1. Hakodate’s Pride: Lucky Pierrot

Nice to meet you. I’m Nao Takai, a kimono-loving food writer with a deep passion for Hokkaido.To date, I’ve eaten my way through all 179 municipalities in Hokkaido (including four remote islands) and conquered over 5,000 restaurants! I continue to share the charms of Hokkaido’s cuisine primarily through various media outlets—including TV and magazines—as well as my website “MOGTRIP” and social media.

Today, I’d like to introduce you to “Lucky Pierrot,” a source of pride for Hakodate. Ever since I first visited 26 years ago, this enchanting local restaurant has drawn me in every time I visit Hakodate. While its hamburgers tend to get all the attention, the restaurant is actually brimming with many other charms.

Almost all the ingredients used—from rice and vegetables to meat, eggs, and dairy products—are sourced from Hokkaido (subject to seasonal availability). The lettuce and tomatoes come from Hokuto, and the restaurant places great importance on its relationships with producers in the southern Hokkaido region.

But its appeal goes far beyond the food itself.For example, they’ve adopted a “made-to-order system” that ensures every meal is served fresh, and each location operates as a “theme restaurant,” creating a unique atmosphere—it’s packed with creative touches that keep things interesting. It’s not uncommon to see long lines, but the sight of locals and tourists standing side by side in line has become a familiar part of Hakodate’s daily landscape.

While we now live in an era where gourmet foods from across the country are available at events and through online shopping, Lucky Pierrot is a special experience that can only be savored by visiting in person. The more you learn about Lucky Pierrot, the more you’ll want to visit again and again—so let’s start by exploring its appeal through its must-try signature dishes!

2. The Must-Try Classic: “Chinese Chicken Burger”

When it comes to Lucky Pierrot, you absolutely can’t miss its undisputed No. 1 menu item: the “Chinese Chicken Burger” (commonly known as “Chai-Chiki”).

“Chinese Chicken” refers to fried chicken coated in a sweet and spicy sauce—an original creation of the restaurant that offers a crispy exterior and a juicy interior.Three pieces of this chicken, along with lettuce grown in the Hakodate area, are sandwiched between a bun generously topped with white sesame seeds. When you add a generous dollop of mayonnaise sauce, it transforms into an exquisite flavor that everyone will agree is perfect. You’ll find yourself smiling involuntarily at this perfectly balanced deliciousness.

If you’re looking for something even heartier, we recommend upgrading your Chinese Chicken Burger. There are actually several variations available: the “Take” with a fried egg, the “Matsu” with cheese, and the “Tokujo,” which luxuriously combines both. Choose your favorite flavor based on your mood that day.

3. The Side Dishes: Surprisingly Addictive and Delicious

The rich, creamy sauce is irresistible. “Original Raki Potato”

While the burgers tend to steal the spotlight, the side dishes are also full of unique character. One absolute must-try is the “Original Raki Potatoes,” generously topped with meat sauce and white sauce. Served in a mug, they make quite an impressive visual statement.

You’ll definitely have room for this! The “Silk Mix Soft-Serve” with a refreshing aftertaste

“Soft-Serve Ice Cream” is actually a popular item as well. Even when you’re full from one of their hearty meals, it’s not too rich, so it goes down easily. It’s a well-balanced treat that you can enjoy right to the last bite, even when you’re already full.

4. There’s More to It Than Just Burgers: Other Ways to Enjoy It

Including store-exclusive items, Lucky Pierrot offers a lineup of over 140 different menu items. Honestly, it’s a waste to leave after just having a burger!

My personal recommendation: “Chinese Chicken Omurice”

My top recommendation besides the burgers is the “Chinese Chicken Omurice,” available at 13 of their 17 locations. It’s a hearty dish featuring 330 grams of ketchup rice wrapped in eggs equivalent to four large eggs. Of course, it’s not just big—it’s so delicious you won’t be able to stop eating it!It also comes with their popular Chinese-style chicken, making it incredibly satisfying.

