Shirakaba Chaya in Bibai: Torimeshi and the Off-Menu Omurice

Shirakaba Chaya is a roadside restaurant on Route 12 in Bibai, along Japan's longest straight road. It serves Bibai's torimeshi, chicken rice cooked in broth, one of the town's local dishes.

Torimeshi omurice

My favorite is the torimeshi omurice: the chicken rice, full of broth flavor, wrapped in a soft, runny omelet. It is not on the menu, so ask for "torimeshi omuraisu" (とりめしオムライス); showing the words on your phone works.

The salt ramen and torimeshi set is also good; the ramen soup and the chicken rice go perfectly together.

The salt ramen and torimeshi set at Shirakaba Chaya

The menu at Shirakaba Chaya, with torimeshi, ramen and soba sets

It is popular, and it can be full even at 11:30 on a weekday, so aim to arrive when it opens at 11:00 (leave Sapporo around 9:30). There are boxed lunches to take away too.

Hours and parking

What	Details
Hours	Meals from 11:00 (boxed lunches from 10:00) until the torimeshi runs out
Closed	The 1st, 3rd and 5th Tuesdays of the month (may change around holidays)
Seats	40
Parking	Free, about 30 cars

See the official site (in Japanese) for details.

How to get there

From Sapporo: about an hour and a half on ordinary roads: Route 12 runs straight out of the city toward Asahikawa, through Ebetsu and Iwamizawa. The expressway runs alongside but saves little time.

From New Chitose Airport: a little over an hour and a half, via Naganuma, joining Route 12 at Iwamizawa.

Finding it: Look for the blue "とりめし" (torimeshi) sign on the left.