Good food is easy to find in Sapporo. However, Gotsubo Oyster Bar is the best place to eat the best cheap eat in Sapporo.
If you are looking for any best cheap food in Sapporo, Gotsubo (五坪) is your answer. This tiny restaurant always ranked high for best street food in Sapporo. Like its shop name, the total space of the shop is only 5 tsubo space (around 16.5 m2) which can sit for 4 to 5 people. However, people started lining up since evening until midnight for its big and juicy oyster.
Gotsubo (五坪) is boosted by its high quality of oysters as well as its price. Enjoy the plump and juicy oyster once dig into mouth. Most important, the freshly caught oysters with a surprisingly reasonable price at around ¥150 yen each!
The Best Street Food in Sapporo
Best Cheap Eat in Sapporo: Gotsubo
We visited Gotsubo during the evening after our wonderful trip in Sapporo. The restaurant just started their business with few people were queuing at the side door.
Without hesitation, we immediately join the queue and wait for our turn. The owners were busy preparing the food in front of customers. You can feel the heat with oyster smell in the air. Soon, there was our turn to order the food.
Fresh oyster from Gotsubo
You can order oysters and sometimes with scallops and clams. Enjoy the oyster in fresh, boiled or grilled in charcoal. It is so perfect with lemon squeeze in it.
We ordered the 6 fresh oysters in a bigger size which cost slightly higher. The owners even give us additional oyster with free!
The oysters were excellent, fresh and juicy. Slurp them up quickly!
Sapporo Must Eat: Gotsubo
Plump and juicy oyster from Gotsubo
The dining atmosphere in Gotsubo was amazing. It is like a little adventure to try the best cheap food in Sapporo. You won’t find cheaper seafood than Gotsubo in Sapporo. It is not a proper dining restaurant but good for light eater for some seafood snack in Sapporo.
Highly recommended for travelers to eat at Gotsubo!
How to go to Gotsubo Oyster Bar ( New address after relocation):
Getting there: 5 mins walk from Susukino Station (すすきの駅)
Address: 3-6-8 Minami 6jo | Base 01 Bldg. 1F, Chuo, Sapporo 064-0806, Hokkaido
Hokkaido Food Guide
Looking for other must eat food in Hokkaido? During our wonderful trip in Hokkaido, we tried and taste many delicious and best food in Hokkaido. Listed out few must eat food highly recommended for you to try out.
For crab lovers but on budget, consider trying the lunch menu from Kani Honke Sapporo during workday. The money-saving tips to enjoy the delicious crab dishes in Hokkaido!
Hokkaido is famous for fresh seafood and crabs are one of the must-eat foods in Hokkaido. The top three crab varieties in Hokkaido are snow crab, king crab, and hairy crab. There are many restaurants specialized in crab dishes in Hokkaido. A trip to Hokkaido is incomplete without satisfying your cravings for delicious crabs especially at specialty restaurants. That’s the heaven for you to taste the freshness crab in Hokkaido.
Check out how we eat and enjoy the delicious crab dishes in Kani Honke on budget!
Kani Honke (かに本家)
Kani Honke Sapporo (かに本家)
Sapporo Kani Honke (かに本家) is the number#1 and best crab restaurant in Japan. Origin from Sapporo, it is now the most popular crab restaurant chain all over Japan. Rated as best crab restaurant and serving the King crabs, snow crabs, and other crab dishes. So don’t miss the chance to eat and taste on it when you are visiting Hokkaido.
How To Eat Crab on Budget in Kani Honke?
Kani Honke is famous for serving the crab dishes follows kaiseki ryōri. So-called the Japanese fine dining with multi-course cuisine. It can serve from as simple of 5 courses and can up to 10 course of crab dishes.
A full course meal in Kani Honke is not cheap. However, we were so craving to try on this best crab restaurant in Sapporo. We found a budget way to enjoy the wonderful crab dishes in Kani Honke: Lunch Menu.
