Restaurants Around Sapporo and Otaru Known for their Unique Hot Pots Discover Oishii Japan -SAVOR JAPAN -Japanese Restaurant Guide-

Update-date: Jan 30 2020

Author: SAVOR JAPAN

Restaurants Around Sapporo and Otaru Known for their Unique Hot Pots

Nabe (hot pots) are great for various occasions. Regardless of the season, they are perfect for bonding with friends, small or large parties, and even for solo dining! It is also common for each place to have a local specialty and for restaurants to have their own unique recipe, which should not be missed out on. Made with carefully-selected ingredients, each mouthful will surely satisfy your heart and appetite! This article features well-known restaurants around Sapporo and Otaru that are known for their unique hot pots.

See full listings of Nabe restaurants found in and around Sapporo.

1. Anko

This is the only restaurant in Hokkaido that specializes in anko ryori (monkfish cuisine). Since opening the restaurant in 1970 (Showa 45), the owner-chef has been putting his all into monkfish cuisine. His craftsmanship shines through at this famous restaurant. One of the restaurant's best-selling dishes is the [Anko Nabe], which makes use of every part of the monkfish, including the meat, skin, liver, gills, and fins. This leaves no waste and adds a rich umami (Japanese savory taste) to the broth.

Visit the restaurant to enjoy seeing how monkfish cuisine started in Sapporo right before your eyes.

Anko's famous counter seats. They also have tatami rooms that are even suitable for groups of 10 people or more.

Anko

Open: 5:00 pm - 10:30 pm
Closed: Sunday, National Holidays (open on these days if there's a reservation) *Closed from December 31 - January 4
Average price: 10,000 JPY
*Banquet courses with an all-you-can-drink option start from 9,350 JPY
Access: 3-minute walk from Susukino Station
5-minute walk from Hosui Susukino Station
Address: 2F, Harebare Bldg., Minami 4-jo Nishi 6, Chuo-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido
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2. Himezakura

This is a restaurant where you can enjoy authentic horse meat cuisine, which is not common in Sapporo. For the best taste, the restaurant uses horse meat shipped from Aizu, Fukushima Prefecture. As for their dishes, their [Sakura Nabe] is popular. It is best enjoyed by simmering the miso-based soup until it becomes thick and permeates the meat, enhancing its juiciness.

Himezakura is also known for their [Motsu Nabe] (offal hot pot) made with fresh Wagyu (a type of high-quality cattle) offal. The motsu (offal) makes the restaurant stand out from the rest!

They have counter seats, horigotatsu (sunken kotatsu tables), and semi-private lofts to meet every customer's needs.

Himezakura

Open: [Weekdays] 6:00 pm - 11:30 pm (L.O. 11:00 pm)
[Sunday] 6:00 pm - 11:00 pm
[Friday, Saturday] 6:00 pm - 12:00 am (L.O. 11:30 pm)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: 6,000 JPY
[Parties] 6,000 JPY
Access: 2-minute walk from Susukino Station
Address: 7F, N Star Bldg., Minami 5-jo Nishi 4, Chuo-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido
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3. Nodoka

Nodoka is known for serving Kiritanpo Nabe (hot pot with pounded and grilled rice), as well as other authentic regional dishes from Akita. It is well-loved by diners for showcasing the beauty of Akita, which happens to be the hometown of the restaurant's owner. Among all their dishes, one of the best-sellers is the aforementioned [Kiritanpo Nabe]. The chewy texture of kiritanpo and the broth, made by slow-cooking the bones of Hinai Ji-dori (brand of chicken) for 8 hours, will surely leave your taste buds craving for more.

The Akita-born owner is very particular about selecting the best and juiciest Akita Hinai Ji-dori.

The restaurant provides a space where you can enjoy a simple yet relaxing meal.

Nodoka

Open: [Weekdays, Saturday] 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm (Food L.O. 9:30 pm, Drinks L.O. 10:00 pm) *Entry permitted until 8:45 pm. The seats can be occupied for a maximum of 3 hours.
Closed: Irregular *Closed at the beginning and end of the year
Average price: [Dinner] 4,800 JPY
Access: From Exit 3 of Susukino Station, head south along Sapporo Eki-mae Street and turn right at the 3rd intersection. The restaurant is located diagonally across a Lawson store.
Address: 5F, No. 2 Kushitake Bldg., Minami 6-jo Nishi 3-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido

4. Nizakana Sashimi Shunsai Uminoshiki

Among all the seafood restaurants in Hokkaido, this one is especially known to serve delicious stewed fish. If you want to try a luxurious dish for a change, their [Uminoshiki Special Seafood Nabe] is highly recommended. This consists of a mix of luxurious seafood, including kegani (horsehair crab), kue (grouper fish), and kinki (kichiji rockfish). Its dashi (broth) is mixed with kanimiso (crab innards) to create an exceptionally rich umami taste.

