For the people of Kushiro, the local food is Spakatsu!

Spakatsu is a dish consisting of a cutlet placed on top of spaghetti with meat sauce. It is served on a black iron plate.

In Kushiro, Hokkaido, winters are cold, so they started serving their food on hot plates so that customers could enjoy it piping hot even in the cold weather.
It originated at "Restaurant Izumiya Main Store" in Kushiro City.

This time, we'll introduce three restaurants in Kushiro that serve Spakatsu, including "Restaurant Izumiya Main Store."

While the appearance and taste vary from shop to shop, each shop's unique flavor makes it a beloved soul food not only for the people of Kushiro but also for fans nationwide.
Every restaurant serves generous portions! They are truly generous with their customers.

The menu name may vary from restaurant to restaurant, but you can just order "Spaghetti Cutlet."

Let's get started!

Table of Contents:
1. The originator of Spakatsu! Restaurant Izumiya Main Store's "Spakatsu"
2. An impressive cutlet! Restaurant Yamahiko's "Meat Cutlet"
3. Plenty of rich sauce! Spaghetti House Pyrenees' "Meat Sauce Cutlet"
Final thoughts

Restaurant Izumiya's "Spaghetti Cutlet" was chosen as the number one dish for three consecutive years in a survey of locals asking "What is the one and only flavor you want to keep in your town?" ( Hokkaido Television Broadcasting: One and Only Flavor in the World 2004-2006 Kushiro Edition ).

Restaurant Izumiya is the originator of Spakatsu. Its main branch is located very close to Nusamaibashi Bridge. The owner trained at a hotel in Sapporo and started making Spakatsu around 1960 (Showa 35).

Back then, pork was expensive. In Kushiro, where Western food culture was not yet established, this restaurant was a pioneer. Wanting to give customers a sense of luxury, they came up with the idea of ​​putting tonkatsu (pork cutlet) on top of spaghetti, thinking that even in cold Kushiro, the iron plate would keep it piping hot until the very last bite.

Initially, it was called "Spaghetti with Meat Sauce and Pork Cutlet," but apparently, customers overheard the kitchen staff talking about "Spaghetti Cutlet" and started using the term themselves, and it naturally stuck.

"Spaghetti with pork cutlet" is served on a sizzling hot plate. It consists of spaghetti topped with a pork cutlet.
First of all, you'll be overwhelmed by the sight! It sizzles and crackles for several minutes.

It's an exciting feeling, like a show is about to begin even before you start eating! That's what Spakatsu is all about.

Now, let's try it!
...But before that, put on an apron. (Sauce may splatter and get on your clothes, so we recommend wearing an apron.)

Okay, let's eat! It's hot! (Be careful not to burn yourself) As expected from a hot plate, there's a lot of steam! I'll eat the "Spaghetti Cutlet" while blowing on it to cool it down. The regular size is huge! ("Spaghetti Cutlet" 961 yen (tax included), takeout available.) The rich meat sauce is very appetizing. The noodles are thick, 1.9mm in diameter. They have a nice elasticity and chewiness.

Made with 100% durum semolina from Nisshin Flour Milling. Apparently, this is an original size only available at Izumiya.

The meat sauce coats the thick noodles perfectly and is delicious! The meat sauce has been made using the same recipe since 1960. The sweetness of the onions gives it a rich flavor. The pork cutlet is also tender and satisfying enough to be enjoyed on its own.

The hot plate keeps the food piping hot until the very last bite. It's already hot enough, but some regulars even ask for the hot plate to be brought out even hotter.

The bottom of the hot plate has crispy, burnt spaghetti noodles. You can enjoy the crunchy texture. On that day, a man in a suit sitting nearby also polished it off in no time.

Spakatsu, a popular menu item at Izumiya.
They have a wide variety of other menu items as well.

The restaurant has a smoking section on the first floor and a designated smoking area on the second floor (completely non-smoking on weekends and public holidays).
Apparently, it's mostly frequented by locals on weekdays and by tourists on weekends.

Restaurant Izumiya is a long-established Western-style restaurant that faithfully adheres to the fundamentals of Western cuisine, offering flavors suited to the climate of Kushiro. In the cool climate, the body craves richer flavors. Their Western-style dishes are a little on the richer side, perfectly suited to the climate of Kushiro.

It's visually stunning, delicious to eat, and has an addictive taste that makes you want to eat it again.
Enjoy the Spakatsu at Restaurant Izumiya, a long-established Western-style restaurant that carries on tradition, with all your senses: its volume, taste, texture, and the sizzling sound it makes.

<Restaurant Izumiya Main Branch>
Address: 2-28 Suehiro-cho, Kushiro City, Hokkaido
TEL) 0154-24-4611
Business hours: 11:00 AM - 21:30 PM (Last order 21:00 PM)
Closed on one Tuesday per month (the specific Tuesday varies each month; please check with the store to confirm which Tuesday is closed).
Parking: Paid parking is available nearby.
Access: Approximately 20 minutes on foot from JR Kushiro Station.
Approximately 5 minutes on foot from Fisherman's Wharf MOO.

Next, we'd like to introduce "Restaurant Yamahiko," which celebrated its 51st year in 2016. It's located about a 10-minute walk from Kushiro Station.
The owner is from Restaurant Izumiya. The most popular menu item is "Meat Cutlet".

The piping hot "meat cutlet" was brought to our table, sizzling away.
Aprons are also available for loan.

Please put on your apron right away.

The meat sauce was slightly spicy and delicious! ("Meat Cutlet" 980 yen (tax included) It had a nice tangy flavor. I like tangy flavors, so I was able to enjoy it to the end without getting tired of it.)

Customers often comment on how delicious the sauce is. All the ingredients, such as onions and minced meat, are combined in a well-balanced way.

