I don’t care about the view — I care about the food
Aji No Tokeidai is a ramen restaurant located in central Sapporo, tucked away in the basement level of an office building near Odori. It’s the kind of place you might easily miss if you weren’t looking for it, but once inside, it feels exactly like the sort of ramen shop you’d expect to find in a city known for its ramen culture.
Kineya is a Japanese noodle restaurant located inside APIA Shopping Mall, directly connected to Sapporo Station. Its location makes it extremely convenient, whether you’re arriving by train, transferring lines, or simply exploring the underground shopping network that connects much of central Sapporo.
Shogun Burger is a modern burger restaurant located in Susukino, one of Sapporo’s busiest nightlife and dining districts. It’s positioned as a quality-first burger spot, emphasizing premium ingredients, careful preparation, and a more refined approach than fast food or casual chains. This is not a grab-and-go burger joint. It’s clearly aiming for something closer to a craft burger experience.
Maruki is a traditional soba restaurant located in central Sapporo, tucked into the ground floor of a modest building just off one of the city’s busy shopping and dining streets. From the outside, it doesn’t try to stand out. There’s no flashy signage, no modern design elements, and nothing that signals trendiness. Instead, it feels like a place that has existed quietly for years, serving customers who already know what they’re there for.
Nemeru Hanamaru is a very popular conveyor-belt sushi restaurant located inside Cocono Susukino, and popularity is the first thing you’ll notice. When we arrived, there was already a long lineup, and it ultimately took about 30 to 45 minutes to get in. That said, the waiting system here is handled exceptionally well.
Teppan Spaghetti is a small pasta-focused restaurant located inside the Cocono Susukino food court in central Sapporo. Unlike full-service restaurants elsewhere in the building, this spot operates firmly in food court mode: compact menu, quick service, and an emphasis on hot, freshly prepared dishes rather than presentation or atmosphere.
Panda-ya is a small Chinese restaurant located in Sapporo’s Kita Ward, near Hokkaido University. This is not a tourist-oriented spot and doesn’t feel designed to appeal to casual diners unfamiliar with spicy food. Instead, it comes across as a neighbourhood restaurant aimed at students and locals who are specifically seeking bold, spice-forward Chinese dishes.
Espresso D Works is a modern café in Sapporo that feels noticeably different from many of the traditional food spots I visited during this trip. Where ramen shops, sushi counters, and bakeries often lean heavily into Japanese tradition or regional specialties, Espresso D Works feels more contemporary and international in style. It’s the kind of café you could easily imagine in a large North American or European city, but executed with Japanese attention to detail.
Donbe is a seafood restaurant located inside Nijo Market, one of Sapporo’s most well-known food markets. The restaurant specializes in sashimi rice bowls (kaisendon), a style of dish that highlights raw seafood served generously over rice. Like many market-based eateries in Japan, Donbe is focused on freshness, speed, and quality rather than atmosphere or presentation flair.
Otaru Fuku Sushi is a traditional sushi restaurant located in the coastal town of Otaru, a short train ride from Sapporo. The restaurant fits naturally into Otaru’s slower, more nostalgic atmosphere. It’s not flashy or modern, and it doesn’t feel designed for social media or tourists chasing trends. Instead, it presents itself as a classic sushi restaurant—formal enough to feel like a proper sit-down meal, but still approachable.