A collection TOP10 specialties from 7 major regions in Hokkaido [Sapporo, Otaru, Hakodate, etc.]

Hokkaido has a vast land area. Whether it is seafood dishes in the coastal port city or various meat and vegetable dishes in the inland areas, each region has its own unique local cuisine, and such tastes and characteristics will also It varies depending on the region, so I recommend that you come directly to Hokkaido to taste it. There are also other soul foods that are popular among locals. Hokkaido’s gourmet feast is definitely a must-see when Traveling to Hokkaido! Therefore, LIVE JAPAN divides Hokkaido into 7 regions and introduces local specialties one by one according to these regions.

As the center of Hokkaido, Sapporo is also a city of gourmet food, bringing together seafood, agricultural products and other delicacies from all over Hokkaido. In addition to Hokkaido's fresh seafood dishes, there are also a variety of delicious dishes such as local delicacies such as Sapporo ramen, soup curry, Genghis Khan grilled lamb, and desserts, which will definitely satisfy your appetite.

① Ramen fierce battle zone! Taste the deliciousness of "Sapporo Ramen"



Hokkaido itself is a ramen kingdom, and Sapporo is a fierce battle zone for ramen. Competition among ramen shops in Sapporo is fierce. There are more than 15 ramen shops in "Original Sapporo Ramen Yokocho" in Susukino, Sapporo's premier bustling district. The signature of Sapporo ramen is miso ramen with miso soup base. Together with Hakodate ramen and Asahikawa ramen, it is known as the three major ramen in Hokkaido.

Among them, "Aji no Sanpei", the birthplace of Sapporo ramen, continues the good taste passed down from generation to generation. Almost all ramen restaurants in Sapporo serve miso ramen. You can try a few to compare the taste. Ramen shops are almost all concentrated in the Tourist area from Sapporo Station to Susukino. Most of them open at 11 a.m., and there are many stores in Susukino that are open until late at night.

② Enjoy "Soup Curry" with lots of vegetables!



Speaking of Sapporo’s local food, another very popular dish is “soup curry”. A curry that contains bone-free chicken drumsticks and large vegetables in a mildly spicy curry stock. There are more than 10 soup curry specialty stores in Sapporo city alone. Different from ordinary curry, except that the curry is soup-like, the spiciness can be adjusted. You can choose the spiciness according to your preference when ordering. In addition, the rice that goes with the soup curry is served in separate bowls and plates. When tasting, first scoop up a mouthful of rice with a spoon and then dip it into the curry soup.

③The traditional taste of Sapporo "Genghis Khan grilled mutton"



Genghis Khan grilled mutton is a dish in which mutton or lamb is grilled in a special round iron pot and eaten. Many specialty restaurants are particularly particular about the quality of the meat or the sauce, and there are also all-you-can-eat restaurants with meat and vegetables. The way to eat Genghis Khan's roasted mutton is to wait until the pot is hot, first place the meat in the center, and put vegetables around the meat. In this way, the fat of the meat will fall into the grooves of the iron plate and cook the vegetables. The meat mainly uses mutton from New Zealand and Australia. Mutton doesn't taste like sheep, and the meat is soft and tasty. People who don't dare to eat mutton can also give it a try!

④ A wide range of Hokkaido's marine delicacies "Seafood Cuisine"



Sapporo is home to fresh seafood from all over Hokkaido, and you can enjoy a variety of seafood dishes. In particular, the Susukino area has countless sushi restaurants and seafood izakayas, as well as restaurants specializing in crab dishes and seafood rice bowls. And when talking about Hokkaido, you must not miss Hokkaido’s delicious seafood such as peony shrimp, salmon, and scallops! You can enjoy a nigiri sushi platter with these ingredients at a sushi restaurant for about 3,000 yen.

In addition, the seafood rice bowl restaurant offers luxurious seafood rice bowls with various combinations of seafood, including sea urchin, salmon roe, and other seafood rice bowls to choose from. If you want to eat seafood rice bowl, we recommend going to the "Outside Market" in the suburbs of Sapporo, which is famous for seafood rice bowl.

If you want to eat crabs, I recommend you go to a restaurant that specializes in crab dishes. King crab, hairy crab, Matsuba crab and Hanasaki crab are known as the four major crabs in Hokkaido. Except for Hanasaki crab, you need to go to a specialty store to taste them. In addition, since hairy crabs can be caught all over Hokkaido, fresh and raw hairy crab dishes in season will also be provided.

⑤Because it is located at the port, the taste is even better! "Sushi, seafood donburi"



You can taste seafood dishes everywhere in Otaru, the port city. There are also famous local delicacies such as "braised fried noodles" and "fried half chicken". The main store of Hokkaido's popular dessert shop "LeTAO" is located in Otaru, which is also a dessert paradise.

