Located in an alley off the main arcade in Obihiro, Shunkarou Hirokojiten serves Chinese cuisine made with ingredients from Hokkaido. From familiar dishes like chili shrimp and fried rice to new, punchy dishes, the Chinese course menu is full of ingenuity and has captivated many customers.

Eh! Is this it? I was excited when I first came to the store.

At Shunkaro Hirokoji Branch, you can enjoy a Chinese course meal unique to Hokkaido that incorporates seasonal ingredients from Tokachi, and they offer two courses, 5,500 yen and 11,000 yen (both including tax). The number of dishes and ingredients vary depending on the course, and you can enjoy unique Chinese dishes such as "Oyster Namero" and "Venison Tortilla" that you might not know what dish they are at first glance.

"Venison tortilla" with the aroma of five-spice powder

The menu changes slightly with the seasons. There is something new to discover every time you visit, so it's a fun place to visit no matter how many times you visit. There are four seats at the counter and three tables that seat four people. The size of the restaurant is not too large, so it's also relaxing. By the way, when you visit for the first time, you may be worried about the location of the restaurant and wonder if you are really in the right place, but don't worry. The fact that it's a little further back makes it feel like a hideaway, which is also appealing. They also open a la carte on occasion, so if you're interested, be sure to check their Instagram regularly.

A stylish and cozy interior with blue walls

Chef Suzuki, who is fondly nicknamed "Sue-san", creates Chinese cuisine that captivates everyone. He is usually shy and doesn't have an open kitchen, so he doesn't come out much, but he has a kind personality and will smile when your eyes meet. Su-san is a genuine Chinese chef, having worked at a hotel affiliated with the Yokarou chain in Yokohama Chinatown, Yokarou Shinkan in Chinatown for five years, and Chinese Timber in Tokyo for three years. At the age of 29, he returned to Obihiro and started his own restaurant, Shunkarou Chuo Branch, and is currently showing off his skills at the relocated Shunkarou Hirokoji Branch.

Chicken liver char siu

Squid and Daikon Mochi Caviar Amaranth

Spear squid appetizer

Cold shrimp dish wrapped in shredded kelp

"Chili Shrimp" - a hearty and rich dish

Deep fried shark fin with hot sauce

It's a great place to bring anyone for anniversaries or dinner parties, but it's especially recommended for those who want to enjoy a leisurely meal with people from outside Hokkaido who are visiting Tokachi. They use a lot of ingredients that are typical of Hokkaido, such as "Koi" cheese from "Shiawase Cheese Factory" and Apoi pork from Samani Town, making it the perfect place to savor the richness of Tokachi's ingredients.

The cutlery made by the artist is also wonderful

This is also a must-visit restaurant for wine lovers, and Hokkaido natural wines such as Aizawa Farm's "Ryunosuke" and Chiba Vineyard's "Hinode Danke" are available by the bottle. Enjoy Hokkaido through both food and wine. As you progress through the course meal, you'll fall in love with Tokachi even more...!

A full lineup including Hokkaido natural wines

Also, be sure to try the almond jelly, which can be added for an additional 300 yen. The soft almond jelly is placed behind the almond mousse topped with jasmine jam. It's very filling, but also melts in your mouth so easily that you'll eat it all in one go. This restaurant is delicious and will leave you feeling happy, even at the end of the meal, with dessert.

Surprisingly, Sue's father is also a Chinese chef. In fact, there are two stores in Obihiro, "Shunkaro" and "Shunkaro Hirokoji Branch", but the other "Shunkaro" is a local Chinese restaurant run by her father. In addition to the lineup of "this is the fried rice and this is the ramen" that are synonymous with local Chinese restaurants, there is a wide range of special dishes such as "medicinal ramen" and "samgyetang".

It's a real treat to be able to enjoy Chinese cuisine passed down from two generations in Obihiro! Be sure to also visit "Shunkarou," run by the father, who is the root of the restaurant.

Shunkarou Hirokoji branch

■Address: 3-3 Nishi 1-jo Minami 9-chome, Obihiro City, Hokkaido ■ Business hours: 18:00-22:00 ■Closed on: Sundays Click here for details and map information for "Shunkaro Hirokoji Branch"