The cuisine of Hokkaido is quite unique. It is a fusion of Ainu cuisine and local cuisine brought in during the pioneering period, and has the unique local taste of Hokkaido. In addition, the use of cream and other Western-style seasonings in Japanese cuisine is a major feature of Hokkaido cuisine. This time we will introduce you to local food unique to Hokkaido! Next time you come to Hokkaido, let’s try Hokkaido cuisine in addition to seafood dishes!
Salmon Shojiyaki (Salmon Shojiyaki)
Salmon Shojiyaki is a dish from Yuishi Town and is still loved by most Hokkaido residents. Arrange sliced vegetables and grill them on a huge iron plate, and grill salmon cut into large pieces. The seasoning uses sweet miso sauce. Pour the sauce on the freshly baked ingredients, stir gently with a spoon and enjoy! The naturally melted butter and indescribable aroma make this a very delicious dish!
Ishikari hot pot
Ishikari hot pot, listed as one of the "Top 100 Local Dishes", was actually originally a meal for fishermen; the whole salmon bones and cut salmon meat are boiled in the pot, which is a local original way of cooking! The main ingredients are "root vegetables" such as onions, radish, potatoes and "raw unmarinated salmon", and the sauce is miso.
Pork rice bowl (pork donburi)
Pork rice bowl is a local dish from the Tokachi region. It is a dish where grilled pork is topped with sweet and spicy soy sauce and then placed on the rice bowl. The ingredients are quite simple and can be eaten in various households and chain stores nowadays, so it has become a very familiar dish throughout Hokkaido! The "sauce" is the biggest feature of pork rice bowl, and the sweet and spicy soy sauce and the barbecued pork are a perfect match!
Hokkaido Zangi (Hokkaido Zangi)
"Hokkaido Zangi (ざんぎ)" is a fried food made of chicken leg meat wrapped in flour. It is almost the same cooking method as fried chicken. Although it looks almost the same as "fried chicken", The dish called "Zangi" has a strong taste, and soy sauce and garlic are often added to it. Nowadays, there are various kinds of Zangi in Hokkaido, such as salted, original and other flavors, so it is almost considered that "fried chicken = Zangi".
Hasegawa Store's Fried Chicken Bento (ハセガワストアのやきとりBento)
Although it is just a bento with fried chicken on rice, the "fried chicken" on the bento actually uses pork! This fried chicken bento is sold at the chain convenience store "Hasegawa Store" based in Hakodate. The fried chicken bento comes in 4 flavors including "sauce, salt, salty sauce, and spicy"!
Genghis Khan (ジンギスカン)
Genghis Khan is a local cuisine that represents Hokkaido and originated from Manchuria's mutton cuisine. The types of Genghis Khan are roughly divided into two types: the type where the meat is marinated in sauce and then grilled, and the type where the meat is directly grilled and then topped with sauce. Although it is more popular these days to just grill the meat and then pour the sauce on it, either way is quite delicious!
Taro cake (いももち)
Taro cake is a local dish that has been eaten as a "confection" in Hokkaido for a long time. Mash the boiled potatoes, mix them with Katakuri flour, fry them like fried bread, then top them with sweet and spicy soy sauce and cream and enjoy! Some families also have taro cakes with pumpkin or sweet potato, and there are also taro cakes with cheese!
Crab rice (かにめし)
Crab rice is one of the representative train lunch boxes of Hokkaido. It is served with processed crab meat on the rice. The person who came up with this crab rice dish is "Kanaya Honpo Kanaya", which has its head office in Chomanbu; it has been selling crab rice at Chomanbu Station since Showa 25 years ago. There are many types of crab rice across the country. The more common one is to put processed crab meat on vinegar rice, which is different from Kanaya's crab rice.
Hokkaido Pork Chop (エスカロップ)
Esukaroppu (エスカロップ) is a local dish originating from Nemuro City, Hokkaido. It was originally a dish of putting beef steak on Napoleon noodles and drizzling beef stew sauce. Now it is "thinly sliced" The dish of fried pork cutlet on buttered rice and topped with beef stew sauce is called Esukaroppu.
Soup curry (スープカレー)
Soup curry is the most famous local dish in Hokkaido. There are many forms of soup curry. The most common ones are spicy curry soup with vegetables and chicken drumsticks. Although it is called curry, the soup contains many elements from Indonesian and Sri Lanka . It can be said to be a completely different taste from Japanese curry!
Bibai Fried Chicken (美呗やきとり)
Bibai Fried Chicken originated in Bibai City, Hokkaido. It is a fried chicken dish with added eggs. Bibai City was originally a coal mining town. It was invented in a store in the city in the 1930s, and at that time it became a very popular fried chicken dish among coal mine workers. Bibei Fried Chicken is made by skewering different parts of the chicken into a skewer and skewering "kumquat" in the middle.
Hokki Curry (ホッキカレー)
Hokki Curry is a local delicacy originating from Tomakomai City, Hokkaido. It is a curry delicacy that contains a large amount of fried Hokki scallops also produced in Tomakomai City. Tomakomai City's deep-fried Hokkaido scallops are the best in Japan, and Hokkaido scallops have been used as an ingredient in home cooking in the local area for a long time. At restaurants in Tomakomai City, you can enjoy a variety of dishes such as stir-fried Hokuyo and Hokuyo rice!
Are you interested in the above dishes? When it comes to Hokkaido, most people will first think of fresh seafood dishes. Although the styles are a little different, there are many delicious dishes. Don’t miss the local delicacies of Hokkaido!