The minced meat has a smooth texture and doesn't get stuck in your throat, so even regular customers in their 80s and 90s enjoy it. The noodles are neither too thick nor too thin, making them easy to eat. It's already spicy, but apparently some people add even more Tabasco sauce.

When we visited for the interview, a woman said, "I've come to eat here for the first time in 40 years." It's a taste that locals crave. The entrance and exterior haven't changed at all from how they used to be, so she stopped by out of nostalgia.

The cutlet in the "Meat Cutlet" is actually chicken cutlet. The cutlet is impressive. Customers who order it for the first time are said to be surprised and delighted, saying, "There's a whole pork fillet cutlet on the hot plate!!" The cutlet is encased in a crispy coating.

Since there's no meat on top, it has a light flavor. The chicken is incredibly tender, and the cutlet alone is satisfying.

Apparently, there are families who come to Yamahiko's "meat cutlet" with three generations of their family.

Many families stop by during the Obon holidays or when returning to their hometowns, and apparently, there are repeat customers who come regularly from Obihiro and Kitami.
We have customers who fly in just to eat here, a man who comes all the way from Niigata every year on a motorcycle trip, and someone who comes all the way from Asahikawa once a year without fail.

Based on customer feedback, all seats are now non-smoking.
In addition to counter seats, there is also a raised seating area.
Autographed posters from sumo wrestlers and comedians were also on display.

They said, "We want to continue maintaining the same taste and bring joy to our customers."

"Restaurant Yamahiko" is a restaurant that has been loved by local regulars for many years, including high school students who stop by on their way home from school.

<Restaurant Yamahiko>
Address: 1-17 Shin'ei-cho, Kushiro City, Hokkaido
TEL) 0154-25-5274
Business hours: 11:30 AM - 15:00 PM
17:00 - 20:00 (Last order 19:40)
Closed on Thursdays
Parking available
Access: Approximately 10 minutes on foot from JR Kushiro Station.
Kushiro Bus (36) Shiranuka Line, Sankyo stop, approximately 2 minutes on foot.
Kushiro Bus (36) Shiranuka Line, Dogin-mae stop, approximately 5 minutes on foot.

Lastly, I'd like to introduce "Spaghetti House Pyrenees," which opened in 1994 and is located about a 6-minute walk from Kushiro Station.

The owner is from Izumiya. The shop name, Pyrenees, is said to be derived from the Pyrenees Mountains, which are as immovable as mountains.
The exterior features green, white, and red colors, reminiscent of the national flag.

The "Meat Sauce Cutlet" (Spaghetti Cutlet) is 880 yen (tax included). Pyrenees' Spaghetti Cutlet arrives sizzling on a round iron plate. The hot, rich meat sauce is delicious. It has a slightly strong flavor. They apparently added ketchup to give it sweetness and created their own original flavor. The balance of sweetness and acidity is just right, and the spaghetti and sauce are well combined.

When I asked the owner, he said, "We use plenty of sauce." Indeed!
The hot plate is overflowing with noodles and sauce. Apparently, they make sure there are so many noodles that you can mix them all together and still have some left over, so you don't end up with just noodles at the end. It's great that you can enjoy the sauce that's left at the end!

The cutlet is made of pork. The main dish is spaghetti with meat sauce, and a moderate amount of cutlet (about 70-80g) is placed on top.

Counter seats.

Table seat
Smoking is permitted at all tables inside the restaurant.

In addition to Tabasco, we also have habanero sauce. Adding habanero sauce to spaghetti gives it a nice kick. Apparently, it's popular with younger customers. Please try it as you like.

They also offer a combo menu where you can choose one item from A and one from B. If you don't like pork, you might want to try substituting chicken cutlet for the spaghetti cutlet. (A Meat Sauce Spaghetti + B Chicken Cutlet is 1180 yen) By the way, the chicken cutlet ordered in the combo is a jumbo size of 200g! For those who want to be adventurous, give it a try.

We have both solo diners and groups.
Apparently, customers have come from as far away as Sapporo, Kitami, and Asahikawa on motorcycle tours after hearing about the restaurant's gourmet offerings. Many of them also upload photos of their meals to the web.

Takeout is also available. If it's too crowded to get in, please consider using this option. You can get a large portion of the "Meat Sauce Cutlet (Spaghetti Cutlet)" for an extra 100 yen (1.5 times the amount of spaghetti).

Spaghetti House Pyrenees is known among locals for its meat dishes, such as hamburgers.
Spakatsu is recommended for those who want to eat a hearty and rich meat spaghetti.

One meal is enough to fill you up so much that you can eat a light dinner or even skip dinner altogether.

Spaghetti House Pyrenees
Address: 2-2-24 Kyoei-dori, Kushiro City, Hokkaido
TEL) 0154-22-3213
Business hours: 11:00 AM - 14:00 PM
17:00 ~ 19:30
Closed on: New Year's Day and Sundays after 14:00 PM
(We are open on Sundays from 11:00 to 14:00)
Parking available
Access: Approximately 6 minutes on foot from JR Kushiro Station.
For takeout orders, please call us at least 30 minutes before closing time.

Final thoughts

We've introduced three restaurants serving "Spaghetti Cutlet," a dish that has been loved by locals in Kushiro for many years as a local soul food. What did you think?

As I mentioned at the beginning, even a regular serving is quite large; it seems like it never runs out no matter how much you eat.
When you visit Kushiro, be sure to come with a big appetite (←this is important!) and enjoy some Spakatsu!

~Check these out too~
I went to Kushiro City Zoo! [The largest zoo in Hokkaido]
What makes Kushiro so appealing? A digest of sights and ways to enjoy it!
・[Hot Springs in Eastern Hokkaido] Top 10 Popular Hot Spring Resorts in Eastern Hokkaido!

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