Since I can’t possibly finish such a huge portion, I always order the “Ladies Set” version of the omelet rice. For the same price, the portion is scaled down to three eggs and 200 grams of ketchup rice, but it comes with a small oolong tea instead.

5. There are plenty of other recommended menu items, too!

Recommended Menu Item #1: Lucky Katsu Don

It might come as a surprise, but Lucky Pierrot—a hamburger specialty shop—also offers a Japanese dish called the “Lucky Katsudon.” It features a crispy, lightly fried pork cutlet and plenty of onions, all gently simmered in a fluffy egg sauce, creating a flavor that evokes a sense of nostalgia. The sauce is subtly sweet, making for a relatively light and refreshing meal—another great perk.

The value for money on this hearty bowl is so impressive, you’ll find yourself doing a double-take. Many customers who come in for a hamburger end up having their eyes drawn to the Katsu Don on the menu. It’s a dish we highly recommend even to die-hard hamburger fans—you’ll definitely want to give it a try at least once.

Recommended Dish #2: Hamburger Steak

The “Hamburg Steak,” available at 12 of the 17 locations, is another favorite on the menu. Just like the wildly popular side dish “Raki-Pote,” it’s generously topped with a combination of meat sauce and white sauce. It offers a flavor unique to Lucky Pierrot—a bit different from the hamburg steaks you’d find at a typical Western-style restaurant.

The set comes with french fries, onion rings, and even a serving of rice. The more you expect this to be just a hamburger specialty shop, the more surprised you’ll be by the depth of the menu.

Recommended Menu Item #3: The Undisputed #1 Best-Seller: Draft Beer Set

At the three locations near major tourist spots—the Suehiro Marina Branch, Hakodate Station Branch, and Goryokaku Branch—you can also enjoy draft beer. Starting at 5:00 PM, a great value set featuring draft beer and “Chai-Chiki” becomes available, so if you enjoy a drink, be sure to try a “Lucky Pierrot drink.”

6. Don’t miss the souvenirs that’ll get you excited just by looking at them!

Lucky Pierrot’s appeal isn’t limited to just the food. In fact, they also sell souvenirs in-store, and every item is an original creation. The selection is surprisingly diverse, ranging from sweets like manju, cookies, and potato chips to original merchandise such as T-shirts, hoodies, and mugs.

The No. 1 best-seller, “Lucky Guaraná,” is a smash hit that sells 120,000 cans a year. It features the store’s mascot, “Hi! Lucky-kun,” on the label, giving it a truly eye-catching design.

When it comes to souvenirs, people tend to choose sweet treats, but there are surely many who prefer non-sweet items. “Instant curry” and “bagged ramen”—which perfectly meet those consumer needs—rank second and third, respectively.

The curry lineup includes five varieties: “Medium Spicy,” “Hot,” “Keema,” “Butter Chicken,” and “Medium Spicy Soup Curry.” The ramen lineup features four varieties: “Salt,” “Soy Sauce,” “Miso,” and “Dan Dan Noodles.” Notably, the salt ramen has reportedly received the seal of approval from Chef Zhou Fude, the “Flaming Chef” who once appeared on TV shows.

7. Recommended Locations for Travelers (Including Hidden Gems!)

Lucky Pierrot operates a total of 17 locations, primarily in Hakodate, but the menu, number of seats, and atmosphere vary by location. Here, we’ll introduce three stores that are especially recommended for travelers.

① “Marina Suehiro Branch”—One of the Few Places Where You Can Enjoy Draft Beer

Located in the “Bay Area,” the heart of Hakodate tourism, this restaurant is right across from the Kanamori Red Brick Warehouses. The Hakodate Mountain Ropeway and the Motomachi area are also within walking distance, making this a convenient stop if you’re planning to visit these spots together.

