Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan｜Umihe Tokeidaimae

This is a more high-end izakaya. The price on Google Maps saying it's less than ¥1000 is probably reflecting on a lunch set menu. For dinner, it will be at least 2-3 ¥ signs, between 2000-4000 a person the minimum. The restaurant entrance is at street level, a set of stairs leading to a basement floor. It has many private room tables and a very deep bar-style table. The lighting is a bit darker than a typical izakaya, and it gives off a more high-end izakaya vibe. I ordered a 6-set of yakitori and a fried "zangi", which is Hokkaido-style fried chicken (karaage). The yakitori was pretty tasty. It had 2 pork skewers, chicken thigh, bonjiri (aka chicken tail), chicken skirt, tsukune (chicken meatball), and welsh onion. They were all marinated in sauce and tasty. It had a miso dip, which I used for both the skewers and the raw cabbage. The fried chicken zangi was the star. Slightly different than karaage in Tokyo and the rest of Japan, it came with a small bit of greens, and a sweet dipping sauce containing some green onions, as well as a lemon wedge. The sauce was light and refreshing, and alongside a splash of lemon, it cut down the oiliness when you dig into the crispy chicken. The sauce didn't make the exterior of the chicken soggy at all, and it was a nice blend of saltiness and sweet with each bite. There was plenty of chicken in one order as well, and by the end I was still craving for more zangi. For those travelling on a budget, this is a bit of a pricier end of izakaya, but the food is quite good nonetheless.

The restuarant is located in B1 across the Sapporo clock tower. The restaurant gets busy later in the evening. Basic English menus are available, but other special item are listed on wooden planks on the wall in japanese. The food is good and the staff are friendly.

Sashimi was so good!! Also try their Hokkaido melon sour!! So good ☺️☺️☺️