Did you know that Coach & Four, a large multi-purpose store with books and miscellaneous goods, has a little-known lunch buffet? For a price in the 2,000 yen range, you can enjoy an all-you-can-eat selection of high-quality, diverse dishes, including their famous "Kushiro Ramen," curry, bread, and sweets. Here's our hands-on report of this hidden gem buffet in a relaxing space!

We visited the "Coach & Four Shinkawa-dori Store" in Shinkawa, Kita-ku, Sapporo. It's a massive superstore with over a million books, CDs/DVDs, stationery, miscellaneous goods, and even food, plus gachapon capsule toy machines and crane games. With its large parking lot, it's a popular weekend destination for families. Inside, the café & restaurant "Interlude" serves meals like pasta and omurice, as well as desserts, but on weekends and holidays, they host a reasonably priced lunch buffet.

A wide-ranging menu covers everything from lunch and tea time to dinner.

The restaurant has an elegant, European-style atmosphere. The sophisticated interior allows you to relax away from the hustle and bustle of the store. The seating is spacious, and with the buffet counter in the middle, the flow of traffic is smooth, preventing congestion. It's nice to be able to see where it's less crowded and grab your food from there.

The walls and ceiling also feature European-style designs, giving it a luxurious, hotel-like feel.

The buffet counter is an island, allowing you to get food from any side.

This lunch buffet is an incredible 2,490 yen per adult (tax included)! The monthly rotating menu of 35 dishes, centered on Western cuisine, primarily features carefully prepared, handmade creations by the chef. With hearty meat dishes, kid-friendly curry and fried foods, and a wide variety of desserts and breads, the menu is designed to satisfy people of all ages and genders.

Appetizers and cold dishes are served in single portions for easy serving.

A lineup of hearty dishes like pasta, mapo tofu, and meat entrees.

At the performance corner, a yellow banner for "Kushiro Ramen" stands out. The head chef personally boils the noodles and serves this special Kushiro ramen fresh. It features a light, niboshi (dried sardine) based soy sauce soup and extra-thin curly noodles delivered weekly from a noodle factory in Kushiro. The gently permeating niboshi broth and low-fat soup cling perfectly to the noodles, creating an exquisite balance. The taste is on par with specialty ramen shops.

"Enjoy it fresh!" they say, making it to order.

The chashu pork topping is also thick-cut. I actually went back for seconds.

I casually tried the curry and was amazed by how delicious it was. The Interlude special beef curry is a classic European-style curry where the sweetness of slow-cooked vegetables and beef has melted into the roux. On this day, there was another option, a Thai-style keema curry, which had a subtle Asian flavor and fruity notes. It's fun to compare the two, but be careful not to eat too much.

With two different types of curry, I couldn't resist trying both.

For those who think a buffet is all about the meat, don't worry. There are plenty of carefully prepared meat dishes like chicken sauté and grilled pork loin. These dishes change monthly, so it's exciting to see what will be served next. There are also Chinese dishes like mapo tofu and fried items that go well with rice. The rice is Hokkaido's own Nanatsuboshi. You'll need to plan the order and portion sizes, or you'll be full in no time. Luckily, there's no time limit, so you can take breaks between plates.

If you aim to try everything, take small portions of each dish. The distinct flavors prevent you from getting bored.

The mapo tofu has a kick for adults. The mouth-watering chicken is tender from sous-vide cooking.

Fried food for those with a big appetite. Today it was bite-sized white fish fries.

The restaurant has an adjoining boulangerie that supplies freshly baked bread. There's a rich variety, including sweet and savory options. Not only is there a toaster to warm your bread, but thoughtful touches like wrapping the baguette sandwiches in plastic to prevent them from drying out are much appreciated. Above all, the dough of every bread is delicious, and I couldn't stop reaching for more.

A diverse selection including croissants, melon pan, anpan, and table rolls.

After indulging in ramen, curry, meat, and bread, you might think you're full. But there's always room for dessert. It's a real blessing that the cakes are all bite-sized! The pudding with its gentle custard flavor and the chocolate fountain are must-haves, and fruit is perfect for a palate cleanser. It's funny how you can always find more room once you start eating.

A little bit of everything is the buffet lover's creed.

Banana and chocolate, a classic combination.

What do you choose to finish off a buffet? For many, it has to be this: a DIY mini parfait. I topped the milky, subtly sweet soft-serve ice cream with sauce and nuts. I really wanted to add fruit too, but I was a bit too full. Once again, 2,490 yen per person for all this is a truly amazing deal. You can check the monthly menu on their website!

Be careful, the self-serve ice cream can pile up quickly.

・Incredibly reasonable price!
・The Kushiro ramen tastes like it's from a specialty shop.
・A lineup that people of all ages can enjoy.
・The homemade taste means you never get tired of it.
・Large parking lot makes it easy to visit by car.
・You can shop for books, CDs, and more on your way out.

*Photos are from the time of the interview. Content may vary depending on the season.
*All prices include tax and service charges.

Coach & Four Shinkawa-dori Store

■Address: 18-chome, Shinkawa 3-jo, Kita-ku, Sapporo
■Phone: 011-769-3333
Click here for details and map of "Coach & Four Shinkawa-dori Store"