Top 10 Must-Try Izakayas in Sapporo 2025: Where to Savor Hokkaido's Best Seafood, Sake & Local Flavors
Sapporo, known as the heart of Hokkaido, is recognized as one of Japan's premier gourmet cities, boasting numerous restaurants where you can enjoy delicious cuisine. Furthermore, with its abundance of tourist attractions, Sapporo is one of the most popular destinations among visitors to Japan.
With its exquisite food and drinks, Sapporo is also famous as one of Japan's top nightlife spots. Particularly around the entertainment district of Susukino and Odori Park, you'll find izakaya, bars, and nightclubs where you can enjoy the flavors of Hokkaido.
This time, we'll introduce the best izakaya in Sapporo and highlight what makes each establishment wonderful.
Table of Contents
-5 Best Izakaya Loved by Locals in Sapporo
-5 Exceptional Izakaya Where You Can Enjoy Sapporo's Local Cuisine
5 Best Izakaya Loved by Locals in Sapporo
Izakaya Kusachi (Susukino)
Source:Tabelog
Izakaya Kusachi is a long-established izakaya that has been operating in Susukino for 20 years. The owner personally sources fresh fish from the market daily, so you can always enjoy fresh and delicious cuisine regardless of the season.
The most recommended dish is crab from Otaru. They serve it with the shell removed for easy eating, so it's popular even among first-time crab eaters. Other dishes like Atka mackerel and Dashimaki Egg are so delicious that once you try them, you'll become addicted.
This is a popular establishment that's always crowded regardless of the season, so make sure to make a reservation by the day before your visit.
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Address: 7F Minami 3 Nishi 4 Building, 21-6 Minami 3-jo Nishi 4-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Business Hours: 17:00-23:00
Closed: Sundays
Phone: 011-232-0204
Official Website: https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/426164185/ju-jiu-wukusachi/?hl=ja
Grand tavern Fuji Susukino shop (Susukino)
Source:Tabelog
Grand tavern Fuji Susukino shop is an izakaya that has been beloved in Susukino for nearly half a century. The restaurant consistently serves fresh Hokkaido seafood and can accommodate various needs from small groups to larger parties.
The seating includes various types such as counter seats, chair seats, and sunken kotatsu. The recommended dish is the daily assorted sashimi platter, where you can enjoy fresh fish alongside beer or sake.
With affordable prices and hearty portions, this izakaya is recommended for those who want to fully enjoy Hokkaido's flavors to their heart's content.
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Address: Fuji Kaikan Building, Minami 5-jo Nishi 4-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Business Hours: Weekdays 17:00-23:30 / Weekends and days before holidays 17:00-1:00
Closed: Sundays and holidays
Phone: 011-511-7131
Official Website: https://www.grand-fuji.co.jp/
Izakaya rukku & uohei（Odori）
Source:Tripadvisor
Izakaya rukku & uohei is a popular izakaya where you can enjoy fresh and delicious seafood cuisine from Hokkaido. They have a particularly good reputation for their sashimi, which you can also enjoy during lunch time as set meals or bowls.
Located on Tanukikoji Street, known as one of Sapporo's representative shopping streets, this restaurant bustles with activity from day to night regardless of the season. The ara soup (fish head and tail soup) is also exquisite, and since free refills are available, I found myself getting multiple servings.
With affordable prices and hearty portions, feel free to visit casually.
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Address: 7-1 Minami 2-jo Nishi 6-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Business Hours: 11:30-14:00 / 16:00-23:00 (Sundays 11:30-23:00)
Closed: Open year-round
Phone: 011-241-2925
Ajihyakusen (Near Sapporo Station)
Source:Tripadvisor
Ajihyakusen is an atmospheric izakaya located in front of Sapporo Station. This establishment offers a variety of dishes using fresh Hokkaido ingredients, making it bustling with customers year-round regardless of the season. The restaurant is particularly renowned for its high-quality sake, featuring an extensive selection of sake varieties at reasonable prices, making it irresistible for those who want to savor sake thoroughly.
The dish that made this restaurant famous is their Potatoes Simmered in Butter. The potatoes, slowly simmered in bonito stock, are exquisite and offer a deeply flavorful experience. This dish requires advance reservation, so make sure to book by the day before your visit.
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Address: B1 Floor, Miyazawa Building, 4-2 Kita 7-jo Nishi 4-chome, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Business Hours: 16:30-22:00
Closed: Sundays
Phone: 011-716-1000
Official Website: https://www.instagram.com/ajihyakusen/
Sapporo Zangi Hompo Sapporo Station Store
Source:Tabelog
Sapporo Zangi Hompo is a zangi specialty restaurant located in Susukino. Zangi is a dish where chicken is seasoned with garlic and soy sauce, then deep-fried. In Hokkaido, it has been beloved as a staple menu item in home cooking and izakaya establishments. Zangi is Hokkaido's unique name for what is called "karaage" in other parts of Japan.
The restaurant serves freshly fried, juicy zangi. They feature an extensive lunch menu, which can be ordered not only during lunch but also in the evening. No reservations are required, so feel free to drop by casually.
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Address: 1F G4 Building, Minami 6-jo Nishi 4-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Business Hours: 11:00-24:00
Closed: Open year-round
Phone: 050-5385-3486
Official Website: https://zangi.fuhdo.jp/
For Exploring Local-Favorite Izakaya in Sapporo, Getting Guided by Locals is Recommended
This tour offers a bar-hopping experience in Susukino, Sapporo's representative entertainment district. You'll explore Susukino with a local guide, allowing you to visit hidden gems and delicious restaurants that you wouldn't discover through regular tourism.
