Hokkaido Izakaya: A Fresh Breeze of Hokkaido

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Even to the Japanese, Hokkaido is a beacon of its cuisine. Located in the northern tip of the country, Hokkaido is surrounded by three oceans, the Pacific, Okhotsk Sea, and Sea of Japan, making it as Japan’s source of seafood, and also abundant with fresh air and water flowing from its mountains. The never-ending plains are cultivated by passionate farmers who create the best ingredients in all of Japan.

Japanese restaurants in Jakarta are plenty, but not a lot has focused on one particular region, spare for Hokkaido Izakaya. Izakaya refers to a pub like setting where the ambiance is casual, price is affordable, and where friends get to have fun over drinks and comforting food.

Hokkaido Izakaya as a brand actually started in Tokyo in 2009, and brought over to Singapore in 2015 and finally to Indonesia in 2017. The restaurant is helmed by Chef Hiroshi Koizumi, a native Hokkaido whose hand-writing can be seen in the menu, and just about anywhere in the restaurant as he keeps coming up with new ways to represent his home region’s culinary specialty.

Other than fresh ingredients that many are directly imported from Hokkaido, Hokkaido Izakaya also highlights other feats of the region such as its Signature Soba that is handmade in the restaurant daily from 100% buckwheat flour imported from Hokkaido. While also serving our signature soba, Hokkaido Izakaya has variety of set menu such as Donburi and Teishoku.

The classic way of trying the superiority of handmade soba is with the cold or Zaru Soba, enjoyed with simple soya sauce and wasabi. But some other favorites are the restaurant’s Kaki Age Tempura Soba (served with gigantic vegetable Tempura) and the Kuru Goma Maze Soba, mixed with black sesame dressing and served cold. Chef Koizumi said that this is one of the most-ordered Soba menu of the restaurant.

Hokkaido’s cold climate and expansive countryside make it ideal for dairy farming, and Hokkaido is famous for its delicious milk, cream, and butter, which all you can taste in the Hokkaido Milk Omelette (milk dashimaki), that is incredibly succulent and creamy, also in the Salmon Milk Hot Spot, topped with grated parmesan. A dish which richness reminds me of European food.

Other gourmet must try is Robatayaki, and wide selection of Sushi, Sashimi and Oyster, airflown from Hokkaido that you can ask the chef to include in your sashimi platter. It is truly one of the best fresh oyster I’ve had in Jakarta.

A new creation of Chef Koizumi is the sweet and spicy ‘Meat Mountain’ Hotpot that’s more of a blend of Japanese and Szechuan food with its heavy use of red pepper. A must try for spicy food lover.

Hokkaido Izakaya also have an extensive list of beverages including wines, sakes, and beers that will pair great with authentic Hokkaido taste.

Weekdays:
Lunch 11:30 – 15.00 (LO 14:30)
Dinner 17:30 – 23:00 (LO 21:30)
Weekends:
Lunch 11:30 – 15.00 (LO 14:30)
Dinner 17:30 – 24:00 (LO 22:30)

Pavilion Retail Arcade
Lt. Dasar Unit D 01-12
Jl. K.H Mas Mansyur Kav.24 RT.12/RW 11 Kel. Karet Tengsin, Kec. Tanah Abang Jakarta Pusat

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