Japanese-style restaurant to stop by on the Asahiyama Zoo Street

Ajidokoro Utsumi

Ajidokoro Utsumi is located at doubutsuen doori (zoo street) Toyooka 14-jō 5-chōme.
Next to the entrance of the restaurant, there is a red and white signboard on which we can read that tuna sashimi set, salmon on rice and few other meals are at 650¥.

But we want you to look at the black poster on the left, where « Recommended by Utsumi!! Daily lunch only at 500¥ (coffee included) » is written. As 500¥ (tax excluded) is really cheap and since this poster can only be found on the outside of the restaurant, be sure to not overlook it!

You can discover the full menu by your seat where the recommended menu, the 650¥ menu and the regular menu are. The menu is so wide that we don’t know what to order anymore !

After hesitating for a long time, we eventually ordered the 500¥, daily lunch.
In addition to the grilled fish, side dishes and pickled daikon radish (white radish) were also included, making the 500¥ lunch a really good deal.

The meal was strongly flavoured and salty, perfect in summer to replenish the salt lost in sweat.

Restaurant Name: Ajidokoro Utsumi
Address: Asahikawa-shi Toyooka 14-jō 5-chōme 7 - 1
Telephone: 0166-32-1414
Business hours: 11:00 to 22:00
Holidays: no regulars holidays
Parking: yes

The Izakaya Tenkin, the East Branch

An izakaya is a Japanese restaurant/bar that serves alcoholic drink.
Since I heard that the long-established izakaya from Asahikawa, Tenkin, opened a branch on the Zoo Street, I've always wanted to eat there but as the parking lot is always full at lunch time I wasn’t able to.
But fear not! After waiting patiently, I finally found a vacant spot on the parking lot.
Higashiasahikawa 1-jō 2-chōme is where the East branch of the izakaya « Tenkin » is.

This is the menu with recommended set meals for lunch.
There is also reasonably priced noodles and meat dishes for heavy eaters but since we’re in an izakaya, I would like to eat some fish.

I ordered a gorgeous looking sashimi plate for 1,000¥. Every single piece of sashimi and side dishes were gorgeous and in a great quantity.
But since the rice bowl was very refined but not so big, I got myself a rice refill.

The miso soup refill was free and a drink was included with the set. When I went, I wondered if the waiter had forgotten about it because no matter how long I waited, my drink didn’t come until I told the waiter. It may be good to ask the waiter for your drink if you think that you’ve been forgotten.

Restaurant Name: Izakaya Tenkin Higashi shiten
Address: Asahikawa-shi Higashiasahikawa 1-jō 2-chōme 1 - 23
Telephone: 0166-73-8851
Business hours: 11:00 to 14:00 and 17:00 to 23:00
Holidays: every Wednesday
Parking: yes

Onoki

Another restaurant to not overlook on the Zoo Street is this chicken restaurant « Onoki ».
Built in 1922, this restaurant is standing strong at Higashiasahikawa Kita 1-jō 6-chōme.

Limited to only 20 servings per day during the weekdays, « special lunch » is well-liked but the « Chidori fried chicken set » is the most popular and the restaurant signature dish.

The « Chidori fried chicken set » is at 950¥ (tax excluded) and is composed of 4 huge deep-fried chicken.
A delicious nameko mushroom miso soup is included.

And when you’re finished, you get your dessert, a black sesame pudding, and a cup of coffee.
All of that for just over 1,000¥.

Before you leave, an assortment of fried shinko (young fish) and Chidori fried chicken can be bought as a souvenir for your family and friends... Or for yourself, to eat with some alcohol.

Restaurant Name: Onoki
Address: Asahikawa-shi Higashiasahikawa Kita 1-jō 6-chōme 10 - 27
Telephone: 0166-36-1146
Business hours: 11:00 to 18:00 during the weekdays and 11:00 to 20:30 during the weekend
Holidays: every Tuesday and the 3rd Monday the month.
Parking: yes

Conclusion

Until now we’ve presented you 3 ramen shops, 3 soba restaurants, and 3 cafes.
If you’re going to visit the zoo, how about stopping by a restaurant on the Zoo Street to eat something ?