Continued from post here.
After a gluttony of crab from our dinner, we were ready the next morning for even more seafood. Hokkaido is like a haven for travelers who love seafood. Our plan was to have a kaisen don for breakfast at one of the street side market areas. Kaisen don is a seafood donburi (food over rice), and is basically a chirashi bowl we have here in the states. There are two fish markets in Sapporo, Nijo market and the Curb Market in the Central Wholesale area.
Nijo market is closer to our hotel, just a few minutes walk from Odori Station. It is a block of different booths selling mainly local produce and a variety of seafood. However, we decided to go venture to the Curb Market (about a 30 minute train ride) as it is bigger in size with a wider selection of produce and seafood. It is like Tsukiji Market in that they have sections reserved for bidding of the local catch of the day to stores and restaurants, and have prices closer to wholesale. Additionally Anthony Bourdain visited one of the restaurants there which we planned to visit for our breakfast.
On the way to Odori station, we got to walk by Odori Park, which is in the heart of Sapporo. The park spans over half a mile and divides the city’s north and south sections. Throughout the year, many events and ceremonies such as the Lilac Festival and Snow Festival are held in the park. You can see the iconic Sapporo TV Tower overlooking the park.
The Curb Market is right outside of the Wholesale Central Market warehouse. There are over 80 stores and you will find local produce and a ton of some of the best seafood in the world.
You can buy and sample cooked crab along any of the stalls. The vendors are friendly and encourage you to take lots of photos as well as passing along samples.
Many of the seafood are still live with numerous live tanks all over the market.
Fish markets are the best places to buy uni. The prices for some of the top grade uni trade are extremely reasonable and with a pair of chopsticks are already to eat.
We were here for a kaisen don, or seafood over rice bowl. You pretty much cannot go wrong with visiting any of the shops. We choose Tairyozushi Wakakoma for our meal as it was on Anthony Bourdain’s show, “No Reservations”.
A big tour group just left so we pretty much had the whole restaurant to ourselves. It reminds me of the many Japanese restaurants we have here in the states.
Besides Anthony Bourdain’s visit, many local celebrities have left their signature on their back wall.
My two boys wanted sushi, so we ordered them the 10 piece sushi plate. You get quite a bit are bargain prices. Ikura, uni, kana, rotate, ebi, hoyagai, hamachi, maguro, hirame, and salmon were all on their plate. This was 2200yen for the order, so about $20US.
My wife and I went for the Kaisen Wakakoma Don, their signature bowl. There are over 13 kinds of seafood, and mostly premium items such as king crab, botan ebi, hotate, and bafun uni were all included. The bowl was a reasonable $3780yen so about $35US for some premium items over some nicely seasoned rice.
My older daughter was afraid she could not finish the Kaisen Wakakama Don, so she ordered a regular kaisen don, which still had several premium selections in there.
I also could not resist the kegani miso soup. After last night’s feast, I really got to appreciate kegani.
Not to be left out, my little girl wanted a mini ikura don. Hokkaido’s ikura, which is salmon roe, have a much cleaner and sweeter taste than what we get here in the states.
After breakfast, we’re onto Yoichi next…
Wakakoma information:
■1-11, Kita 11-jo Nishi 21-chome, Chuou-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido
■TEL：+81-11−644−7722
■Business Hours：9：00〜21：00