Hokkaido Gourmet Guide - 29 Best Local Restaurants by Specialty Dish

Magic Spice is famous as the originator of the term “soup curry.”
The restaurant stands out with its flashy exterior, and inside you’ll find not only food but also Indonesian goods and clothing for sale.
The curry soup is inspired by the Indonesian dish Soto Ayam. It’s made with approx 30 different spices, creating a complex and delicate flavor with layers of sweetness, spiciness, and tanginess.

Soup Curry Garaku is a famous spot that’s always busy, with lines forming every day. They even hand out numbered tickets for those waiting. This soup curry specialty shop is well-known among locals.
What really sets it apart is the soup. The owner came up with a unique blend of Japanese-style broth, learned from a previous job at a udon restaurant, and spices. This creative mix is what made Garaku so popular.

Soup Curry TREASURE is a sister restaurant to the popular GARAKU in Sapporo.
The interior is mostly white and inspired by the West Coast of the United States. People love enjoying Sapporo’s soul food, soup curry, in this stylish space.
The most popular dish is the sizzling hamburger steak. It’s made with hand-shaped patties using Hokkaido beef and Shiretoko Sachiku pork, grilled on a hot plate, and served in soup curry.

The Sapporo Beer Garden is easily recognized by its red star logo painted on a brick chimney. The red star, once a symbol of Hokkaido’s pioneering spirit, is now beloved as the symbol of the Sapporo Beer Garden. Located in Sapporo, the birthplace of Japanese beer, this spot lets you enjoy beer in a unique setting. If you want to experience Hokkaido’s classic beer hall style, with fresh draft beer and Genghis Khan (grilled mutton), this is the place to go.

Jingisukan Daruma Main Branch opened in 1954. The name “Jingisukan” is a play on the word “Genghis Khan,” and Daruma’s Genghis Khan has become a specialty of Susukino. Here, fresh mutton is sourced daily and expertly cut just before opening. The mutton has a unique, rich flavor, and the special sauce, handmade by the owner since the restaurant’s founding, brings out the best in the meat.

This restaurant started with its own ranch just to open a Jingisukan shop. They handle everything from raising the sheep to processing, aging, and selling the meat. Only Suffolk sheep, known as the “king of meat,” are raised on the ranch. In Japan, where 99.5% of lamb is imported, this high-quality breed is a rare treat. The shop also offers a variety of cuts, making use of the whole animal.

Menya Saimi opened in 2000 after the owner spent approx 7 years training at the famous Sapporo shop “Sumire.” Building on the flavors of Sumire, the owner has added his own creative touch to Sapporo ramen. The soup is made with pork bones, aromatic vegetables, shiitake mushrooms, and kelp. Starting at 5 a.m. every day, the soup is carefully simmered to create a clear, refined broth.

Hakodate Noodle Kitchen AJISAI is a well-known spot for salt ramen in Hakodate. Founded in 1930, it’s been loved by locals and visitors alike for over 90 years. The medium-thin, soft wave noodles are specially made to match the soup. They’re known for how well they soak up the flavorful broth. Unusually, the ramen is topped with fu (wheat gluten), which adds color and a unique texture to the simple salt ramen, letting you enjoy the soup even more.

Asahikawa Ramen Mura (Village) opened in 1996 to share the appeal and culture of Asahikawa ramen. Seven local ramen shops have come together in this food complex. Inside, you’ll find long-standing favorites like Aoba, along with other popular Asahikawa shops. The seven shops compete and inspire each other to keep improving their flavors. There’s also the Asahikawa Ramen Village Shrine, where people pray for lasting relationships, inspired by the idea that bonds should be as hot as soup and as long as noodles.

This is the main branch of a local chain with several locations in Sapporo.
It’s famous for Hokkaido’s specialty zangi and hearty Chinese dishes. Zangi is similar to fried chicken, but the meat is marinated in a sweet and savory soy-based sauce before frying.
Each piece of zangi is handmade and fried using three different oil temperatures.
Another specialty here is “Mapo Noodle,” which is soy sauce ramen topped with less-soupy mapo tofu.

