Welcome to Hokkaido, if you’re a foodie like me, you’re gonna love this place! When people think about Japanese food, sushi and ramen usually steal the spotlight, but food in Hokkaido deserves its own moment.

Hokkaido food is famous for many things including but not limited to: fresh seafood, rich dairy, hearty comfort dishes, and bold flavors! And in my opinion, it sure beats the food in Tokyo… So in this blog post, I’m going to share with you the top 10 Hokkaido foods you must try whenever you’re here!

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Why is Hokkaido Food so Special?

hokkaido food sapporo miso ramen — *A nice thick bowl of Niboshi (minced sardine broth) Ramen with EXTRA pork belly*

Much like the rest of Japan, Hokkaido’s cuisine is based around the fresh ingredients available. But what makes Hokkaido food so special is that it features regional ingredients that you don’t always find on the mainland.

Across the island, you’ll find specialty ingredients like incredibly fresh seafood and King Crab, rich and high quality dairy, the most pure lamb meat, and the best barley and hops in the country. Due to Hokkaido’s cold climate and wide open farmland, these ingredients THRIVE.

Compared to mainland Japan, food in Hokkaido tend to be heartier and more “rustic” in flavor and presentation. Portions are often bigger, flavors are richer, and that’s what I love most about Hokkaido food compared to foods in Osaka or the even the abundant street foods in Tokyo.

The food here is satisfyingly filling, and as for someone who comes from a country known for bold flavors (Thailand), Hokkaido food just hits the spot.

hokkaido food soup curry king — *It’s unbelievable how flavorful this bowl of Hokkaido Soup Curry looks*

Hokkaido is a big place after all, and there are many cities that specialize in their own dishes or ingredients. But the general idea is:

Sapporo - Capital city of Hokkaido, can find any Hokkaido food here but specialities are Genghis Khan BBQ, Soup Curry, and Miso Ramen (oh and beer).
Hakodate - Port town, THE place for the freshest seafood in Hokkaido.
Otaru - Home to Japan’s most famous cheesecake (and general dairy snacks) brand, LeTAO.

Obviously there are many more cities and regional dishes but in this blog post, I’ve covered the essential Hokkaido foods to try, and these 3 cities basically cover them all.

Top 10 Hokkaido Foods to Try!

hokkaido food genghis khan bbq jingisukan lamb meat — *Genghis Khan BBQ, an iconic staple (maybe not) of the Hokkaido food repertoire*

There is a lot of great food in Hokkaido, so I would recommend you plan out your meals carefully. Especially as some of the places that I will be recommending are very popular (both with tourists AND locals) and you’ll often find long queues at these places…

So plan your schedules accordingly, there’s some damn good food you don’t wanna miss! Let’s get to exploring the most delectable Hokkaido foods!

Soup Curry - Hokkaido’s Most Famous Dish

hokkaido food sapporo soup curry king — *The most famous Hokkaido food, Soup Curry*

No doubt one of the most interesting and famous Hokkaido foods to try is Soup Curry. It’s a dish that genuinely surprised me the first time I tried it. Unlike your regular Japanese curry that is thick and rich, Hokkaido Soup Curry is light, brothy, and packed full of flavor almost like a spiced consommé made from a rich chicken or pork based stock infused with warming spices like cumin, cardamom, and turmeric.

But what makes Hokkaido soup curry special are the toppings, the curry is topped with colorful, large cut pieces of vegetables (potato, eggplant, carrots, pumpkin, etc…) that has been SEARED on a pan, which gives the veggies a nice smokey and caramelized charred flavor.

Plus you get some meaty protein options like a whole chicken leg, meaty pork belly, and succulent seafood. if you’re exploring Hokkaido food beyond ramen and seafood, soup curry is an absolute must-try.

Where to try soup curry in Hokkaido:

Soup Curry GARAKU - One of the most famous soup curry spots in Sapporo, known for its ultra-rich broth and perfectly cooked chicken leg. Expect a line, but it’s worth it.
Soup Curry King - A favorite among locals for its charcoal-grilled ingredients and bold, smoky flavors that really elevate the soup curry experience.

Genghis Khan (Jingisukan) - Lamb and Mutton BBQ

Now here is a dish with a rather amusing name, Genghis Khan (known locally as Jingisukan) is an iconic and unique Hokkaido speciality dish! Japan is known for Wagyu Beef, but Genghis Khan is purely lamb/mutton!

Thinly sliced lamb or mutton (commonly marinated in a sweet soy sauce) is grilled right at your table on a domed metal grill, and the outer rim is lined with fresh bean sprouts, onions, and cabbage so as your lamb cooks, the meat juices slowly flows down to glaze the vegetables.

