Sapporo | Sushi Zanmai (すしざんまい)

5th July 2013.
Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.
Here in Singapore, we have Itacho Sushi, but in Japan, there is Sushi Zanmai where you can get sushi at an affordable price. Sushi Zanmai’s outlet in Sapporo is located in Susukino, near the Nikka Building and the station itself.

Here are Sushi Zanmai you could order just about any kind of sushi from the usual classics like tuna, mackerel, sweet prawn and scallop to more exotic items like squilla and abalone nigiri sushi.

It is my first time trying Squilla also known as shako in Japanese. It is a kind of mantis shrimp and tasted really good, like a meatier version of the ebi and comes served with some sweet sauce drizzled on it.

Along with the squilla, we also had an assortment of sushi such as Aji (Horse Mackerel) and Saba (Mackerel), most of them costing 148 – 400+ Yen each.  Overall, I had an enjoyable meal with my Japanese friends whom I met during my exchange in Korea.

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Sushi Zanmai (Susukino)

すしざんまい すすきの店

〒064-0804

北海道札幌市

中央区南４条西3-9　北星ビル1F

Sushizanmai Susukino-ten

Hokusei bldg1F 9 Minami4jyounishi 1

Tyuou-ku sapporo-city hokkaidou 047-0027

Sapporo | Asahi Beer Community Hall Yoyotei

5th July 2013

Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan

When you think of Asahi, you probably think of Japanese beers but they also have restaurants named Asahi Beer Community Halls around Japan. It is not so much about drinking beer at these restaurants but more of eating meat either by grill or shabu shabu. Our dinner on the first day with the Chan Brothers’ Hokkaido Passion tour was at the Asahi Beer Community Hall Yōyōtei (アサヒビール園 羊々亭) at in the Susukino district of Sapporo, just opposite the iconic Nikka Building.

The thinly sliced pork slices here are really tender and doesn’t have any of that strong “meaty” aftertaste. It is best enjoyed with vegetables and condiments such as their goma or ponzu sauce. Dinner’s not bad in short.

Outside, political parties are trying to pull some votes for the 2013 Upper House Elections.

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Asahi Beer Community Hall Yoyotei

アサヒビール園羊々亭

松岡ビル5F, 4 Chome Minami 4 Jonishi, 

Chuo Ward, Sapporo

Hokkaido Prefecture 064-0804

Japan

Otaru Seaport | 小樽シーポートマーケット

5th July 2013.

Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan.

My first meal on the Hokkaido Passion tour with Chan Brothers was at Otaru Seaport (小樽シーポートマーケット) , a restaurant cum market specializes in seafood. The Chanko Nabe Ozeki or Seafood Nabe  was average at best. The seafood which includes king crab and salmon were obviously frozen but the soup was passable. The furikake for the rice wasn’t good because it reeks of MSG. Our tour guide was honest about the food though. In the tour some of the other members purchased more ingredients such as fresh king crabs downstairs. You must be willing to fork out some 20000-40000 JPY for one though.

Otaru Seaport
小樽シーポートマーケット

Back to Dezato

14th August 2013.
A couple of weeks ago, I visited Marina East where the public golf course is for a site visit. It is kind of amazing that all these lands beyond Tanjong Rhu used to be part of the sea only about 30-40 years ago and Tanjong Rhu used to be like the clan jetties in Penang with various shipyards up till the 1990s. Today, one probably wouldn’t know until you do a search of Tanjong Rhu on PICAS.

I walked from Marina East gardens, dropping by the public golf course then walked to Marina Bay Sands and the Gardens by the Bay via the Marina Barrage.

Saw some kids on an excursion at Marina Barrage.

The site visit ended earlier (partly because of the heavy downpour) and it was about lunch time so I decided to drop by an old favourite, Dezato at Boat Quay. The sad thing is the prices here are no longer nett prices and consistency had been an issue during previous visits.



Fortunately, my special lunch set of Gyuniku Tendon pretty good, the tempura was just nice. The ebi tempura for example was succulent with a light crispy batter seasoned with tempura sauce. The beef slices were tasty too. The whole lunch set cost about 17.50 after taxes.

Dezato Desserts and Dining

20 Lorong Telok

Singapore 049032