Dadan (RESTAURANT REVIEW)

After recommendations from locals to visit this restaurant, a few friends and I headed to Dadan to eat and drink whilst listening to a traditional shamisen performance. There are usually two perfomances per night at 7pm and 9pm, but unfortunately due to a player's absence on the evening of our visit, the latter was cancelled. 

The interior of the restaurant is rustic and homely, with floor seating arranged around a small wooden stage and bar seating readily available. We ordered kimchi nabe, a Korean soup served in a large pot full of vegetables and seafood, perfect to share after coming in from the cold. Although not entirely authentic, it was undeniably delicious. Our second dish was the traditional Tsugaru speciality Kaiyaki Miso - seafood in an egg sauce with spring onions - and was much more in keeping with the feel of the restaurant and by far the highlight of the meal; highly recommended.

Dadan is a great local izakaya serving great local food, with the added bonus of authentic traditional Japanese music.

Definitely warrants another visit.

The Skinny: A traditional restaurant with a modern spin that serves great local food
Opening Hours: 11:00 - 14.00, 17.30 - 22.00

Shamisen Performance Times: 19:00 & 21:00

Map: click here

Website: http://www1.ocn.ne.jp/~dadan/ (Japanese)

Lion (RESTAURANT REVIEW)

Looking for dinner and an onsen experience?  Or maybe just dinner?  Lion (Mori no Resutoran Raian/森のレストラン・ライアン) is just the place for you!

I had heard about this restaurant as being good from quite a few Japanese acquaintances, and last night decided to finally try it out.  The restaurant itself is cool on the inside, with wood-paneling on the walls and a hearth in the center of the dining space, which gives the restaurant a winter lodge sort of feel.  The food itself is a good mix of Japanese and Western food, with everything from pasta and hambaagu (a bun-less hamburger usually covered in sauce, also the picture to the right) to different Japanese sets that are updated frequently to include seasonal produce.  I planned on getting the seasonal set (the taste of Tsugaru), but ended up switching to hanbaagu, which was under 1000 yen.  It was delicious!

As the restaurant is part of Chikyuumura (World`s Village・地球村）, there is an onsen and camping grounds around the place.  While I did not check out the onsen, it was packed, so it must be a good one.

The Skinny:  Good food with a fun winter-lodge-like atmosphere

Name: Mori no Resutoran Raian （森のレストラン・ライアン）

Hours of Operation: 10:00～21:00

Prices: 800～4000 yen                                 

Phone Number: 0173-26-3007

Address:    青森県つがる市森田町床舞藤山244

                 Aomori-ken, Tsugaru-shi, Morita-machi, Tokomai Fujiyama, 244

Map with Directions from Jusco/Aeon Mall: <click here>

Oban Ramen Shop (Restaurant Review)

To continue with the theme of ramen shop reviews, today I had the chance to go to another!  I was told that this was one of go-to shops in Tsugaru.  I thought it had good soy sauce (shouyu) ramen.  Ask for the shouyu ramen (soy sauce ramen) or the tamago ramen (egg ramen).

The Skinny:  Hole-in-the-wall, good ramen

Name: Oban （大番）

Hours of Operation: 11:00～

English menu: No 

Prices: 600～900 yen                                                                  

Phone Number: 0173-42-2345

Address:    青森県 つがる市木造若竹6-1

                 Aomori-ken, Tsugaru-shi, Mokuzou Jaku Take 6-1

Map with Directions from Jusco/Aeon Mall:<click here>

 

 

Takeya Ramen Shop (RESTAURANT REVIEW)

Tsukemono (Pickles) and Thick Miso Ramen (Koku Miso Ramen)

Takeya is the best ramen that I have had so far in Tsugaru.  While I have heard rumors of a better place, this is a must-go for anyone living near Tsugaru or Goshogawara.  And, located 5 minutes from Aeon mall, it has a great, easy-to-get-to location.

Takeya prides itself especially on its miso ramen, and I definitely recommend it, too.  My favorite is the thick miso ramen (koku miso ramen/濃く味噌ラーメン).  If you want more meat (pork), get the "extra meat" thick miso ramen (chaashuu koku miso ramen/（チャーシュー濃く味噌ラーメン）.

Unfortunately, there isn't an English menu, so write down what you want ahead of time.

Also, at the restaurant, you have to get your own water and tsukemono (pickled vegetables), so look for the water machine on the counter near the register.

The Skinny:  Great miso ramen!

Name: Takeya （たけ屋）

Hours of Operation: 11:00 - 20:00 (Closed on Wednesdays)

Prices: Average Price of about 1000 yen.

English menu: No                                                                              

Phone Number: 0173-34-8018

Address:   青森県五所川原市小曲沼田6-13

                 Aomori-ken, Goshogawara-shi, Shoukyoku Numada 6-13

Map with Directions from Jusco/Aeon Mall:

Map with Directions to Takeya Ramen Shop (from Jusco)

Hana Karuko (華かるこ） Restaurant Review

During the day, this restaurant has a Japanese mom-and-pop diner sort of feel, offering friendly service and cheap food.  It`s offerings range from Japanese dishes, such as tonkatsu and zarusoba, to a few Chinese dishes and spaghetti.  The lunch special (日替わりランチ higawari ranchi) is only 580 yen and has two
options.  When I went, I chose miso ramen (see picture).  The ramen was simple but did not blow me away.  There is a bar to sit at individually, as well as small Japanese-style group rooms (see picture).

At night the atmosphere changes into an izakaya, with screened rooms for groups to drink, eat and have a good time.  At night the menu changes, offering a variety of small appetizers (think tapas) from 400 - 700 yen each (sashimi or raw fish, as well as fried foods, etc) to more expensive, hearty nabe (stewed meats and vegetables).

Overall, it`s a relaxed place, with average food and friendly service.

The Skinny:  Good for cheap lunches and relaxed nights

Name: Hana Karuko

Hours of Operation: 11:00 - 14:00 (lunch) and 17:00-23:00 (dinner/izakaya)

Prices: Lunch (580 yen to 900 yen) 

           Dinner (from individual dishes of 400 to heartier,more expensive ones)

English menu: No                                                                              

Phone Number: 0173-42-5565

Address:   〒0383138 青森県つがる市木造若緑５９－１

                 0383138 Aomori-ken Tsugaru-shi Kizukuri Wakamidori 59-1
Map with Directions from Jusco/Aeon Mall:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&ll=40.807833,140.39197&spn=0.015072,0.027766&z=15&msid=115603251667868969246.000494acc66615130c098