The izakaya are often hidden, cozy establishments where you can enjoy fresh Hokkaido cuisine including seafood and sake. While the guide selects the restaurants to visit, participants can freely request to visit specific places they're interested in.
After enjoying food and drinks at the izakaya, you can further satisfy your appetite with sweets and ramen made from Hokkaido ingredients. If you want to fully enjoy Hokkaido cuisine in Susukino, definitely consider joining this tour.
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Meeting Point: Under the giant NIKKA sign near Susukino Station
Tour Area: Susukino
Start Time: 18:00
5 Exceptional Izakaya Where You Can Enjoy Sapporo's Local Cuisine
From here, we'll introduce 5 exceptional izakaya where you can enjoy Sapporo's local cuisine. Among the numerous famous establishments in Sapporo, we've carefully selected restaurants that are perfect for enjoying Hokkaido flavors. Please use this as a reference when visiting Sapporo.
Oga (Ishikari Nabe)
Source:Official website
Oga is a renowned Ishikari Nabe restaurant that has been beloved in Sapporo for half a century. Ishikari Nabe is a local Hokkaido dish where salmon and vegetables are simmered together in a miso-based broth, commonly eaten during the cold winter season.
The cuisine uses seasonal ingredients suited to each of the four seasons, prepared using traditional craftsmanship passed down through generations. The crab sashimi and idiot fish (donko) shabu-shabu are particularly recommended, with the strength being their consistently fresh quality.
The seating consists of completely private rooms where you can enjoy your meal in a peaceful atmosphere. They also offer a wide selection of delicious sake, so please take your time to savor high-quality Hokkaido cuisine.
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Address: 8F & 9F Sun Three Building, Minami 3-jo Nishi 3-1, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Business Hours: 17:00-23:00
Closed: Open year-round
Phone: 011-242-3328
Official Website: https://oga-sapporo.com/
Charcoal-grilled Genghis Khan Ishida
Source:Tabelog
Charcoal-grilled Genghis Khan Ishida is a restaurant where you can enjoy high-quality Genghis Khan. At this establishment, you can taste Shibetsu Suffolk, the representative lamb of Hokkaido, and enjoy high-quality meat regardless of the season.
There are three types of course meals available, including courses where you can compare Hokkaido-produced and imported lamb, and courses where you can exclusively enjoy Shibetsu Suffolk. The meat has no gamey smell whatsoever and can be eaten with confidence, making it recommended for first-time Genghis Khan eaters.
There are also many other excellent dishes such as lamb yukhoe, so please be sure to visit when you come to Sapporo.
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Address: 2-9 Kita 1-jo Nishi 8-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Business Hours: 11:00-23:00
Closed: Open year-round
Phone: 011-252-9708
Jingisukan Daruma
Source:Official website
Jingisukan Daruma is a representative Genghis Khan restaurant in Sapporo that was established in 1954. The meat is grilled using charcoal grill style, and features thick mutton meat from sheep that are over 2 years old.
Daruma's number one recommendation is their secret sauce. While other restaurants serve meat pre-soaked in sauce, Daruma maintains the style of eating the sauce after grilling the meat.
Not only is the meat excellent, but the vegetables are also fresh and delicious, including onions, carrots, and bean sprouts. The first serving of vegetables is provided free of charge, so take your time to savor them. If you want to enjoy Genghis Khan to your heart's content, this is a must-visit restaurant.
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Address: Crystal Building 1F, Minami 5-jo Nishi 4, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Business Hours: 17:30-4:30 (next day)
Closed: New Year's period (December 31 - January 2)
Phone: 011-552-6013
Official Website: https://sapporo-jingisukan.info/main
SOUP CURRY GARAKU
Source:Tabelog
At Soup Curry Garaku, you can enjoy Hokkaido's famous soup curry. Soup curry is a dish originating from Hokkaido where curry is made into soup form and cooked together with vegetables and meat. As the name "soup" suggests, it's characterized by being consumed like drinking soup.
Garaku's soup curry features five types of Japanese-style soup stock personally selected by the owner, harmonized with secret spices to create an elegant flavor. The vegetables used as ingredients are also delicious and colorful.
Among the restaurants in Sapporo, this is a particularly popular establishment, with long lines forming during lunch and dinner. It may take time to enter the restaurant, so if possible, try to line up 30 minutes to 1 hour before opening.
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Address: Okumura Building B1, 6-1 Minami 2-jo Nishi 2-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Business Hours: 11:30-15:00/17:00-20:30
Closed: Open year-round
Phone: 011-233-5568
Official Website: https://s-garaku.com/
Ganso Ramen Yokocho Sapporo
Source:Tripadvisor
Ganso Ramen Yokocho Sapporo is a popular tourist destination in Susukino where 17 ramen restaurants line up together. It's a historic tourist attraction that has been open for over 70 years and is famous as the birthplace of miso ramen, which uses miso flavoring in ramen.
Each of the 17 restaurants has its own unique character, and you can enjoy various types of ramen, not just miso ramen. All restaurants are open from lunch until late night, so they can meet all kinds of needs, whether for lunch, dinner, or a final meal after drinking.
Many restaurants are user-friendly for foreign tourists, with some offering English menus. Since all ramen is of high quality, comparing different types is also recommended.
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Address: N. Grande Building 1F, 8 Minami 5-jo Nishi 3-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Business Hours: Varies by restaurant
Closed: Varies by restaurant
Official Website: http://www.ganso-yokocho.com/