Eat the city: Sapporo

At the heart of Hokkaido Prefecture, Sapporo is home to some of northern Japan’s best dining experiences. From the freshest catch at the local fish market and regional hole-in-the-wall specialities to omakase menus at Michelin-starred restaurants, you will be spoiled for choice in this foodie wonderland.  

1. Nijo Market

Dubbed Sapporo’s public kitchen, Nijo Market dates back to the early years of the Meiji era. Located near the Sapporo TV Tower and Tanukikoji shopping street, it features dozens of vendors selling freshly caught seafood. Craving Hokkaido crab? Head to Nijo Crab Market for seasonal varieties, which you can take away or enjoy at one of the on-site restaurants. For seafood rice bowls, Donburichaya ‘s version comes with uni (sea urchin), crab, salmon roe, scallop, Botan shrimp and tuna. Round off your meal with slices of nectar-sweet Yubari melon. 

2. Soup Curry Yellow

Soup curry is Sapporo’s soul food and the city has more than 200 restaurants specialising in this dish. Look beyond the chains and fill up at Soup Curry Yellow near Nijo Market. Here, you can customise the spice level, the type of rice and toppings, including lotus root, okra and pumpkin. One of their signature dishes is the chicken vegetable curry, which features a coconut milk-flavoured soup base. Or, go for the winter seasonal oyster curry featuring senpoushi oyster, a succulent, umami Hokkaido speciality, which pairs perfectly with turmeric rice. Get there early – this limited special sells out quickly. 

1/F, Elm Building, Minami 3 Jonishi 1 Chome−12-19, Chuo-ku, Sapporo 

3. Menya Saimi

Miso ramen is Sapporo’s regional variation of the noodle soup dish. Try it at Menya Saimi in the Toyohira Ward, which was awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2019. Starting from ¥780 (about HK$41) a bowl, the dish features a soup base made with pork bone, kombu and mushrooms, while the noodles are sourced from a 74-year-old brand, Morizumi Seimen. It’s all topped with a slice of seared pork tenderloin chashu, chopped spring onion and ginger from the Kochi prefecture for extra layers of flavour. Prefer a bit of a kick? Opt for the version with broad bean chilli paste or red chilli paste. 

4. Daruma Yakiniku 

Grilled mutton or jingisukan is another Hokkaido speciality. Daruma Yakiniku , with multiple locations in Sapporo, serves one of the best renditions of the dish. Its main branch in the Susukino district is the cosiest of all. Here, you can enjoy a tableside grill experience, where various cuts of meat are cooked on a dome-shaped pan, which funnels all the rendered mutton fat to the rim and slowly cooks and seasons the vegetables. Dip the juicy, chargrilled mutton slices in the sweet and spicy house-made sauce for maximum effect. 

5. Farm to Table Terra

This eco-minded farm-to-table restaurant sources ingredients locally and serves a wide range of vegetarian or vegan dishes, which are clearly labelled on the menu. In its high-ceilinged dining room with water features and plants, diners can enjoy small bites like the deep-fried kombu and vegetable spring roll with its crunchy, colourful fillings, then move on to more substantial mains like the veggie burger with tofu patty. For something lighter, create your own veggie platter with all the vegetables and legumes on offer at the salad bar.  

6. Sushi Ikko

This two-Michelin-starred restaurant owned by renowned chef Junya Kudo is where you’ll find some of the best sushi in Hokkaido. The second-generation sushi master visits local fish markets to select the freshest ingredients for his omakase set, which is the only option available at Sushi Ikko. Some of chef Kudo’s signature creations include sea bream sashimi, sliced fresh abalone, kinki rockfish from Abashiri with ponzu sauce, and the rich shirako (pufferfish milt) with caviar. Reserve two months in advance to secure a seat at this coveted restaurant. 

2/F, 5-31-4 Minami 2-Jonishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo 

7. Rokkatei

For a sweet post-meal treat or souvenirs to take home, this 91-year-old Hokkaido-based confectioner is your answer. Its flagship shop, located near Sapporo Station, features a teahouse on the second floor that serves signatures like the rum raisin ice cream sandwich, strawberry cake, cheesecake and sweet potato pudding. Before you leave, check out the first-floor retail area to stock up on its famous rum raisin cream biscuits, liquor-infused bonbons and cappuccino cream biscuits.