The Ultimate Guide to Hokkaido’s Must-Try Dishes

Written By Mark Youngyuen

TLDR

  • Hokkaido’s cuisine blends fresh seafood, hearty ramen, smoky grilled lamb, rich dairy, and regional comfort foods like soup curry and butadon.

  • Must-try dishes include kaisendon (seafood bowls), Sapporo miso ramen, butter corn ramen, jingisukan (lamb barbecue), soup curry, butadon (pork rice bowl), and Hokkaido dairy specialties.

  • Best food destinations: Sapporo (ramen, soup curry, jingisukan), Hakodate (seafood), Obihiro (butadon), and Furano/Biei (dairy).

  • Don’t miss Soup Curry TREASURE in Sapporo for its dashi-based broth and customizable spice levels.

  • Markets like Nijo Market (Sapporo) and Hakodate Morning Market are the go-to spots for fresh seafood bowls.

The Flavours That Define Hokkaido

1. Seafood Donburi (Kaisendon) — “The Ocean in a Bowl”

Hokkaido’s northern seas produce some of Japan’s best seafood. Kaisendon bowls, brimming with uni (sea urchin), ikura (salmon roe), hotate (scallops), and crab, showcase this bounty at its freshest.

Where to Try:

  • Hakodate Morning Market – Famous for live crab tanks and made-to-order kaisendon.

  • Nijo Market, Sapporo – A central option with many build-your-own seafood stalls.

  • Otaru Canal District – Known for sushi shops serving melt-in-your-mouth uni and ikura.

2. Ramen Varieties — Miso, Butter-Corn, Curry, Shio & More

Each city in Hokkaido has its own ramen identity:

  • Sapporo miso ramen – Rich, savory broth, often topped with butter and sweet corn.

  • Asahikawa shoyu ramen – Double soup of soy sauce, pork, and fish stock.

  • Hakodate shio ramen – Clear, salty, and light.

  • Muroran curry ramen – A spiced pork broth unique to the Muroran coast.

Where to Try:

  • Ramen Alley (Ganso Ramen Yokocho), Sapporo – Iconic alley filled with specialty shops.

  • Santouka, Asahikawa – Famous soy-based ramen, now a global brand.

  • Ajisai, Hakodate – A legendary stop for shio ramen.

  • Muroran Curry Ramen specialty shops near Muroran Station.

3. Jingisukan — Hokkaido’s Lamb BBQ

Named after Genghis Khan, jingisukan features lamb grilled on dome-shaped iron skillets, with onions and vegetables. Smoky, hearty, and deeply tied to Hokkaido’s food culture.

Where to Try:

  • Sapporo Beer Garden – Iconic spot pairing jingisukan with fresh draft beer.

  • Daruma, Sapporo – A local chain beloved for tender lamb cuts.

  • Asahikawa BBQ houses – Known for marinated-style jingisukan.

4. Soup Curry — A Spicy, Steamy Departure

Soup curry is lighter than traditional Japanese curry rice, with a broth packed with vegetables and proteins. Its roots are in Sapporo, and it remains a winter favorite.

Where to Try:

  • GARAKU, Sapporo – Rich, spice-forward broths and long queues.

  • Suage+, Sapporo – Famous for customizable spice levels and toppings.

  • Curry & Café SAMURAI, Sapporo – Known for vegetable-heavy soup curry.

  • Soup Curry TREASURE, Sapporo – Local favorite with a refined dashi-based stock. Choose from three bases (“Original,” “Sea’s Bounty,” “Mountain’s Bounty”) and set your heat level. Located near Odori Station, open 11:30–15:30 and 17:00–21:00, but often sells out early.

5. Butadon — Tokachi’s Pork Bowl

A specialty of Obihiro, butadon is grilled pork glazed in a sweet-savory sauce and served over rice. Originally a worker’s dish, it has become one of Hokkaido’s comfort food icons.

Where to Try:

  • Pancho, Obihiro – The birthplace of butadon, established in 1933.

  • Butadon Tonta, Obihiro – Another famed shop known for generous portions.

  • Obihiro Station area – Packed with butadon specialty restaurants.

6. Dairy Delights — From Soft-Serve to Cheese

Hokkaido’s fertile farmland makes it Japan’s dairy capital. Soft-serve ice cream here is famously creamy, and lavender-flavored scoops from Furano are especially popular in summer. Local cheeses and yogurts rival Europe in quality.

Where to Try:

  • Farm Tomita, Furano – Lavender fields and lavender ice cream.

  • Shiroi Koibito Park, Sapporo – Iconic chocolate factory with milk ice cream.

  • Biei Farm Shops – Handmade cheeses and dairy products straight from the farm.

Where to Go for the Best Food in Hokkaido

  • Sapporo – Best for ramen, soup curry, jingisukan, and sweets.

  • Hakodate – Seafood capital with its bustling morning market.

  • Otaru – Sushi hub, ideal for uni and ikura lovers.

  • Obihiro (Tokachi) – The birthplace of butadon.

  • Furano/Biei – Dairy heaven, especially in summer.

Why Hokkaido Food Matters

Every dish in Hokkaido reflects its landscape and seasons. Kaisendon celebrates its cold seas, ramen and soup curry warm locals through long winters, jingisukan speaks to Hokkaido’s farmland, and dairy reflects its fertile plains. Eating here is more than nourishment — it’s an immersion into the island’s culture, climate, and way of life.

References

ByFood. “What to Eat in Sapporo: 12 Must-Try Foods.” https://www.byfood.com/blog/sapporo/what-to-eat-in-sapporo

Japan Guide. “Sapporo Travel: Nijo Market.” https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5312.html

Memoirs of a Globetrotter. “Must-Try Dishes in Hokkaido.” https://www.memoirsofaglobetrotter.com/hokkaido-must-try-dishes/

Japan Travel. “Hokkaido Cuisine.” https://www.japan.travel/en/ca/cuisine/hokkaido/

Wikipedia. “Muroran Curry Ramen.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muroran_curry_ramen

Just One Cookbook. “Eating in Hokkaido – Must-Try Foods.” https://www.justonecookbook.com/eating-in-hokkaido-must-try-foods-in-hokkaido/

Vogue. “Hokkaido, Japan Travel Guide.” https://www.vogue.com/article/hokkaido-japan-travel-guide-things-to-do-and-see

GLTJP. “Soup Curry TREASURE.” https://www.gltjp.com/en/directory/item/13957/

Tabelog. “Soup Curry TREASURE.” https://s.tabelog.com/hokkaido/A0101/A010102/1064448/

Soup Curry TREASURE. “Official Website.” https://s-treasure.jp

Mark Youngyuen
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