Located on a hill overlooking the Furano City in Hokkaido is the Furano Winehouse. You can enjoy splendid views of the city, lavender fields, and mountains of Tokachi.
How to Get to Furano Winehouse
Furano Winehouse is about 3km by car from the Furano JR Station, or 2.6km by car from the Gakuden JR Station.
Furano Winehouse
Here, at Furano Wine House, you can enjoy food made with local Furano produce such as milk, cheese and vegetables, while enjoying a bottle of wine straight from the source. Thereโs a wide ranging menu to enjoy for both couples and families, such as Furano Wagyu cooked slowly in red wine, Tokachi beef steak, and cheese fondue, etc. The restaurant has a private room which can be used for dinner functions and seminars.
Looking for traditional, home-cooked Chinese food – Hakka cuisine – to warm your heart and tummy? You don’t want to pass Michele’s Kitchen in Damansara Jaya, Petaling Jaya.
How to Get to Michele’s Kitchen
Michele’s Kitchen is along Jalan SS22/23, just opposite the eastern entrance of Atria Shopping Gallery. It is not hard to miss with it’s purple signage significantly distinguishing itself from the other shops.
The side parking along Jalan SS22/23 is easily filled from day to night. Parking is aplenty in Atria and around the block with more street parking available.
Michele’s Kitchen
Michele’s Kitchen is a 2-storey restaurant. Hence, during peak hours, there’s still tables available for dine-ins. Instead, we did a take-out and picked-up our food after ordering online.
You can order on Grab or online through their website. Ordering online on their website was a smooth experience, as you’re given the option to pay with credit/debit card or via Paypal. After payment is made, you’ll receive an email and SMS to confirm your order and pick-up time.
Click Image to visit their online menu and to order
Michele’s Kitchen top sellers are the Crispy Pork Belly, Nyonya Garoupa Fillet, Bentong Tau Fu Pok, Hakka Yong Tau Fu, and Signature Tau Fu.
For a simple dinner and a small family, we ordered their Nyonya Chicken Series, Sheng Melon Tau Fu, Bittergourd Fried with Salted Egg, and Baby Spinach.
Nyonya Chicken Series (RM24.60)Sheng Melon Tau Fu (RM20.20)Bittergourd Fried with Salted Egg (RM17.90)Baby Spinach (RM11.20)
It was a cold and wet autumn night. We were craving for something hot and spicy. We had soup curry as planned at Soup Curry Garaku in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.
Where is Soup Curry Garaku?
The restaurant is located below ground, so we walked downstairs.
Let’s check out the menu. They’ve different types of soup curry dishes with chicken, shabushabu, pork, vegetable, sausage, mushroom, or lamb.
Then, select the amount of rice and the level of hotness. Rice comes in small (100g), middle (200g), or large (350g) amounts. The hotness level range from mild to standard to hot to very hot to ex hot to fire!!! You can also add on “toppings” with the curry, at additional charges.
To savour the curry in the comfort of your own home, you can also buy their soup curry powder mix.
Sakaimachi Street is an attractive, preserved merchant street in central Otaru, a short walk from Otaru Canal.
Sakaimachi Street is about 900 meters in length. It is here you can find souvenir shops, museums, restaurants, historical buildings, and landmarks. Many of these restaurants and stores are in these historical buildings, many being converted from old warehouses. So, not only can you do some shopping and dining, but you can also get some great photos while on your travels.
Sakaimachi Street (ๅข็บ้ใ, Sakaimachi Dลri)
Where is Sakaimachi Street
Sakaimachi Street is a ten minute walk from Otaru Station or a five minute walk from Minami-Otaru Station. Alternatively, two of the four Otaru Stroller’s tourist bus lines pass along the street, providing frequent connections with Otaru Station.
The north entrance of Sakaimachi Street is near the Bank of Japan Otaru Museum and around the south end of Otaru Canal.
The south entrance is a five-street intersection, and it is called Meruhen-Kรดsaten. Formally, this intersection is “Sakaimachi Intersection”.
“Meruhen” is a German word “Mรคrchen” and means “fairy tale”. “Kรดsaten” means “intersection”.
Walk with us on this private walking tour
1. Otaru Denuki-Koji
Quaint alleyway with a retro feel, lined with restaurants and food stalls serving ramen and yakitori. There are around 20 small shops in the historical building.
If you are looking for a great view of Otaru Canal, there is a free observation deck upstairs. It is little narrow to climb up the tower, but Otaru Canal and the ocean is in front of your eyes. Enjoy 360-degree panoramic views from the observation deck!
2. Seafood Restaurant Donburi Chaya
Donburi Chaya is a seafood rice bowl specialty restaurant, which originated from the Nijyo seafood market.
Japanese Maccha Sweets (The GreenTeaMatcha Building)
5. Venetian Cafeteria
Take a break with a rainbow tower ice cream. My rainbow ice cream had 7 layers of a variety of tastes: Grape, Strawberry, Powdered Green Tea, Melon, Chocolate, Milk, and Lavendar.
