Want to eat kani (crab) dishes in Hokkaido! 13 picks by area, including Sapporo

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Koshitsu Kani Ryori Kani Tsuji Sapporo is a crab specialty restaurant with all Private room seating, located about a 3-minute walk from Sapporo Station on the Sapporo Municipal Subway Toho Line.

The interior, with its Japanese style touches, offers a private space where you can relax and enjoy your meal, making it a perfect fit for Special occasions as well.

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They offer a selection of fresh crabs shipped directly from the production regions that are best in season, including tarabagani (red king crab), Hairy Crab, and zuwaigani (snow crab).

A chef with wide-ranging experience in the world of Japanese cuisine prepares top-class crab dishes with polished technique.

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The 6-course lunch kaiseki starts with beautifully presented Appetizers. It is a compact course that lets you casually enjoy high-quality crab dishes.

In the second half, Clay Pot rice is served, letting you enjoy the rich flavor of the crab.

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Umi no Shiki is a seafood izakaya located a 3-minute walk from Susukino Station on the Sapporo Municipal Subway Namboku Line. This is a place where you can enjoy flavors unique to Hokkaido.

The restaurant has fully private rooms with Sunken kotatsu seating at every table, making it well suited for Banquet gatherings with large groups.

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The “Hamayude Kegani (freshly boiled Hairy Crab) Enjoyment Course” is an 8-course meal packed with seasonal ingredients.

The main Hokkaido Hairy Crab is taken from the fish tank after you order and boiled on the spot. That lets you fully enjoy the fresh crab’s taste and aroma.

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The most popular course, the "4 Great Crab All You Can Enjoy Course," lets you try four kinds of crab: Hairy Crab, tarabagani (red king crab), zuwaigani (snow crab), and hanasaki-gani (spiny king crab).

One of the most popular dishes in the course is the zuwaigani shabu-shabu. People say the plump, springy texture of the meat is irresistible.

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Kani Tabehodai Kaniza Sapporo is a crab specialty restaurant on the 9th floor of a building, just a 1-minute walk from Hosui-Susukino Station on the Sapporo Municipal Subway Toho Line. Its interior is said to be charming, with a look that brings to mind an old school port tavern.

From the windows, you can take in a full view of the Susukino cityscape. This restaurant is also a good choice for a dinner on a special occasion.

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The “Special crab and Beef Tongue & Wagyu shabu-shabu All you can eat” course seems to be popular.

In addition to crab and beef, you can also enjoy All you can eat seasonal vegetables, fresh seafood, fruit, and more. There are 5 kinds of broth for the shabu-shabu in total, and all of them are said to pair perfectly with the crab.

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They also offer a course where you can enjoy Hokan-gani (treasure crown crab).

Hokan-gani is a rare crab caught only in limited waters off Hokkaido, and its firm meat is said to have rich umami and sweetness. It is said to be so good that once you try it, you will never forget it.

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Susukino Kaniichi is an izakaya (Japanese pub) serving a wide variety of crab dishes. The interior, based on black tones and wood grain, has a grown-up atmosphere.

It has fully private rooms with doors and counter seating, so it can be used for both everyday meals and Special occasions.

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You can have live crab, just taken from the fish tank, prepared the way you like, whether as sashimi (raw sliced fish), boiled, grilled, or another style.

One of the biggest draws is the live performance of watching the live crab be prepared right in front of you.

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They also offer plenty of courses to enjoy crab and seasonal ingredients.

The "Taraba Kaiseki" is a course made up of a variety of dishes using tarabagani (king crab), including ozukuri (sashimi), fried dishes, and steamed dishes. Each dish is said to let you fully enjoy the natural flavor of the ingredients.

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Isokin Gyogyobu Esashikiko is a Japanese izakaya where you can fully enjoy seafood and mountain produce. It has many local fans and is said to be lively day after day.

They offer counter seats for two with a view of the surrounding streetscape, Sunken kotatsu seating, and table seats separated by noren (traditional fabric dividers).

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They offer a wide variety of crab dishes, including fried items, salads, and chinmi (delicacies).

The "green onion salt Hairy Crab Hot Pot" is a classic hot pot made with Esashi Hairy Crab. The crab meat is coated in the house special green onion salt, and it is said to have an addictive taste.

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The “Asa-muki Kani Mi Kani Miso Nose” is a dish of very fresh, sweet crab meat topped with kani miso (crab tomalley).

The kani miso has a creamy mouthfeel and a rich taste. It also pairs well with Japanese sake.

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Kaisendokoro Kita no Aji Daisuke Susukino Cyber City Building Ten is a seafood izakaya where you can enjoy seafood and local sake from across Hokkaido.

The chairs and tables inside are made with wood from Hokkaido. The spacious interior has a nice sense of character, and guests can relax without feeling formal.

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The “Okhotsuku-san hamayude kegani (Okhotsk coast boiled Hairy Crab)” is a dish made by boiling a whole extra large hairy crab that the owner has Specially selected.

When served, they can cut it into easy to eat pieces. It is packed tightly with meat, letting you fully enjoy the rich flavor of the crab.

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The course, made up of 11 dishes including the “Hairy Crab whole assortment,” is also recommended.

You can fully enjoy a wide variety of crab dishes, including cream croquettes made with Hokkaido snow crab, teppo-jiru (crab miso soup) with Hanasaki-gani (spiny king crab), and takikomi gohan (seasoned rice cooked with ingredients) with crab.

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Sapporo Kani Honke Sapporo Ekimae Honten is located just steps from Sapporo Station on the Sapporo Municipal Subway Namboku Line.

Inside, eye catching wood carvings and a crab fish tank set the scene for a calm, relaxed meal. In addition to table seating and ozashiki (tatami seating), the restaurant also offers Private room options.