The interior is designed in an “Old American” style, and the windows offer a superb view of Hakodate Harbor. It’s also one of the few locations where you can enjoy draft beer. Treat yourself to a luxurious moment with a cold beer and a hamburger while gazing out at the beautiful ocean.

It also features a spacious souvenir corner with one of the best selections in the area. This is a top-recommended spot where you can kill two birds with one stone by taking your time to browse original merchandise and gourmet foods.

While lines are inevitable at shops near popular tourist spots, this large restaurant—boasting a total of 154 seats—allows for relatively smooth entry. It’s a reliable option you can head to immediately if the “Bay Area Main Store” (32 seats), located about a 2-minute walk away, is full.

② “Hakodate Ekimae Branch,” Open from 8:00 AM

This is the closest branch to Hakodate Station, located right in front of the Hakodate Morning Market. It has the longest operating hours of all 17 branches, opening as early as 8:00 a.m.—a definite plus. It’s the perfect spot for breakfast, a quick bite while waiting for a train, or to kick off your sightseeing day.

The interior is themed around “red”—a color dearly loved by the French painter Henri Matisse—creating a passionate, retro atmosphere. Like the Marina Suehiro branch, it’s also one of the few locations across the chain where you can enjoy “draft beer.”
Although it’s a spacious restaurant with a total of 74 seats, it’s always bustling thanks to its prime location right in front of the morning market. From the 8:00 a.m. opening until late at night, it’s filled with a pleasant, lively atmosphere no matter when you visit.

③ The author’s recommended hidden gem: “Jujigai Ginza Branch”

It is the only branch among all locations with seating on the second floor. This is a hidden gem I highly recommend; although it’s only about a 7-minute walk from the aforementioned Marina Suehiro branch, I’ve never once encountered it being overly crowded. It attracts many local patrons and serves as a quiet retreat known only to those in the know, far removed from the hustle and bustle of the tourist area.

The theme of the Jujigai Ginza branch is “Christmas.” Inside the store, where a Christmas tree sparkles year-round, a total of about 5,000 Santa Claus figures welcome you. Greens and lights inspired by fir trees add color, creating a very romantic and photogenic atmosphere.

With a total of just 24 seats, it’s a particularly compact location, and the only drawback is that you have to climb a flight of stairs to reach the dining area—but I suspect this might actually be the branch that’s most popular among women.

8. A Column by Food Writer Nao Takai on Her Favorite Picks

This was my first visit to Hakodate in about three years. It had been a while since I’d been to Lucky Pierrot, but I found that its charm—from its commitment to quality ingredients to its overwhelming portion sizes—remained completely unchanged. Maintaining consistent deliciousness may seem simple at first glance, but it’s actually the most difficult thing to achieve. When I think about the corporate efforts behind it, even the time spent waiting in line feels precious.

What struck me once again is that, while the food is delicious, of course, the restaurant truly excels in its “entertainment value.” With limited-edition menus unique to each location, an overwhelming variety of souvenirs, and themed atmospheres, the place is brimming with so many creative touches that you’ll never get bored no matter how many times you visit—and I haven’t even experienced them all yet.

That’s why I find it strangely convincing—and by no means an exaggeration—that there are die-hard fans who say, “When staying in Hakodate, I eat three meals a day at Lucky Pierrot!” Every time I visit, I understand more deeply why it has been loved by both tourists and locals for so many years.

Be sure to visit various locations and find the way to enjoy it that suits you best♩

Enjoy Hakodate 120%! “OMO5 Hakodate by Hoshino Resorts,” a downtown hotel perfect for sightseeing

Located just a 5-minute walk from JR Hakodate Station, this hotel offers excellent direction and is the perfect base for exploring all that Hakodate has to offer. After a full day of sightseeing, warm your body gently in the amber-colored, naturally flowing hot spring and enjoy a moment of relaxation.The next morning, a luxurious breakfast buffet—featuring seafood rice bowls made with your choice of toppings—will set the tone for a special day.
Why not head out to Hakodate, a city that will satisfy both your stomach and your soul?