Last updated on April 27th, 2024
Wondering where and what to eat in Sapporo? In this Sapporo Food Guide, we listed out the top 8 must eat food in Sapporo for you to try out. Most of the mouthwatering dishes were tested and reviewed by us.
Sapporo is the capital of Hokkaido and best known for its delicious food. It is the birthplace of Sapporo beer, and well known of its soup curry, Gengis Khan, Sapporo ramen, and many delicious local specialties.
There is a huge selection of food and restaurant in Sapporo to try out. However, limited time and stomach are available if you are planning for one or two days trip to Sapporo. So this is very critical for us to choose the best restaurant and decide what to eat in Sapporo.
Top 8 Must Eat Food in Sapporo
We introduce some of the Sapporo best food if you are looking for what and where to eat in Sapporo. All are specialty restaurant, offering authentic local dishes. Please take a look and enjoy your delicious local food at Sapporo Food Guide here!
Sapporo Food Guide: Top 8 Must Eat Food in Sapporo:
- Conveyor belt Sushi from Nemuro Hanamaru Sapporo (JR Tower Stellar Place)
- Sapporo Ramen at Ramen Republic
- Gotsubo Oyster bar at Susukino Sapporo
- Soup Curry from Garaku Sapporo
- Crab kaiseki ryori at Kani Honten Sapporo
- Gengis Khan or Jingisukan at Daruma Honten
- Seafood rice bowl (Kaisendon) at Sapporo Wholesale Market
- Seafood buffet Nanda
1. Sushi
Our top 1 must eat food in Sapporo. Highly recommended if you are looking for what to eat in Sapporo. Nemuro Hanamaru Sushi (回転寿司花まる JRタワーステラプレイス店) is a conveyor belt type sushi restaurant located in 6th floor of Stellar tower in Sapporo city. It offering a wide variety of authentic sushi dishes and seasonal seafood products.
Dinning in Nemuro Hanamaru is very lively and enjoyable. Enjoy the made to order food or just grab any colored plate from the conveyor belt. Their food is truly fantastic and fresh. Most importantly, the price is surprisingly affordable.
Extremely popular sushi restaurant in Sapporo, highly recommended by locals and tourists. So, be prepared for a long wait.
Best Sushi Restaurant in Sapporo, Hanamaru Sushi:
- Address: 2 Kitagojonishi | Stella Place 6F, Chuo, Sapporo 060-0005, Hokkaido
- Getting there: 2–3 mins walk from Sapporo Station (札幌駅)
- Opening hours: Daily 11:00–23:00
- Price: Depend on how many plates you eat. Typically ¥2,000 to ¥3,000
2. Sapporo Ramen
There are many good ramen restaurants in Sapporo with around 1,000 shops scattered all around the city. Depend on your preference, it is not easy to recommend for the best ramen in Sapporo.
Sapporo Ramen Republic (Rāmen Kyōwakoku, 札幌ら～めん共和国) is the ramen theme park. It located on the 10th floor of the ESTA commercial complex, next to the JR Sapporo Station. It is home of eight best ramen restaurants in Hokkaido. Each restaurant is specializing in ramen noodles and broth in different styles. A great opportunity for ramen lovers to choose and enjoy delicious ramen without worry about making a wrong decision.
The Home of eight best ramen in Sapporo Ramen Republic:
- Address: 2 Kita 5 Jonishi | 10F Esta, Chuo, Sapporo 060-0005, Hokkaido.
- Getting there: 10th floor of the ESTA. Right beside Sapporo Station (札幌駅).
- Opening hours: Daily 11:00–22:00
- Price: Less than ¥1000
3. Oyster Bar Gotsubo
Next, Gotsubo (五坪) is a little gem restaurant in Sapporo specializing in Oysters. It is a tiny restaurant with 5 tsubo space (around 16.5 m2) which only can sit for 4 to 5 people inside. However, most people will choose to stand and eating at the counter outside.
Gotsubo serves big and juicy oysters at a very reasonable price. It is hard to believe that such good quality and large pieces of Oyster served only with ¥150. Bigger oysters will slightly expensive but still cheap. Order more will be served with additional free oysters! Enjoy it with raw or grilled, and go perfectly with lemon squeeze in it.
Best cheap seafood in Sapporo, Gotsubo:
- Address: 3-6-8 Minami 6jo | Base 01 Bldg. 1F, Chuo, Sapporo 064-0806, Hokkaido
- Getting there: 5 mins walk from Susukino Station (すすきの駅)
- Opening hours: Daily from 18:00 to 2:00 of the next day
- Price: A juicy plum oyster cost at ¥150
Related food blog: See my food adventure on the freshness oyster in Gotsubo Sapporo.
4. Soup Curry
Hokkaido is known as the birthplace of Soup Curry in Japan. There are number of soup curry restaurants serve this staple Japanese dishes. Each of the restaurant is specialized on their signature soup curry by blending with own secret herb and recipe. Try soup curry at Hirihiri, Garaku, Samurai, Suage+, PICANTE and more.
Well, we voted for the Soup Curry Garaku for the best soup curry restaurant in Sapporo. It’s rich with flavor and spices yet has it own distinct taste. Choice of the size of rice and different levels of spiciness of the curry.
Best soup curry in Sapporo, Garaku:
- Address: 2-6-1 Minami 2-jo Nishi | Okumura Bldg. B1F North Entrance, Chuo, Sapporo 060-0062, Hokkaido
- Getting there: 5 mins walk from Susukino Station (すすきの駅)
- Opening hours: Daily from 11:30 to 15:00 and 17:00 to 22:30
- Price: Ranging from ¥1000 to ¥2000
5. Crab Dishes
Sapporo Kani Honke is one of the famous restaurants offering delicious crab dishes in Hokkaido. The restaurant served the crab dishes follows the kaiseki ryori. So-called the fine dining in Japanese style with multi-course cuisine. The garnishing of dishes is presentable with fresh and delicious crab dishes. The succulent snow crab is their best seller and simply irresistible.