On the 1st floor is a confectionary where they offer their popular products, including Double Fromage. There is a takeout corner where you can eat their limited edition “Hokkaido Jersey Milk Pudding” made with Hokkaido Jersey milk and LeTAO’s original fresh cream. On the 2nd floor is a cafe where you can enjoy original cakes only from PATHOS as well as plates of pasta.
Pathos is the Greek word for “passion” and it’s logo mark of the sun expresses that meaning as well.
Kitaichi Glass Crystal Shop Set of shops selling items made from glass, such as decorative snow globes & kerosene lamps. Address: 7-26 Sakaimachi, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0027, Japan Address: ใ047-0027 ๅๆตท้ๅฐๆจฝๅธๅ บ็บ๏ผโ26
Our private walking tour along Sakaimachi Street ends here. Otaru Music Box Museum is a specialty retailer featuring artisanal tabletop music boxes in many styles with ornate decorations.
On June 25,1994, the world’s largest and second ever steam clock was installed in front of Otaru Music Box Museum is a popular music box museum in the Otaru Orgel-do II building in Otaru, Japan. It includes various examples of music boxes as well as CDs that have music box-esque versions of various songs.
Otaru Music Box Museum (ๅฐๆจฝใชใซใดใผใซๅ )
The British-style bronze clock measures 5.5 meters high and weighs 1.5 tons. It was assembled by Mr. Raymond Sanders, who also made the first steam clock located in Gastown, Vancouver, Canada.
Not to be confused with Jeon Mi Do in Hospital Playlist and Thirty-Nine, this is Mido Korean BBQ in SS2, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.
In Petaling Jaya and in SS2, we are not short of Korean BBQs. Before After (a) Meal, go to Mido – a few doors back.
Getting to Mido Korean BBQ
Mido is directly opposite McDonald’s in SS2. Mido is easy to spot with it’s traditional Korean-looking front.
If you’re driving, parking is easy at the right timing. Find parking along Jalan SS2/64 and anywhere else in the commercial square of SS2.
Mido Korean BBQ
The interior has a traditional Korean house and restaurant feel. You’re not out of place, as there is a robot (on wheels) going around delivering your orders.
The seating arrangements are comfortable for 1 to 4 pax per table. If you’re eating in a big group, you’ve to split the group to 2 or more tables.
At the time of writing this, Mido had a few promotions running. Birthday babies get 1 free pajeon (Korean pancake).
We went on a Thursday and so happened it was ladies’ night. If there’s 1 lady in the group, you get 10% off from the bill. Then, if there’s 2 ladies in the group, you get 20% off from the bill. Then, if there’s 3 ladies in the group, you get 30% off from the bill. Finally, if there’s 4 ladies, you get 40% from the bill.
The promotion applied to a la carte dishes. We pounced on the beef, pork, and other dishes. You could either have the meat cooked for you or you can cook yourself at your own pace. We had the meats cooked for us.
We ate AUS Grade 5 Ribeye, Pork Belly, Pork Collar, Skirt Meat, Steam Egg, Corn Butter, Seafood Pancake, Kimchi Military Casserole, Mini Kimchi Soup, and Mido Rice Balls.
You can’t give Sankaku Market a miss when you visit Otaru in Hokkaido. It is a down-to-earth marketplace with vendors selling fruits, veggies, seafood, and prepared seafood dishes in this wet market.
Otaru Station
Where is Sankaku Market
It is the closest tourist attraction (200 meters or about 2 minutes walk) to Otaru JR station. After exiting the station, turn left and walk up the stairs to the covered wet market.
Sankaku market is a short 200 meters and small fresh market. There are many seafood stalls and restaurants in the alley. The seafood stalls sell:
Raw salmon
King crab leg
Arabesque greenling
Atka mackerel
Surf clam
Oyster
Neptunea Arthritica
Ezo Neptune Whelk Winkle
More
Eat in Sankaku Market
There are a few restaurants in the market. In one of the restaurants, you can grab a crab and they’ll cook it for you on the spot!
Donโt forget Ajidokoro Taekda and Kita no Donburiya Takinami Shokudo in the middle of Sankaku market.
Alternatively, you can also create your own seafood rice bowl.
Choose rice bowl size: small or middle size
Choose 3 to 4 combinations out of 10 preferred toppings. Toppings are:
Salmon roe
Sea urchin
Crab
Tuna
Botan shrimp
Sweet shrimp
Salmon
Live scallop
Flying squid
Seasonal food
I created my own bowl and ate seafood rice bowl of sea urchin, crab, tuna, Botan shrimp, salmon eggs, salmon, live scallop for dinner at Takinami Shokudo.
Address: 627, Jalan 17/8, Seksyen 17, 46400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Business Hours:
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday
11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday
11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday
11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday
11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday
11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Kwong Wah is not hard to miss as it is just before the row of houses on Jalan 17/8 in Seksyen 17. The entrance, instead of facing houses, it faces Jalan 17/9 and SK Sri Damai field, widely. It has an open space in the front and an un-enclosed kitchen. You can actually see your asam laksa and cendol being prepared.
