🇯🇵 the INCREDIBlE food trip guide to Sapporo, Japan

Summary

This video introduces the culinary highlights of Sapporo, Japan, focusing on local specialties like Genghis Khan (grilled lamb), seafood, miso ramen, and soup curry. The host recommends various popular restaurants, including Daruma for Genghis Khan, Nijo Market for seafood bowls, and top soup curry spots like Soup Curry King and Sama. The video also highlights alternatives to Sapporo’s expensive seafood and suggests exploring nearby areas like Otaru for fresh, affordable seafood. Viewers are encouraged to explore Sapporo’s diverse food scene while navigating popular spots and hidden gems.

Takeaways

• 🍜 Sapporo is famous for a variety of foods, including miso ramen, Genghis Khan, seafood, and soup curry.
• 🍖 Genghis Khan, a grilled lamb dish, is a controversial but beloved local specialty, with Daruma and Sapporo Beer Garden being popular spots.
• 🍲 Nijo Market is a smaller seafood market in Sapporo, where you can enjoy seafood bowls (Kaisendon) featuring ingredients like salmon, tuna, and sea urchin.
• 🦀 Sapporo seafood is known for its freshness but tends to be more expensive compared to other seafood cities like Otaru and Hakodate.
• 🍛 Soup curry is a unique Sapporo dish with whole vegetables and customizable spice levels, popular at places like Karaku, Suage Plus, and Soup Curry King.
• 🍜 Miso ramen is a signature Sapporo dish with variations in flavor from shop to shop, with popular locations including Sapporo Ramen Alley, Menya Yukikaze, and Ramen Shingen.
• 🍤 Ebisoba-Ichigen stands out with its shrimp-based broth and offers unique flavors like shio, shoyu, and miso.
• 🍲 Soup curry often features fried vegetables like broccoli, adding a crispy texture that complements the curry.
• 🍶 Sapporo Beer Garden offers an all-you-can-eat Genghis Khan experience with great beer, making it a recommended option over waiting in long queues at more expensive spots.
• 🍜 Ramen enthusiasts can explore different shops around Sapporo, but the best spots are in Susukino and near Sapporo Station for easy access.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video?

The video focuses on introducing major foods in Sapporo, including miso ramen, Genghis Khan, seafood, soup curry, and the best restaurants to try these dishes.

What makes Genghis Khan a controversial dish?

Genghis Khan is considered controversial because while it resembles Thailand’s Mukrata, the cooking method is different. The dish uses high-quality meat and grilled vegetables in meat fat, with the flavor highly dependent on the quality of the meat.

What are the differences between Daruma and Sapporo Beer Garden for trying Genghis Khan?

Daruma is a popular and premium brand with several locations and a reputation for high-quality meat, but it tends to be more expensive with long waits. Sapporo Beer Garden offers a spacious setting, shorter waits, an all-you-can-eat option, and excellent beer, making it a more affordable and convenient choice.

Why might Sapporo not be the best choice for seafood lovers compared to other places in Hokkaido?

While Sapporo offers delicious seafood, it is not a fishing village and seafood can be expensive. Other Hokkaido cities like Otaru and Hakodate are known for fresher, more affordable seafood, making them better choices for seafood enthusiasts.

What is unique about soup curry in Sapporo?

Soup curry is different from traditional Japanese curry as it has a broth-like consistency and retains the original form of its ingredients, such as whole vegetables. It is also customizable, allowing diners to adjust spiciness levels, with some restaurants offering up to 30 spice levels.

What are some recommended places to try soup curry in Sapporo?

Recommended places include Soup Curry King, Ramai, and Soup Curry Sama. Each has unique features, such as Ramai’s Southeast Asian concept and Sama’s variety of soup bases and toppings, including hamburger steak and cheese.

Why is miso ramen considered a specialty of Sapporo?

Miso ramen is a specialty in Sapporo because of its strong soybean flavor, typically combined with pork bone broth. The dish often includes ingredients like butter and corn, and the flavor varies greatly between shops, giving each bowl a unique twist.

What are some of the best places to try miso ramen in Sapporo?

Some top recommendations for miso ramen include Menya Yukikaze, Ramen Shingen, and Ramen Horyu. Each offers a unique take on the dish, with Menya Yukikaze being praised for its complex broth and Ramen Shingen providing the quintessential miso ramen flavor.

What is the appeal of the Nijo Market in Sapporo?

Nijo Market, though small, offers a wide variety of seafood, including Kaisendon (seafood rice bowls) with ingredients like salmon, scallops, and sea urchin. It is known for its fresh seafood, though it can be expensive.

How does Sapporo's Ramen Alley differ from other ramen spots?

Sapporo’s Ramen Alley, located in Susukino, is famous for its competitive and creative ramen offerings. Shops in the alley often experiment with unique ingredients, like scallops or cheese, providing a range of flavors beyond traditional miso ramen.