黃國棟's Reviews Page 8/10

When visiting Hokkaido, Calbee's Jaga Pokkuru definitely belongs on your souvenir list! Made at the Chitose factory in Hokkaido, these crispy potato sticks retain a rich potato flavor and are savory and addictive—you just can't stop eating them. They're also one of Hokkaido's most iconic and popular souvenirs, and it's easy to end up buying several boxes without even realizing it!

When traveling in Hokkaido, besides enjoying the food and scenery, Jaga Pokkuru is also one of the souvenirs I think is really worth bringing home. They're delicious as a gift and even better as a snack for yourself. Add them straight to your Hokkaido must-buy list!

A lot of people online recommend this as a must-try fruit sandwich when visiting Sapporo! These fruit sandwiches were carefully developed by a pastry chef, and they look tempting at first glance. I visited in the afternoon, and there were still quite a few items on the shelves, with plenty to choose from.

I ended up choosing the Sakura Strawberry. The flavor combination was very unique, with rich layers from the different ingredients coming together in each bite. It was sweet but not overly so. My favorite part was the fresh whipped cream. It was smooth without feeling heavy or greasy, and it went perfectly with the strawberries.

When in Hakodate, you have to try a bowl of authentic shio ramen!
Hakodate Noodle Kitchen AJISAI head restaurant is a well-known local ramen shop, so I made a special trip to try it. We ordered the shio ramen and miso ramen. After trying both, I preferred the shio ramen. The broth was light, smooth, and very pleasant to drink, while the miso tasted a little saltier to me.

Besides the ramen, I also recommend the fried chicken. It was crispy on the outside and juicy inside, and unexpectedly delicious. There was quite a crowd when we visited in the afternoon, and we waited about 1 full hour before getting to eat! But when we passed by again in the evening after coming down from Goryokaku Tower, there was hardly any line.

If you want to eat here without waiting too long, it may be better to avoid the afternoon rush and come in the evening!

On our trip to Obihiro, we made plans to try Tokachi's famous butadon, and Hanatokachi did not disappoint! The thick slices of pork were grilled until fragrant, and the meat was firm but not dry, with no porky smell at all. Paired with the restaurant's special sauce, the sweet and savory flavor soaked into the white rice, making every bite hard to resist.

You can choose pork belly, pork loin, or a combination. I personally prefer the pork loin because it has more texture. There's also a version with yam. The smooth yam paired with the pork and sauce creates a very unique texture! The amount of rice is also just right for women, and it's easy to finish the whole bowl.

You order using a QR code, and it's available in multiple languages, including Chinese, English, Korean, and Thai, so there's no need to worry even if it's your first time dining in Japan.

This udon restaurant is tucked away in an alley near Tanukikoji. It specializes in udon made with Hokkaido ingredients, paired with the Hokkaido specialty zangi fried chicken to create a distinctive “new Hokkaido specialty”!

The udon portion is generous, and the noodles are very springy and chewy, with a great texture. The freshly fried Hokkaido zangi is crispy outside, tender inside, and full of aroma. The fried chicken is also delicious.

A line starts forming outside during mealtimes, which shows just how popular it is! If you're shopping around Tanukikoji, consider heading into the alleys to look for this place.

When you come to Sapporo for ramen, Menya Saimi is definitely one place you shouldn’t miss for miso ramen! Apparently, even local Japanese people highly recommend it. It’s extremely popular, and a line often starts forming as soon as it opens.

The broth has a pork bone base, but the pork flavor isn’t too strong. Paired with fragrant miso, it’s rich without being overly heavy, with a noticeable soybean aroma. The overall flavor is very well balanced. The bean sprouts are an especially great addition. Even after being stir-fried until fragrant, they retain a wonderful smoky wok flavor and stay crisp and delicious after soaking in the broth! The chashu is also very tender, with just the right amount of fat, so it doesn’t feel greasy. Although waiting in line is honestly a little tough, it felt well worth it after eating. The broth, noodles, meat, and bean sprouts were all on point. If you come to Hokkaido, I really recommend having a bowl of Menya Saimi’s miso ramen!

Located near Odori Park, the Kitakaro Sapporo Main Store is housed in a renovated historic, retro-style building. The exterior is beautiful, and the inside is even more impressive. The interior is spacious and comfortable, making it a relaxing place to browse. Besides buying souvenirs, there’s also a café where you can sit down and enjoy dessert.

This time, I bought some sweets for an afternoon snack. The ice cream was pretty good, but I thought the cream puff was fairly ordinary. It had a lot of cream inside, which can get rich if you eat too much, so I wouldn’t recommend buying too many at once. Overall, besides buying sweets as souvenirs, this is also a great place to admire the beautiful architecture. It’s very convenient to stop by while sightseeing in central Sapporo!

If you come to Susukino in Sapporo and want to enjoy luxurious Hokkaido seafood, Sekkatei is definitely worth a visit! The restaurant is located near Tanukikoji. Once you step inside, the elegant Japanese-style interior instantly takes you away from the noise of the bustling district. At the center is an exquisite Japanese garden, surrounded by 15 private rooms, each with its own distinctive character. The dining atmosphere is comfortable and refined. The crab dishes are fresh and delicious. Although the prices are on the high side, sometimes you just have to splurge and enjoy the flavors of Hokkaido! Crab lovers shouldn't miss it.

When you come to Hokkaido, you have to dig into the seafood! Located on the east side of Sapporo's Nijo Market, Kondo Noboru Shoten opened in 1922 and is a long-established seafood shop with an attached sushi restaurant. It's also a well-known seafood spot recommended by many locals.

The thing I look forward to most at Nijo Market is tasting Hokkaido's fresh seafood! Whether it's sushi or a seafood rice bowl, the ingredients are fresh, the portions are generous, and the prices are relatively affordable. Eating bite after bite of fresh seafood is so satisfying!

When in Sapporo, you have to dig into Hokkaido’s fresh seafood! This time, I visited Seafood Restaurant Sakanaya no Daidokoro Main Store and ordered a generously heaped seafood rice bowl. It was covered with so much fresh seafood that just looking at it made my mouth water. The ingredients were fresh with a naturally sweet flavor, and every bite was full of delicious Hokkaido seafood. The restaurant uses fresh local seafood from Nijo Market, and the quality was very good. It’s not far from Odori Park and is easy to get to, making it a great stop to include in a Sapporo sightseeing itinerary. If you’re traveling to Hokkaido and love seafood, you really shouldn’t miss it!