Vegetarian Food in Sapporo: 5 Best Places to Eat

ByNishi V Updated on
Nishi in a bright red top lifts a steaming portion of Japanese yakisoba noodles high above a tabletop hotplate using two metal spatulas. Beside the noodles sits a freshly cooked okonomiyaki pancake topped with sweetcorn, spring onions and white sauce.

Hokkaido is famous for its seafood and dairy products, and Sapporo is particularly well known for dishes like miso ramen, soup curry and jingisukan, a grilled mutton dish. None of which immediately filled me with confidence as a vegetarian who is lactose intolerant!

I knew that finding vegetarian food in Sapporo might be challenging, especially if I wanted to stick to Japanese food.

In fact, I only managed to eat two Japanese meals during our entire trip to Japan. I’d gone in with pretty low expectations about finding vegetarian food, but I was still a little disappointed not to try more local dishes.

However, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that there are vegetarian-friendly restaurants in Sapporo. You just have to know where to look, and be prepared to eat something other than Japanese food occasionally.

During our stay, Jass and I tried everything from cooking our own okonomiyaki to eating Eritrean food and stumbling across a tiny Mexican izakaya late at night.

Some places were brilliant, others were more about finding something I could actually eat, but they all offered vegetarian options.

Here are five vegetarian-friendly restaurants in Sapporo that we tried, ranked in order of my personal preference.

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Is Sapporo vegetarian-friendly?

I’d say Sapporo is manageable for vegetarians, but it’s not somewhere I’d recommend turning up without doing a little research first.

A golden Japanese okonomiyaki pancake topped with sweetcorn, spring onions, shredded cheese and creamy white sauce cooks on a tabletop hotplate. Behind it, yakisoba noodles mixed with cabbage and vegetables are being stirred with metal spatulas.

Japan can be surprisingly difficult to navigate as a vegetarian, particularly because dishes that appear meat-free sometimes contain fish stock or other animal-derived ingredients.

And while Sapporo has some excellent local specialities, many of its most famous foods aren’t particularly vegetarian-friendly.

I found that being flexible about the type of cuisine made things much easier.

We ate Japanese food when we could, but also ended up trying an Eritrean, Mexican and Italian restaurant.

It wasn’t quite the Japanese food adventure I’d imagined, but we still had some really enjoyable meals.

One thing worth mentioning is that I’m vegetarian rather than vegan, so I eat eggs and cheese. Some of the meals below wouldn’t be suitable for vegans, and I’d always recommend checking ingredients directly with the restaurant if you have stricter dietary requirements.

Sapporo Beer Festival and Sapporo Beer Museum in Hokkaido 🇯🇵

5 vegetarian-friendly restaurants in Sapporo

These are the five restaurants we visited during our stay, starting with my favourite.

1. Fugetsu at Sapporo Factory

Best for: A fun Japanese dining experience

Fugetsu was easily my favourite vegetarian-friendly restaurant in Sapporo, partly because the food was lovely, but mostly because eating here was such an experience.

Entrance to a Japanese okonomiyaki restaurant with an illuminated sign reading お好み焼 風月 above large glass windows. A green sign reading "MUSLIM FRIENDLY" stands beside a self service check in kiosk, with wooden stools and stacked high chairs nearby.
An empty Japanese restaurant with wooden booth seating, frosted glass partitions and built in teppan hotplates at each table. Condiments and promotional signs sit along the tables beneath exposed black ceilings and spotlights.

We visited the branch at Sapporo Factory, which I’ve also included in my things to do in Sapporo guide. I was delighted to discover that Fugetsu had an entire meat-free menu.

After struggling to find vegetarian Japanese food elsewhere, it was such a relief to have several options to choose from rather than trying to work out what could be removed from a dish.

Nishi in a red sleeveless top mixes okonomiyaki batter in a metal bowl at a Japanese restaurant table with a built in hotplate. Small bowls of shredded cheese, sweetcorn, spring onions and sauce are arranged beside the grill ready for cooking.

I ordered okonomiyaki and yakisoba noodles, which we cooked ourselves at the table.

If you’ve never tried okonomiyaki before, it’s a Japanese savoury pancake made with ingredients such as cabbage and batter, cooked on a hot griddle.

Close up of a woman using two metal spatulas to cook yakisoba noodles with cabbage on a Japanese teppan hotplate. Beside the noodles is a golden okonomiyaki pancake topped with sweetcorn, spring onions and a creamy white sauce.

