Sapporo, the central city of Hokkaido, is a famous gourmet destination known for its fresh seafood dishes, sushi, and Jingisukan, all made with fresh Hokkaido-grown ingredients.
Sapporo's izakayas offer a wide variety of Hokkaido's local cuisine at affordable prices.
With friendly staff and warm hospitality, you're sure to have a relaxing and enjoyable meal.
Here are the top 5 izakayas in Sapporo where you can enjoy a delicious dinner, along with some must-order dishes.
めしと純米別邸 二条市場でめきん / Meshito Junmai Sapporo
“めしと純米別邸 二条市場でめきん / Meshito Junmai Sapporo”, located a 3-minute walk from JR Sapporo Station, is a izakaya specializing in pure sake and ingredients directly from the Otaru market.
The fresh sashimi, oysters, and other seafood dishes are superb!
Local Guide’s Point of View
Fresh seafood is shipped directly from the market every morning, and is served using a cooking method that matches the ingredients to bring out the best flavor of the ingredients.
They have always offers 15 kinds of junmai sake, carefully selected from all over the country, to go with the dishes.
Popular Dishes
1. Fresh Tuna Sashimi 3-Piece Set
This is a three-piece tuna set that allows you to enjoy fresh tuna selected by professionals.
The tuna served depends on the day's catch, so you can always be sure to find the best tuna available.
Oyster and jumbo button shrimp sashimi are also popular menu items.
2. Eel and Egg Bowl
This dish uses one bold piece of eel.
It has a powerful appearance and is sure to attract attention on social media!
The rice cooked in an earthenware pot has a luster and goes perfectly with the eel.
Facilities & Services
They have counter seating for one person, and private rooms with Horigotatsu and private rooms with tables for family and friends, allowing you to enjoy your meal without worrying about your surroundings.
Try our fresh seafood delivered from Otaru Market every morning.
博多餃子舎603 札幌駅前店
If you're looking for a taste of Hakata-style gyoza in Sapporo, be sure to check out “博多餃子舎603 札幌駅前店”, located just a 2-minute walk from Sapporo Station South Exit.
The izakaya offers a variety of gyoza styles and other Kyushu cuisine.
Local Guide’s Point of View
A popular course is the all-you-can-drink 30 kinds of sakes, including shochu, draft beer, and highballs that go well with Kyushu cuisine.
Open from 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
This is a izakaya where you can enjoy chatting with your friends!
Popular Dishes
1. Hakata 603 Gyoza
“Hakata 603 Gyoza” is the most popular dish.
The dumplings are filled with a generous amount of meat and vegetables.
The dumplings are also unique in that they are served with a special salt instead of soy sauce.
Tebasaki (grilled chicken wings) are also a must-try!
2. Hakata Offal Hotpot
Hakata's local dish, "Offal Hotpot," is known for its authentic flavor.
The hotpot is available in four flavors: miso, salt, spicy miso, and dan dan.
It is made with carefully selected domestic beef offal and a rich broth that is simply delicious.
Facilities & Services
Located just outside the south exit of Sapporo Station, this izakaya is the perfect place to go after a day of sightseeing in Sapporo.
As there is only one private room, early reservations are recommended.
Counter seating is also available for small groups.
ホルモン酒場風土.札幌駅前店 / Horumon Sakaba Fudo Sapporo Station
If you're visiting Sapporo, you won't want to miss the opportunity to try Hokkaido's local dish, "Jingisukan."!
“ホルモン酒場風土.札幌駅前店 / Horumon Sakaba Fudo Sapporo Station”, located just 2 minutes from Sapporo Station, is a specialized izakaya that serves charcoal-grilled jingisukan.
Local Guide’s Point of View
All seats are equipped with smokeless roasters, so you can enjoy yakiniku for a long time without worrying about the smell and smoke from the charcoal grill.
The 2-hour all-you-can-drink course offers a wide variety of sake, including highballs, makgeolli, shochu, and sake.
Popular Dishes
1. Salted Jingisukan (Hokkaido style lamb BBQ)
The most popular dish, "Salted Jingisukan," is a Hokkaido-style lamb barbecue.
It is made with fresh lamb, so it has no distinctive smell.
The original salt sauce enhances the natural flavor of the meat.
2. Specially Selected Wagyu Yakiniku
Wagyu beef barbecue is a masterpiece of melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness.
