Places to eat in Hokkaido

It's really more of a cluster of small restaurants serving mostly ramen. Although ramen is known to originate from the southern part of Japan, Sapporo also boasts of its own ramen. And this place has about 10 small stores which enable you to sample the different famous ramen from all over Japan. Although we only went to one of it, it already gave you quite an idea on how delicious the ramens are.

Favorite Dish: The ramen you have here have different soup base -- salt, miso or soya. All are good, if you ask me ;-) Just sample any and you won't be sorry.

If you have like half a day in Sapporo, make sure you stop by the Nijo Fish Market and have some of the fresh sea food there. We had lunch there twice and we enjoyed it very much. Most of the resaurants or shops are rather small but when you see locals eating there themselves, you know they are not tourist traps. Prices are reasonable and the seafood are really fresh! Famous dish include the salmon and salmon roe and it's really something to die for. Try some of the snowcrab soup, too.

Favorite Dish: Famous dish include the salmon and salmon roe and it's really something to die for. Try some of the snowcrab soup, too.

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Fresh seafood is aplenty in Hokkaido, especially hairy crabs. Unfortunately, the crabs are usually boiled and turn out to be pretty bland. Perhaps you could say this is in-line with how the Japanese like their food (i.e. not overly savoury).

The best fresh seafood can be had if you dine at a diner run by a seafood market. The diner is usually above the market or adjoining. Diners can first browse the seafood market to choose what they wish to eat (sashimi, sea urchins, scallops, eel, fish roe, etc). The staff will prepare whatever you have picked and serve it to you in the diner.

Of course, at the diner, you can also order from the menu. Some diners have specialities such as steel pot rice or seafood steamboat.

Favorite Dish: Whatever that is fresh and raw that you dare to eat. Sashimi, fish roe, sea urchins!

I don't know what the Japanese term for the table BBQ is, but if you have the chance to try it, grab it! Basically the restaurant provides a variety of uncooked food and a large hotplate on which to cook it.

The items you can expect include slices of meat cut very thinly, gyoza (dumplings), slices of fish, prawns, scallops, tofu and vegetables like bean sprouts and sweet corn. There will also be pieces of butter which diners melt on the hotplate before cooking.

Miso soup and rice will be provided as well.

Favorite Dish: If you feel like spoiling yourself, get a melt-in-your-mouth Kobe beef steak, which will be sliced and serve to you raw. You can then cook it however you please.

Seafood lovers may also want to order fresh abalone, which the restaurant will grill live. However, you may not want to watch this if you want to enjoy eating your abalone.

You can arrange for a traditional Japanese meal to be served at any restaurant in a hotel. This means you will sit on the tatami flooring and dine from low tables, in a private room. You can even dine wearing the yukata if you wish.

The food items usually include assorted sashimi, tenpura, fried fish, sushi, rice, miso soup, vegetable soup, chawanmushi and fruits. In Hokkaido, the well-known hairy crab will be served as the main item.

Favorite Dish: Try everything, it's a unique experience!

Every area in Japan has their special kind of ramen, and in Hokkaido their specialty is butter corn ramen. Tokeidai Ramen, named after the famous clock tower just blocks away, has some of the best ramen in Sapporo and is recommended by Japanese tour guide books, local hotels, and is even sold for home consumption at the airport! Of course, they have lot's of other kinds of ramen besides the local butter corn, and I'm sure you won't be disappointed either way.

Favorite Dish: Butter Corn Ramen. Butter isn't something you usually find in ramen, but in this case, the flavour is well complimented by the shop's local ramen recipe.

Traditional Japanese restaurant. Floor seating unless you want stools at the chef's counter bar. Attentive staff and food that is exquisetly presented. Prices range from Yen1000 to 3000. The wide variety of sushi, soups, sashimi and dishes that you can cook at your table. Alcoholic beverages and delicious green tea.

Favorite Dish: Sashimi