And the best part is that the lamb in Hokkaido, there isn’t any funky smells or game-y flavor! Lamb isn’t common in the rest of Japan but it’s a livestock that is hugely promoted in this northern island. And as with cows, the sheep and lamb raised in these farms are of the highest quality.

Pair that with a few pints of refreshing Sapporo beer and Jingisukan is truly a Hokkaido food that is worth experiencing at least once on your holiday to Hokkaido!

Where to try Genghis Khan BBQ in Hokkaido:

Daruma Honten - The most famous Genghis Khan restaurant in Sapporo, known for fresh lamb and nonstop lines. Simple, classic, and worth the wait.
Matsuo Jingisukan - A long-standing Hokkaido chain offering tender lamb with a slightly sweeter marinade, great if you want a more approachable introduction to lamb BBQ.
Sapporo Beer Museum - A tourist attraction but one where you can eat some actually good Genghis Khan BBQ, plus also have the chance to sample Hokkaido’s beers right at the source.

Hokkaido Diary and Desserts - Ice Cream, Pudding, Milk, Cheese, etc...

hokkaido food, soft serve ice cream dairy milk — *I know you can get ice cream anywhere in Japan, but in Hokkaido it just hits different*

For all you sweet tooths out there, this Hokkaido food culture is the one for you!. Diary and desserts are HUGE in Hokkaido, thanks to the cooler climates, and open farmland allowing the prefecture to produce some high quality milk, the richest and creamiest in all of Japan!

Some examples of Hokkaido dairy foods you definitely need to try are:

Ice cream - Or more commonly referred to as “soft serve” or just “sofuto”, vanilla, fresh milk, and chocolate are the most common flavors, all served on the thinnest and crispiest biscuit-like crepe cone.
Cheesecake - The softest and most rich cheesecake you’ll ever have, I promise. Flavors are not mild, they pack more of a salty and sweet cheesy punch.
Pudding - Milk or vanilla, or even white chocolate pudding, doused in either a salty burnt caramel sauce or a sweet berry jam sauce.

And this extends to the pastries as well, like a choux cream or eclair, or anything that contains some sort of cream or dairy. Hokkaido dairy is like an institution, you’ll be able to find these desserts and pastries literally everywhere, but the most convenient is probably at the nearest Konbini (convenience store) Lawson especially, are known for their desserts.

This is one Hokkaido food you cannot miss, it’s not a heavy meal, it’s a snack, so there is no excuse to skip this one ;)

Where to try desserts and dairy foods in Hokkaido:

LeTAO (Otaru) - Located in the town of Otaru (great for a day trip btw) not far from Sapporo, Famous for its double fromage cheesecake and dairy desserts made with Hokkaido milk.
Milk Mura (Sapporo) - A fun dessert spot where you can customize Hokkaido soft serve with different liqueur sauces, all built around premium local milk.

Hokkaido Crab - The Largest King Crabs in Japan!

In the southern tip of this northern island is the port town of Hakodate (You should definitely visit), known for its incredibly fresh seafood and the best place to find this Hokkaido food speciality.

Hokkaido King Crab is one of the most famous (and not to mention expensive) foods you can eat in northern Japan. In Hakodate, King Crabs are caught daily and served fresh within the morning. It’s usually prepared steamed or grilled but can also be boiled in a flavorful soup or eaten raw as sashimi.

If you’ve never had King Crab before, the meat itself is firm, juicy, and naturally sweet, with big, satisfying chunks of crab that you can peel right off the shell. A quick dip in butter or a contrasting salty soy sauce is more than enough.

Though Hokkaido King Crab is definitely on the more expensive side, the quality actually justifies the cost. It’s definitely one of the more premium foods in Hokkaido, but if you are going to splurge then make it the King Crab, it ain’t a king for nothing after all.

If you really want to experience Hokkaido seafood at its freshest, I’d honestly recommend this Hakodate Morning Market tour, walking the stalls with a knowledgable local guide and tasting things like squid, scallops, and kaisendon made it way more fun (and delicious) than just wandering on my own.

Where to try king crab in Hokkaido (mainly in Hakodate):

Hakodate Morning Market (Hakodate Asaichi) - The go-to spot for fresh king crab, where you can see live crabs, choose how it’s prepared, and eat it on the spot.
Uni Murakami Hakodate - Known for top-quality seafood, including king crab dishes served simply to highlight freshness and flavor.

Kaisendon - Fresh Seafood Rice Bowls

hokkaido food kaisendon seafood rice bowl with ikura uni salmon — *A kaisendon with salmon roe, salmon sashimi, uni, and a nice seaweed shaped like Hokkaido*

In a similar vein to King Crab another must try Hokkaido foods is the Kaisendon, a rice bowl topped with an assortment of fresh seafood sashimi.