Parking is not hard to find. You can park along Jalan 17/9 or along any of the row of shops behind.
If you’re taking-away (tapau-ing), order inside and collect your orders outside here.
The interior is a fine blend of modernity and tradition. Even though the flooring is an antique and old pattern, yet it feels modern. The neon lights and lightings around the inside brings up the place from inside and add a touch to it.
Kwong Wah Ais Kacang
Bringing the taste of Melaka to PJ. Authentic gula melaka Ice Kacang using our secret family recipe handed down through generations since 1939.
Have a taste of their “must eat” and “our signature” food. Start with sour – Asam Laksa. End with sweet – Cendol. Both are filling together or on their own, separately.
When Ma Maison Ebisu at Lot 10, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur opened, I was first introduced to tonkatsu. What is tonkatsu? A Japanese dish of meat coated in breadcrumbs and fried.
All set meals come with rice, tonjiru (miso soup with pork), cabbage, and pickles:
Rosu Katsu (Deep Fried Pork Loin)
Hire Katsu (Deep Fried Pork Fillet)
Okonomi Katsu (Variety Katsu)
Iroiro Katsu (Assorted Katsu)
Rosu Katsu (Deep Fried Pork Loin with Cheese)Sakana Set (Deep Fried White Fish)
If youโre coming from Lot 10 parking lot, take the escalator or lift from the 5th, 6th, 7th, or 8th floor down to the 4th floor. But if youโre coming from the Bukit Bintang MRT or monorial, take the escalator or lift from the ground floor up to the 4th floor. The 4th floor is also known as Js Gate Dining, where there are only Japanese food on this level in Lot 10.
Then in 2019, when I was holidaying in Japan, I ate the tonkatsu at Tonkatsu Wako Pole Town, Sapporo, Hokkaido.
Today I’m brought back to NUDE Seafood. NUDE Seafood is a seafood restaurant in Marina One East Tower in Singapore.
How to get to NUDE Seafood
If you’re taking the MRT and depending on which line you’re on; stop at either Downtown station (DT17) or Marina Bay station (CE2/NS27). Then walk up towards Marina One East Tower.
What I Ate (In 2017)
I stripped them seafood nude. Throwback to 2017, it was a set dinner. Hence, some items may not be available already.
Baby SquidManila ClamsGolden PomfretOcean TroutSorbetPolar BearChocolate Blueberry and Thyme
Also known as Shi Shi Do Ramen Bar (to me), is in the Gasket Alley. The Gasket Alley is not hard to miss, as it is directly opposite Jaya 1 shopping mall and behind Columbia Asia Hospital – Petaling Jaya.
The Gasket Alley is a small warehouse with restaurants, dessert outlets, an IT store, and Harley-Davidson of Petaling Jaya. Head right to the end where you’ll find the authentic Japanese Tonkotsu Ramen in Section 13, Petaling Jaya.
If you’re not Grabbing to the restaurant, within the compound, there is a short row of visitor’s parking. Alternatively, you can park at Jaya 1 or the office complexes down the road, and walk up to the Gasket Alley.
During lunch hours or rush hours, there can be long queues outside the restaurant. So it’ll be best to go early and time yourself beforehand.
Inside the Ramen Bar
Instead of going to Japan, Japan is brought to you. And you’re transported back into time inside the ramen bar.
There is a ground and mezzanine level. On the ground floor, it feels like you’re eating in the streets of Japan in the old days of history’s past. You’re surrounded by “shophouses” and an old street lamp post in the middle.
Ramen Bar Shi Shi DoFood
The pork broth is delicately boiled and skimmed up to 48 hours to bring out the natural yet rich flavour of the finest pork bones. On top of that, the meticulously custom-made springy noodles are perfect to be slurped up with the creamy soup, alongside the tender braised pork shoulder, soft boiled egg, black fungus and spring onion. With a 9 years of history, the artisans have been focusing on serving the ultimate tonkotsu ramen, from the stove to the serving table, only for you.
Orders are made with the touch screen tablet on the table.
There are three types of ramen to choose from. Each mainly with a different meat given: pork shoulder slice (1 piece), Yakibuta (2 pieces), and Ippon Yakibuta.
Then you can choose and mix the flavour, from single, to double, and triple flavours. Single flavour consists of either pork soup, black garlic pork soup, spicy pork soup, curry pork soup, basil pork soup, and pepper spicy pork soup. From these selections, you can mix and match to double or triple flavours.
Ajitama Chashu Ramen (RM25.00)
If not ramen, you can make your own hot pot. There’s Shishido Original Tonkotsu Hot Pot and Shishido Original Spicy Tonkotsu Hot Pot.
Shishido Original Tonkotsu Hot Pot (RM22.00)
They also have three types of Tsukemen to choose from: Tonkotsu Tsukemen, Yakibuta Tsukemen, and Ippon Yakibuta Tsukemen. Like the ramen, you can also mix and match the flavours. The single flavours are black garlic pork soup, spicy pork soup, curry pork soup, basil pork soup, and pepper spicy pork soup.
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