Hokkaido is the northernmost island of Japan and is known for its delicious seafood and agricultural products. According to Food in Japan, some popular local dishes from Hokkaido include Uni don (a rice bowl topped with sea urchin), Ikameshi (squid stuffed with glutinous rice), Sapporo Ramen, and Jingisukan (grilled sheep meat in an iron pan).
Uni don is a traditional Japanese food in Hokkaido which consists of a bowl of rice topped with sea urchin. It is a popular local dish from Hokkaido prefecture selected by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries as one of the “100 Best Local Dishes in Agriculture, Mountains, and Fishing Villages”. Usually, locals use raw sea urchin and besides sea urchin, they eat it only by sprinkling wasabi and soy sauce to enjoy the flavor and taste of sea urchin itself. Sometimes they also use salted sea urchins as the main ingredient.
Ikameshi is another popular dish from Hokkaido. It is made by stuffing squid with glutinous rice that has been simmered in soy sauce. The origin of Ikameshi is said to be from either Mori Station of the Hakodate Main Line or Oshima Region. During World War II, Ikameshi was first served as an Ekiben (train station bento) back in 1941 at Mori Station. At this time, locals were thinking of ways to conserve rice due to a rice shortage. They thought that if they stuff rice inside the squid, they can somehow save rice.
Sapporo Ramen is a famous dish from the city of Sapporo in Hokkaido. It is known for its rich miso-based broth and thick curly noodles. There are many ramen shops in Sapporo where you can try this delicious dish.
Jingisukan is a grilled mutton dish that originated in Hokkaido. It is named after Genghis Khan, who is said to have grilled mutton on his shield. The dish is cooked on a convex metal skillet or grill and is often served with vegetables.
These are just some of the delicious dishes that you can try when visiting Hokkaido. The island has a rich food culture and there are many more local specialties to discover.
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Ramen Salad (ラーメンサラダ)
Hokkaido has so many local gourmets and B-class gourmets that it is called a "treasure trove of food." Among them, “Ramen Salad” originated in Hokkaido and is so refreshing and healthy that it has become so popular in Hokkaido that it is... -
Sekihan (赤飯)
【What is Sekihan?】 Sekihan is steamed rice mixed with glutinous rice and adzuki beans or cowpeas and is a traditional dish mainly the Japanese eat on celebratory occasions in Japan. The colour of adzuki beans and cowpeas transferred to... -
Buta Don (豚丼)
【What is Buta Don?】 Buta Don is a Japanese donburi or rice bowl dish that features cooked pork on top of rice, originated in Hokkaido prefecture. Pork, rice, and green onions are the main ingredients. Locals grill the pork loin or rib ... -
Uni don (うに丼)
【What is Uni don?】 Uni don (うに丼) or sea urchin rice bowl is a traditional Japanese food in Hokkaido which consists of a bowl of rice topped with sea urchin. It is a popular local dish from Hokkaido prefecture selected by the Ministr... -
Ikura Don (いくら丼)
Ikura or salmon roe plays a huge part in Japanese cuisine. In fact, they use salmon roe in many dishes. Not only do they use it as part of another dish, but they also eat it as it is. One of these dishes is Ikura Don, famous local food i... -
Soup curry (スープカレー)
【What is Soup Curry?】 Soup curry (スープカレー) is a traditional Japanese spicy soup with rice in a nutshell that is a famous local gourmet in Sapporo, Hokkaido. When you see it anywhere in Japan, the method of making it is completely ... -
ChanChanYaki (ちゃんちゃん焼き)
It is no doubt that Japanese people love salmon. In fact, they voted it as the most popular fish in a survey back in 2020. So, it's no surprise that ChanChanYaki became one of the famous local food in Hokkaido. 【What is ChanChanYaki?】 ... -
Ishikari Nabe (石狩鍋)
【INTRODUCTION TO ISHIKARI NABE】 Now we have an entry of another Nabe! Ishikari Nabe is one of the most favorite comfort food in Japan as it gives you lots of nutrients and of course not to mention the overload ingredients. Ishikari Nab... -
Ikameshi (いかめし)
Aside from beef, squid is another crowd favorite in Japan. In fact, squid is the main star of a local food in Hokkaido. The food's name is Ikameshi "いかめし". If you love squid cuisine, then continue to read on. 【Origin of Ikameshi】 J... -
Jingisukan (ジンギスカン)
Do you love grilled meat? If yes, do you prefer grilled pork or beef? But have you tried grilled sheep meat? Have you ever heard of Jingisukan? Jingisukan is certainly a sought-after local food in Hokkaido. It is a hot pot dish but the c...