Soup curry is one of those local dishes that you pretty much have to try; it’s a Hokkaido specialty that features a spice-packed, long-simmered soup crammed with veggies and meat, and served with rice on the side.
There are dozens of places in Sapporo where you can try a bowl for yourself, but one of the most popular is Soup Curry Garaku. And it is very popular; I showed up at around noon on a chilly Saturday, and there was a serious line-up. It took about an hour.
Once you start eating the soup curry, it’s easy enough to see why it’s so packed. It’s quite good.
They have a few different meat options, but I ordered the chicken, which is the most popular choice. You pick a spice level from one to 40, though anything over five is an additional charge. I went with five, and it was spicy enough; I was fine with my choice to not pay for additional heat.
The rich soup is spice-packed and zingy; there’s definitely a lot more going on here than your typical Japanese curry, which is quite mild in flavour (but still very tasty). The veggies and the fork-tender chicken give it a satisfying heartiness, as does the rice, which is made with five different grains (there’s also a lemon to squeeze over the rice, which gives it a nice brightness that contrasts nicely with the rich soup).
The menu also features zangi, which is the local version of karaage (Japanese fried chicken), and another Hokkaido specialty.
Two Hokkaido specialties in one meal? Sure, why not.
As far as I can tell, the biggest difference between karaage and zangi is that the latter is more aggressively seasoned, which definitely comes through in the flavour. The zangi here is nicely seasoned and almost citrusy, with a much bolder flavour than you’d typically expect from karaage.
It also features a light but amazingly crispy exterior encasing perfectly cooked meat, so yeah — it’s quite good.
Location: 〒060-0063 Hokkaido, Sapporo, Chūō-ku, Minami 2 Jōnishi, 2-chōme−６−１ おくむらビルB１
How to find it: Between the long line and the English sign, it’s impossible to miss.