Kaisendon starts with a base of slightly vinegar seasoned Japanese rice topped with an overload of fresh seafood and it perfectly represents the food in Hokkaido. You can have many different variations of seafood, from raw shrimp, salmon roe (ikura), sea urchin (uni), salmon belly, tuna belly, scallops, and so much more…

I know alot of people will go for bowls that include Uni or Ikura as those are more expensive and enticing, but for me, my personal favorite is the minced tuna belly (Negitoro), along with other stuff of course, but always have to have minced tuna belly.

The fish on the Kaisendon is incredibly fresh, often caught the same day it’s served. It’s popular because it’s simple, fast, and lets the quality of Hokkaido’s seafood speak for itself. The steaming warm rice and the slightly chilled sashimi slices is a combo that can’t be beat.

I know you can practically find sushi and sashimi anywhere in Japan but Kaisendon is a food in Hokkaido that should not be missed!

Where to try kaisendon in Hokkaido:

Nijo Market (Sapporo) - A classic spot for seafood donburi, with multiple shops serving generous kaisendon made with ultra-fresh local seafood.
Hakodate Morning Market (Donburi Avenue Section) - Famous for its seafood bowls, especially those loaded with crab, uni, and ikura straight from Hokkaido waters.
Sankaku Market (Otaru) - Located right next to Otaru Station. The bowls here are loaded with fresh crab, scallops, salmon, and uni, often sourced locally. It’s a bit touristy, but the quality is legit and portions are generous.

Miso Ramen - The Signature Noodles of Sapporo

One of my personal favorite foods, but also one of the most reliable foods in Hokkaido is the humble bowl of ramen. You might know that there are 3 main types: Miso, Shio (salt), and Shoyu (soy sauce), 2 of the 3 originated in Hokkaido, Miso and Shio, and no type of ramen is more famous worldwide than Sapporo’s Miso Ramen!

Miso ramen in Sapporo is one of the most famous bowls of Hokkaido food. This style of ramen uses a rich miso-based broth, often combined with pork or chicken stock, then topped with corn, butter, bean sprouts, and slices of the meatiest, juiciest, and most tender chashu pork imaginable. It was created in Sapporo to handle the cold winters, and once you taste it, it makes total sense why it caught on and spread across Japan.

Sapporo miso ramen is deep, savory, slightly sweet, and packed full of umami flavor thanks to the miso. The broth is already rich and flavorsome but with the classic addition of butter to make it even more sinful? Yes please. If you’re a foodie on a mission to embrace the food in Hokkaido, this is one of those dishes that is absolutely non-negotiable.

Where to try miso ramen in Sapporo:

Ramen Shingen - A local favorite known for its intensely flavorful miso broth and perfectly balanced richness.
Sumire - One of the most famous Sapporo ramen shops and a pioneer of modern miso ramen, with a bold, hearty bowl that defines the style.

Butadon - Thick Cut Pork Belly Over Rice

hokkaido food butadon pork belly rice bowl — *This as one of the best bowls of food I’ve ever had in Hokkaido, I’m serious*

I’ve shared with you a seafood rice bowl already, how about a… land-food rice bowl? Butadon is a simple but incredibly satisfying pork rice bowl that’s especially popular in eastern Hokkaido, but easy to find across the island. I’ve had it for dinner one day and it surprisingly became one of the highlights of my Hokkaido food adventures!

It’s made with thick slices of pork, usually pork belly or pork loin, grilled until slightly caramelized, then brushed with a sweet-savory soy-based sauce and served over hot rice. Pork is a big deal in Hokkaido, and this dish shows how good it can be with just a few well-done ingredients.

What makes butadon so insanely delicious is how rich, smoky, and comforting it is without being complicated. The pork are thick cut pieces, very meaty, very juicy, and if you got the pork belly, the flavor of the charred fat is just out of this world!

The caramelized sauce soaks into the rice, and every bite is just blissful. It’s affordable and perfect if you want a break from seafood while still eating classic food in Hokkaido.

Where to try butadon in Hokkaido:

Butadon no Tonta (Obihiro) - The most famous butadon restaurant in Hokkaido and the birthplace of the dish, known for thick-cut pork and a perfectly balanced sauce.
Tokachi Butadon Ippin - A popular local chain serving consistently great butadon with tender pork and generous portions, easy to find in Sapporo as well.
Kobutaya - A beloved local butadon place in central Sapporo, known for juicy marinated Hokkaido pork bowls with options like loin, belly, or a mix.