This casual diner and izakaya is near Nishi 18-chome Station on the Sapporo Subway Tozai Line.
It’s popular with locals for its generous portions and affordable prices, especially the zangi (fried chicken) and gyoza.
The signature zangi comes in three flavors: original, salt, and sauce. You can order them as set meals, or try the “Zangi Taste Comparison Set” if you want to sample them all. Perfect for anyone who wants to try everything!

This specialty udon shop makes its noodles in-house using top-quality Hokkaido wheat called “Kitahonami.”
The kelp used for the broth is also premium root kelp from Hidaka, Hokkaido. The udon, made with as many local ingredients as possible, is known for its firm texture and smooth finish.
Alongside the udon, the freshly fried, crispy zangi is another must-try.
The most popular dish is the “Oyako Bukkake,” which combines hot zangi and a soft-boiled egg tempura on top of udon.

This huge building, with seven floors above ground and two below, is entirely dedicated to crab cuisine. It’s one of the largest crab restaurants in Hokkaido.
There are private rooms of all sizes, plus a large hall that can seat up to 120 people, making it perfect for any occasion.
Enjoy a wide variety of luxurious crab dishes, featuring carefully selected king crab, snow crab, and hairy crab.

This is a specialty crab restaurant located right next to Nijo Market.
It’s run directly by a long-established seafood processing company from Nemuro, which has been in business for 55 years and specializes in crab. Thanks to this, you can enjoy fresh and reasonably priced crab dishes here.
The crab is shipped directly from Nemuro, one of Japan’s top ports for crab catches, so freshness is guaranteed.

Located inside the seafood market “Kita no Gourmet,” this eat-in space has 320 seats.
At Kita no Gourmet-tei, skilled chefs who know all about seafood prepare fresh dishes for you to enjoy.
The most popular item is the seafood rice bowl topped with 15 kinds of seafood.
Carefully selected seasonal ingredients are generously served on rice. There are also plenty of other rice bowl options, like salmon roe bowls and a special four-crab bowl, perfect for those who want to pick their favorites.

This is the first location of a hugely popular conveyor belt sushi brand that has even expanded to Tokyo.
Skilled chefs carefully prepare each piece of sushi using fresh seafood from Hokkaido. The lively atmosphere, with orders flying in one after another, is part of the fun.
Every morning, dedicated staff go to the market to select only the best ingredients. The seafood is delivered straight to the restaurant and prepared on-site to keep it as fresh as possible.

“Hanamaru” serves carefully selected seasonal fish from Nemuro as conveyor belt sushi.
You can enjoy the fun of watching and choosing your sushi, which is what makes conveyor belt sushi special, but they also take freshness seriously. That’s why this place is so popular.
This “Machi no Sushiya” is a different brand from Hanamaru, where the chefs make sushi right in front of you instead of using the conveyor belt system.

This conveyor belt sushi chain started in Nemuro, the easternmost part of Hokkaido. The popular branch is located inside JR Tower Stellar Place, directly connected to JR Sapporo Station.
Known for its fresh seafood sourced from the fishing town of Nemuro, the restaurant offers a wide variety of authentic toppings. The reasonable prices you’d expect from conveyor belt sushi make every location a hit, drawing crowds of visitors.
This branch, with its convenient access from JR Sapporo Station, is especially popular. You’ll often see long lines in front of the restaurant.

This long-standing yakitori restaurant has been loved by locals for over 70 years since it opened in 1950.
Its specialty is "Shinko-yaki," a famous soul food of Asahikawa.
The juicy and tender "Shinko-yaki" is grilled carefully for approx 40 minutes and comes in a generous portion. You can choose between sauce or salt for the seasoning.

Founded in 1950, this long-standing restaurant serves “Muroran Yakitori,” a soul food of Muroran.
They offer skewers of pork, onion, and yellow mustard grilled over charcoal, following the Muroran yakitori style.
Among the many yakitori specialty shops in the city, this historic spot is especially popular.
Inside, you’ll find antique wooden furniture and jazz music playing, creating a retro, Taisho-era romantic vibe that makes it a cozy place to relax.

