Must-try foods in Aomori! 6 traditional, long-established and new gourmet foods

40 years in the business! Gentle chef makes local cuisine with gentle flavors at "Rokubei"

A five-minute walk from Aomori Station, you'll find Rokubei, a long-established bar in an arcade street. Look for the large sign that says "Barrel Sake and Shellfish Grill" to get there.

A long-established bar that was founded in 1979. When you pass through the rope curtain, you will see Nebuta decorations that give off a real Aomori vibe! The entrance is at the end of a flight of stairs leading to the basement.

The restaurant has about 20 seats, including counter seating and a tatami room. On the day we visited, it was very busy, and it was clear why it is loved by locals.
The chef, who greets you with a kind smile from across the counter, is a veteran who has been in the business for over 40 years since he was 31 years old.

Fresh seafood such as large scallops and salmon are lined up in front of us, and my heart is filled with excitement...! First, I pick up the appetizer of "whelk" with a toothpick and pick it up while toasting with "Denshu" (1 cup, 700 yen including tax).

The popular dish "Taratama" (450 yen including tax) has been featured on TV. This simple dish is made by serving dried cod with raw egg and accenting it with sesame oil. The cod becomes soft and tender after absorbing the egg, and the saltiness of the cod and the fragrant flavor of the sesame oil make this the perfect snack to steal your sake.

The signature dish "Tsugaru Taste Scallop Miso" (500 yen including tax) is a must-try! This specialty dish is served in a large real scallop shell, with ingredients such as scallop adductor muscle and green onions, seasoned with miso, and finally topped with a fluffy egg. The strong flavor of the shellfish is irresistible, as is the egg.

"Hakkoda Mountain Bamboo Shoot Grill" (500 yen including tax). Although it is called bamboo shoot, the bamboo shoots eaten here in Aomori are called "nemagaritake" and are characterized by being longer and smaller than regular bamboo shoots. When I was busy peeling them, the chef came right in front of me to help me, saying "This is how you do it!" (laughs). It has a crunchy texture and a slight sweetness, and is delicious.

Don't forget to finish off your meal with the "onigiri" (rice balls) (250 yen including tax) that the chef will grill right in front of you. The rice balls are coated with miso and grilled until fragrant, and inside they are a surprise: masuko pickled in soy sauce! It's amazing that you can eat such luxurious onigiri at this price.

"It tastes gentle because it's made by a gentle person," says the chef with a smile. This is probably proof that the chef's personality is loved by the locals. This is a long-established bar that will make you feel nostalgic and warm, so be sure to visit it at least once.

Rokubei

Perfect for SNS! Taiwanese street food with authentic taste "Panda Peng Peng"

A Taiwanese restaurant that opened in April 2022, just a three-minute walk from Aomori Station, is becoming a hot topic.

The shop's name is pronounced "Panda Pompon," and is a fun, easy-to-remember name that is inspired by the cute panda character. It's certainly a name that makes you want to sing along!

When you enter the store, you'll feel as if you're in a Taiwanese market, which is exciting. The interior is modeled after a Taiwanese food stall, and the colorful accessories are very cute! You'll want to take pictures without even thinking about it.

After ordering your food at the counter at the entrance, you can sit at a table and wait for it to be prepared.
There are neon panda signs on the walls too, and no matter where you look inside the store it's just so cute!

You can take your own drinks from the refrigerator. After a toast with a "Taiwan Beer" (660 yen including tax), you can enjoy the most popular Taiwanese street food, "Lu Rou Fan" (770 yen including tax). The generous amount of meat and the unique spicy aroma will whet your appetite!

The meat is slowly stewed over a long period of time, so it is soft and melts in your mouth as soon as you eat it. The rich flavor of soy sauce and spices is perfectly balanced, and it goes great with rice. It also goes well with beer.

This is the "Salty Soy Milk with Chinese Fried Bread" (550 yen including tax), which is a popular breakfast in Taiwan. It comes with a large Chinese fried bread set in warm soy milk soup, and looks like it will be quite filling!

Although it is called soup, it is not a smooth liquid, but has a gentle texture like soft and jiggly tofu. The fragrant flavor of the shrimp and the gentle taste of soy milk will seep into your body...!

Chinese fried bread has a crispy exterior and a fluffy, light texture. When you dip it in soup, the salty soy milk soaks into it, giving it a moist texture. The mild soup and filling fried bread are very satisfying. It's perfect for breakfast, or a healthy lunch.

Come enjoy authentic Taiwanese cuisine in a striking Taiwanese street food-stall style restaurant!

Panda Pompon