However, the lunch menu cannot be said to be a budget menu. All the crab are freshly caught with freshness guarantee. Added, it is carefully cooked to make sure you enjoy the freshness of the crab.
Dinning in Kani Honke Sapporo
We visited the Kani Honke Sapporo after finish our wonderful Sapporo itinerary in late afternoon. It is the best place where you can enjoy the best authentic crab dishes variously.
Once we entered the restaurant, don’t be shock when you saw a pond with a great number of live g crabs. The whole building was decorated in Japanese wooden style. It make you feel like walking into the Japanese garden instead of a modern building.
We were greeted by friendly staff and escorted to our dining floor. As there were only two of us, we choose to seat at the counter table instead of the tatami room. A friendly server came in and explained to us about the dining menu. The menu contained a variety of crab dishes with photos and descriptions in both Japanese and English.
Nemuro Lunch Set Menu
Delicious crab dishes at Sapporo Kanihonke
Looking on the crab dishes and price listed, I ordered the Nemuro lunch set menu which consists of 5 dishes.
See part of my delicious crab dishes in Kani Honke Sapporo. Yummy!
Crab Tofu
Crab Tofu in steamed tofu with egg custard.
Boiled snow crab with vinegar
Love the boiled snow crab with vinegar. It was so delicious.
Snow Crab Kanisuki: Hotpot Style
Snow Crab KANISUKI
I enjoyed the snow crab in kanisuki style. The hot pot was served with crab meat and vegetables as well in clear soup. You can control the timing of the cooking. However, eat the crab before it over-cooked.
Rice Porridge With Crab
Rice porridge with crab
The last one was the rice porridge with crab. It was careful cooked by using with rice and the remaining soup from the hot pot. It absorb all kind of fantastic flavor. Extremely delicious! My favorite dish of the course meal.
Sapporo Must Eat: Kani Honke
All in all, there are few restaurants served the crab dishes in Sapporo. Kani Honke Sapporo not doubt is one of the best restaurants and must eat when visiting Hokkaido. Our dining in Kani Honke Sapporo is satisfied and happy with what we paid. The crab course meal may not cheap but worthy of a visit.
Reservation is highly recommended as the restaurant is always full. Alternatively, consider booking your meal at Kani Honke Sapporo from Klook with your preferred dining time upon booking. Hassle-free to redeem and save your waiting time.
Hokkaido Must Eat Food Guide
Last but not least, still looking for other food recommendations for your wonderful Hokkaido trip? Check out our Hokkaido foodie hunt below:
For the best sushi in Sapporo, try Nemuro Hanamaru Sapporo! It is a popular conveyor belt sushi restaurant in Sapporo highly recommended by locals. The secrets behind its popularity? Fresh seafood at very reasonable prices!
Hokkaido is surrounded by sea and famous for its freshly caught seafood. So it is no surprise that locals are very strict on the seafood quality. Many seafood restaurants are specializing in crabs, sea urchin and more. It is not easy to rank high and rated as the best restaurant in Sapporo.
Nemuro Hanamaru did it! It is the best conveyor belt sushi restaurant in Sapporo. This popular sushi restaurant serves a wide variety of authentic sushi dishes and seasonal seafood products. Always rate in the top three best sushi restaurants in Sapporo on TripAdvisor. Not only love by locals but also visitors.
We love sushi so much and wouldn’t want to miss the chance to try the best sushi in Hokkaido. That’s no reason for us to skip this must eat in Sapporo. Check out our dining experience in Nemuro Hanamaru during our trip to Hokkaido.
Nemuro Hanamaru Sapporo
The famous Nemuro Hanamaru (回転寿司花まる JRタワーステラプレイス店) is a very popular conveyor belt sushi restaurant in Sapporo. It has several affiliated restaurants names Shiki Hanamaru in Sapporo. The price range is similar. But the one in JR Tower Stellar gets the highest popularity among them.