What I hadn’t quite appreciated before sitting down was that we’d be responsible for cooking our own food.

I’ll admit, it was a little stressful at first.

There’s something slightly intimidating about being handed ingredients and expected to turn them into a proper meal, especially when you’re worried about getting the cooking times wrong.

But there are QR codes on the table you can scan for instructions in English.

Once we got the hang of it, it was so much fun.

Nishi in a bright red top lifts a steaming portion of Japanese yakisoba noodles high above a tabletop hotplate using two metal spatulas. Beside the noodles sits a freshly cooked okonomiyaki pancake topped with sweetcorn, spring onions and white sauce.

I loved the theatrical element of cooking everything in front of us, and it made the meal feel like an activity rather than simply somewhere to stop for dinner.

The yakisoba noodles were another highlight, and I really enjoyed being able to try two Japanese dishes that I could actually eat.

Nishi in a bright red sleeveless top uses two metal spatulas to cook Japanese yakisoba noodles with cabbage alongside okonomiyaki topped with sweetcorn and spring onions. Both dishes are cooking on a large hotplate built into the restaurant table.

If you’re vegetarian and want to experience Japanese food in Sapporo, this would be my first recommendation.

I’d still recommend checking the ingredients in the sauces and batter if you’re strictly vegetarian, even when ordering from the meat-free menu. But being able to cook everything ourselves made the experience feel much more relaxed once we’d got the hang of it.

Location: Sapporo Factory (Google Maps)

2. Mahanaim Eritrean Cafe

Best for: Something different and excellent service

Mahanaim Eritrean Cafe was probably the restaurant I was most sceptical about before visiting.

Not because I had anything against Eritrean food, but because it wasn’t exactly what I’d expected to be eating in Japan.

Two Japanese curry meals arranged on a restaurant table with patterned tiles, featuring bowls of red and yellow curry served with white rice and naan bread. Small side dishes of lentils, beans, pickled vegetables and a boiled egg complete the spread.

However, it ended up being one of my favourite meals in Sapporo.

We’d just missed breakfast, so we decided to order from the lunch set menu instead.

I chose the vegan special, which came with timtimo, ades, vegetable alcha, bread, rice, beans and an onion salad, along with an optional egg.

It was a lovely combination of different flavours and textures, and I really enjoyed trying dishes I wouldn’t normally order.

Overhead view of two Japanese curry meals served on separate trays, one with a reddish brown curry containing a boiled egg and the other with a yellow curry, both accompanied by white rice. Side dishes include pieces of naan bread, lentil curry, bean salad, pickled vegetables and a boiled egg.

Jass went for the Dorho, a chicken stew served with a boiled egg, vegetable alcha, bread, rice, beans and onion salad.

We also ordered the Mahanaim Bissap juice, made with cinnamon, pineapple and hibiscus to share.

It sounded like an unusual combination, but I was intrigued enough to try it.

What really stood out, though, was the service.

The owners were an incredibly friendly couple, and we had such a pleasant experience that any initial scepticism disappeared pretty quickly.

If you’re vegetarian and fancy something different from Japanese food, I’d definitely recommend giving Mahanaim Eritrean Cafe a try.

One thing to clarify: although my meal was described as a vegan special, the egg is optional if you are vegetarian, and I chose to include that.

Location: Google Maps

3. Viva Mexico

Best for: A late-night meal and a fun local atmosphere

Viva Mexico was one of those places we stumbled across when we were looking for somewhere to eat after arriving in Sapporo late at night.

Colourful interior of Viva Mexico Tacos and Bar with a large green wall displaying "VIVA MEXICO TACOS & BAR" above a busy wooden bar counter. Diners sit on tall wooden chairs beneath festive paper decorations, string lights and Mexican themed decorations.

And it turned out to be a rather memorable experience.

There weren’t any vegetarian options listed on the menu, which initially wasn’t particularly encouraging.

However, the man working there was incredibly accommodating and offered to make me a small cheese quesadilla with a side of Mexican French fries.

Two turquoise plates of toasted Mexican quesadillas cut into triangular portions and filled with vegetables, sweetcorn and melted cheese. The quesadillas are garnished with chopped coriander, grated cheese and dark seasoning beneath warm reddish restaurant lighting.

It wasn’t a particularly elaborate meal, but I was grateful that he was willing to put something together for me.

What made Viva Mexico stand out was the atmosphere.

