Sapporo
Dining And Drinking

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Sapporo is blessed with an abundant availability of fresh seafood, locally grown seasonal fruits, vegetables and cereals, and the country’s finest dairy products. So do not be surprised by the high quality of the food served in the city.

Chūō-ku

Sapporo has some of the best sushi restaurants in the world. Whether you eat in a kaitenzushi, where the plates are delivered on a conveyor belt and prices are reasonable, or you elect to splurge in one of the top restaurants, the quality will always be good. An excellent choice is Kikuzushi, which has been in business for 80 years, and is a legend among locals.

No visit to Hokkaido would be complete without at least one crab dinner. If you have the money, spoil yourself and head for Sapporo Kani Honke, one of the best crab restaurants in Sapporo. Although crab generally tends to be on the expensive side, you do not have to break the bank to enjoy it.

To the average Japanese citizen, the word ramen is almost synonymous with Sapporo, and not without good reason: Sapporo Ramen, noodles served in a delicious miso broth, is just about the national dish. There are ramen restaurants all over the city, each serving the noodles in its own particular way. The best way to feed a ramen fix is to head for Shin Ramen Yokocho, an arcade of about twenty ramen restaurants. Toranoya serves traditional Japanese dishes with no preservatives.

Local specialties in Hokkaido are not all based on seafood. There are many restaurants that specialize in Gengis Khan, a Mongolian-style barbecue of marinated lamb and vegetables that you grill yourself in a cast iron pan at your table. Many of these restaurants offer all you can eat and drink deals for a fixed price, so the ambiance is generally on the raucous side, which makes them ideal settings for parties.

Just about every major European and American cuisine is represented in Sapporo. Great views over the city complement the food served up at Sky Restaurant Ambrosia. If you feel like a burger, and not just the fast food variety, check out Nuts Café, which is as close to a real American eatery as you will find anywhere in Japan.

Odori Koen and Higashi-ku

Have a hamburger the traditional Japanese way, bun-less, at Bikkuri Donkey, a restaurant that that is well-suited for adults and children alike. Kairinmaru specializes in serving delicious and artful sushi rolls and sashimi platters in a rustic atmosphere. Both of these restaurants also brew their own variety of beer, so be sure to sample it for something truly unique.

Sapporo has many excellent restaurants serving food from different regions of China. Gyoza, dumplings filled with meat and vegetables, is a specialty in many places. Korean restaurants are also very popular, and they generally serve yakiniku, which is a Korean-style barbecue, as well as fabulous rice dishes like bibimba and the fiery pickled cabbage known as kimchi. If you haven’t tried Korean food before, check out Yakiniku Tokuju.

Many restaurants in the city address the needs of budget travelers. At the top end of this category are the family restaurants like Jonathan’s, Skylark and Denny’s. Meals at these restaurants usually cost below JPY1,000. Then there are the international fast food chains and local versions like Mos Burger. There are also many Japanese fast foods that satisfy the appetite and do not empty the wallet. Yoshinoya, for example, is a chain restaurant that serves gyudon, a bowl of rice topped with marinated sliced beef. The cheapest meal here is a bargain at only JPY300.

Sapporo, with its vast dairy industry, is also a paradise for those with a sweet tooth. You will find cafes specializing in cakes and desserts, such as Calcio D'angolo, dotted throughout the city. Whatever you crave, you will find it in Sapporo.