One of the greatest joys of traveling in Hokkaido is, without a doubt, the food!
There are so many delicious things to eat in Hokkaido, but seafood is an absolute must-try when you visit.
If you come here, you should definitely treat yourself to a kaisendon—a bowl of rice topped with fresh, fatty, melt-in-your-mouth seafood.
We (a couple who relocated completely from Kobe & Nagoya to Hokkaido) have carefully selected and will introduce the restaurants that serve the best kaisendon you absolutely shouldn’t miss when visiting Hokkaido.
Filling your stomach with the freshest seafood is pure luxury. If you’re planning a Hokkaido trip, be sure to use this guide!
I heard that because kaisendon in Hokkaido uses only the freshest sashimi, it’s basically zero calories!! So, just like me, go ahead and eat as much kaisendon as you want while enjoying your Hokkaido trip.
Recommended Kaisendon in Sapporo
Nijo Market – Oiso
Nijo Market in Sapporo is a lively area filled with seafood restaurants, and Oiso is arguably the most popular spot, often with long lines outside.
Here, you can enjoy exquisite kaisendon prepared with seafood carefully selected by the owner himself.
Their most famous dish is the Oiso Don—a giant seafood bowl piled high with over 10 different types of fresh seafood, cut into thick, generous slices that spill over the bowl. It’s so stunning, you might let out a cheer when it’s placed in front of you. And don’t worry—it tastes even better than it looks!
If you want to indulge even further, go for the Oiso Don with Uni (sea urchin). It takes the satisfaction level up several notches.
I personally love seared seafood, so I highly recommend the Aburi Kaisendon. Seared salmon and other seafood give it a rich aroma and flavor—it’s irresistible for aburi lovers.
For big eaters like me, the Mega Oiso Don is a dream! It comes loaded with uni and botan shrimp—perfect if a regular portion just isn’t enough.
They also serve sashimi plates and side dishes, so it’s a great place if you want to enjoy seafood with sake.
📍 Address: Minami 3-jo Higashi 2-8, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Kaisendokoro Uoya no Daidokoro Honten
Right across from Oiso in Nijo Market is another hugely popular restaurant, Uoya no Daidokoro. It’s just as busy as Oiso, and especially crowded on Wednesdays since Oiso is closed that day.
If you’re unsure what to order, go for their signature Omakase Kaisendon (Large). It’s generously loaded with seafood—so much it almost spills out of the bowl.
They also offer small and regular sizes. The small comes with about 7–8 varieties, the regular has 12–15, and the large features a whopping 15–20 kinds of seafood. Truly a feast in a bowl!
For me, it’s the large size, no question! You’ve come all the way to Hokkaido—why hold back? You’ll be surprised how easily you can finish it.
The presentation is gorgeous and Instagram-worthy, so don’t forget to snap a photo before digging in.
📍 Address: Konishi Building 1F, Minami 2-jo Higashi 2, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Donburiya Nijo Market Branch
Donburiya’s most famous dish is the Kaisen Bara Chirashi, known as one of the best value kaisendon in Sapporo—just ¥550 for a real seafood bowl!
It’s limited in quantity and very popular among locals too, so it often sells out early, even on weekdays. If you want this dish, you’ll need to go early, around 7am.
It includes tuna, salmon, tobiko, tamago, cucumber, and more, making it colorful and flavorful.
You can also add toppings like ikura or jumbo botan shrimp to make it even more satisfying.
If it’s sold out, don’t worry—they have many other amazing kaisendon options. The Special Sapporo Asaichi Don is especially recommended, packed with chutoro, uni, snow crab, ikura, scallops, salmon, negitoro, and more.
📍 Address: Kita 12-jo Nishi 20-1-20, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Ruku & Uohira
If you love pairing seafood with alcohol, head to Ruku & Uohira, a popular izakaya located in Sapporo’s Tanukikoji entertainment district.
Their specialty is the Tokumori Kaisendon (Special Deluxe Bowl), filled with freshly sourced seafood in generous portions. Don’t underestimate it just because it’s from an izakaya—it rivals dedicated seafood restaurants in both quality and volume.
Best of all, you can order it not just at lunch but also at dinner, perfect for enjoying with sake or shochu.
Finally, I can enjoy kaisendon while drinking as much as I want—heaven!!
Besides kaisendon, they also offer amazing izakaya dishes. Highlights include fried hokke, potato with homemade shiokara, and imomochi (a Hokkaido specialty).
In Honshu, fried fish usually means fried horse mackerel. But in Hokkaido, it’s all about fried hokke—and it’s unbelievably delicious. I recommend it just as much as the kaisendon.
📍 Address: Minami 2-jo Nishi 6, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Hamakko
As the name suggests, Hamakko specializes in seafood, and whichever bowl you choose, the quality and presentation are top-notch.
Their signature Hamakko Don is piled high with fresh seafood, plus slices of Shiraoi beef tataki (a premium Hokkaido wagyu). It’s a unique land-and-sea collaboration bowl.
Another specialty is the Raw Hokke & Ikura Chirashi, featuring raw hokke sashimi—extremely rare since raw hokke is usually avoided due to food safety risks. But Hamakko uses a special -60°C quick-freezing process, making it safe and delicious.
