Gyosanko — Restaurant in Hakodate

I came here solo on a Friday night at about 7:00 pm. It was a cold March night and there wasn’t a line but they were full and I had to wait about 15 minutes for a seat at the counter.

At first I thought the staff was a little standoffish and rude, as other people have said in reviews, but as the night went on they were really kind and sweet and funny.

The food is really good. It takes a while to come out, more than most other restaurants I’ve visited in Japan (lived here for two years) but it’s really delicious.

I’ll start by saying that they are foreigner friendly but the English menu doesn’t have everything on the Japanese menu. It’s simply so much to translate with pictures. I don’t think they’re being rude. But if you take your time with google translate you can find some stuff on the Japanese menu.

Also if you want to try various sake and other alcoholic drinks, translate the Japanese menu. They offer one sake on the English menu vs a whole page on the Japanese.

The famous live squid was sold out, but the man next to me got the last one and graciously handed me a dish with a few pieces. I don’t care for squid and it was really really good.

I ordered the sashimi moriawase for 1 (not on English menu) and it was great. First time trying nishin and hokki and both phenomenal.

The grilled kare (small flounder) was incredible. Served with grated daikon and usually topped with shoyu, it needed neither and I just ate the whole thing as is.

I had other stuff to and it was all delicious. Well priced, not expensive, quite affordable.

What I noticed is that they don’t serve the ootoshi (seating charge small dish, like an amuse Bouche) to foreigners. It’s also left off the bill. I assume foreigners have complained about random items on the bill in the past, this happens often. It’s a shame because it was a small plate of tsukemono and a small dish of oden and I really wanted it but didn’t realize until the end of my meal lol. Maybe you can ask for it.

Would come again and...

The staff was friendly, and the food was okay. However, I’m not sure if this restaurant is foreigner-friendly.

First of all, the English and Japanese menus are different—the Japanese menu offers more variety. I understand that the menu is handwritten and that some items may be available or unavailable depending on the day. However, I believe these items could also be written in English. It wouldn’t be too difficult, especially with free online translation tools.

Also, when I received the bill, it was very hard to recognize what I had ordered. All the options were listed in the same format, making it difficult to understand and even to verify whether the bill was correct. I hope the restaurant updates these aspects in the future.

As for the food, I highly recommend the Live Hotate (scallop) and Live Namako (sea cucumber). They have a fish tank for these items, so they are incredibly fresh.

p.s. - There was no otoshi (the default appetizer). I’m not sure if it wasn’t provided because we were foreigners or if they don’t serve...

This izakaya is an absolute gem! The grilled fish was perfectly cooked—crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Every bite was a burst of flavor! The skewers here are amazing too. The cozy ambiance made the meal even more enjoyable, with warm lighting and a relaxed vibe.

What truly made this place special was the super friendly aunty waitress. She treated us like family, always smiling and making sure we had everything we needed. Her warmth and hospitality added so much charm to our dining experience.

As a foreigner, I felt so welcomed here! The staff made an extra effort to communicate and ensure I had a wonderful time.

If you're looking for delicious food, a welcoming environment, and exceptional service, this izakaya is a must-visit. I'll...