As soon as I arrived at Hakodate Airport before 9 a.m., I headed straight to Hakodate Morning Market on an empty stomach. My mission? To enjoy a delicious sashimi bowl! I chose Ikkatei Tabiji (一花亭たびじ), located within the Hakodate Donburi Market.
The restaurant has a cozy yet spacious layout, with tatami-floor tables, counter seats around the kitchen on the first floor, and additional seating on the second floor. It was larger than I expected!
Since this shop is in Hakodate Donburi Market, their menu is focused on donburi (sashimi bowls). Their specialty is the Live Squid Bowl (活いか踊り丼), which is listed at the very top of their menu. Once you place your order, the chef picks a live squid, prepares it on the spot, and serves it fresh in your bowl!
Photo note: The prices in the menu were taken in 2020 and have since increased by around 100 yen.
They also have a variety of bowls named after flowers, like Wild rose (野ばら), Sunflower (ひまわり).
Beyond sashimi bowls, they serve grilled seafood, sashimi croquettes, and even melon slices (300 yen) for dessert. Their menu includes plenty of options to pair with alcoholic drinks.
When my live squid bowl arrived, I was amazed. The tentacles were still moving, even trying to crawl out of the bowl! The staff instructed me to pour soy sauce over the tentacles, which made them move even more actively – though they were already quite lively.
After I captured a photo, the staff kindly offered to cut the tentacles into bite-sized pieces for me. The translucent tentacles were chewy yet crunchy, with a sticky texture that was incredibly fresh and delicious.
The body of the squid had a similar texture and was equally fresh. The bowl also came with salmon roe, which was rich and flavorful. If you’re not a fan of salmon roe, you can request a substitution with crab meat. The chef also lets you choose between grated ginger and wasabi; I opted for ginger, which paired beautifully with the fresh squid.
Of course, the innards were fresh and had a rich flavor. Live squid is a must-try when visiting Hakodate.
The bowl included miso soup and pickles, rounding out the meal perfectly.
I couldn’t resist ordering a small draft beer to pair with the meal. At 350 yen, small draft Kirin beer was just the right size for a morning treat.
Interestingly, during my next visit in 2021, they had switched to serving Sapporo Classic instead.
About
Name Ikkatei Tabiji (一花亭たびじ)
Open Morning through lunch
Reservation Unavailable
Credit card Available
URL Instagram
Google Map
