Even for those who can’t journey to Japan, Singapore is home to a selection of Hokkaido restaurants.
Hokkaido is famous for seafood, Sapporo Ramen, dairy products, Hokkaido Sweets and Soup Curry (unfortunately a few of these closed in Singapore).
After travelling to Hokkaido, I thought of doing up a guide that focuses on such restaurants in Singapore – rather than the more generic Japanese restaurants.
From the delicate artistry of omakase to the robust warmth of Sapporo ramen, these Hokkaido-originated establishments provide a passport to the distinct taste and culture of Hokkaido.
Dive into the rich seafood traditions, savour the intricate dishes, and indulge in the unique culinary experiences.
Check out these Hokkaido restaurants bring to the heart of Singapore, all without the need for a plane ticket:
Hokkaido Marche
Orchard Central #B2-11/29, 181 Orchard Road, Singapore 238896
Opening Hours: 11am – 9pm (Mon – Sun)
Orchard Central’s Japanese Food Court Specialising In Hokkaido Fare
Some of Japan’s well-loved food stores from Sapporo, Hakodate, and Asahikawa can be found at Orchard Central.
Hokkaido Marche is a marketplace-style gourmet food hall located at Basement 2 of Orchard Central next to Don Don Donki, combining 7 different Japanese F&B brands from Hokkaido.
Natsume has a seasonal menu using Hokkaido-sourced fish and seafood. Order their Special Kaisen Don for only $17.50.
Maruya is a famous Donburi joint in Hokkaido, Sapporo operating for over 130 years. You have many choices here but the Pork Katsu Don/Curry ($13.50) is recommended.
If you like pork, you have to go for the Hokkaido Buta Don ($13.50) at Tsuyoshi. Its tender grilled pork coupled with its secret sauce makes for a delicious and wholesome meal.
If you’re hankering for noodles, head to Maruki for its soba made with all-natural ingredients, and no MSG. Try the Mori Soba ($9) which is available cold, and best paired with sake.
Butahage Singapore – Suntec City
Suntec City Tower 3 #01-625/626, 3 Temasek Blvd, Singapore 038983
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
Butahage Singapore – Century Square
Century Square #01-11A, 2 Tampines Central 5, Singapore 529509
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
Hokkaido Pork Rice Bowl with 80-Year-Old Secret Sauce
If you find the name “Butahage” familiar, they used to operate at the now-defunct Liang Court, but they are back with a wider menu with Singapore exclusives.
Butahage hails from Obihiro, Hokkaido, which is known for its traditional pork dishes, as the cool climate provides an ideal environment for raising pigs.
The centrepiece of their menu is the Signature Butadon, a pork rice bowl dish with tender pork slices applied with the proprietary 80-year-old secret sauce.
Obihiro Meibutsu Japanese Pork Loin Don ($19.80 for regular, $24.80 for large) uses Japanese pork loin for its premium quality, grilled using the amiyaki technique to achieve an aromatic char.
The pork was meaty yet succulent. Eat it freshly out, and experience that melt-in-the-mouth savour. There was also a smoky exterior, not overly charred.
For those seeking an affordable option, the Obihiro Meibutsu Pork Loin Don ($11.80 for regular, $14.80 for large) made with Canadian pork loin is a commendable alternative.
Read more at: Butahage (Suntec City)
Nagai Hokkaido Cuisine
Suntec City #03-314, Eat At Seven, 3 Temasek Boulevard, Tower 1, Singapore 038983
Tel: +65 6684 5054
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 3pm, 5:30pm – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
Authentic Omakase from A Legendary Restaurant in Sapporo
It was then that founder Shinichiro Nagai first opened the restaurant, having mastered the intricacies of the culinary art at restaurants in Tokyo Roppongi and Sapporo Susukino.
Chef Nagai’s three-decade-old Sapporo restaurant has developed an impressive lineup of clientele; notable celebrities, dignitaries, prime ministers, and Imperial family members.
Nagai Hokkaido Cuisine has launched its first-ever international outlet at Suntec City. It plays close to home as it is Chef Makoto Nagai, son of Shinichiro Nagai, who will supervise the restaurant.
The food is underlined by four omakase menus ($98, $138, $198 and $380). The $138 Omakase that I had includes an appetiser, sashimi, grill item, Chef’s special, main dish and dessert.
Talking about the presentation, the sashimi comes on a sizeable hand-chiselled block of crab-shaped ice. The exotic selection includes akami, hirame, kazunoko, botan ebi, and specially-imported Hokkaido exclusives.
