Restaurant Reviews

Food Trips Around Odate

Deskwarming season seems to be tiring, boring, and unfulfilling but for me it’s an opportunity to explore Odate’s gastronomical delights. When you hear “Odate City”, it’s usually synonymous with the Akita Dog Visitor Center, Hachiko (he was born here), and magewappa. To be honest, I thought that was all until I had food adventures with my supervisor and friends in these restaurants.

茶色の小びん

Also called “Gomen”, this restaurant actually has one of the best noodles and softest chashus I’ve ever had. I always pass by this restaurant on my way to the office and I thought this red brick shop must be closed or abandoned. Turns out, they’re only open for lunch and serve ramen, coffee, and cake. They also have a good selection of manga so you can read a few novels while waiting for your order. My personal favorite is the tonkotsu tsukemen. It used to be a seasonal offering but people loved it so much that they included it in their menu. The broth is not so overpowering and the noodles have a hint of sesame oil. You can choose the servALLY TY

ing size that you want and add a couple more slices of chashu. Best. Tsukemen. Ever.

レストランいずみ

This restaurant is attached to a nursing home and is run by PWDs. They make their own edamame tofu (the texture is amazing) and they won the Kiritanpo Grand Prix (2018 and 2019), meaning they have really tasty kiritanpo nabe. Each set meal is good for 2 people and it comes with an appetizer, side dish, and dessert. Their mapo tofu is really spicy and filling and the yakitori chicken rice bowl satisfies that salty and savory yakitori craving. If you feel adventurous, you can try the kiritanpo ramen here, too. Complimentary coffee is available but you have to come here early as people usually start coming from 11:30am.

FOOD TRIPS AROUND ODATE

酉や喜兵衛 大館店

“This place has the best chicken!” said my supervisor. And yes, she was absolutely correct. I never thought I could love chicken so much until I tried their chicken wings. It’s not your usual chicken as the breading is light and crispy, and the sauce is the perfect combination of black pepper, soy sauce, and umami flavor. They serve it on a bed of cabbage so you can still eat the cabbage with that delectable sauce. As this is an izakaya, their lychee highballs and 生ビ ール are best paired with sticks of yakitori (around ¥120200 each).

藍亭 大館店

For people who love spicy food, this is the place for you. You can choose your stamina ramen’s spice level according to these levels: fireworks (half spicy), dynamite (level 1), bomb (level 2), atomic bomb (level 3), hydrogen bomb (level 4),

hell (level 5), 5 times hell (level 10), and 10 times hell (level 15). When I eat ramen, I usually add pepper or chili oil but for Rantei, there’s no need to add anything. The garlicky broth with fluffy scrambled egg, leeks, bamboo shoots, carrots, pork, and bell peppers are enough to hug your spice-loving soul.

ＢＡＲＧＲＥＥＮＷＯＯＤ

This hole-in-the-wall bar has one of the most extensive liquor shelves in Odate. Upon entering the establishment that gives off some Great Gatsby vibes, you find yourself in the company of a friendly bartender dressed to impress. Another server accompanies him and takes your order. I highly recommend their Irish coffee (¥1650, including sit down fee) as you’re in for a treat when you watch how they make it. It’s quite a show! Honestly, if it was possible to order a cup of fresh cream, I would do it.

I found out about this restaurant from my supervisor. During lunch, we would always ask each other where our tummies felt like eating. We were craving for Chinese food so we ended up in this casual eatery in the house garage of a cute old couple. The chef looked stylish as he wore round glasses and a beret. What caught my attention was their kitchen - it was spacious and resembled a proper Chinese restaurant kitchen. There were big steel tables, woks, and a prep table filled with chopped vegetables. Their fried rice and lunch sets were nothing

樽八

FOOD TRIPS AROUND ODATE but amazing. The rice and sauce were enough to feed two people and they didn’t scrimp on the ingredients.

Tofu lovers, rejoice! This shop has everything soy - soy milk, soy bread, soybean curds, and even soy milk ice cream! For ¥280 you’ll taste one of the creamiest soft serves (they have vanilla, too) and will wish that you’ll have another one. They also have edamames and kiritanpo nabe, so it’s worth visiting for lunch if you ever end up in Odate. Moreover, if you visit this tofu shop often, the staff might recognize you and you end up gaining a friend.

産直処さんのう

These are just a few of the hidden gems in Odate. I’m pretty sure there are more restaurants worth visiting all over Akita that redefine what you know about Japanese food. Until then, let’s go to eat!