Sapporo Restaurants: What to Eat in Japan’s Delicious North

Hokkaido has the freshest and most abundant variety of fish and seafood in all of Japan, so it’s no surprise that Sapporo restaurants offers some of the best sushi around.

At Sushiya no Yamada, enjoy the “Northern Sushi” set with 10 pieces of fresh from Hokkaido’s coasts, including tuna, flounder, prawn, scallops, abalone, surf clam, salmon, crab, sea urchin, and salmon roe. They also offer a range of dishes made with seasonal local ingredients, such as edible wild plants in the spring, homegrown tomatoes, and mushrooms from Otaki village. Be sure to order one extra piece of the luxurious “Kinki Nigiri”, made with premium Kichiji rockfish from Rausu, Hokkaido.

Sitting at a counter seat is highly recommended at Sushi Saiko, so you can marvel at the display showcases housing the freshest seafood--rare ingredients like Hokkaido natural king salmon (masunosuke) and Hokkaido’s high-grade bafun uni (sea urchin). Enjoy a Prix Fixe Meal featuring the chef’s choice of exquisite nigiri sushi followed by sashimi, nimono (simmered dishes), yakimono (grilled dishes), soup, and other items. The specialty at Sushi Saiko is anago (conger eel), seared lightly to give it a melt-in-the-mouth texture.

Izakaya are the epicurean gastropubs of Japan, and excellent places to spend a night out enjoying Sapporo food and drinks.

Sake enthusiasts will want to visit Basue no Wagao, where 40 different varieties of Japanese sake are on offer, with as many as 20 types available on the all-you-can-drink menu. Try premium Japanese sake in a social, relaxing atmosphere while enjoying such delicacies as “Free-range Chicken Tataki” (seared raw chicken), and superbly fresh live abalone. The abalone’s unique texture and aromatic flavor of the sea is best eaten in hearty mouthfuls!

At Robatayaki Hamakko, savor exotic flavors in perfect proportions like Atka mackerel sashimi and dishes made with Hokkaido venison. Their specialty is “Oysters Baked In Miso”, a dish that visitors travel from outside of Hokkaido just to try. Fresh, juicy Hokkaido oysters are coated in house-made white miso and baked until rich and creamy.

One of Japan’s most beloved noodle dishes, ramen, comes in a large number of regional variations. In Hokkaido, the local version is a miso ramen, which you can enjoy in Sapporo restaurants.

Visit for ramen made with fresh Hokkaido ingredients such as gyoja garlic, a type of alpine leek known for its rejuvenating effects. Ichiryuuan’s quality noodles are produced exclusively using wheat from Hokkaido, featuring an original blend of the Hokushin, Kita No Kaori, and Yumechikara brands, and have a satisfying al dente texture. Enjoy the local specialty “Revitalizing Miso Ramen Noodles” made with aged malted rice miso and topped with gyoja garlic and aged malted rice miso. Ichiryuuan also offers “New Shoyu Ramen Noodles” made with specially selected soy sauce and a concentrated seafood stock of scallops, clams, salmon and kelp, for a flavorful harmony.

Yakiniku (Japanese barbecue) restaurants are an excellent way to enjoy Japan’s premium domestic wagyu beef. Enjoy fresh cuts of meat and vegetables grilled tableside on a charcoal or gas brazier.

At Sapporo restaurant Yakinikuya Kane-chan, enjoy unconventional cuts of meat with incredible flavor, including a recent specialty, the specially selected "jo-sagari” cut from the diaphragm area near the ribs. The Specially selected Jo-sagari cut is heralded for its incredible marbling and flavor, and Kane-chan provides a special “tsuke tare” sauce to go with it. Be sure to also try their specialty Beef Waraji, an extremely rare cut of beef sourced from the cow’s head.

For yakiniku at its very best, look no further than Sankatei by Totori Foods, where each cut of meat is selected in its prime and served at the peak of its flavor. Sankatei uses only the highest quality, freshest meat for their yakiniku, and their secret dipping sauce has been carefully prepared to strike a balance between sweet and spicy flavors. If you’re after a plentiful meat dish, be sure to try their popular menu item, the “King Spare Rib”. This Korean-style spare rib is marinated in tare sauce and grilled then cut before serving.

A popular Sapporo food is Ghenghis Khan (jingisukan), a style of Japanese barbecue featuring thinly sliced cuts of lamb and vegetables cooked on a helmet-shaped grill. It’s believed to be inspired by ancient warriors in Mongolia and their uniquely shaped head-wear.

Enjoy a luxury twist on everyday jingisukan barbecue at Genghis Khan Hitsujikai no Mise “Itadakimasu”, where they offer the very best premium lamb for their dishes. The meat is sourced from in-house farms, allowing Hitsujikai no Mise “Itadakimasu” to offer high quality lamb at a reasonable price. Their lambs have been specially bred for their fine texture, tender meat, and flavorful juiciness and are harvested between 10 and 16 months of age when the meat is richer and more flavorful than traditional mutton. This luxury meat is only produced and sold in limited quantities in Japan, so be sure to visit Hitsujikai no Mise “Itadakimasu” for the finest taste of this Hokkaido delicacy.

French food is highly prized in Japan, and Sapporo restaurants offer several excellent options for French cuisine.

One of these is Restaurant Cote D’or, which specializes in meat dishes featuring Hokkaido ingredients as a centerpiece, and course meals carefully constructed around them. Their roast guinea fowl is prepared with extra care, employing a classic sauce and cooking methods to bring out the inherent flavors of the bird. When white asparagus and masu salmon are in season, Cote D’or offers a “Confit of Hakodate Masu Salmon, Served with Fragrant Couscous, Kuriyama White Asparagus and Herbs”. The masu salmon confit includes three sauces—herb, balsamic, and blood orange—and the salad with Kuriyama-grown white asparagus adds a flavorful accent.

Italian cuisine, with its focus on balance flavors and locally sourced ingredients, has a lot in common with traditional Japanese cooking. It’s no surprise that Japan—and Sapporo—offers many restaurants that faithfully carry out the spirit of Italian cuisine.

Enjoy hearty and delicious Italian dishes in a cheerful environment at . Their specialty dish is the “Whole Tomato and Eggplant with Mozzarella Tomato Sauce”, a unique pasta dish topped with a whole ripe, roasted tomato. Stazione selects their ingredients for their taste and quality from nearby suppliers. Their tomatoes are sourced from the nearby town of Tobetsu, while their potatoes are supplied by local farmers. Enjoy their food with one of the 70 to 100 different wines Stazione has on offer.

Relax and enjoy an excellent meal at Yoru no Kakurega Restaurant Notte, located in the most happening area Sapporo. Notte serves authentic Italian cuisine in an informal ambiance, perfect for all kinds of dining engagements. Specialty dishes like “Whelk Fried in Garlic Butter” and “Shrimp Cream Pasta” are offered at affordable price due to the exclusive use of local Hokkaido ingredients.

Whether visiting in winter for the annual Snow Festival or the summertime for the excellent nature and cooler temperatures, Sapporo is a captivating city that offers a variety of foods that appeal to every taste. Visit Savor Japan’s extensive guide to the premier restaurants of Sapporo.