The rich Kazunoko is a festive cured herring roe that is typically eaten on Osechi-ryōri, the New Year celebrations. Not many restaurants serve Kazunoko here, and it is worth giving this a try.
Read more at: Nagai Hokkaido Cuisine (Suntec City)
Kurohanabi 黒花火
Eat at Seven @ 3 Temasek Boulevard, Suntec City Tower 1 #03-316, s038983
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 3pm, 5:30pm – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
Robust-Tasting Wagyu Innard Hotpot of Motsu Nabe
The restaurant is known for presenting an array of delectable favourites and specialises in Motsu Nabe. Considered a delicacy in Hokkaido, this is a special style of Wagyu innards hotpot.
Other than a range of Motsu dishes, Kurohanabi also offers well-loved Japanese favourites such as Motsu Okonomiyaki ($19.80), Wagyu Motsu Yakisoba ($21.80), and Teppanyaki dishes.
While the texturally distinct Wagyu offal gives the presentation a personality, the heart of Hokkaido Motsu Nabe ($32) lies in the boiling sesame miso soup base made from a special recipe from Hokkaido.
The aromatic stew was neither too thick nor too thin – just the right amount of richness and comforting flavours that tend not to overpower its other ingredients
Let the meat and vegetables cook for a while to allow fat from the intestines to seep into the mix and the stew gains subtle sweetness from the vegetable, resulting in a pleasurable taste.
If you love natto-fermented soybeans, then opt for the hearty concoction of Natto Matsu Nabe ($42) laced with earthy flavours.
Read more at: Kurohanabi (Suntec City)
Ichikokuko Hokkaido Ramen
Suntec City Mall #B1-135 North Wing, 3 Temasek Boulevard, Singapore 038983
Tel: +65 6273 0048
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm, Last Order 9pm (Mon – Sun)
First Halal-Certified Hokkaido-Style Ramen In Singapore
While different regions have signature styles, Hokkaido ramen generally has a thick, creamy broth, seasoned with soy sauce, salt or miso-based sauce for those added flavours.
To keep the authenticity, Ichikokudo uses ingredients exclusively from Hokkaido; wheat for the firm noodles, kelp for the umami, butter, and aosa seaweed to evoke the feel of the Hokkaido sea.
I like to start with the most basic signature bowl, Ichikokudo Ramen. Because of the shoyu and that ‘sea flavour’ in the broth, some diners may find it slightly salty, though the creamy base helps balance that off.
Another component that I enjoyed was the noodles itself – long and thin (my preferred type), with a satisfactory chewy bite. Not too heavy even if you finish an entire bowl.
The Hokkai Jigoku Smoked Duck Ramen came in that vibrant red-coloured soup cooked with thicker noodles and spicy miso, though the spiciness was quite manageable.
Hokkai Clams Ramen was the favourite of a few friends. Its soup base had sweet seafood freshness. The creaminess of the Hokkaido butter beautifully complemented the flavours.
Read more at: Ichikokudo Hokkaido Ramen (Suntec City)
Miharu
Great World B2-111 to #B2-121, 1 Kim Seng Promenade, Singapore 237994
Opening Hours: 11am – 9:30pm (Mon – Sun)
Old-Favourite Sapporo-Style Ramen Found At Great World And Millenia Walk
Fans of authentic Sapporo-style miso ramen would find their way to Miharu Sapporo Ramen in the past, which was one of the first Japanese restaurants in Singapore to serve this style of ramen.
The menu is lean, with the recommended including Tokusen Miso ($17.80), Tokusen Shiro Miso ($17.80), Tokusen Shoyu ($14.80), and Tokusen Ton Shio ($17.80).
Their Sapporo-style ramen is commonly associated with medium-sized, curly yellow noodles in miso-based ramen, topped with sweet corn, butter, and bean sprouts.
A point to note is the soup is generally rich, thick and saltier than the typical Tonkotsu soup bases, suitable for the colder weather of Hokkaido.
Customers trying this for the first time may feel it is salty and on the greasier side.
Taste-wise, it was quite close to what I remember being at the previous Millenia Walk location, but of course, the vibes and all are not quite the same as the good old Gallery Hotel days.
Read more at: Miharu Sapporo Ramen (Great World)
Hokkaido Ramen Santouka
The Central #02-76, 6 Eu Tong Sen Street, Singapore 059817
Opening Hours: 12pm – 3pm, 5:30pm – 9pm (Mon – Fri), 11:30am – 9pm (Sat – Sun)
Indulge in the Award-Winning Shio Ramen
Santouka is admired for its savoury tonkatsu-based broth and tender pork cheek, which are among the specialities that make it a must-visit for ramen enthusiasts.
