What to eat in Sapporo

Sapporo is the capital of Hokkaido and Japan's fifth largest city. It is the birthplace of some popular Japanese dishes such as miso ramen, jingisukan and more.

Soup curry comes with vegetables, rice, and various toppings and is a speciality in Sapporo.

Soup Curry Garaku
Location: 5 mins walking from Susukino Station

Price: ¥3400 (I ordered 2 dishes + 1 Sapporo beer)

Notes: 1 hr queue | 

Rating: ★★★★☆ Superb (90-99%) - go for it

Soup Curry & Dining Suage+

Location: 5 mins walking from Susukino Station. The entrance is opposite of Norebesa building

Price: Approx ¥2500 for 2 people

Notes: One of the most well known soup curry in downtown Sapporo

Wish List: from watching NOC Hokkaido Trip // friend's recommendation

Jingisukan a.k.a Genghis Khan is a barbecued lamb dish which was a popular dish among Mongolian soldiers in the past. It is a style of yakiniku in which mutton and lamb meat are grilled on a round grill.

Daruma Honten

Location: Susukino area

Price: ¥1500

Notes: 30 mins to 1 hrs queue | come early for premium lamb | smoking is allowed

Review: There are 3 branches in Susukino area. All branches are 5 mins away. We ate in Daruma Honten 6.4. We waited for 25 mins. You can put your belongings to the locker because of the heavy barbecue smell. By the time we ate around 8pm, there's no more premium beef. Once you are seated, they will serve you the lamb straight away.

Rating: ★★★★☆ Superb (90-99%) - go for it

Sapporo Beer Museum
Location: Located next to Sapporo Beer Museum.

Price: ¥2900 (adults all you can eat) | ¥3900 (adults all you can eat + all you can drink)

Notes: All you can eat lamb and beer for 100 mins | suitable for big groups | open until 10 pm

Click here for website.

Sapporo is especially famous for its miso ramen, which was invented in Sapporo and is ideal for Hokkaido's harsh, snowy winters.

Menya Saimi
Location: 20 mins train ride from Sapporo Station to Misono Station of Metro Toho Line. 5 mins walk from Exit 1.
Price: ¥800

Notes: 45 mins to 1.5 hrs queue | located in local neighbourhood | sits around 20 poeple | famous for miso ramen and spicy miso ramen | shoyu ramen is excellent as well

Rating: ★★★★★ Personal Favourite (100%) - must visit

Zero Ramen

Location: Tanukikoji 1 chome between Odori and Susukino.

Notes: Order special miso ramen which comes with a huge piece of charsui | come early | sold out early evening | 30 mins to 1 hrs queue

Wish List: from watching NOC Hokkaido Trip

Sapporo Ramen Kyowakoku
Location: 10th floor of ESTA (shopping complex of Sapporo Station)

Notes: 8 selections of top Hokkaido ramen restaurants in one place | convenient | try Ramen Sora

Restaurants: Sora – Miso ramen Hokkaido Mochi pork soup | Shirakaba Sansou –  rich miso ramen infused with sesame oil and garlic | Misono – Miso ramen with pork and grated ginger | Ajisai – Hakodate style ramen with clear soup | Yoshiyama Shouten – Flavorful sesame rich taste | Shodai – Otaru style soy sauce based ramen | Jirochou – Hokkaido style miso ramen | Baikouken – Asahikawa style soy sauce ramen.

Click here for brochure.

Notes: We bought from local supermarket. We also ate yurabi melon slice at Hakodate Morning Market. Click here for 'What to Eat in Hakodate'

Kani Honke

Location: Susukino

Price: Approx 15,000 yen for 2 people

Notes: We didn't eat here because we decided to have crab in Hakodate.
Click here for info.

Ebisoba Ichigen Sohonten
Cuisine: Ramen with shrimp flavour soup base.

Location: New Chitose Airport - Domestic Terminal Building 3F

Price: ¥780

Soup Choices: Original (full flavours of shrimp) vs rich (blend of shrimp and pork).

Seasoning Choices: Shrimp & miso, shrimp & salt, shrimp & soy sauce.

Notes: Last order 20:30 | 38 seats | something different

Rating: ★★★★☆ Superb (90-99%) - go for it

Tonkatsu Tamafuji
Location: ESTA 10th floor

Price: ¥2250 for premium cut set + prawn

Notes: Last order 21:30 | initially we wanted to go to ramen kyowokaku, but we wanted to take a break for ramen and we found this restaurant across ramen kyowokaku entrance.

Rating: ★★☆☆☆ Ordinary (50-69%) - not bad, but nothing special 

Kinotoya Bake

Location: JR Sapporo Station East Entrance

Price: ¥1080 for 6

Rating: ★★★☆☆ Good (70-89%) - worthwhile