Sapporo eats with the appetite of a frontier capital. The city is barely 150 years old, founded in 1869 when Meiji-era settlers laid a grid over Ainu land, and that newness shows in the kitchen: this is where miso ramen was invented at Aji no Sanpei in 1955, where soup curry was named by Magic Spice in 1993, and where Genghis Khan lamb grilling moved from a brewer's company picnic into the city's defining group meal. Hokkaido grows half of Japan's wheat, dairy and potatoes, and Sapporo is the harbour and the market for crab, scallops, sea urchin and salmon from the Sea of Okhotsk. Susukino, the entertainment district south of Odori Park, holds Ramen Yokocho since 1951; Nijo Market by Sosei River sells the morning catch. Hokkaido University runs an experimental dairy. The city has Michelin-starred sushi, third-wave coffee in Maruyama, an autumn festival that draws two million eaters, and snow sculptures that pull eight million more in February. Eat hot, eat seasonal, and eat where the lines are.

Where to eat in Sapporo

All 27 restaurants

  1. Sushi Miyakawa

    Order The full omakase course; chef chooses the season's best Hokkaido catch.

  2. Sushiya no Saito

    Order The Kiwami evening omakase, 8 to 9 plates plus nigiri progression.

  3. Sapporo Beer Garden

    Order 100-minute Genghis Khan tabehoudai with all-you-can-drink Sapporo Classic.

  4. Jingisukan Daruma Honten

    Order One-plate Sapporo-cut lamb served with sliced onion, leek and the house tare.

  5. Jingisukan Daruma 4-4 Ten

    Order Sapporo-cut lamb plate at the dome grill; order another before you finish the first.

  6. Matsuo Jingisukan Kita 19-jo Higashi

    Order Lamb-shoulder loin with the family aizome marinade and the trio comparison set.

Fine dining

Book food experiences in Sapporo

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Food festivals coming up in Sapporo

All Sapporo food festivals

Where to stay in Sapporo

All Sapporo hotels
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Getting there and around Sapporo

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Signature dishes in Sapporo

All 12 dishes
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Where to eat by neighborhood

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Also in Sapporo: tickets for the sights

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Map of Sapporo

Every restaurant, cafe, market and bar we cover in Sapporo, pinned. Click a pin for the page.

Trip planner

Plan your Sapporo trip

Pick your dates: we line up the festivals on, what is in season, where to eat on the days you are in town, and experiences you can book for those dates.

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Everything in Sapporo

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When to come hungry in Sapporo

Peak food season
September to November for Sapporo Autumn Fest in Odori Park, hairy crab from the Sea of Okhotsk, salmon ikura, scallops and Hokkaido vegetables. February for the Snow Festival's hot ramen and grilled corn stalls. June to August for uni from Rishiri and Rebun. Many restaurants close December 31 to January 3 for shogatsu.
Local dining hours
Lunch 11:30-14:00, dinner 17:30-22:00. Ramen shops and izakaya in Susukino run until 02:00 or 03:00, with the Ramen Yokocho alley pouring bowls until dawn. Many sushi counters close on Sundays or Wednesdays; soup curry shops typically take a break in the late afternoon.
Tipping
No tipping anywhere in Japan. Service is included. Izakaya add an otoshi seat charge of 300 to 500 yen. Counters and ramen shops will refuse cash tips outright; a bow at the door is the currency.

Sapporo food, FAQ

What food is Sapporo known for?

Sapporo's signature dishes include Sapporo Miso Ramen, Sapporo Soup Curry, Jingisukan (Genghis Khan Lamb), Kegani (Hokkaido Hairy Crab), Hokkaido Uni-Don (Sea Urchin Bowl). See our signature dishes chapter for where to eat each.

What are the best food neighborhoods in Sapporo?

TableJourney editors map Sapporo by district. Susukino, Odori, Tanukikoji, Sapporo Station are among the strongest for food, each with its own guide.

Where should I eat fine dining in Sapporo?

Editor picks in Sapporo include Sushi Miyakawa, Sushiya no Saito, Sushi Saiko, plus the full fine dining chapter on TableJourney.

Are there food tours in Sapporo?

TableJourney covers 6 editor-picked food tours in Sapporo, with what each shows you and how much to budget.

Does Sapporo have good vegetarian or vegan food?

TableJourney's Sapporo dietary chapter covers vegan, vegetarian, halal, gluten_free venues, each editor-picked with what to order and how to ask.