Sapporo City Wholesale Market is one of the must-visit places when you’re in Sapporo. Known for its variety of fresh seafood, it features numerous shops serving mouthwatering dishes. Despite the bad weather on the day of my visit, the market was bustling with tourists.
The closest station to the market is Nijyuyonken Station on the subway line. While it’s possible to walk from Sapporo Station, I opted to take the subway due to the weather.
I hadn’t researched specific shops beforehand, so I decided to explore and pick one that caught my eye. I ended up at Kitano Gurume (北のグルメ亭), a popular and spacious shop that I knew of from its reputation.
Upon entering, I was greeted by a friendly crab mascot named “Kanippi”🦀
The shop primarily sells fresh seafood, including king crabs (tarabagani), which were impressive but quite pricey. They also offer various processed seafood products.
At the back of the shop, there’s a restaurant. It was crowded, so I provided my name and group size (just one!) to the staff at the entrance. They informed me there would be a 15-minute wait, so I browsed the shop’s offerings in the meantime. My turn came quickly.
The restaurant’s menu primarily features sashimi bowls, alongside options like grilled fish and other seafood dishes. Food models displayed at the entrance made it easy to visualize the meals.
The interior was spacious, with both rectangular tables and counter seating available. Despite the crowds, I was seated without much delay.
The donburi (sashimi bowl) menu was dazzling. Their recommendation was salmon roe, with prices ranging from ¥1,480 for a hair crab and salmon roe bowl to ¥4,860 for a luxurious sea urchin bowl.
Other dishes, like the charcoal-grilled tarabagani, also looked tempting.
While I was tempted by the salmon roe bowl, I decided to go for the Tarabagani and Salmon Roe Bowl to save money during my long trip. The dish came with a small side dish, pickles, and a soup featuring tororo kombu.
The taste was fantastic, and I was thoroughly satisfied with my choice. The fresh seafood and cozy atmosphere made this visit a highlight of my trip to Sapporo.
