Eat your way around Obihiro! Time-efficient gourmet food that can only be eaten here

Hatsumi Ito
A gourmet blogger who eats and drinks at more than 400 restaurants a year. She posts gourmet information on various SNS accounts, mainly X (@hatsu823).
Host of the online salon "Tokyo Gourmet Salon" limited to 140 people. "Gourmet is communication" is her life theme.

*Prices include tax.

Soba Restaurant Marufuku Main Branch: A long-established restaurant beloved for its traditional Tokachi flavors and service

Hokkaido is also famous for its soba noodles, and you can enjoy delicious soba noodles in Obihiro.

Founded in 1920, Soba Restaurant Marufuku Main Branch is a famous restaurant in Obihiro City that boasts a long history and tradition and is loved by locals. Since its establishment, it has attracted many soba fans with its unchanging deliciousness.

Once you step through the colorful noren curtain and into the restaurant, you'll find a relaxing and calming Japanese space. There are tables and a raised area at the counter surrounding the hearth, where a wide range of customers, from individuals to families, can enjoy soba.

"Soba miso" has a fragrant aroma and a rich flavor, and has an excellent balance of sweetness and slight bitterness, making it a perfect match for sake. The way to eat it is to enjoy it bit by bit with chopsticks.

The specialty "Cold Kashiwa (1,080 yen)" and "Fried egg rice (230 yen)" have arrived. This popular soba has a deep, rich broth with the delicious flavor of chicken.

Five large pieces of chicken are placed on top of the soba noodles, and green onions add a colorful topping. The fat from the meat melts into the delicate, slightly sweet broth, spreading a deep, rich flavor and aroma.

The moist and tender chicken has just the right amount of fat and melts in your mouth. The soba noodles, made with buckwheat flour from Hokkaido, are characterized by their rich flavor and chewy texture. The moist texture of the chicken and the smooth texture of the cold soba noodles create an excellent balance.

"Agedama Gohan (230 yen)" uses fried tempura bits, an indispensable topping for soba. It is a simple dish of warm rice topped with plenty of crispy fried tempura bits and dashi broth. The crispy texture is so delicious that you will not be able to stop eating it.

"Soba Sushi (600 yen)" is one of Japan's traditional dishes. Beautifully wrapped in nori seaweed, the soba noodles have a rich aroma and a smooth texture that will give you a new experience.

When you visit Obihiro, be sure to enjoy traditional flavors in the relaxed atmosphere of this long-established restaurant.

Soba restaurant Marufuku main store

"Nighttime Soup Curry Shop" - Enjoy your own soup curry and taste the whole of Tokachi

Soup curry is one of the food cultures that symbolizes Hokkaido. This dish, which combines the aroma of spices and a variety of ingredients, is popular with both locals and tourists alike.

"Nighttime Soup Curry Shop" is conveniently located just 3 minutes from Obihiro Station. As the name suggests, it is open until late at night, so you can feel safe visiting even late at night.

The interior of the restaurant has a bar-like atmosphere, with counter seats with a warm wooden feel on the first floor and spacious table seats on the second floor. Jazz music plays, allowing you to relax and enjoy the leisurely pace of the time.

This restaurant serves soup curry made with plenty of fresh, locally grown vegetables and meat. In addition to colorful vegetables, the curry is made with a wide variety of ingredients, including chicken, pork, and seafood, making it the ultimate treat that lets you experience the full flavor of Hokkaido.

The menu offers 12 types of dishes, including the popular "Juicy Chicken (1,280 yen)" and the hearty "Hokkaido Beef Tongue (1,680 yen)."
You can choose from two bases: the "original soup" made with 20 different spices, or the "tomato base soup" which has a light, acidic taste. Finally, you can choose the spiciness from 10 levels to customize your curry to your liking.

While you're waiting for your curry, you'll want to try the "Juicy Fried Chicken (780 yen)." The fried chicken feels heavy when you pick it up with your chopsticks, with a crispy batter and juicy meat inside, and a slight saltiness that goes perfectly with beer.

"Tokachi Plenty of Vegetables (1,480 yen)" lets you taste all the vegetables of Tokachi. I ordered it at "Spicy Level 4" for mild umami. It's packed with vegetables such as eggplant, broccoli, pumpkin, carrots, peppers, potatoes, and okra, as well as plenty of mushrooms such as shimeji mushrooms, maitake mushrooms, and mushrooms!

The fragrant curry is made with an exquisite blend of spices, and goes well with rice, giving you a refreshing taste with every bite. The spices have a slight aftertaste that leaves you with an addictive taste, and the pleasant aroma lingers in your nose.

The large, chunky vegetables are colorful and filling. Just looking at them is exciting. There are many different ingredients, so you won't get bored of eating them, and they're full of vegetables, so you'll be full and satisfied without feeling guilty.

Be sure to try this soup curry, which uses local Hokkaido ingredients to warm your body and soul and invigorate you.

Soup curry restaurant at night