There are more than 100 sushi restaurants in Otaru, the port city, and you can enjoy sushi and seafood rice bowls everywhere. Although you can catch a variety of seafood in the ocean near Otaru, the most recommended ones are mantis shrimp in spring and autumn and sea urchins in summer. The "Triangle Market" in front of Otaru Station has a popular seafood rice bowl restaurant. If you want to eat sushi, go to "Sushiya Street" where there are many sushi restaurants.

⑥Very popular among locals! "Stewed fried noodles, fried half chicken"



Other local delicacies loved by Otaru residents include "Yakisoba" and "Fried Half Chicken". "Stewed Chow Mein" is a Peng Pai dish in which vegetables and seafood are thickened and then poured over fried noodles. You can eat this dish at long-established Chinese restaurants and ramen restaurants.

There is also one called Otaru’s soul food, “fried half chicken.” Fried half chicken is a kind of fried chicken. Half of the chicken is marinated and seasoned, and then fried slowly and patiently. The appearance may look a little strange, but when you pick it up and take a big bite, you can find that the skin is crispy but the meat is very juicy. The original half-fried chicken restaurant is "Naruto Main Store (Naruto Main Store)" located 7 minutes' walk from JR Otaru Station. It was founded in 1952. You can choose from a la carte or set meals, and even take-out is available.

⑦Especially recommended to taste in summer! Shakotan’s “Sea Urchin”



The Shakotan Peninsula, with its stunning ocean views, is a popular driving area starting from Otaru. The "Shakotan sea urchin" that can be caught in the summer from June to August is very famous, and many people go there specifically to taste the Shakotan sea urchin. There are two types of Shakotan: purple sea urchin and Ezo horse urchin. However, the production of Ezo horse urchin is rare and very precious. Shakotan sea urchin can only be caught from June to August. Those who want to try Shakotan sea urchin should aim for the right time. Moreover, most restaurants that serve sea urchin rice bowl are full of people, so it is recommended to go early.

Hakodate is also known as the "Squid City" because squid can be caught in the surrounding Tsugaru Strait. So of course fresh squid is Hakodate’s representative delicacy, as well as Hakodate ramen and various unique local delicacies.

⑧The freshness is unstoppable! "Squid" in Tsugaru Bay



The squid in Hakodate is always fresh! Catch live squid from the fish tank and make it into sashimi for tasting on the spot. It retains the sweetness of the squid itself and has a chewy and chewy texture. This is the most recommended way to eat it. In addition to eating squid dishes at the Donburi Yokocho (どんぶり Yokocho) in the Hakodate morning market, there is also a squid fishing spot in the market where you can catch fresh squid. There are also many izakayas that offer live squid or squid dishes. June to December is the peak season for cuttlefish, and January to May is the peak season for calamari. The meat of the cuttlefish is thick, and the offal can also be used in cooking. Calamari, on the other hand, is smaller and has no internal organs, and its taste is more elegant.

⑨Refreshing and delicious "salt ramen"



"Hakodate Ramen" with its refreshing salty taste is known as the three major ramen in Hokkaido. Hokkaido is actually the birthplace of ramen. Although the store that first invented ramen no longer exists, there are still many ancient ramen stores with a long history in operation today. The transparent broth made by slowly simmering pork and chicken bones over low heat, paired with straight Chinese noodles, barbecued pork, shredded bamboo shoots, green onions, etc., completes a simple and delicious bowl of Hakodate ramen. When you feel a little hungry, I recommend you to have a bowl of light and refreshing Hakodate ramen.

In addition to Hakodate ramen, the burger chain "LUCKY PIERROT (ラッキーピエロ)" is also a popular delicacy that can only be eaten in Hakodate. The carefully selected ingredients and generous portions will definitely satisfy you. The menu options other than hamburgers are also abundant. Don’t miss "LUCKY PIERROT (ラッキーピエロ)" when you are in Hakodate.

⑩ "Furano Curry" & "Biei Curry Udon"


Furano's most recommended local delicacy "Furano Curry", among which the most famous restaurant "Furano Curry" uses a large number of onions and vegetables, plus specially blended spices, always attracts an endless stream of customers. There was a huge queue.

"Furano Omurice" is a new local delicacy in Furano. It is a new dish using 6 ingredients including rice, eggs, vegetables and Furano milk produced in Furano. Only those omelet rice that meets all 6 conditions can have a small flag stuck in the middle of the omelet to represent Furano omelet rice. Currently there are about 10 stores offering this dish.

In addition, Biei, which has become a popular photo spot due to its beautiful hilly scenery, is a well-known wheat producing area. Udon noodles made from wheat produced in Biei are topped with curry stewed with vegetables and meat also produced in Biei, creating the local delicacy "Biei udon". There are also restaurants that serve bread and pasta made from Biei wheat.