We recommended Nemuro Hanamaru for the best restaurant in Sapporo for its finest quality sushi. Most important, you can try a variety of seasonal seafood without breaking your wallet. Always busy and attracting a lot of people including locals and tourists.
Nemuro Hanamaru (JR Tower STELLAR PLACE)
Getting there: 6th floor of JR Stellar tower, directly linked with JR Sapporo station
Shiki Hanamaru
Three branches are available in Sapporo city. Tokeidai (Clock Tower), Susukino and PASEO branch
We visited Nemuro Hanamaru during our two-day itinerary in Sapporo. Considered for its popularity, we choose to dine in Nemuro Hanamaru in the morning to avoid the crowd.
Waiting line at Nemuro Hanamaru
We arrived restaurant at around 10:30 a.m before the restaurant open. However, we were shocked as there was already a waiting line outside the restaurant. See the queue waiting at Nemuro Hanamaru in the morning. Crazy!
Nemuro Hanamaru Sapporo Before Opening
Without wasting time, we proceed to the queue ticket machine in front of the restaurant to get our running number. Please note that the language that appeared on the screen is mainly Japanese with some weird English translation. You basically can guess based on the question. Such as how many people for your group, seating preference and phone call when it is your turn. This process was not too difficult.
Lively and Upbeat Dining Environment
The restaurant opens sharp at 11:00 a.m. We were lucky to be seated at the first batch of dining guests. Else, expected for another one hour wait time for the next batch.
Dining in Nemuro Hanamaru
Once we entered the restaurant, we would feel the upbeat and lively atmosphere in the restaurant. The sushi chefs were communicated and yelled when there were new orders or instructions received. It made you feel like eating at the fish market with a Japanese chef serving you. Nemuro Hanamaru offers not only delicious sushi but also cheerful dining environment. Staffs were professional and helpful. Everyone was smiling and enjoy their work here.
We were seated at the counter bar and have the hot green tea. I really can’t wait to start our sushi feast in Nemuro Hanamaru.
How To Order At Nemuro Hanamaru
Enjoy the made to order food or just grab any colored plate from the conveyor belt. It is always best to order directly from the chefs for the freshness sushi. However, food on the kaizen belt moves fast due to many customers. It was still fresh as the chefs keep rolling for the new ones to the conveyor belt.
Delicious sushi in Nemuro Hanamaru
There were so many rarely seen sushi that we never eat before at the conveyor belt. Most importantly, all the sushi is so tempting! So we ended up just grab whatever we love from the belt.
Sushi at Nemuro Hanamaru
Please forgive my poor knowledge of fish. I only know how to grab and taste the freshness of sushi. Love it!
However, don’t forget to order the seasonal sushi as per advertise at the restaurant.
Fresh sushi at Nemuro Hanamaru
One of my favorite we had at Nemuro Hanamaru. Excellent!
Last but not least, we ordered the chawanmushi for something hot to our stomach after the sushi. Not too bad. But it was not so outstanding compare with the sushi.
We don’t remember how many plates we ate here. Our bill ended up was less than ¥5,000. It was fairly inexpensive as we were like having a sushi feast at Nemuro Hanamaru. The price is very good given the quality.
How To Get To Nemuro Hanamaru
Nemuro Hanamaru is located on the 6th floor of Stellar tower in Sapporo city. It is pretty simple to get to Nemuro Hanamaru. Take the subway or walk to the Sapporo station. Follow the well-mark sign to the JR Tower Stellar Place. You won’t miss this famous restaurant as there is always a line and crowd at the restaurant.
Worth The Wait?
In short, we enjoy our visit to the best sushi in Sapporo. It took us about 30 minutes waiting time as we arrived before the restaurant open. We read the review that people waited for two hours especially at peak hours like lunch or dinner time. So, worth the wait? We enjoyed the food at Nemuro Hanamaru.
