, while walking in Kaimono Park, it started raining and the wind picked up. I thought, "This is not good!" so I ran into a nearby open-looking shop. Phew...first, I had a glass of Japanese sake. Oh? (laughs) It's the izakaya "Manmaru Mahoro". Located at 8-chome, 5-jo-dori, Kaimono Park, Asahikawa City. Business hours are from 2 pm, closed on Mondays. No parking available. It's great that they are open from 2 pm during the day, perfect for a pre-drink gathering. I had seen good reviews about this place from a certain gourmet website, and when I went there, there were already three other groups of customers, so it couldn't be that bad, right? I felt reassured by the thorough implementation of COVID-19 measures. I just wanted to have a quick drink, so I ordered the small drink set for 880 yen including tax. I started with Japanese sake. Ah...I can't remember the name, but it was delicious, ice-cold. It went straight into the fridge after that. Have I learned my lesson? (laughs) The three side dishes were very homemade and each one was delicious. They had a clear and gentle flavor. For my second drink, I requested a "refreshing and easy to drink" sake, and they brought me "Koshino Shouro" from Niigata, a pure rice sake. It had a soft mouthfeel and was easy to drink with a clean finish. In a good mood, I thought, "Alright, let's go for the main event!" [Tabelog]

It seems that a new bar has opened across from the food terrace in the shopping park where you can drink from 14:00. There are two types of draft beer available: Kirin Lager for 480 yen and Heartland for 480 yen. When I asked for a sweet sake, they brought me only one bottle, which was Koshino Kanbai Sasara Junmai Ginjo, saying it was very sweet. The staff seemed a bit careless, leaving the sake bottle on the counter for a while even after I asked about it. Eventually, they put it away. I ordered some dishes, including Chicken with Mochi Flour Coating, Shrimp and Avocado with Cod Roe Mayonnaise, and a Pickled Vegetable Assortment. The food was okay overall, but not exceptional, and the bill came out to be 7,392 yen for a stay of less than an hour. I think I'll try another place next time.