It is a little Japanese izakaya, with locals sitting around drinking whisky, chatting and enjoying their evening.

It wasn’t quite the Mexican restaurant experience I expected, but that was part of its charm. It was really fun visiting our first izakaya in Japan.

A sizzling black oval platter piled with chips covered in melted orange cheese, diced vegetables, creamy sauce and chopped coriander. The loaded chips are served on a wooden board under warm red restaurant lighting, with part of a turquoise plate visible in the foreground.

The service was genuinely friendly, and I really enjoyed being somewhere that felt a little different from a traditional restaurant.

I’d recommend Viva Mexico if you’re looking for a relaxed late-night spot and don’t mind asking whether the kitchen can accommodate you.

Location: Google Maps

4. Curry Shop S

Best for: Trying a Sapporo speciality

If there’s one local dish worth trying while you’re in Sapporo, it’s soup curry.

Close up of a steaming bowl of Japanese soup curry in a rich reddish brown broth, topped with grilled cheese, sliced okra, broccoli, mushrooms, red pepper and half a boiled egg. A plate of rice sits behind the bowl on a wooden restaurant table.

Unlike a thicker Japanese curry, Sapporo’s soup curry has a more liquid consistency and is usually served with vegetables, meat and rice on the side.

I really wanted to try it while we were in Hokkaido, so I was pleased to find a vegetarian option at Curry Shop S.

There was only one vegetable-based choice on the menu when we visited, the vegetable and mushroom soup curry, but you could customise it.

Overhead view of two bowls of Japanese soup curry served with separate plates of rice on a wooden table. The colourful soups contain grilled cheese, okra, broccoli, mushrooms, carrots and boiled eggs in a reddish brown broth.

I went for the recommended tomato and basil soup base, which the staff confirmed was the only vegetarian option. I added a variety of vegetables and grilled cheese, and ordered mixed grain rice on the side.

I liked being able to customise the dish, particularly because it meant I could make it a little more interesting than simply ordering a bowl of vegetables.

However, I wasn’t entirely convinced by the addition of grilled cheese.

A bowl of Japanese soup curry filled with grilled cheese, green okra, broccoli, mushrooms, tomatoes and half a boiled egg in a spiced broth. Two plates of rice and another bowl of soup curry sit blurred in the background.

Apparently, adding cheese to soup curry is a thing, but it wasn’t my favourite combination.

I’d probably leave it out if I ordered the same dish again.

That said, I was glad to have tried soup curry in Sapporo rather than missing out on another local speciality.

If you’re vegetarian and want to try a dish associated with the city, Curry Shop S is worth considering.

Location: Google Maps

Warmly lit restaurant interior with diners sitting at wooden tables and counter seats beneath hanging pendant lights. Cream coloured upholstered chairs, patterned flooring and softly textured walls create a relaxed dining atmosphere.

5. Circo Vivo

Best for: A late-night pizza option

Circo Vivo was another late-night find when we needed somewhere to eat.

Sometimes, when you’re travelling as a vegetarian, you reach a point where you’re less concerned about finding the most exciting restaurant in the city and more interested in finding somewhere that serves something you can eat.

This was one of those occasions.

Wood fired pizza topped with sliced mushrooms, melted cheese, tomato sauce and generous shavings of Parmesan on a round wooden serving board. A second pizza sits behind it on an orange and white chequered tablecloth.

We were flying back to Tokyo early the following morning and just needed a quick dinner before heading back to the hotel to pack. We were staying at Sapporo Grand Hotel during our visit, and I’ve written a separate review of the hotel if you’re deciding where to stay in Sapporo.

I ordered a Margherita pizza and added mushrooms, while Jass went for the chicken teriyaki pizza.

I can’t say I particularly loved my pizza.

It was fine, but it wasn’t a meal I’d go out of my way to have again, especially compared with some of the other places we tried in Sapporo.

It was also really unusual to be in a restaurant underground where people were allowed to smoke indoors.

However, I still think it’s worth including because having another vegetarian-friendly option is useful, particularly if you’re looking for somewhere to eat later in the evening.

If you’re craving pizza rather than Japanese food, Circo Vivo is an option to keep in mind.

Just don’t expect it to be the highlight of your trip.

Location: Google Maps

Vegetarian-friendly food tours and cooking experiences in Sapporo

If you’re struggling to find vegetarian Japanese food in Sapporo, another option is to book a food experience where you can check the ingredients beforehand.

