Takumaruyama

Not sure why there aren't more updated reviews since the pandemic. I made a reservation through JPNEasy and they were ready for me right on the dot. For some reason I was the only person there for the Saturday 6:30PM service which was odd considering the quality of the restaurant in May 2024. Chef ...Wada is able to describe every item in english - and for specific Hokkaido greens he brought up the wikipedia/image gallery so you're able to know what you are putting in your mouth. We ended up conversing a little bit over Google Translate. I can definitely see how this place earned a Michelin Star - I tasted things I've not tasted before. Very unique experience to taste local delicacy to some of the highest pedigree. Would definitely recommend as they still honored the reservation for one person that entire timeslot when it would've made more fiscal sense to cancel or reschedule on me to save on overhead. I ate at a pretty brisk pace and they moved the next item along right when I was prepared to finish the last bite. All in all, my experience lasted about 1 hours and 15 minutes but I can see this easily encroaching two hours if it was more of a packed house. Definitely recommend while the yen is still relatively weak. And even if the yen bounces back!

Visited May 2024

Whilst its not the easiest restaurant to find, it was definitely worth the search. We stopped by the see if they could take us for lunch and thankfully they were able to accommodate us (the restaurant is very small, so best to book in advance!). We decided to sit at the counter looking into the kitc...hen so that we could watch the chefs prepare our food. Everything was so fresh, and it was wonderful to watch how the chief carefully put each of the dishes together. We ordered some local sake to go with our food and it was really smooth to drink. Overall it was a fabulous meal, made with tasty, fresh ingredients. I would rate this as the best food I had on my trip to Japan.

Visited October 2019

We had dinner on a Friday night at Taku. From central Sapporo we could catch a train three stops. It was a short walk to the restaurant which appeared to be in a suburban area. Surprisingly there were only four of us in the restaurant. We were seated at counter. There were only three working in th...e restaurant. The female chef was able to interpret for us and explain the dishes. The food was excellent quality and cooked right in front of us. We had the smaller tasting menu and the quantity was just right for us. We really enjoyed the meal as we could interact with the staff directly. It was also served at a speed which allowed us to enjoy the meal. They also had sake and other beverage options. Overall we had an enjoyable experience. Worth trying.

Visited June 2019

Everything about the place, it’s service and food was understated and done with care. While the team did not speak a lot of English, reservations via FB, explanation of the meal just gives you a warm feeling.

Visited February 2019

Last lunch at Hokkaido, a last minute scramble made out of the 2017 Hokkaido Michelin guide. Taxi driver failed to drop us off at the door step on a gloomy rainy day. Tricky to locate and on the alert being the only table initially. Yet Taku Maruyama team and Chef Wada managed to salvage them all.... We had the omaksase lunch and opened a bottle of sake from the home town of the chef. Enjoyed thoroughly all Hokkaido ingredients, from soup to nuts. Spinach crab salad amuse bouche whetted our appetite. The ending plateful of assorted dessert left us with a close to perfect impression. If we could be most fussy, there were a repeat of the freshest spinach in the memorable clear soup with the homemade endamame prawn ball and also a repeat of the sweetest uni during our sushi course. We look forward to tasting what Taku Maruyama brings to the table in a different season!

Visited August 2018