Hokkaido Style Dinner @ Hokkaido Shokuichi, Yurakucho, Tokyo

 

Not many of you guys know this, but my first experience traveling in Japan was back in 2013 with my family on a guided tour in Hokkaido. At the time my language ability was almost zero and we had a very patient tour guide who was our translator from time to time. It was a fun experience, and I hope to revisit that, especially now with the language barrier not being such a hindrance. Be that as it may, I have my day job. Fortunately enough during one of my few work trips to Tokyo, a friend of mine brought me to a Hokkaido-style izakaya in Yurakucho. Thanks for the recommendation Yumu, you are a legend. 

Doorway to paradise?

Yuraku-Yokocho is a unique take on the izakaya-style dining experience. Rather than having one format or one menu, it actually houses various izakaya-style eateries and each has its own special take, similar to a food court. Maybe a boozy food court will be the best way in taking not of this. The izakayas range from beef-only bars, Okinawa-style dining, and of course food from up north. Having such a good variety of treats and drinks, trust me, there will be more than this post when it comes to this place. But first in like was Hokkaido Shokuichi, which is located directly in front of the entrance. 

Golden

The first thing we got was the cheesy winged gyoza. Oh yes! It is as heavenly as it sounds. Imagine a fried dumpling, with a cheesy crust akin to a pizza. But better! The crispy cheesy wings add not just flavour but more texture to the already delicious dumplings. It was very greasy as well. But then again, it is a fried dumpling dish with cheese. It is not meant to be healthy at the first place. This very sinful delight was about 650 yen. 

Crunchy!

In terms of chicken dishes, we had a plate of zangi chicken, which is a type of fried chicken usually only available in Hokkaido. It may be confused with the more popular and commonly found karaage chicken. There is a difference though, as the chicken usually is cooked in a batter, while karaage is usually dredged with the seasoned flour that will be its crispy shell. With that it invokes a more interesting bite and a very distinctive crunch. And it was hell crunchy! The chicken was also marinated in a soy-based seasoning beforehand, giving it a great savoury punch. This was extremely enjoyable and the plate of 5 pieces stood at a modest 599 yen. 

Sashimi game on point!

Next came a plate of mixed sashimi, where according to the staff, were a choice selection flown in from Hokkaido. They were pretty outstanding. Although it was the basic lean tuna, lean mackerel, and sweet shrimp, the freshness felt like it was bursting in my mouth. The sweetness was subtle and lingering, and the supple texture of the fresh seafood had a great bite to it. It was just unfortunate I have forgotten how much this was but I guess it is in the 1000+ yen range. 

Night cap anyone? 

We also had a taste of some of the nihonshu that was in rotation. There is no other beverage that could pair up with the ensemble that we had. As the selection does change from time to time, do ask the waiter what they have once you settle down in your seat. Price ranges from 600-1500 yen for a serving for 2 people. In case you are wondering, the recommended sake for today was the Night Dragon, which stood at a modest 999 yen for 2 people. 

Such a great atmosphere. 

This was an absolute blast. Never thought I would have tried northern cuisine in the middle of the capital, but here I am. It should be noted that Hokkaido Shokuichi and also Yuraku-Yokocho in general, are under a Yokocho Lover network of restaurants. As such, they have branches in other parts of Tokyo as well, Miyashita Park in Shibuya is another prominent spot worth trying. However, the ambience of the Yurakucho area is unrivalled. So if you would like to visit this amazing spot, then the address is as follows:

2 Chome-1-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0006