Soup curry: Sapporo’s soul food
The blend of spices in this Sapporo specialty will have you hooked. Strolling around Sapporo and choosing a restaurant is part of the experience.
Soup curry has become an iconic soul food in Sapporo. As well as being a favorite among locals, it’s a dish tourists quickly become fans of. So what makes it so irresistible?
Soup curry is a unique combination of a light broth and zingy spices. As you explore the plethora of soup curry restaurants in Sapporo, you’ll be able to sample each establishment’s unique flavor of broth, from shrimp to pork bones.
Here you’ll find out the secret about why soup curry tastes so good, how to eat it, and which are the most popular restaurants—everything you need to know before becoming a soup curry connoisseur.
You can even find great deals on soup curry by downloading the Sapporo Gourmet Coupon app.
So why is soup curry such a hit?
The secret is the way the ingredients interact with the broth. Some curry soups, like the one in the photo, have big pieces of vegetables fresh from Hokkaido’s farms. The natural sweetness of the vegetables complements the rich spices for a taste sensation that can only be found here. Others have soft pieces of meat such as chicken, braised pork belly or seafood—mash them with your spoon to add a new dimension to the flavor of the soup. Whichever you choose, the ingredients are carefully selected to complement the broth in a way that will have you coming back for more.
How to eat soup curry
There’s a soup curry meal for everyone—you can choose how spicy you want it and how much rice you’d like…and of course there are lots of toppings to choose from. You’ll be spoiled for choice on toppings, which range from deep fried vegetables to eggs boiled in hot spring water or natto, a Japanese delicacy made of sticky fermented soybeans. Then choose your ingredients to go with them. Soup curry has lots of ingredients, so about two toppings are all you’ll need. If you’re unsure, a staff member will be happy to help you.
Here are the Welcome to Sapporo staff’s top picks, from smash hit restaurants that always draw a crowd to the best places to try your first ever soup curry. The broth and ingredients vary a lot from one restaurant to the next, so make sure you read the details and see what each restaurant is all about!
Picante (Sapporo Kotoni Branch)
If you like to be surrounded by elegant beauty while you enjoy a meal, Picante is the place for you. The healthy, vege-packed soup curries are made to order, with each serving cooked in its own small pot. It doesn’t get more personalized than this!
【Shop Information】
Address: Under the elevated JR Kotoni Station, Kotoni 2-jo 1-1-5, Nishi-ku, Sapporo
Closed: Open all year round.
Okushiba Shoten (Ekimae Soseiji Branch)
Sapporo locals can’t get enough of this restaurant’s rich soup curries with shrimp broth. You’ll love the fresh seasonal vegetables and hamburger steaks made from 100% Soya black cattle beef.
【Shop Information】
Address: Kita 4-jo Nishi 1-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokuren Bldg. B1F
Closed: Closed irregularly
Soup Curry Garaku
Pork bones and herbs are stewed for two days to create the broth for this restaurant’s soup curries. Kelp and bonito flakes add that extra something to the flavor. The restaurant closes when the last of the broth is gone, so get in quick!
【Shop Information】
Address: Minami 2-jo Nishi 2-chome 6-1, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Okumura Bldg. B1F, North entrance
Closed: Closed irregularly
Sapporo Rakkyo
Sapporo Rakkyo is renowned for its broth simmered with ingredients such as chicken bones, pork bones and tomato. All the standard soup curries can be found here, and their menu appeals to people from all walks of life, making this the ideal place for your first soup curry.
【Shop Information】
Address: Kotoni 1-jo 1-chome 7-7, Nishi-ku, Sapporo, Capitaine Kotoni 1F
Closed: Third Wednesday of each month
Enjoy great deals on soup curry with the Sapporo Gourmet Coupon!
Check out all the Sapporo Tourist Association’s top picks for soup curry and other cuisine in the Sapporo Gourmet Coupon app. Download it now for great deals on amazing meals!