Founded in 1961, Snow Brand Parlor Sapporo Main Store is a long-established sweets shop with over 50 years of history in Sapporo.
Inside, you can try the ice cream once made for the Emperor and Empress of Japan, over 30 types of parfaits, and meal options. At the entrance shop, you can also buy souvenirs and soft-serve ice cream.

Recently, more and more night parfait specialty shops have been opening.
The original shop that started this trend is “Parfaiteria PaL” in Sapporo.
Their parfaits use plenty of fresh fruit sorbet and refreshing gelato, aiming for desserts like those served at high-end French restaurants. By keeping the sweetness in check, they’re designed to taste best after you’ve had a drink.

Originally built as the Hokkaido Prefectural Library, this historic Western-style building was transformed into the Kitakaro Sapporo Main Store in March 2016. The eye-catching, retro-modern architecture is designed by world-renowned architect Tadao Ando, seamlessly blending the old with the new for an exterior and interior that’s stirs with sleek elegance.
On the first floor, you'll find a shop selling a variety of Kitakaro's popular Japanese and Western sweets, including the famous Hokkaido Kaitaku Okaki, widely talked-about baumkuchen, and an assortment of cream puffs. The shop also offers soft-serve ice cream with a rich vanilla flavor, which you can enjoy on a bench nearby.

A famous spot for Tokachi’s specialty, butadon—grilled pork with a sweet and savory sauce served over rice.
They use Hokkaido pork loin with just the right amount of fat.
The sauce is homemade in the shop using plenty of sake and honey, with no additives at all. The light yet rich sauce pairs perfectly with the pork.

There are said to be nearly 200 butadon specialty shops in Obihiro, but this one is especially popular with locals.
Run directly by a meat processing company, they serve fresh, high-quality pork.
At Butadon Ichiban, you can choose from pork loin, belly, or fillet, and there are also mixed options like loin and belly. Pick your favorite butadon depending on your mood that day.

A butadon specialty shop with over 90 years of history.
The menu is unique, with ranks named Matsu, Take, Ume, and Hana, in order of grade.
The thick-cut premium pork loin comes in 4, 5, 6, or 8 slices depending on the grade, but the rice portion stays the same. It’s a menu designed for those who want to fully enjoy the pork.

A popular spot in Susukino, Sapporo’s busiest entertainment district.
The most popular dish is the “Kinki Sashimi,” made from line-caught kinki fish from Abashiri, prepared fresh on site. Dip the fatty fish in homemade ponzu sauce for a mild yet rich flavor that fills your mouth. After enjoying the sashimi, the leftover fish is used to make a vegetable hot pot, which is also a must-try. Other favorites include freshly boiled hairy crab and sashimi made from live squid delivered from southern Hokkaido.

Located in the lively Tanukikoji 3-chome arcade in Sapporo, this restaurant specializes in dishes made with soup and fermented foods.
Their hot pots use a secret broth made from carefully simmered Hokkaido chicken bones, a recipe passed down for over 45 years. Choose from more than 10 flavors, including soy sauce, salt, miso, curry, and chige (spicy hot pot). You’ll find something new to enjoy every time you visit.

Sapporo Nijo Fish Market is home to around 20 fresh fish shops, each offering a selection of seafood caught that very day.
There are also plenty of restaurants inside the market, where you can enjoy sushi, seafood rice bowls, grilled seafood, and more.
If you just want a little taste, try the eat-in corners attached to some of the fish shops.

When it comes to Kushiro’s kitchen, Washo Market is the first name that comes to mind.
Established in 1954, it’s the oldest market in Kushiro and is known as one of Hokkaido’s top three markets.
Over 40 shops gather here, selling mainly seafood, but also groceries and fruit.
The market’s signature dish is the famous “Katte-don.”
You pick your favorite seafood and pile it on rice right there.
This make-your-own seafood bowl is a unique experience you can only have at a market with such a wide selection of fresh seafood.

Directly connected to the Sapporo Central Wholesale Market Curb market, the Outer Market is divided into 10 blocks.
Inside, around 60 shops are packed with delicious Hokkaido ingredients.
There are also plenty of dining options. The “Outer Market Meals” menu features everything from seafood dishes to pork curry and ramen. You can choose whatever suits your mood.