The ramen eatery ever won 1st place winner in the most delicious ramen noodle salt-flavoured soup category by the popular magazine “Hokkaido Walker”.
Coming from colder seasonal Hokkaido, the ramen is the springy chewy type with a salty milky thick broth.
The house speciality is the Tokusen Toroniku, which comes with a piping hot bowl of ramen in broth, and the pork cheek on a separate plate.
There are limited servings per day. This is because a few hundred grams of pork cheek can be retrieved from each pig.
Baristart Coffee Singapore
65 Tras Street Singapore 079004 (Tanjong Pagar MRT)
Opening Hours: 8am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
Baristart Coffee Singapore – OCBC Wisma Atria
Wisma Atria #04-01, 435 Orchard Road, Singapore 238877
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
Popular Hokkaido Cafe with Latte Art and Cute Desserts
Baristart Coffee began in June 2015 in Sapporo as a simple coffee stand that focuses on Hokkaido milk. It soon found fame and voted as one of the most Instagrammable cafes in Sapporo.
Other than using Hokkaido milk of exceptional quality for its coffee, matched with beautiful latte art; its food and desserts are worthy of venturing to Tanjong Pagar.
It operates its café using the rich, full-cream Hokkaido Biei Jersey Milk in almost all its products. It is the ultra-premium milk prized for being rare, as there are only about 800 Brown Jersey cows left making up 1% of the total cow population in Japan.
Coffee aficionados can choose from 3 types of beans: Baristart Blend or any of the 2 single origin beans that change every month. There are also a series of Black Coffees and White Coffees.
Indeed, the richness of the Latte was obvious upon the first sip, and you will appreciate how smooth and fuller-flavoured your coffee is.
I can add that its Cream Puff is one of the best I tried in Singapore. There is also a menu of main courses such as Hokkaido Carbonara, Spaghetti Seafood Shiso Pesto, and Obihiro Butadon.
Read more at: Baristart Coffee (Tras Street)
108 Matcha Saro
Suntec City Mall #B1-K5, 3 Temasek Boulevard, Singapore 038983
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
Famous Hokkaido Matcha Specialty Shop with Various Beverages and Sweets
Started in Asahikawa in 2014, 108 Matcha Saro now has 4 outlets across Japan and 4 in Taipei. Although the Singapore outlet is mainly a takeaway store, it is the first one in South-East Asia.
Obanyaki is a Japanese snack traditionally filled with Azuki bean paste and made in a special pan. Available in 6 flavours, my favourites are the Matcha Custard with Original Dough ($2.90) and Red Bean Paste with Warabi Mochi and matcha Dough ($3.50).
The matcha from Uji, Kyoto is most distinctive in the Matcha Custard with Original Dough ($2.90) with oozing matcha in the centre and a distinctive slight bitterness aftertaste.
I felt that the matcha dough in the Obanyaki tends to be denser and drier when left to cool down after a while, so it is best to eat them when they are freshly out.
Another bestseller is their Warabi Mochi freshly handmade daily with a light, soft and slightly chewy texture, lightly flavoured with a generous amount of matcha or soybean powder.
The majority of their menu (24 items to be exact) consisted of Soft Serve (Cone $4.90), Parfait ($6.90 – $8.50) and Drinks ($6.90).
Read more at: 108 Matcha Saro (Suntec City)
LeTAO Singapore
ION Orchard B4-05, 2 Orchard Turn, Singapore 238801
Opening Hours: 10am – 9pm (Mon – Sun)
Savour Hokkaido’s Heavenly Cheesecake, Available At ION Orchard
LeTAO, a renowned dessert chain from Hokkaido, Japan, is known for its exquisite confectionery offerings.
Since its introduction to Singapore in 2016 by Wabi-Sabi SG, LeTAO has delighted customers with its fabled Double Fromage Cheesecake.
It is a signature creation that combines a silky, no-bake cheesecake layer with a rich, baked cheesecake base, all topped with a light dusting of castella cake crumbs.
This decadent dessert is known for its creamy, smooth texture and the perfect balance of sweetness.
In addition to the Double Fromage, LeTAO also features other delightful confections like the Chocolat Double cake, a chocolate variant of the Double Fromage, and the famous baked cheese tarts.
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