Shio Ramen - Hakodate’s World Famous Noodle Soup

hokkaido food hakodate shio ramen salt — *It might look plain, but Hakodate Shio Ramen is such a well balanced and soothing bowl of noodles*

So far I’ve shared some really flavorsome dishes but sometimes you just want a nice, mildly flavored and balance bowl of food, and that is where this famous Hokkaido food comes in. Hakodate Shio Ramen is one of the cleanest, and most delicate ramen styles you’ll find in Hokkaido.

“Shio” means salt, and instead of a heavy or creamy broth, this ramen focuses on clarity and balance. The soup is usually made from chicken, pork bones, and seafood like kelp, creating a light, clear broth seasoned simply with salt. Hakodate was one of the first cities in Japan to adopt ramen, and shio ramen became its signature style thanks to the city’s coastal location and access to fresh ingredients.

I appreciate Shio Ramen for its light and balanced flavors, the broth is subtle but deeply flavorful, which lets the noodles shine in all its glory, the noodles might be the main star of this dish.

It might sound basic and uninspired but It’s popular because it’s easy to eat, comforting, and showcases how good simple ramen can be when the ingredients are fresh.

Where to try Shio Ramen in Hokkaido:

Hakodate Shio Ramen Shinano - A beloved Hakodate ramen spot right near JR Hakodate Station. their clear, golden broth has delicate umami from chicken and pork bones, with toppings like chashu pork, spring onions, bamboo shoots, and fish cake.
Hakodate Ramen Jiyoken - Another legendary shop in Hakodate (often ranked #1 locally), known for its traditional clear salt broth and historic flavor.

Ishikari Nabe - Salmon Hot Pot Soul Food

hokkaido food ishikari nabe slamon hot pot — *Ishikari Nabe (picture by Klook)*

This is one of the more uncommon foods in Hokkaido as it’s often overshadowed by the more “marketable” dishes we’ve talked about, but it’s still one worth trying!

Ishikari Nabe is a traditional salmon hot pot that comes from the Ishikari region near Sapporo, and it’s one of the most comforting Hokkaido foods you can try.

The star ingredient is salmon belly, cooked slowly in a miso-based broth alongside vegetables like cabbage, onions, tofu, mushrooms, and daikon radish. Because salmon is so abundant in Hokkaido, this dish was created as a hearty, practical way to use fresh local fish during colder months.

Ishikari Nabe is a bit different to other Japanese hot pots in that it uses Miso as a base instead of Shoyu, which gives it deeper flavor. The salmon belly melts slightly as it cooks, making the soup rich in oils. It’s a simple and rustic food in Hokkaido that I urge to try if you happen to come across it.

Where to try Ishikari Nabe in Hokkaido:

Sapporo Kani Honke (Sapporo) - Known for crab, but also serves excellent seasonal Ishikari nabe made with fresh Hokkaido salmon.
Ajinohitsujigaoka (Sapporo) - A traditional restaurant specializing in local Hokkaido foods, including Ishikari nabe prepared in a classic, homestyle style.

Beer (I’m Serious) - The Birthplace of Sapporo Beer!

hokkaido food sapporo beer — *3 different beers at the Sapporo beer museum: Sapporo classic, black label, and kaitakushi*

And the final Hokkaido food you must try is BEER. Yep, that’s right, Beer in Hokkaido has a long history and is closely tied to the island’s development, especially in Sapporo. Hokkaido’s cool climate made it ideal for brewing, and in 1876, the Sapporo Brewery was established, eventually becoming Sapporo Beer, one of Japan’s oldest and most famous beer brands.

Because of this, beer became deeply rooted in Hokkaido food culture, often paired with heavier local dishes like Genghis Khan BBQ and ramen. You’ll find everything from classic lagers to seasonal brews and craft beers made with local water and barley.

The most iconic style is Sapporo Lager, known for its clean, crisp, and slightly bitter taste. Beyond that, Hokkaido has a growing craft beer scene, with breweries experimenting with wheat beers, ales, and seasonal releases.

You can find beer anywhere, Konbinis (convenience stores) are the obvious options, but Hokkaido has plenty of beer halls solely dedicated to enjoying beer. Beer is so engrained in the island’s culture, heck, I can make a whole entire blog post just exploring beer in Hokkaido.

If you want to dive into the heart of Sapporo’s drinking culture, this Sapporo Bar Hopping Food Tour was one of my favorite nights, we hit three local izakayas (Japanese bars) with a friendly guide, tried delicious Hokkaido dishes and drinks, and it was just so fun!

Where to try beer in Hokkaido:

Sapporo Beer Museum & Beer Garden - The most famous place to drink beer in Hokkaido, where you can try fresh Sapporo beer and pair it with local dishes like lamb BBQ.

Looking for Things to Do in Hokkaido?

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