Before we arrived in Hokkaido, my wife told me that there are 7 foods we must eat there. We were able to check off 6 out of the 7 on the list. Any idea what we missed?
#1 - Hokkaido Ramen
Nearly everyone wants to know more about the food I’m eating in Japan. Ramen, in particular, mainly comes in these types – Shio Ramen (salt base), Miso Ramen (miso base), Shoyu Ramen (soy sauce base), and Tonkotsu Ramen (pork bone broth base). Different regions boast about their ramen, wanting to claim their title as the best in Japan.
Hokkaido is no exception and many people believe Hokkaido is the place for the best ramen. I’m glad we were able to eat ramen in Hokkaido, but honestly, I was disappointed. All the hype for the two bowls we ordered just didn’t match the taste. I would give that ramen shop a 2 1/2 star rating.
#2 - Hokkaido Uni (Sea Urchin)
Those who love uni (sea urchin) say that uni in Hokkaido is the best. I believe this and was amazed at how fresh and creamy soft the uni was. So full of flavor, it holds true to its reputation. This is why we had to visit the Marutoma Shokudo. Definitely a 5-star rating for the food at Marutoma Shokudo and worth the wait!
#3 - Red King Crab
Just seeing the spiky shell and long red legs of the iconic red king crab from the waters around Hokkaido makes Mika drool. We found them in a local market near Otaru and had to eat some. The happy fisherman in his rubber boots went the extra mile and cut up our crab so it would be easy to get the meat out. Exceptionally tender and tasty, this fish market and red king crab easily get 5 stars.
#4 - Scallops
After I told him I was from Oregon, the same fisherman came around the counter to give me a sample of a big fresh scallop. He scraped the live scallop right out of the shell, cut it into quarters, and let me eat it raw (as a free sample). It was one of the best scallops I’ve ever eaten.
At another stop, the restaurant that was attached to the local hot spring served Indian curry with Naan. I ordered the scallop curry. Thankfully it was not as spicy as normal Indian curry and the sweetness of the scallops in the curry was unexpectedly delicious.
#5 - Hokkaido Dairy Products
Hokkaido is known for having the best dairy products in Japan. Milk, butter, cheese, and yogurt from Hokkaido are shipped to all parts of Japan.
What you don’t want to miss is the soft serve Hokkaido ice cream. The standard vanilla flavor can be found nearly everywhere, but various seasonal flavors, like melon and lavender, are also very popular. We even saw the blue colored Ramune flavor being sold at Blue Lake when we stopped by there.
#6 - Jingisukan
Jingisukan is a popular Japanese grilled lamb meat dish unique to Hokkaido. The name comes from the Mongolian warlord Genghis Khan.
We knew this would be a perfect option to have by a campfire at one of our campsites. On the way to our campground, we stopped by a butcher shop that specializes in mutton for Jingisukan. Marinated in special sauces, we bought 150 grams each of two different parts of the lamb.
#7 - Yubari Melon
Known for its intense sweetness and fragrance, Yubari melon is a hybrid cantaloupe grown only in Yubari, a city not too far from Sapporo. It may seem outrageous that a melon could easily cost between $20 – 50! However, anyone who has tried this amazing fruit would likely convince you to give it a try at least once in a lifetime.
6 out of 7 and some honorable mentions
Well, if you guessed that we missed the Hokkaido soft serve cream, then you are right. Although the opportunities were plentiful, we didn’t have any soft serve on this trip. If, however, you have the chance to try the soft serve cream on a hot summer day, I’m sure you’ll love it!
There were other meals and snacks that are worth mentioning, all quite tasty. Here are a few pics of other foods we ate in Hokkaido.
Everything sounds amazing Jerry! Although, I don’t know if I would be brave enough to try raw horse meat. I have always thought of Japan as a place that is out of my price range for travel destinations, but your blog is definitely moving it up on my To-Do list.
I totally agree with you, Bobbi! Japan used to be much more expensive in many areas, but it isn’t anymore. I used to calculate the dollar/yen exchange around the $1 to 100 yen rate whenever I bought something, but now it’s just over $1 to 160 yen. This makes a huge advantage for travelers who bring American dollars. Restaurant meals seem to be about half the cost of what I would pay back in the States, so I’ve been spoiling myself!
Jerry, you are making me drool!!! Everything looks absolutely amazing. Would definitely want to try the melon… I absolutely love cantaloupe! And all of the wonderful seafood that is there, so much yum!!!!
Nothing wrong with drooling. I’ve been drooling a lot, too, but with the humidity and sweat running down my face, no one notices. 🤣