Matsuo Jingisukan Kita 19-jo Higashi is a yakiniku restaurant in Higashi Ku, Sapporo.
The Matsuo chain's flagship east-side branch in Sapporo, 10 minutes from Higashi-Kuyakushomae. Marinated lamb is the house style, opposite Daruma's atozuke.
Signature dishes: Matsuo-style marinated lamb, Aizome marinade lamb, Hokkaido beef yakiniku
Must order: Lamb-shoulder loin with the family aizome marinade and the trio comparison set.
Tip: Book the comparison set through byFood or Pelago in advance; popular with families.
Address: Higashi-ku, Sapporo 065-0019, Japan
The seven-storey Honten near Sapporo Station, the city's reference crab restaurant since 1964, working all three Hokkaido crabs across course menus.
Signature: Kegani hairy crab, King crab sashimi, Crab kaiseki course
Order: Kegani hairy crab in the steamed kaiseki course paired with crab sashimi.
Tip: The Susukino branch closed in 2022; the Honten is now the principal Sapporo address.
The original soup curry shop. Founder Taizan Shimomura coined the term here in 1993, riffing on Indonesian soto ayam with chicken broth and 30 spices.
Signature: Chicken soup curry, Spice level kakuteru, Sumire-tier heat
Order: Chicken-leg soup curry at the kakuteru spice level; rice on the side, fork-and-spoon.
Tip: Six heat levels from junrei to sumire; ask for haskap lassi as the cooler. Closed Wednesdays.
The Susukino soup-curry shop two minutes from the station. Chicken leg, knuckle pork and Hokkaido vegetables in a clearer broth than Magic Spice.
Signature: Chicken-leg soup curry, Knuckle pork soup curry, Lamb chop curry
Order: Knuckle pork soup curry with 21 vegetables; the broth is lighter than Magic Spice.
Tip: Long queue from 12:00; Suage2 is the same operator one block over with the same menu.
Founded 2007, Garaku built its name on a clear 21-spice broth and slow-cooked chicken leg. Underground room behind a stone facade near Bus Center.
Signature: Tender chicken leg curry, Hokkaido vegetable plate, 21-spice broth
Order: Tender chicken leg with Hokkaido vegetables; spice level five for first-timers.
Tip: Queue forms 11:30 on weekends; the Tanukikoji branch is a five-minute walk west.
Picante opened 1996 north of Hokkaido University campus, one of the founding soup-curry houses after Magic Spice. The Hokudai-mae original keeps the queues.
Signature: Soup curry knuckle pork, Lamb-leg curry, Tomato-spice broth
Order: Knuckle pork soup curry, broth of choice (1-4 spice).
Tip: Four-minute walk from Kita 12-jo subway; 44 seats but expect 30 minutes at peak.
The miso-ramen counter consistently ranked top of Sapporo Tabelog at 3.96. Saimi blends three white misos with a clear pork-bone base; queue early.
Signature: Miso ramen, Spicy miso ramen, Salt ramen
Order: Miso ramen with extra ginger ground tableside.
Tip: Three-minute walk from Misono subway station; queue from 11:00 weekdays, 10:30 weekends. Closed Mondays.
