There’s still time! 6 must-try local delicacies at Sapporo Autumn Fest 2025 [Featured at the 8th Chome Venue]｜Domingo

The Sapporo Autumn Fest 2025 is currently being held in Odori Park, Sapporo. The 8th-Chome venue, Sapporo Odori Hokkaido Market, is particularly popular for its “Hokkaido vibe.” It’s a popular spot for tourists and Sapporo residents alike, offering a sampling of local delicacies from across Hokkaido. In this article, we’ll introduce six must-try dishes.

A must-try! Grilled Snow Crab Shell, now the highlight of the Autumn Fest (Monbetsu City)

“Grilled Snow Crab Shell” (1,200 yen)

This year, Monbetsu City’s booth will be offering “Grilled Snow Crab Shell” (1,200 yen).
The rows of snow crabs lined up on the grill are a spectacular sight! Many fans say that you wouldn’t feel like you’ve been to Autumn Fest without trying this dish, and it’s extremely popular with Sapporo residents as well as tourists from both Japan and abroad.

Large crab legs leave you feeling satisfied

The grilled crab shell, with its fragrant aroma, is visually appealing. The soft, moist crab is coated in the rich flavor of crab miso. This dish is sure to leave you feeling satisfied, with its appearance, volume, and taste.

Rishiri Sea Urchin Rice (Rishiri Town) – Plenty of purple sea urchin for just 900 yen

“Rishiri Sea Urchin Rice with Rishiri Northern Purple Sea Urchin (Mini)” (900 yen)

When you think of Rishiri Town, you think of sea urchin! Many people would say that dishes using the Ezo bafun sea urchin and purple sea urchin from Mount Rishiri are popular. For a casual meal, we recommend the “Rishiri Sea Urchin Rice with Rishiri-grown Kitamurasaki Sea Urchin (Mini)” (900 yen). This dish features plump rice seasoned with concentrated sea urchin flavor and topped with plenty of purple sea urchin.

A luxurious taste that lets you enjoy the natural sweetness of sea urchin. The portion is about the size of a bowl, making it a great size for when you want to eat a variety of dishes. If you’re sharing with two or more people, we recommend the regular size (1,500 yen).

“Genghis Khan Yakisoba” (Asahikawa City): Recommended for those new to lamb

“Genghis Khan Yakisoba” (700 yen)

At the Asahikawa City booth, “Genghis Khan Yakisoba” (700 yen) will be available throughout the Autumn Fest. When you open the lid, you’ll find that it’s packed with more meat than you’d expect!

Plenty of lamb! Mix it with the noodles.

The fragrant fried noodles, infused with the flavor of lamb, have a refreshing taste without being too sweet, and go well with beer. The portion is just large enough to share with several people, so one serving might be enough for lunch. The Jingisukan is soft and easy to eat, so it’s recommended for travelers who haven’t eaten lamb much but would like to give it a try!

Enjoy freshly fried, rare potatoes at “Matilda Potato” (Memuro Town)

“Matilda Potato Cheddar & Freshly Grated Cheese” (1,000 yen)

At the Memuro Town booth, you can find delicious potatoes from Memuro. These fries are made with Matilda, a potato that is said to be a mythical variety. There are a variety of toppings to choose from, but cheese lovers should try the “Matilda Potato Cheddar & Freshly Grated Cheese” (1,000 yen). Matilda potatoes are deep-fried with the skin on, topped with plenty of cheddar cheese, and then topped with freshly grated cheese.

Matilda has a good balance of fluffy texture and smoothness, making it the perfect variety for French fries. You can enjoy the crispy exterior and melt-in-your-mouth texture inside, as well as a subtle sweetness.

Juicy and crunchy! “Takikawa Chicken” (Takikawa City), supervised by a popular zangi specialty store

“Takikawa Chicken” in a cup (690 yen)

If you’re looking for something a little different from the usual zangi or fried chicken, we recommend the “Takikawa Chicken” (690 yen) at the Takikawa City booth.

The special sauce contains apples from Takikawa

The Takikawa Chicken served in a cup is a tare zangi (simmered chicken simmered in a special sauce) made with crispy deep-fried chicken. Enjoy the crunchy texture. The special sauce, which has a slightly sweet and fruity flavor, is made with apples grown in Takikawa. It’s a light snack, so it’s easy to try while walking around or even in the stands.

Flaxseed Ice Cream (Tobetsu Town): A mildly sweet, nutritious treat you can enjoy without feeling guilty

Flaxseed ice cream (500 yen)

At the booth of Tobetsu Town, which has a history of flax cultivation dating back to the Meiji era, you can try “Flaxseed Ice Cream” (500 yen) made with flax seeds. Flaxseed is a nutritious food that provides dietary fiber, alpha-linolenic acid, protein, and more, and has been gaining attention in recent years.

Enjoyable texture with chunks

A generous amount of flaxseed ice cream is packed into a crispy cone. You can enjoy the crunchy texture and fragrant flavor of flaxseed. It’s not too sweet, and the health benefits of flaxseed make it a guilt-free dessert. Enjoy it while thinking about the agricultural history of Tobetsu Town.

This time we’ve introduced the food that will be available throughout the year, but 8-Chome is a venue where many booths are set up in rotation, divided into periods 1 to 4. Some booths are only available for the three days of period 4, so you may not be able to buy it the next time you visit. If you see something that catches your eye, we recommend that you try it first.

*All prices include tax

▼For gourmet reports and a sweets feature on all seven venues, as well as an overview of each venue, please see this article!

Writer Profile

Sapporo-based writer
Haneda

Originally from Gifu Prefecture, she moved from Kumamoto to Sapporo in 2021 and was amazed by the size and deliciousness of Hokkaido. She is a freelance writer specializing in gourmet food, travel, agriculture, and real estate.