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Apr. 24 2024
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Soup Curry is one of the most famous foods in Sapporo. Sapporo’s soup curry incorporates plenty of spicy spices into a soupy base, soaking tender chicken thighs, potatoes, radishes, and other fresh Hokkaido vegetables. Served with a steaming bowl of white rice, this is the essence of Sapporo’s renowned soup curry. Soup curry is a must-try dish for visitors to Sapporo, and the city is filled with various popular restaurants offering them. Among the myriad of soup curry establishments, which ones are the best, and what makes each stand out? In this column, we’ll introduce 10 renowned soup curry restaurants scattered across Sapporo, unveiling the secrets that make soup curry irresistibly tempting.
“SOUP CURRY GARAKU” is an immensely popular spot in Sapporo, often with long lines extending outside the door. The signature menu is the “Tender Chicken Leg and Vegetable Soup Curry,” featuring meticulously stewed chicken legs that melt in your mouth. The rice, is a blend of Hokkaido-produced “Nanatsuboshi” and multigrain rice, enhancing the overall taste.【 SOUP CURRY GARAKU(スープカリーGARAKU)】
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A bit of spicy soup curry is so tasty that you can’t stop having more. At Hirihiri, spiciness levels 0 to 5 are free, but if it’s hotter than that, they’ll charge extra. It’s great for people who love spicy food and want to challenge themselves. They also offer a great value business lunch with unlimited drinks. Besides soup curry, they have other options like hamburgers. Just so you know, the restaurant has no non-smoking areas, and they allow pets inside.
“Crazy Spice” is a soup curry restaurant that offers a variety of soup curry dishes, with the most popular being lamb, pork, and chicken soup curry. For the broth, there are 4 types to choose from, with the highly recommended MMB broth made from chicken bones, providing a rich and delicious flavor. It’s worth mentioning that here, you can choose to have your rice replaced with Indian naan bread, a combination not found in other soup curry restaurants, which is unique.
“Asian Bar RAMAI” offers a comfortable space with a very spacious interior, accommodating over 100 seats. Their soup curry features a rich broth, elevated with layers of spices, enhancing its flavor profile. They offer two levels of spices: regular aromatic spices (complimentary) and fresh chili peppers (additional charge), allowing customers to choose according to their preferences. Additionally, customers can upgrade to a larger bowl of soup for free by asking the staff when ordering.
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The SAMA Hokudai branch is the fourth store of SAMA. Each branch has some variations in its menu, and the Hokudai branch offers five exclusive dishes such as “Fried Chicken Curry”, “Chicken Cartilage and Cheese Curry” and “Beef and Cabbage Cheese Curry”. Additionally, interesting combinations like “Sendai Beef Tongue Soup Curry” and “Natto Soup Curry” are also available.
The interior design of Picante is themed around the five continents, and it’s a popular restaurant known for its exotic style. Due to the large number of customers and the fact that dishes are cooked since they take orders, there is usually a wait till being served. When you order, you should choose the broth, ingredients, and spiciness level. The broths come in three varieties: rich, light, and herbal, and the ingredients include fresh vegetables from Hokkaido, which are full of fresh sweetness and delicious flavor. For people who are not used to spicy food, it’s recommended to choose a spiciness level of 3 or below. As for spicy food enthusiasts, feel free to challenge yourselves to higher levels!
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Rojiura Curry SAMURAI is a popular restaurant where you might need to wait in line, located near Susukino Station. It attracts many tourists, so you might have to wait for 1 to 2 hours to get in. We suggest if you don’t mind a little inconvenience, you can try the branch near Kita 22-jo, where there are fewer people and a better dining space but the taste is equally fantastic! SAMURAI’s soup curry also allows you to choose the type of broth, rice portion, and spiciness level. The curry includes up to 13 kinds of vegetables such as soybeans, eggplants, cabbage, and pumpkin. Moreover, if there are ingredients you don’t like, you can inform the staff when ordering, and they will replace them with other ingredients for free, which is super considerate! In terms of flavor, rather than the spiciness, the sweetness of the broth is more prominent on the palate, and the slightly thick texture is delicious. One highly recommended option is the “Samurai Festival (侍まつり)” soup curry, which allows you to freely choose two ingredients from the menu.
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Located in the Kotoni area of Sapporo, this renowned soup curry restaurant doesn’t require you to go far from the city center – you can enjoy it right in Odori! It’s located in the Marui Imai department store and will be open until May 31, 2024. The broth is thick and delicious, with a hint of sourness from tomatoes, though the portion of vegetables is slightly less. You can choose a spice level from 0 to 10. It’s highly recommended for those who enjoy spicy food with the option to go even higher up to Level 100 for extreme spice lovers. However, for those who want to taste the original flavor of the soup curry, it’s suggested to stick to a spiciness level below Level 30, as recommended by the staff.
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At “Okushiba Shoten,” the most famous dish is their shrimp-flavored soup curry. As soon as you step into the store, you’re greeted by the rich aroma of curry and fresh shrimp. Additionally, you can choose between white rice or brown rice, and they are generous with their servings of vegetables. The seating options include Western style and Japanese style. There are several branches in Hokkaido, each with its unique characteristics. If you’re interested, you can try them all to see what sets them apart. While prices may be slightly higher compared to other restaurants, the deliciousness is definitely worth a try.
“Suage+” main store is conveniently located near the landmark Norbesa Ferris wheel in Sapporo’s Susukino area, making it easy to find. What sets their soup curry apart from others is that each ingredient is skewered, making it easy to eat. The signature chicken flavor features a rich broth with added tomato, which adds a delightful sourness and makes it incredibly delicious. For seafood lovers, the recommended flavor is the oyster, with a completely different broth that is rich and allows you to taste the essence of fresh oysters. Oyster enthusiasts definitely shouldn’t miss out on this one. For those who can handle hot, it’s suggested to order a spiciness level of 5 or 6 for a satisfying kick. Due to its popularity, they’ve opened another branch next door called “Suage2,” making it even more convenient for foodies to enjoy their meals without the lines getting too overwhelming.
The above is a list of 10 must-try soup curry restaurants in Sapporo compiled by Trippino HOKKAIDO. Hokkaido, known as a paradise for food lovers, has massive delicious soup curry eateries, making it difficult to choose. These selected restaurants are the cream of the crop, chosen by the Trippino team after traversing the streets and alleys of Sapporo and engaging in numerous taste tests. Each of these restaurants has its unique flavor profile, making it challenging to determine which one is the best. Locals also have their go-to lists, choosing a restaurant based on their mood and preference for rich, light, sour, or sweet flavors. So, what about you? Have you decided which restaurant you’ll try next time you visit Hokkaido?
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