Looking for Sunday lunch♪ It's hard to find places that serve lunch on Sundays in Muroran and Date. Especially when it comes to Chinese cuisine. I decided to try Hokkaien, a place I've been curious about for a while. As soon as I entered the restaurant, they told me it would take some time, but I decided to stay. There were a few tables that weren't being used, but I was glad that my food arrived in 25 minutes after I sat down! I was worried that I might have to wait longer or be seated at one of the tables that were not being used... It happens sometimes. But they seem to be focused on not making customers wait too long. The restaurant was constantly busy with customers coming in. The mapo tofu had a flavor that everyone can enjoy. Mapo tofu, salad, soup, rice, pickles, and a drink for 800 yen is a great deal. Thank you for the meal.

I ordered a variety of dishes and they were all delicious! The place might be busy during lunchtime, but I definitely want to go back! I felt like having a beer and trying out different dishes. I prefer going with a few people to enjoy a variety of Chinese dishes!

Located along Kinshidori, on the seaside of the national highway in Date City, there is a restaurant with many other dining options nearby. I had noticed this place every time I passed by, as there were always many cars parked in front of it. During a business trip to the Date area, I decided to stop by for dinner. At first, I thought it was a yakiniku restaurant based on the name and exterior, but after searching on Tabelog, I found out it was a Chinese restaurant. The building has a spacious parking space in front. Inside, there are counter seats and table seats in a slightly dim atmosphere. While the counter seats were available, the table seats were filled with families, indicating its popularity. With a wide selection of classic Chinese dishes on the menu, I had a hard time deciding, but I ended up ordering the "Fried Rice (700 yen)" and "Gyoza (450 yen)". The fried rice arrived in about 7 minutes, followed by the gyoza in 5 minutes. The fried rice had a slightly moist texture, with a home-cooked flavor. The gyoza was served piping hot, with thin skins and a flavorful filling with a hint of garlic. Although not authentically Chinese, both dishes were consistently delicious. Considering the reasonable prices, I think it's a good option for casual Chinese dining.

First visit was about 25 years ago, when they relocated here. The previous restaurant had been in business for almost 20 years, so this is a well-established old shop of about 50 years. A Chinese restaurant called "Sai Sai" opened nearby later, and since they started serving lunch, the parking lot has been noticeably empty. This was my first visit in 25 years. There were 4 groups of customers before me and 4 groups after me. The owner and the hostess are both lively! I'll have to come back for a few more visits to make sure they are still doing well. Crab omelette ramen for ¥650. Thank you for the meal!

On a holiday around 12:30, before heading towards Roppongi, we tried to have lunch in Date but DT was full so we couldn't park. We found a restaurant with an empty parking lot and decided to eat there. The interior was quite spacious with raised seating and a counter. There were 4 groups of customers already there. We sat by the window where there were many potted plants. The tables were a bit dirty but after wiping them with alcohol disinfectant wipes, they became much cleaner. My husband ordered Tantanmen for 760 yen plus rice for 220 yen, and I ordered the lunch set with Mapo Tofu for 760 yen. The lady who took our order spoke in a fast-paced Edo style, very lively. The food arrived in about 15 minutes, and although the soup was too salty for me, the salad and pickles were okay. The Mapo Tofu wasn't spicy at all, but the taste was decent. The rice was quite delicious. Overall, the food was tasty and the portion size was generous. The lady forgot to bring the tea before the meal, but she apologized profusely. The pricing was reasonable, and the overall experience was pleasant. It might be a hidden gem for those who don't mind small details.

Located on the famous gourmet street in Arai-machi, Date City, Hokkaido, this restaurant caught my eye every time I passed by, but I never went in. One evening, past 8 PM when most eateries were closing, I finally decided to give it a try. The interior was surprisingly spacious and relaxing, with a counter in front, tables on the right, and a raised tatami area on the left. The menu offered a variety of dishes, although not authentic Chinese cuisine, they all looked delicious. I ordered the classic Tenshinhan (Tianjin rice)...it's a common choice at Chinese restaurants (laughs). It had just the right thickness and a Chinese-style flavor. It was delicious! This place seems like a handy option when you're craving Chinese food.

I have used this restaurant for meals twice. Once for a family lunch and once for a dinner party. The lunch menu ranges from 700-1000 yen, with about 5-6 options to choose from. Drinks are included. It seems like there are not many options for Chinese lunch in the area, as it was quite crowded with office workers. The food has a strong flavor. For the dinner party, the main dishes are served on large plates, and I think the meal-only course was around 2500 yen. Classic dishes like shrimp chili and mapo tofu were available. I wish they had more options for Chinese liquor like Shaoxing wine, but that was not really the case. The service is a bit rough, but if you feel like having Chinese food occasionally, it's worth a try.

I visited this restaurant at night for the first time and ordered a variety of dishes. Overall, the flavors were quite strong. It seemed like the dishes paired well with rice. It's definitely a typical Chinese restaurant for the masses. The shrimp was deliciously firm and the mapo tofu had a good balance of spices. However, the flavors were a bit too intense. It didn't feel like the type of food you'd enjoy with alcohol. The usual practice of ordering a variety of dishes when dining with a group was turned on its head here. One dish per person with a side of white rice is satisfying. On another day, I went alone and tried the ramen. I have to raise my rating for this one! The noodles were average and slightly overcooked, but the broth was impressive. The toppings were a bit sparse, so the tantanmen was a bit disappointing, but the use of crushed peanuts and sautéed green onions showed attention to detail. I definitely needed extra rice with this. I vowed to try all the other ramen options next time. On a different day, I tried the famous meat miso ramen. It's cheap, only 600 yen with change left over. There was a decent amount of minced meat in it. However, taste preferences may vary. The ramen had minced meat on top, with sautéed onions and a good mix. But the flavor was surprisingly sweet, which may not be for everyone. Some people might love it and want to eat it every day, but if you're not a fan of sweet carbs, you might feel differently.