The "Frozen Lemon Sour" made by freezing fresh lemon goes great with yakiniku and horumon.
Facilities & Services
This izakaya is the perfect place to enjoy a dinner of Jingisukan and yakiniku in the Sapporo area.
The spacious sofa counter seats 2 people, and there are table seats and private rooms with sunken tatami mats for groups.
札幌ザンギ本舗 札幌駅北口店 / Sapporo Zangi Hompo Sapporo Station
“札幌ザンギ本舗 札幌駅北口店 / Sapporo Zangi Hompo Sapporo Station”, located just a 3-minute walk from Sapporo Station, is a reasonably priced izakaya.
Whether you're looking for freshly fried karaage, spicy tebasaki, or a hearty bowl of ramen or gyoza after a night of drinking, you'll find it all here!
Local Guide’s Point of View
There are five kinds of "Hyoketsu Lemon Sour" that goes well with the izakaya’s most popular karaage.
Please enjoy our original sakes such as the "Pickled Highball" and the "Ume-Kombu Sour" which contains ume plum and kombu seaweed.
Popular Dishes
1. Jumbo Zangi
Hokkaido's signature dish, "Zangi," is a hearty chicken karaage.
It is crispy and juicy when it is freshly fried.
You can enjoy about 10 different flavors, including garlic-flavored soy sauce, refreshing salt, spicy red hot, and cheese.
2. Tebasaki | Chicken Wings Spicy
Tebasaki has a great spicy flavor that pairs best with beer or highballs.
For lunch, there is a special set menu with white rice or 16-grain rice, and one free refill of cabbage!
Facilities & Services
If you're looking for a budget-friendly izakaya near Sapporo Station, head straight to "札幌ザンギ本舗 札幌駅北口店 / Sapporo Zangi Hompo Sapporo Station."
The large chicken karaage and tender tebasaki are sure to make for a satisfying dinner, even at a low price.
粋な居酒屋あいよ 北1条店 / Izakaya Aiyo Sapporo Station Kita 1-Jo
“粋な居酒屋あいよ 北1条店 / Izakaya Aiyo Sapporo Station Kita 1-Jo”, located 2 minutes from Odori Station, is a izakaya that serves dishes using vegetables, seafood, sashimi, etc. grown in Hokkaido under the motto "local food production and consumption”.
Local Guide’s Point of View
The Sake lineup focuses on Hokkaido's local sake, and in addition to sake and shochu, there is a wide selection of beer and sours.
An all-you-can-drink drink special is also available for those who order the seasonal course menu.
Popular Dishes
1. Beach-boiled Hairy Crab
"Izakaya Aiyo粋な居酒屋あいよ 北1条店 / Izakaya Aiyo Sapporo Station Kita 1-Jo"'s most popular dish is fresh seafood shipped directly from Hokkaido.
The "Beach-boiled Hairy Crab" is amazingly delicious with rich crabmeat!
Don't miss the thick and juicy Hakodate oyster too!
2. Tebasaki (Chicken Wings) with Secret Sauce
In addition to seafood dishes, try Hokkaido chicken dishes!
The secret sauce is a superb dish that goes well with tebasaki and goes well with sake and white rice.
Other popular dishes include yakitori and gyoza.
Facilities & Services
The interior of the izakaya is a fusion of Japanese and modern styles.
Semi-private seats with partitions are available for 2-4 persons, and a large private room is available for groups of 5 or more.
Hokkaido seafood dishes and sakes will enliven your night in Sapporo.
Features of Izakaya in Sapporo
Hokkaido is known as a treasure trove of ingredients in Japan.
Seafood dishes such as salmon roe and sea urchin, jingisukan, and fresh vegetables are all available in Hokkaido, and none of them can be tasted in Tokyo.
When you visit Sapporo, please visit the izakayas near Sapporo Station introduced here and enjoy gourmet foods that can only be tasted in Hokkaido.
Experience the unique flavors of Hokkaido and fully appreciate the charm of the north.
Written by Jessica
I am an advertising manager for an interior design company in Nihonbashi, Tokyo.
From Tennessee, USA
Lived in Japan for 5 years.
My hobbies are taking pictures of landscapes with my SLR camera and collecting glass art.
I love gourmet food in Ginza and eat out with friends on my days off.
When you come to Japan, be sure to try Japanese black beef sukiyaki and shabu-shabu!