There is plenty of restaurant in Sapporo serve the similar sushi dishes. But not one can beat Nemuro Hanamaru, probably for the good quality of food at reasonable prices. It is a fun dining experience in Nemuro Hanamaru and we highly recommended it if you don’t mind the wait. Else, came earlier like what we did. A must-eat in Sapporo!
What is the best place for conveyor belt sushi in Sapporo?
Nemuro Hanamaru at Sapporo Station is the most popular conveyor belt sushi in Sapporo. It is renowned for its fresh finest seafood at a reasonable price.
How to get to Nemuro Hanamaru at Sapporo Station?
Nemuro Hanamaru is located at 6th floor of JR Tower Stellar Place, directly linked with Sapporo Station.
What is the opening time for Nemuro Hanamaru at Sapporo Station?
Nemuro Hanamaru is opening daily from 11am to 10pm. However, long waiting line start from 10-11am before the shop open.
If you are interested, don’t forget to check out our food hunt in Hokkaido:
Wondering where and what to eat in Sapporo? In this Sapporo Food Guide, we listed out the top 8 must eat food in Sapporo for you to try out. Most of the mouthwatering dishes were tested and reviewed by us.
Sapporo is the capital of Hokkaido and best known for its delicious food. It is the birthplace of Sapporo beer, and well known of its soup curry, Gengis Khan, Sapporo ramen, and many delicious local specialties.
There is a huge selection of food and restaurant in Sapporo to try out. However, limited time and stomach are available if you are planning for one or two days trip to Sapporo. So this is very critical for us to choose the best restaurant and decide what to eat in Sapporo.
Top 8 Must Eat Food in Sapporo
We introduce some of the Sapporo best food if you are looking for what and where to eat in Sapporo. All are specialty restaurant, offering authentic local dishes. Please take a look and enjoy your delicious local food at Sapporo Food Guide here!
Sapporo Food Guide: Top 8 Must Eat Food in Sapporo:
Travel Tips: We recommended to stay nearby Sapporo Station for easy getting around and food hunting. The Hotel MyStays Sapporo Station is located within 3 minutes walk from the station. It has a high reputation by offering great size rooms with a spacious layout. Popular pick in Sapporo.
1. Sushi
Nemuro Hanamaru (回転寿司花まる JRタワーステラプレイス店)
Our top 1 must eat food in Sapporo. Highly recommended if you are looking for what to eat in Sapporo. Nemuro Hanamaru Sushi (回転寿司花まる JRタワーステラプレイス店) is a conveyor belt type sushi restaurant located in 6th floor of Stellar tower in Sapporo city. It offering a wide variety of authentic sushi dishes and seasonal seafood products.
Dinning in Nemuro Hanamaru is very lively and enjoyable. Enjoy the made to order food or just grab any colored plate from the conveyor belt. Their food is truly fantastic and fresh. Most importantly, the price is surprisingly affordable.
Extremely popular sushi restaurant in Sapporo, highly recommended by locals and tourists. So, be prepared for a long wait.
Best Sushi Restaurant in Sapporo, Hanamaru Sushi:
Address: 2 Kitagojonishi | Stella Place 6F, Chuo, Sapporo 060-0005, Hokkaido
Getting there: 2–3 mins walk from Sapporo Station (札幌駅)
Opening hours: Daily 11:00–23:00
Price: Depend on how many plates you eat. Typically ¥2,000 to ¥3,000
2. Sapporo Ramen
There are many good ramen restaurants in Sapporo with around 1,000 shops scattered all around the city. Depend on your preference, it is not easy to recommend for the best ramen in Sapporo.
Sapporo Ramen Republic
Sapporo Ramen Republic (Rāmen Kyōwakoku, 札幌ら～めん共和国) is the ramen theme park. It located on the 10th floor of the ESTA commercial complex, next to the JR Sapporo Station. It is home of eight best ramen restaurants in Hokkaido. Each restaurant is specializing in ramen noodles and broth in different styles. A great opportunity for ramen lovers to choose and enjoy delicious ramen without worry about making a wrong decision.