The live squid served here is never frozen and uses fresh squid just taken from the fish tank.

The "kegani sugata-yude (whole boiled horsehair crab)" lets you enjoy one whole crab in a bold serving, with its umami concentrated for a rich, full flavor.

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The "zuwai-gani (snow crab) Crab hot pot" is a popular menu item not only in the cold season, but also in summer.

You can enjoy it in a special broth filled with the good flavors of zuwai-gani and vegetables. They also recommend enjoying it with ponzu sauce for a light, refreshing taste.

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Kani to Dosan Ryori Sekkatei is a crab specialty restaurant with Private room seating throughout.

Step through the noren (traditional entrance curtain), and you will find an elegant space that brings to mind a Japanese garden. The restaurant has many Private rooms, including rooms overlooking a tsuboniwa (small courtyard garden) and rooms filled with traditional Japanese charm.

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They serve dishes made with plenty of exceptionally fresh crab, mainly from Hokkaido.

The shabu-shabu made with Hokkai Matsuba-gani (Hokkai Matsuba crab) is eaten by quickly dipping it in hot water and then enjoying it with ponzu sauce. To finish, you can also enjoy zosui (rice porridge) flavored with rich crab broth.

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The "Katsuke gani sashimi" is known for its artistic presentation. After carefully removing the shell, they wash it in ice water with Japanese sake, which makes the crab meat open up beautifully.

The meat has a delicate sweetness, and they recommend enjoying it simply with wasabi and soy sauce.

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Kani to Yakitori Enishi is a Japanese restaurant about a 3-minute walk from Hosui Susukino Station on the Sapporo Municipal Subway Toho Line, specializing in kani (crab) and yakitori (grilled chicken skewers).

The interior has 16 seats in total and can also accommodate small group Banquets. It also offers koagari (raised floor seating where you remove your shoes), so you can relax and enjoy your meal.

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The popular menu item "hon tarabagani (red king crab) sumiyaki (charcoal grill)" lets you grill fresh tarabagani at (Each) table using a shichirin (small charcoal grill).

The crab meat is said to be plump, with rich umami and sweetness. With each bite, the aroma of charcoal spreads across your palate.

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The popular Hinoki course lets you enjoy a wide range of crab dishes, centered on tarabagani (red king crab) and zuwaigani (snow crab).

The dishes served throughout the course are said to be filled with the owner's skill and sense of style. The main kani-shabu (crab hotpot) is said to pair the flavor of the dashi broth perfectly with the fresh crab.

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Kani Ryori Fugu Ryori Kitagawa is an izakaya serving fresh seafood shipped directly from Rausu.

Inside, the restaurant offers spacious sofa seating, ozashiki (tatami floor seating), and Semi-private room seating with partitions. If you are visiting for a special day, a fully private room is also recommended.

They offer a wide range of crab dishes made with tarabagani (red king crab), Hairy Crab, and zuwaigani (snow crab).

The "zuwaigani shabu-shabu" is said to be very filling even with just one leg. After swishing it through the house-made broth, you can enjoy it as is.

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With the course menu, you can enjoy crab dishes prepared in a variety of ways.

The "Kanizukushi B" course centers on boiled Hairy Crab and zuwaigani (snow crab) shabu-shabu. It also comes with a daily kobachi (small side dish), sashimi, and dessert, making for a full lineup.

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Kyodo Ryori Kan is located a 3-minute walk from Susukino Station on the Sapporo Municipal Subway Namboku Line.

If you sit at the counter, you are sure to enjoy lively conversation with the owner. You can watch the cooking up close and spend a Special time.

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The top recommendation here is the "hamayude kegani (freshly boiled horsehair crab)." It is packed with sweet meat and is said to be wonderfully satisfying to eat.

The moist, tender meat pairs with the rich flavor of kani miso (crab tomalley), making it especially delicious.

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They also offer courses centered on crab. The head chef reportedly goes to the market every morning and Special selects the freshest ingredients for the dishes.

They also make generous use of seasonal ingredients suited to that time of year.

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Kani Ou is a restaurant about an 18-minute drive from Takeura Station on the JR Muroran Main Line. You can casually enjoy freshly cooked crab prepared on the spot.

Inside, they also have a full selection of souvenirs such as frozen products and chinmi (delicacies). It seems to be popular with locals as well.

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Once you choose your preferred live crab to match your budget, they will boil it for you with each order.

Freshly boiled Hairy Crab has a moist texture with no dryness. Since the saltiness is kept light, you can taste the crab's natural umami directly.

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The "kani-meshi (crab rice)" comes with osuimono (clear soup) and pickles. The rice is based on Japanese dashi stock and seasoned with soy sauce and mirin.

Along with the rich flavor of Hairy Crab, you can also enjoy the aroma of shiitake mushrooms and the texture of bamboo shoots.

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Nihon no Teppen Kani Club Wakkanai Gyoko Chokusou is a popular restaurant known for serving fresh, tasty crab shipped directly from Wakkanai.

The stylish space has table seating for 2〜4 people and counter seats, making it easy to stop by even on your own.

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The crab used in the dishes is landed off the coast of Wakkanai (a city in Hokkaido). It is shipped directly while still fresh and prepared in ways that bring out the best flavor of the ingredients.

The "Kani Zanmai Yaki Set" in the photo lets you enjoy a tasting comparison of exceptionally fresh crab.

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The "Yude-gani (boiled crab)" is also a recommended menu item. With no unnecessary seasoning and simply boiled, it lets you slowly enjoy the full flavor of the crab.

The plump meat is said to have a nice sweetness, and the more you chew, the more the aroma of the sea fills your mouth.