Hokkaido Food
Spent some time in Hokkaido traveling by Hokkaido JR to relax, enjoy the sights and scoff down some good food!
First up is some piping hot ramen. Hokkaido is also popular for its variety of ramen - not too sure why but it could be because its covered in snow for nearly half of the year and there is nothing better than a bowl O ramen to warm one up.
Some ramen comes with a small bowl of sesame - you can either take em home and grow more sesame or grind up and sprinkle over the ramen.
Mamamia. I'm writing this pre-dinner time and I'm starving!
Corn and butter is a popular topping for ramen - many (but not all) ramen places offer it as a side topping that usually costs 100 yen each.
If you want these extra toppings you would say:-
Corn O Kudasai
Battar O Kudasai
If you want these extra toppings you would say:-
Corn O Kudasai
Battar O Kudasai
The term Kanshoku is used to refer to when you completely devour a meal and leave nothing but the utensils remaining. As tips are not a custom in Japan, if you really enjoyed your meal and service then finish up all your grub - it will make the restaurant owner happy.
One of the things I love about Japan - tipping is not part of Japanese culture. Most Japanese folk work diligently for what they are paid by the hour and are not motivated by tips but genuinely want to provide you good service.
Its not as if the folks over here are paid buckets of gold either. Part time work in a restaurant fetches between 800 yen - 1200 yen-ish.
When I first came to Japan I tried to leave tips but only to have it given back to me!
Its not as if the folks over here are paid buckets of gold either. Part time work in a restaurant fetches between 800 yen - 1200 yen-ish.
When I first came to Japan I tried to leave tips but only to have it given back to me!
Are tips the norm in your neck of the woods and if so how much do you generally leave?
Lots of good seafood to be had in Hokkaido too.
And in between meals you can always pick up melons - how does two for 500000 yen sound? No I didn't add an extra two zeros by accident ^^;
If 500000 yen sounds a wee bit pricey then how about a more reasonable 8800 yen for a box of 5?
Eating a load of potatoes gives us wind but eating this Tornado Potato will give you enough fart power to set fire to a nearby tree.
Tornado Potatoes are special because they are fried in motor oil?!
Absolutely yummy - deep fried and sprinkled with black pepper.
Hokkaido is also the island of crabs - very yummy and cheap too.
Not all places serve butter by default but if you want some then just ask - and you remember how to ask for butter right?
And if you don't like getting your hands oily then how about some deep fried baby crabs - you get to munch the whole thing including their crispy insides too.
If you like your food fresher than fresh, how about some Sea Urchin or "Uni" .
The Sea Urchin is so fresh that its taken out of the tank just before you order - you can still see it moving about when its cracked open.
"Nama" means "live" or "fresh".
"ChiChi" can mean "milk" or "breasts".
"ChiChi" can mean "milk" or "breasts".
Please make a sentence with your newly learned Japanese words.
Right, I'm starved after writing this post so am going to leave you to wander around Hokkaido to enjoy the food.