The Home of eight best ramen in Sapporo Ramen Republic:
Address: 2 Kita 5 Jonishi | 10F Esta, Chuo, Sapporo 060-0005, Hokkaido.
Getting there: 10th floor of the ESTA. Right beside Sapporo Station (札幌駅).
Opening hours: Daily 11:00–22:00
Price: Less than ¥1000
3. Oyster Bar Gotsubo
Gotsubo (五坪)
Next, Gotsubo (五坪) is a little gem restaurant in Sapporo specializing in Oysters. It is a tiny restaurant with 5 tsubo space (around 16.5 m2) which only can sit for 4 to 5 people inside. However, most people will choose to stand and eating at the counter outside.
Gotsubo serves big and juicy oysters at a very reasonable price. It is hard to believe that such good quality and large pieces of Oyster served only with ¥150. Bigger oysters will slightly expensive but still cheap. Order more will be served with additional free oysters! Enjoy it with raw or grilled, and go perfectly with lemon squeeze in it.
Best cheap seafood in Sapporo, Gotsubo:
Address: 3-6-8 Minami 6jo | Base 01 Bldg. 1F, Chuo, Sapporo 064-0806, Hokkaido
Getting there: 5 mins walk from Susukino Station (すすきの駅)
Opening hours: Daily from 18:00 to 2:00 of the next day
Price: A juicy plum oyster cost at ¥150
Related food blog: See my food adventure on the freshness oyster in Gotsubo Sapporo.
4. Soup Curry
GARAKU Soup Curry
Hokkaido is known as the birthplace of Soup Curry in Japan. There are number of soup curry restaurants serve this staple Japanese dishes. Each of the restaurant is specialized on their signature soup curry by blending with own secret herb and recipe. Try soup curry at Hirihiri, Garaku, Samurai, Suage+, PICANTE and more.
Well, we voted for the Soup Curry Garaku for the best soup curry restaurant in Sapporo. It’s rich with flavor and spices yet has it own distinct taste. Choice of the size of rice and different levels of spiciness of the curry.
Best soup curry in Sapporo, Garaku:
Address: 2-6-1 Minami 2-jo Nishi | Okumura Bldg. B1F North Entrance, Chuo, Sapporo 060-0062, Hokkaido
Getting there: 5 mins walk from Susukino Station (すすきの駅)
Opening hours: Daily from 11:30 to 15:00 and 17:00 to 22:30
Price: Ranging from ¥1000 to ¥2000
5. Crab Dishes
Delicious crab dishes at Sapporo Kanihonke
Sapporo Kani Honke is one of the famous restaurants offering delicious crab dishes in Hokkaido. The restaurant served the crab dishes follows the kaiseki ryori. So-called the fine dining in Japanese style with multi-course cuisine. The garnishing of dishes is presentable with fresh and delicious crab dishes. The succulent snow crab is their best seller and simply irresistible.
For crab lovers but on budget, consider stopping by at noon during the workday. Sapporo Kani Honte offered lunch menu at a cheaper price compare with dinner. Again, Kani-Honte is a very popular restaurant in Sapporo. Reservation is highly recommended to avoid disappointment. Alternatively, consider booking your meal at Kani Honke Sapporo from Klook with your preferred dining time upon booking. Hassle-free to redeem and save your waiting time.
Address: 4-1-3 Minami 6-jo Nishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo 064-0806, Hokkaido
Getting there: 5 mins walk from Susukino Station (すすきの駅)
Opening hours: Daily from 11:30 to 15:00 and 17:00 to 22:30
Price: Depend on course selection. Ranging from ¥3,000 to ¥13,000
6. Gengis Khan or Jingisukan
Don’t forget to try on Jingisukan, or called Gengis Khan. It is one of Hokkaido’s signature dishes with fresh lamb grilled in the special hot plates on the table. Taste fabulous with special dipping sauce.
