Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island, is a foodie’s paradise. Known for its fresh seafood, tasty ramen flavours, creamy soft serve and sizzling lamb BBQ, Hokkaido offers a diverse and delicious culinary experience.
1. Seafood Donburi (Kaisendon) – The Ocean in a Bowl
Hokkaido’s seafood is world-class, and the best way to experience it is with a kaisendon: a bowl of rice topped with raw seafood like uni (sea urchin), ikura (salmon roe), shrimp, and crab. It is available at almost every market and often served with clam soup.
Where to try it:
- Hakodate Morning Market
- Nijo Market in Sapporo
2. Butter Corn Miso Ramen – Sapporo’s Signature Ramen
Topped with sweet corn, a slab of butter, bean sprouts, and ground pork, butter miso ramen is the perfect dinner on a cold winter night.
Where to try it:
- Ramen Shingen (Sapporo)
- Ramen Ryuto (Sapporo)
3. Shio Ramen – Hakodate’s Signature Ramen
Hakodate is famous for its shio (salt-based) ramen, known for its clear broth. The soup is usually made with pork or chicken bones, in contrast to heavier ramen styles. It has simple toppings like char siu pork, bamboo shoots, and green onions.
Where to try it:
- Hakodate Ramen Shio Shinano
4. Genghis Khan (Jingisukan) – Grilled Lamb
Named after the Mongolian ruler (though with no actual connection), Genghis Khan is a popular Hokkaido dish featuring grilled lamb or mutton cooked on a dome-shaped iron skillet. The meat is often marinated and grilled with onions, bean sprouts, and other vegetables. You can also choose various dipping sauces. Genghis Khan is often paired with a cold beer.
Where to try it:
- Sapporo Beer Garden
- Hakodate Jingisukan Asaichi Dori
5. Soup Curry – Spicy and Unique
Soup curry is a spicy broth served with large chunks of meat like chicken or pork and vegetables like eggplant or pumpkin. It originated in Sapporo and is highly customizable – you can choose the spice level and select what toppings you want.
Where to try it:
- Suage+ (Sapporo)
6. Lucky Pierrot – Hakodate’s Quirky Burger Restaurant
This Hakodate-based burger chain is known for its eccentric décor and menu items like the Chinese Chicken Burger (fried chicken in sweet soy sauce), yakisoba burger, and omurice. It’s fast food with a local twist.
Each location has a unique theme such as Christmas or Elvis!
Where to try it:
- Any of Lucky Pierrot’s 17 locations in Hakodate!
7. Toriton Sushi – Conveyor Belt Sushi Heaven
Toriton is a famous local kaiten sushi (conveyor belt) chain. Since Hokkaido is surrounded by Japan’s richest fishing waters, sushi there is on another level. Toriton offers fresh scallop, salmon, uni and more at reasonable prices.
Where to try it:
- Toriton Sushi, various locations including Sapporo and Asahikawa
8. Yubari Melon – A Juicy Treat
Known as the world’s most luxurious melon, Yubari King Melon is cultivated in central Hokkaido. It is super-sweet and juicy. You can try it fresh, as soft serve, or even in melon-flavored sweets and drinks.
Where to try it:
- Hakodate Morning Market
- Dessert shops throughout Hokkaido
9. Hokkaido Dairy – Milk, Cheese, and Soft Serve
Hokkaido produces some of Japan’s best dairy. Even if your visit is during winter, you can’t miss the creamy soft-serve ice cream! Popular flavours include vanilla, lavender, melon and even squid ink! Cheesecake is also a delicious Hokkaido treat.
Where to try it:
- Cheesecake from Petite Merveille (Hakodate)
- Many tourist attractions like Goryokaku Tower and the Old British Consulate offer ice cream for sale!
10. Crab – King of Hokkaido Seafood
Hokkaido is famous for several types of crab—king crab (tarabagani), snow crab (zuwaigani), and horsehair crab (kegani). Crab is served grilled, steamed, or as part of hot pots and sushi.
Where to try it:
- Nijo Market
- Hakodate Morning Market
Final Thoughts
Hokkaido is a food lovers’ paradise! From buttery miso ramen in the snowy streets of Sapporo to tasty melon at Hakodate’s Morning Market, every meal here is memorable.
Which Hokkaido dish would you most like to try?