They also serve their bowls with Sansho-zuke Soy Sauce, a local Hokkaido condiment made with green chili peppers, malted rice, and soy sauce. It adds an extra kick to the flavors.
📍 Address: B1F, Barato Kita-Ichijo Building, Kita 1-jo Nishi 3-3, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Recommended Kaisendon in Otaru
Kita no Donburiya
Located inside Sankaku Market, Kita no Donburiya is famous for its Original Wagamama Don. You can pick 3 or 4 toppings from 10 different choices to create your own personalized bowl.
The seafood is piled so high it almost overflows, and each topping—whether crab, ikura, or uni—is incredibly fresh and flavorful.
You can also choose between sushi rice or plain rice, and even adjust the portion size.
If you plan to try multiple restaurants in Otaru, choosing a smaller portion of rice helps save room for more food!
📍 Address: 3-10-16 Inaho, Otaru, Hokkaido (inside Sankaku Market)
Ajidokoro Takeda
Founded in 1963, Ajidokoro Takeda is run by Takeda Fish Shop, ensuring top-quality, freshly caught seafood. They offer around 25 different types of kaisendon, including seasonal specials.
Their standout dish is the ANA Special Don, created in collaboration with All Nippon Airways. It features uni, crab, ikura, and salmon, topped with a dramatic crab claw. The bowl is overflowing with seafood and rice, making it incredibly filling.
They also serve plenty of side dishes like sashimi and grilled seafood—perfect for a light drink.
📍 Address: 3-10-16 Inaho, Otaru, Hokkaido (inside Sankaku Market)
Sankakutei
Also inside Sankaku Market, Sankakutei is popular for its affordable yet delicious kaisendon.
The highlight is the Colorful Don, featuring 10 types of seafood including uni, crab, octopus, squid, salmon, maguro, scallops, ikura, amaebi, and tobiko—for only ¥2,300.
It’s perfect if you want to enjoy kaisendon but still save money for sightseeing and souvenirs.
📍 Address: 3-10-16 Inaho, Otaru, Hokkaido (inside Sankaku Market)
EZOYA
Located near Otaru Canal, EZOYA is always busy with tourists. Their kaisendon can be ordered in various sizes, making it suitable for both big eaters and light eaters.
Their Uni, Ikura & Maguro Don is especially popular. Even the regular size is so big you might wonder if you accidentally ordered the large!
Packed with high-end Hokkaido seafood at under ¥3,000, it’s an incredible deal. You can also customize your bowl with additional toppings like uni, ikura, or botan shrimp.
📍 Address: 2-22 Sakaimachi, Otaru, Hokkaido
Recommended Kaisendon in Hakodate
Uni Murakami
If you’re craving uni, Uni Murakami is the place to go. Operated directly by a uni processing company, they serve only the freshest, additive-free uni.
The flavor is so rich and sweet, it melts in your mouth—you may never want supermarket uni again.
They also have a branch in Sapporo (connected to JR Sapporo Station), making it convenient even if you can’t make it to Hakodate.
📍 Address (Hakodate): 22-1 Otemachi, Hakodate, Hokkaido
📍 Address (Sapporo): B1F, Nippon Life Sapporo Bldg., Kita 3-jo Nishi 4-1-1, Chuo-ku, Sapporo
Kikuyo Shokudo Main Branch
Kikuyo Shokudo is said to be the first restaurant to serve kaisendon at Hakodate Morning Market, making it a historic pioneer.
Their most popular dish is the Original Hakodate Tomoe Don, featuring fresh uni, ikura, and scallops from local waters. The rice is cooked with care using Hokkaido-grown rice in a traditional wood-fired steamer, perfectly complementing the seafood.
All bowls come with miso soup made with rock seaweed and pickles, adding even more flavor to the meal.
📍 Address: 11-15 Wakamatsu-cho, Hakodate, Hokkaido
Ichikatei Tabiji
Located inside Hakodate Morning Market’s Donburi Yokocho, Ichikatei Tabiji is famous for its Dancing Live Squid Don.
The squid is so fresh it looks as if it’s still moving when served, paired with ikura for a one-of-a-kind kaisendon experience.
📍 Address: Donburi Yokocho, Hakodate Morning Market, Hakodate, Hokkaido
✨ That’s a wrap on our list of the best kaisendon spots across Sapporo, Otaru, and Hakodate. Whether you’re after budget-friendly bowls, customizable seafood feasts, or premium uni experiences, Hokkaido has it all.
Conclusion
We’ve introduced some of the most delicious seafood rice bowls you should absolutely try when visiting Hokkaido—are you feeling hungry already? ^^
If you’re coming all the way to Hokkaido, there’s no way you can leave without having a seafood rice bowl!
I’ve always loved seafood, but when I tried Hokkaido’s seafood rice bowls, I was blown away—“Was seafood always this delicious?” Since then, I’ve become an even bigger seafood lover.
That’s how fresh and rich in flavor Hokkaido’s seafood is. Once you try it, the taste will stay with you forever.
Here at Samurai Trip Concierge, we are dedicated local guides committed to making your Hokkaido trip more wonderful, more comfortable, and truly unforgettable.
If you have any questions or concerns about traveling in Hokkaido, Hokkaido gourmet food, or seafood rice bowls, please feel free to reach out to us. We look forward to hearing from you! ☆