I particularly like the idea of a cooking class, as you get to learn how to prepare Japanese dishes rather than just ordering from a menu.

Here are a few experiences worth considering, although I’d recommend confirming your dietary requirements before booking.

Vegan okonomiyaki cooking experience – Learn how to make your own vegan okonomiyaki in a Japanese kitchen. Having enjoyed cooking okonomiyaki at Fugetsu, I think this would be a particularly fun option for vegetarians who want to try more Japanese food.

Nishi with long curly dark hair and sunglasses resting on her head mixes okonomiyaki batter in a metal bowl beside an empty tabletop hotplate. Bowls of sweetcorn, spring onions, shredded cheese and sauce are laid out on the wooden table

Sapporo sushi-making class – This 90-minute class teaches you how to prepare Japanese sushi, and the listing specifically mentions that a vegetarian menu is available. Just make sure you let the organiser know about your dietary requirements in advance.

Sapporo evening food tour – Explore Sapporo’s food scene with a local guide on a three-hour evening tour. The usual itinerary includes seafood and lamb, but vegetarian options are advertised on request, so I’d confirm exactly what substitutions are possible before booking.

If you’re travelling with someone who eats meat or seafood, there’s also this guided Sapporo food tour with 10+ dishes and drinks. It visits four venues over approximately four hours, including local izakayas, and offers the chance to sample a variety of Japanese dishes. However, vegetarian meals aren’t guaranteed, so I wouldn’t book it as a vegetarian without checking directly with the organiser first.

My tips for finding vegetarian food in Sapporo

After spending several days trying to navigate vegetarian food in Sapporo, there are a few things I’d recommend.

Don’t assume a vegetable dish is vegetarian. Japanese cooking often uses fish-based stocks and seasonings, so it’s worth checking ingredients even when a dish doesn’t appear to contain meat or seafood.

Be open to different cuisines. Some of our most enjoyable meals were at restaurants serving food from outside Japan. Mahanaim Eritrean Cafe was a particularly lovely surprise.

Look for restaurants with dedicated meat-free options. Fugetsu was my favourite partly because having a separate meat-free menu made ordering much less stressful.

Don’t rely entirely on last-minute discoveries. We were lucky to find places like Viva Mexico that could accommodate me, but I’d recommend having a few potential restaurants saved before heading out for the day.

Be prepared to ask questions. A restaurant might be able to adapt a dish, as Viva Mexico did for me, but it’s always worth checking rather than assuming.

Overhead view of a Japanese tabletop hotplate with a round okonomiyaki pancake topped with sweetcorn, spring onions and white sauce beside a portion of yakisoba noodles with cabbage and onions. Two metal spatulas rest beside the freshly cooked dishes.

And if you’re visiting Sapporo for several days, I’d recommend planning at least a few meals in advance, especially if eating vegetarian food is important to you.

If you’re planning a few days in the city, you can also read my 5 days in Sapporo itinerary to see how we organised our time and what else we got up to.

Is it difficult to find vegetarian food in Sapporo?

It can be, particularly if you’re hoping to eat traditional Japanese food for every meal.

I love trying local dishes when travelling, so it was a little disappointing to have so few opportunities to eat Japanese food during our trip.

However, I wouldn’t let that put you off visiting Sapporo.

We still found some brilliant restaurants, and Fugetsu in particular gave me exactly the sort of memorable Japanese dining experience I’d been hoping for.

I also really enjoyed discovering places like Mahanaim Eritrean Cafe, which I might never have considered visiting otherwise.

My biggest piece of advice would be to research a few restaurants before your trip and keep an open mind about where you eat. You might not end up eating Japanese food for every meal, but that doesn’t mean you can’t eat well in Sapporo.

Sapporo was part of our 10 days in Japan in July itinerary, which also covers the rest of our trip and how we divided our time between Tokyo and Hokkaido.

If you found this guide on vegetarian food in Sapporo helpful, PIN IT!

Vegetarian Food in Sapporo: 5 Best Places to Eat
Vegetarian Food in Sapporo: 5 Best Places to Eat

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Nishi is an award-winning UK travel writer and content creator with a love for cultural travel, soft adventure and destinations beyond the obvious. After exploring 50+ countries across four continents, she has a particular soft spot for Asia. She shares thoughtfully curated travel guides and itineraries.

From boutique hotel stays and scuba diving adventures to vegetarian foodie finds and detailed itineraries, Nishi helps over 40,000 people per month plan meaningful trips that feel memorable.