Jingisukan Daruma Main Shop (だるま 本店) is one of the best Jingisukan restaurant in Sapporo. It is now around 60 years of history with four stores in Sapporo City. Great place to try the famous Gengis Khan dish. Small shops but extremely popular among locals. Always crowded with long queues outside waiting for a table.
Best Gengis Khan in Sapporo, Jingisukan Daruma Honten:
Getting there: 10 mins walk from Higashi-Kuyakusho-Mae Station (東区役所前駅)
Opening Hours: Daily from 17:00 to 3:00 of the next day
Price: Ranging from ¥2000 to ¥3000
7. Seafood Rice Bowl or Kaisendon
Kaisendon in Kaisen-Shokudo Kitano Gourmet-tei (海鮮食堂 北のグルメ亭)
Sapporo Wholesale Market (also known as Sapporo Jogai Ichiba) is one of the great eating places for fresh seafood in Sapporo. Besides selling on fresh local produce, there are around 60 establishments comprising restaurants in the market. Most restaurants serve outstanding kaisendon at a cheap price in Sapporo.
Among them, Kaisen-Ichiba Kitano Gourmet (海鮮食堂 北のグルメ亭) is one of the best restaurants in Sapporo, serves the most tantalizing kaisendon. Enjoy a bowl of seafood on rice containing crab, sea urchin, salmon roe, seasonal fish, and more. It is cheaper but please expect about ¥3,000 for the seafood rice bowl.
Money-Saving Tips:
Best seafood rice bowl in Sapporo:
Address: 22-4-1 Kita 11 Jonishi, Chuo, Sapporo 060-0011, Hokkaido
Getting there: 7-minutes walk from Nijuyonken station (二十四軒駅), Exit 5.
Opening hours: Daily from 7:00 to 15:00
Price: Ranging from ¥2000 to ¥4000
8. Seafood Buffet
Seafood Buffet Nanda (難陀)
Among all the seafood in Hokkaido, crab is arguably the most popular choice when deciding what to eat in in Sapporo. However, crabs are not cheap, especially for the king crabs. If you want to eat crab and lots of it in Sapporo, Seafood Buffet Nanda (難陀) is your great option. It is all-you-can-eat buffet restaurants and offering a great selection of crabs and seafood. Giant crab legs, prawn, oysters, scallops and even wagyu beef are served in the restaurant. Choose and pay for the duration (70, 80, 90 minutes) that suits your party. It is a fun experience where you can pick and grill your seafood selection as much as possible. Eat as much as you can eat!
Seafood Buffet at Nanda Restaurant:
Address: 2 Minami 5 Jo Nishi | Cyber City Bldg. B2F, Chuo, Sapporo 064-0805, Hokkaido
Getting there: 4 mins walk from Susukino Station (すすきの駅)
Opening hours: Daily from 11:00 to 22:20
Price: About ¥4000 for lunch and ¥5000 for dinner (70 minutes)
Alternatively, consider getting the unlimited Crab and Lamb BBQ Buffet at Sapporo Beer Garden. This is a great place where you can try the local specialty Ghengis Khan (Grilled Lamb), red king crab, snow crab, and 20 other dishes unlimited in one place. Added, you can pair your food with free flow of Sapporo beer, sake. Enjoy all the great food inside a historical building with 200 years of history. You can even did your free museum tour before the seafood feast. It is a popular buffet option in Sapporo with reservation is recommended.
Hopefully, my Sapporo food blog can give you an idea of what to eat in Sapporo. There is so many food to try in this city. From fresh seafood, local specialties such as Gengis Khan, soup curry and more for you to try when visiting Sapporo. Don’t forget to eat as much as possible when getting to Sapporo. Happy food hunt!
This Sapporo food guide: Top 8 must eat food in Sapporo is part of my Sapporo trip at the end of May. If you are interested, please read on my Sapporo itinerary below:
