On September 12, 2025, a new dining spot where you can enjoy the flavors of local ingredients all at once opened in the food court of AEON Obihiro. It’s called “Tokachi Tora Chubo.”
From meat dishes and noodles to sweets, the menu is wonderfully diverse. For travelers, it’s a place to encounter the “tastes of Tokachi” while on the road; for locals, it’s a spot to rediscover the deliciousness of their homeland.
We’ll showcase the concept of Tora Chubo and the manager’s must-try dishes to fully convey its flavors and charm.
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“Tora Chubo” is a new dining brand that has appeared in the food court of AEON Obihiro in Obihiro City. It’s operated by Rookie Farm Co., Ltd., which runs a number of beloved local restaurants such as Jungle Curry and Yakiniku no Tora.
“Tokachi Butadon Himawari,” which used to operate in the same food court, has been renewed to coincide with the opening of “Tora Chubo.” By combining the two brands, guests can now enjoy a broad lineup of about 40 items, including yakiniku bento, butadon (pork rice bowls), ramen, and more.
The appeal of “Tora Chubo” goes beyond its extensive menu. It offers many dishes that make the most of Tokachi’s ingredients and processing techniques, sharing “Tokachi’s food culture” from the approachable setting of a food court.
For visitors, it’s a place to discover new flavors on their journey; for locals, it’s somewhere to rediscover everyday deliciousness. “Tora Chubo” is a new spot where many people can savor “the tastes of Tokachi.”
A New Approach to Local Ingredients in the Signature “Tora-ryu” Style
The heart of “Tora Chubo” is its unique “Tora-ryu” style.
To bring out the best in local ingredients, they develop new dishes without being bound by conventional cooking methods, freely crossing the boundaries between Japanese and Western techniques.
Behind this is a straightforward desire to share the charm of Tokachi’s cuisine with more people. They aim to go beyond the typical framework of a food court, helping expand consumption of local products while giving visitors a chance to truly experience “the deliciousness of Tokachi.”
Because Rookie Farm has developed a wide variety of dining formats, they can realize a menu that isn’t constrained by existing ideas. That is the essence of the “Tora-ryu style.”
A Deep Dive into Tora Chubo’s Extensive Menu and Highlights
It’s common for everyone to crave something different that day. Whether you come with family or friends, there’s always a dish that will satisfy everyone—that breadth is one of Tora Chubo’s charms. Here, we’ll introduce the abundant lineup of roughly 40 menu items in full.
Yakiniku Bento | The Signature Dish Showcasing Tokachi’s Branded Beef
A can’t-miss signature is the yakiniku bento. Among them, the dish featuring the branded beef proudly raised by Toyonishi Farm is a must-try.
The “Tokachi Obihiro Yukimi Wagyu Yakiniku Bento” (¥1,150) uses “Yukimi Wagyu,” whose marbling is as beautiful as snowflakes.
Take a bite and the pure-white fat gently blooms with sweetness, melting away to an involuntary sigh. The finish is surprisingly light, leaving only the lingering savoriness of the beef on your tongue.
Meanwhile, the “Bara Kalbi Bento” (¥1,380), made with “Toyonishi Beef,” the flagship brand of Toyonishi Farm, boasts the robust flavor of lean meat.
Because the meat is leaner and less fatty, you can fully enjoy the genuine flavor of beef that expands with every chew.
Yakiniku Bento: Sample Menu
・Tokachi Obihiro Yukimi Wagyu Yakiniku Bento ¥1,150
・Tokachi Himuro-Aged Pork Grilled Tsukune Bento ¥880
・Tora-ryu Grilled Beef Tongue Bento (4 slices) ¥1,280
・Tora-ryu Grilled Beef Outside Skirt Bento (4 slices) ¥1,180
・Tokachi Obihiro “Obihiro Beef” Bulgogi Bento ¥1,080
・Tora-ryu Tartar Chicken Nanban Bento ¥880
・Hand-cut Lamb Jingisukan Bento, Himuro-Style ¥1,780, etc.
Butadon | Tokachi’s Soul Food Evolved with Himuro Aging
Beloved for generations as the local soul food, the butadon lets you choose loin or belly with multiple size options. From hearty eaters to those wanting something lighter, you can pick based on your appetite.
Obihiro is a fierce battleground with many butadon shops, but Tora Chubo’s version is a cut above. It features “Tokachi Himuro-Aged Pork,” finished with a special method for a flavor you can’t get anywhere else.
Himuro aging uses about 50 tons of natural ice stored beneath the “Toyo Meat Tokachi Plant” in the city, maturing the meat in an environment kept at 0°C with 70–80% humidity. Over time, it draws out umami and achieves an astonishingly tender texture.
The depth of flavor created by this special method brings a fresh surprise even to locals accustomed to butadon and delivers an unforgettable experience to visitors.