Only freshest ingredients that have been carefully selected by the head chef, who goes to the market to procure them himself, are used in their dishes.

The restaurant has 9 types of private rooms that can accommodate groups of 2 - 20 people or more.

Nizakana Sashimi Shunsai Uminoshiki

Open: [Monday, Wednesday - Saturday, Day before National Holidays] Dinner 6:00 pm - 12:00 am (L.O. 11:30 pm)
Closed: Sunday, National Holidays
*Closed on New Year's until January 4 (Thursday)
Average price: 7,560 JPY
Access: 3-minute walk from Susukino Station or Hosui Susukino Station. The restaurant is on Eki-mae Street, on the 6th floor of a building housing a Lawson store on the 1st floor.
Address: 6F, G4 Bldg., Minami 6-jo Nishi 4-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido
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5. Futagoyama Shoji

The dishes in this restaurant are cooked and served by the owner himself, who worked as a chef in a well-established restaurant at Susukino for many years. Among all the dishes showcasing the owner's expertise, his hot pot dishes, which are available only during the winter, are the most recommended. You can enjoy generous servings of kaki (oysters), tachi (largehead hairtail), osuke (king salmon), and other delicious seafood that are in season during the winter through their [Futagoyama Nabe]. Their hot pot dishes are available as course meals, but they can also be enjoyed à la carte.

The restaurant's boiled crab, which is cooked only upon order, has a different flavor and aroma from those that are pre-cooked.

A live fish tank is placed in front of the counter seats, so you can be sure that you are getting the freshest slice of sashimi or boiled crab.

Futagoyama Shoji

Open: [Weekdays, Saturday, Day before National Holidays] 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:30 pm)
Closed: Sunday, National Holidays
Average price: 6,000 JPY
Access: 5-minute walk from Susukino Station
Address: 3F, Ota Bldg., Minami 6-jo Nishi 3-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido
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6. Kubota

This place is known for their delicious à la carte dishes made from seasonal ingredients, with ji-zake (Japanese local alcohol) as a pleasant complement. They also serve [Kubota's Special Yudofu Nabe] (hot pot with tofu), which is well worth trying, especially when visiting for the first time. It has generous servings of tara (codfish), a staple food during the cold season, as well as mushrooms, vegetables, and other fresh ingredients. The umami of the light kelp dashi is sure to warm your body and soul.

Their [Homemade Pickled Mackerel] is a huge hit among regular customers. One simply can't get enough of its rarity and exquisiteness!

Enjoy seafood dishes and delicious ji-zake carefully selected by the owner-chef.

Kubota

Open: [Weekdays, Saturday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] 6:00 pm - 2:00 am
*Closed from December 31 - January 3
Closed: Irregular
*Closed from December 31 - January 3
Average price: 4,000 JPY
Access: 3-minute walk from Hosui Susukino Station
4-minute walk from Susukino Station
Address: 1F, Plaza 7.4 Asai Bldg., Minami 7-jo Nishi 4-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido
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7. Toriya Otori

Toriya Otori is an izakaya (Japanese pub) that serves chicken cuisine. They take pride in their specialty dish called [Mizutaki] (hot pot with lightly flavored dashi), which is made with chicken and other ingredients produced locally. The broth is made by slowly cooking gara (bones), momiji (feet), and various vegetables for over 10 hours, so it has plenty of collagen, making it a very luxurious dish that is beneficial for maintaining one's beauty. Hime-dori (a brand of chicken from Atsuma) is cooked in this soup.

The restaurant takes pride in serving Sakura Hime-dori. This Japanese chicken brand is known for the soft texture of its meat that remains juicy even when grilled or stewed.

The restaurant provides a relaxing experience for all ages. Enjoy delicious sake with an array of accompanying small dishes.

Toriya Otori

Open: [Sunday, National Holidays] Dinner 5:00 pm - 10:30 pm (L.O. 10:00 pm)
[Tuesday - Saturday] Dinner 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:30 pm)
Closed: Monday *Closed on December 31 and January 1
Average price: 2,500 JPY
Access: From Otaru Station, turn left at the restaurant, Otaru Bine. It is a 7-minute walk.
Address: 1-9-11, Ironai, Otaru-shi, Hokkaido
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Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.