Hokkaido is known as the "Kingdom of Beans" and boasts the largest cultivation area of various beans in Japan. However, there are probably quite a few Hokkaido residents who don't like beans or don't know how to cook them. That's why we want you to know about a restaurant called "Mame Kitchen Maruyama" (hereafter referred to as Mame Kitchen). It may change your perception of beans! Mame Kitchen is a bean specialty restaurant that mainly offers takeout and delivery. It is located in the Maruyama area of Chuo Ward, Sapporo, and its cute exterior will overturn your image of beans. The owner, Madoka Taniguchi, is also a registered dietitian. Her experience promoting beans in Honbetsu, known as the "number one bean town in Japan," led her to open Mame Kitchen so that people could enjoy bean dishes more easily and consistently. Mame Kitchen serves a variety of bean dishes, but what really catches your eye are the smoothies! It's quite surprising that beans can be transformed into a smoothie.

(Photo courtesy of Mame Kitchen Maruyama)

Apparently, when Taniguchi was preparing to open the shop, he tried out all kinds of bean dishes and posted them on social media, and it was his smoothies that were particularly popular with his followers. He matches all kinds of fruits with beans, and sells the best combinations as smoothies. Each cup contains a whopping 50g of beans! It's nutritious, filling, and delicious... killing three birds with one stone.

(Photo provided by Mame Kitchen Maruyama)

A popular breakfast and lunch item is a set of bean rice balls and miso soup with plenty of vegetables. The rice balls are made with Nanatsuboshi rice from Furano, and two different types of Japanese, Western and Chinese rice balls are sold daily. The miso soup is made with different ingredients such as black soybean miso and barley miso, which change daily, and the type of dashi also changes accordingly. It's delicious, and you can tell your body is happy just by eating it.

(Photo courtesy of Mame Kitchen Maruyama)

(Photo courtesy of Mame Kitchen Maruyama)

Well, when it comes to Western-style bean dishes, many people probably think of chili beans. At Mame Kitchen, you can choose between minced pork or soy meat, and between bread and rice. Depending on your mood that day, you might want to try both. By the way, although it's mainly a takeaway, there is also a small eat-in space inside the store. Once you try it, you'll be amazed at how delicious beans are. Both the bean smoothie and bean rice balls have been very well received, and it's no wonder the number of repeat customers is increasing. You can check out the daily menu, which includes rice balls and miso soup, on the shop's Instagram and Facebook, so be sure to check it out and visit. It'll change your perception of beans! <Mame Kitchen Maruyama> Location: 1-1 Kita 2-jo Nishi 25-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido Phone: 011-838-8640 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MameKitchenMaruyama/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mamekitchen_maruyama/ <Thumbnail photo provided by> Mame Kitchen Maruyama