Butadon: Sample Menu
・Loin Butadon “Mashi” (8 slices) / Belly Butadon “Mashi” (10 slices) each ¥1,380
・Loin Butadon 70% Portion (4 slices) / Belly Butadon 70% Portion (6 slices) each ¥890, etc.
Noodles | A One-of-a-Kind Ramen Topped with Soy “Soboro”
Beyond the classics—shoyu, shio, and miso—“Tokachi Tora Chubo” also serves original ramen packed with its own ideas. The highlight is the “Ramen with Tokachi-Grown Soy ‘Soboro’” (¥980).
The spicy soy crumble made with JA Obihiro Kawanishi’s soy meat is so rich in umami that some say it’s “tastier than meat.” It entwines with the rich beef-bone broth base, delivering deep complexity with every sip.Its soy-based origins also make it a healthy choice—perfect for guilt-free enjoyment.
What’s more, they lavishly top it with “Tokachi Himuro-Aged Pork,” also used in the butadon, as chashu. Tender and moist, the more you chew, the more umami floods out—a flavor you can only experience here. The fragrant steam will tempt you to finish the broth—this is a bowl the manager proudly recommends.
Noodles: Sample Menu
・Tora-ryu Ramen with Tokachi Wheat Noodles (Miso / Tonkotsu Shoyu / Shio Tonkotsu) each ¥880
・Tora-ryu Chashu Ramen with Tokachi Himuro-Aged Pork (Tonkotsu Shoyu / Shio Tonkotsu) each ¥1,280
・Zaru Soba ¥780
・Meat Soba ¥980, etc.
Curry | “Tora-ryu Curry” Infused with Time-Honored Technique and Tokachi’s Bounty
The curry at “Tokachi Tora Chubo” carries on the techniques of “Jungle Curry,” a long-loved local favorite, further refined with original touches into the evolved “Tora-ryu style.” With every spoonful, the aroma of spices and layered umami fills your mouth.
The signature “Tora-ryu Beef Curry” blends the richness of slow-cooked beef with the mellow fragrance of spices—authentic and satisfying—yet it’s just ¥590 (tax included), making it easy on the wallet.
Another favorite, “Tokachi Cheese Curry” (¥740), swirls hot curry with melty Tokachi cheese for added creaminess and body. With each bite, you can taste more of the region’s bounty.
Curry: Sample Menu
・Tora-ryu Cutlet Curry with Tokachi Himuro-Aged Pork ¥1,100
・Tokachi Cheese Curry ¥740, etc.
Desserts | Popular Local Sweets Made with Rare Summer Strawberries from Ashoro
Desserts that brighten the end of your meal are also a major draw at “Tokachi Tora Chubo.” The Jersey soft-serve carefully crafted at the in-house factory of Takada Farm in Shikaoi offers rich dairy depth with gentle sweetness.
The star is the “Strawberry Soft-Serve” (¥580), lavishly made with Ashoro-grown “Sweetie Aman” strawberries.
Vivid red fruit sauce drapes over snowy-white soft-serve, making it as eye-catching as it is tasty. One bite brings together the rich sweetness of the soft-serve and the bright sweet-tart notes of the strawberries, creating a local treat that warms the heart.
“Sweetie Aman” is a rare summer strawberry grown in greenhouses that harness Hokkaido’s cool climate and geothermal heat from hot springs. Domestic summer strawberries are scarce, and these berries—colored through to the core—are high in sugar and wonderfully aromatic. Thanks to their quality, they’re highly valued by pâtisseries and fruit parlors.
Soft-serve piled high with these special strawberries has become a beloved “treat you can only get here,” even among locals.
Desserts: Sample Menu
・Strawberry Soft-Serve (Sweetie Aman) ¥580
・Haskap & Blueberry Soft-Serve ¥480
・Azuki & Cinnamon Cookie Soft-Serve ¥580, etc.
New Ways to Enjoy Obihiro’s Food at “Tokachi Tora Chubo”
“Tora Chubo,” newly opened in the AEON Obihiro food court, is a special place where you can enjoy food-court fare that goes beyond the ordinary. With free-spirited creativity applied to Tokachi’s proud ingredients, the menu ranges from yakiniku bento and butadon to ramen, curry, and sweets—each crafted with care.
For visitors, it’s a place to taste the charms of Tokachi all at once; for locals, it’s a “special treat close to home” that brings new discoveries.
When a group or family can’t agree—“I want yakiniku,” “No, butadon or ramen sounds great”—you’ll still find a dish that satisfies everyone. Be sure to stop by and experience the locally rooted flavors of the “Tora-ryu” style.
【information】
Address: 1 Nishi 4-jō Minami 20-chōme, Obihiro, Hokkaido (inside AEON Obihiro food court)
Phone: 0155-66-6351
Hours: 11:00–21:00 (L.O. 20:30)
Access: About 13 minutes from the Obihiro Kawanishi IC exit on the Obihiro-Hiroo Expressway