For crab lovers but on budget, consider stopping by at noon during the workday. Sapporo Kani Honte offered lunch menu at a cheaper price compare with dinner. Again, Kani-Honte is a very popular restaurant in Sapporo. Reservation is highly recommended to avoid disappointment. Alternatively, consider booking your meal at Kani Honke Sapporo from Klook with your preferred dining time upon booking. Hassle-free to redeem and save your waiting time.
Read on our crab meal in Kani Honke Sapporo with the best lunch deal.
Best crab restaurant in Sapporo:
- Address: 4-1-3 Minami 6-jo Nishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo 064-0806, Hokkaido
- Getting there: 5 mins walk from Susukino Station (すすきの駅)
- Opening hours: Daily from 11:30 to 15:00 and 17:00 to 22:30
- Price: Depend on course selection. Ranging from ¥3,000 to ¥13,000
6. Gengis Khan or Jingisukan
Don’t forget to try on Jingisukan, or called Gengis Khan. It is one of Hokkaido’s signature dishes with fresh lamb grilled in the special hot plates on the table. Taste fabulous with special dipping sauce.
Jingisukan Daruma Main Shop (だるま 本店) is one of the best Jingisukan restaurant in Sapporo. It is now around 60 years of history with four stores in Sapporo City. Great place to try the famous Gengis Khan dish. Small shops but extremely popular among locals. Always crowded with long queues outside waiting for a table.
Best Gengis Khan in Sapporo, Jingisukan Daruma Honten:
- Address: 4 Minami 5jo Nishi | Crystal Bldg. 1F, Chuo, Sapporo 064-0805, Hokkaido
- Getting there: 10 mins walk from Higashi-Kuyakusho-Mae Station (東区役所前駅)
- Opening Hours: Daily from 17:00 to 3:00 of the next day
- Price: Ranging from ¥2000 to ¥3000
7. Seafood Rice Bowl or Kaisendon
Sapporo Wholesale Market (also known as Sapporo Jogai Ichiba) is one of the great eating places for fresh seafood in Sapporo. Besides selling on fresh local produce, there are around 60 establishments comprising restaurants in the market. Most restaurants serve outstanding kaisendon at a cheap price in Sapporo.
Among them, Kaisen-Ichiba Kitano Gourmet (海鮮食堂 北のグルメ亭) is one of the best restaurants in Sapporo, serves the most tantalizing kaisendon. Enjoy a bowl of seafood on rice containing crab, sea urchin, salmon roe, seasonal fish, and more. It is cheaper but please expect about ¥3,000 for the seafood rice bowl.
Money-Saving Tips:
Best seafood rice bowl in Sapporo:
- Address: 22-4-1 Kita 11 Jonishi, Chuo, Sapporo 060-0011, Hokkaido
- Getting there: 7-minutes walk from Nijuyonken station (二十四軒駅), Exit 5.
- Opening hours: Daily from 7:00 to 15:00
- Price: Ranging from ¥2000 to ¥4000
8. Seafood Buffet
Among all the seafood in Hokkaido, crab is arguably the most popular choice when deciding what to eat in in Sapporo. However, crabs are not cheap, especially for the king crabs. If you want to eat crab and lots of it in Sapporo, Seafood Buffet Nanda (難陀) is your great option. It is all-you-can-eat buffet restaurants and offering a great selection of crabs and seafood. Giant crab legs, prawn, oysters, scallops and even wagyu beef are served in the restaurant. Choose and pay for the duration (70, 80, 90 minutes) that suits your party. It is a fun experience where you can pick and grill your seafood selection as much as possible. Eat as much as you can eat!
Seafood Buffet at Nanda Restaurant:
- Address: 2 Minami 5 Jo Nishi | Cyber City Bldg. B2F, Chuo, Sapporo 064-0805, Hokkaido
- Getting there: 4 mins walk from Susukino Station (すすきの駅)
- Opening hours: Daily from 11:00 to 22:20
- Price: About ¥4000 for lunch and ¥5000 for dinner (70 minutes)
Alternatively, consider getting the unlimited Crab and Lamb BBQ Buffet at Sapporo Beer Garden. This is a great place where you can try the local specialty Ghengis Khan (Grilled Lamb), red king crab, snow crab, and 20 other dishes unlimited in one place. Added, you can pair your food with free flow of Sapporo beer, sake. Enjoy all the great food inside a historical building with 200 years of history. You can even did your free museum tour before the seafood feast. It is a popular buffet option in Sapporo with reservation is recommended.
Check out the good deal for Unlimited Crab and Lamb BBQ Buffet at Sapporo Beer Garden. Reservation will be made for you upon booking.
The Top 8 Must Eat Food in Sapporo
Hopefully, my Sapporo food blog can give you an idea of what to eat in Sapporo. There is so many food to try in this city. From fresh seafood, local specialties such as Gengis Khan, soup curry and more for you to try when visiting Sapporo. Don’t forget to eat as much as possible when getting to Sapporo. Happy food hunt!
This Sapporo food guide: Top 8 must eat food in Sapporo is part of my Sapporo trip at the end of May. If you are interested, please read on my Sapporo itinerary below:
Traveling to attraction nearby? Continue read on best place to visit in Hokkaido travelogue:
How To Plan Your Hokkaido Trip On Budget: Travel Guide, Itinerary & Money Saving Tips!
