Hokkaido's vast area means that even the food can vary by region, resulting in local food distinctions within the single prefecture. While there are some chains that operate all throughout Hokkaido, many of them also offer their own unique, region-specific dishes. Hakodate in particular, located at the southwestern tip of Hokkaido and about 270 km from Sapporo, has developed their own distinct local delicacies and restaurants not found in other parts of the prefecture.

There’s a variety of popular eateries, from individual shops to those with multiple branches, but this article will focus on chain restaurants. Multiple branches means more options and accessibility, making them easier to visit, as well. Signature dishes are also usually available at both the main stores as well as their branches. While there may be minor differences between locations, quality and service generally remain consistent.

The five spots introduced here today are well-loved by locals and have gained popularity with tourists as well for their foreigner-friendliness and ease of use. Some are mostly dine-in while others are focused on takeout. So without further ado, let’s dive into today’s recommendations and discover some local chains of Hakodate.

When it comes to local chains in southern Hokkaido, one of the first that comes to mind is Hakodate's very own burger restaurant, Lucky Pierrot. Locally known as “La-Pi” or “Lucky P,” recent years has seen it bustling with locals and tourists alike. As of August 2024, there are 17 branches, most of which are in Hakodate. Amongst them is the Bay Area Main Store, located near a number of tourist attractions like the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse. There are 13 branches in Hakodate City and four others in the surrounding area, including the Togeshita Main Store.

What makes Lucky Pierrot so great are their delicious hamburgers and unique vibe. Meals are made fresh to order and piping hot, with the most popular dish being the Chinese Chicken Burger. This burger features three pieces of sweet and spicy fried chicken sourced from Hokkaido and is packed to the brim with lettuce. You can also add extras like fried egg or cheese.

Measuring about 11 cm wide, 14 cm high, and nearly 300 grams in weight, each burger provides a rather generous portion. While you can order the burger on its own, the “Dantotsu Ninki No.1 Set (No. 1 Popular Set)” is the standard choice, and includes a Chinese Chicken Burger, Original Lucky Potatoes (crispy fries topped with white sauce and meat sauce), and homemade oolong tea. The satisfying, sweet-and-spicy burger pairs perfectly with the rich, saucy fries and the refreshing oolong tea for a thoroughly satisfying meal.

For those with a hearty appetite, you won’t want to skip the enormous Futoccho Burger! This towering burger is packed with crunchy lettuce, fried Hakodate egg, thick tomato slices, two 120g meat patties, and a croquette from Hokkaido potatoes. It's so thick it needs to be held together with a skewer to keep it from falling apart! And being too large to bite into, you'll need to cut it with a knife and fork. Note that the Futoccho Burger is only available at the Bay Area Main Store, with a limited availability of 20 servings daily. So if you’re up for the challenge, be sure to visit early!

Lucky Pierrot’s meals are available for eat-in as well as take-out. In addition to their other burgers, some locations also offer curry, omelette rice, yakisoba, and more. We definitely recommend making a second or third visit to try out their other dishes, as well!

Hasegawa Store is a local convenience store with 13 locations, primarily around Hakodate City. It has a strong following amongst residents, and is also incredibly popular with tourists, their main attraction being their signature product, the Yakitori Bento. Known as yaki-ben, this bento is a local favorite and a huge reason many tourists visit this branch.

The word yakitori typically refers to grilled chicken skewers. However, in southern Hokkaido and Hakodate, yakitori can go beyond chicken, including a variety of grilled skewers like pork and vegetables. One particular regional favorite is the pork skewers with sauce.

Hasegawa Store’s Yakitori Bento comes in various sizes and flavors. The classic option is the Yakitori Bento (small) with sauce, featuring about 200 grams of rice topped with a layer of nori, and three freshly grilled yakitori skewers with sauce.

The meal is also available in medium and large sizes, with other flavors that include sauce, salt, salt + sauce, spicy, and miso sauce. The most popular option has got to be the sauce flavor, selected by nearly half of customers. However, plenty of locals also recommend the salt flavor.

The Yakitori Bento’s popularity lies in the fact that it’s made fresh to order. The meat is also misted with red wine from the locally-brewed Hakodate Wine, which makes the pork tender and mild.

To order, fill out one of the forms found right in the shop to specify the size, flavor, and amount of Yakitori Bento you want, and present it to the staff. Be sure to note the number on your receipt and wait inside while your order is prepared. Once they call your number, pay at the counter and receive your freshly made, piping hot Yakitori Bento.

Hasegawa Store is a subsidiary of Seicomart, Hokkaido’s largest convenience store chain. Because of this, they also offer a variety of Seicomart meals and drinks, giving you the chance to shop around for extra sides, drinks, or other goods while waiting for your Yakitori Bento to be done!

One of Hakodate’s local specialties is Hakodate Shio Ramen, known for its thin noodles and clear broth that’s both refreshing and rich in flavor. There are lots of places in Hakodate that serve Shio Ramen, but one of the more popular chains is Hakodate Menchuubo Ajisai. With seven locations, mostly in Hakodate City, the main branch is right in front of the famous Goryokaku Tower!

Hakodate Menchubo Ajisai is a longstanding ramen shop that’s been around since the 1930s. While managing to preserve its original recipe, the restaurant has evolved over time by incorporating new ingredients and methods. Each branch, including the main store, remains consistently faithful to their traditional flavors, prepared by skilled chefs following the same recipes and ingredients.

The soup base is made from kombu, pork and chicken bone, and dried sardines, with a touch of ginger for taste. It’s light yet packed with flavor, making it an irresistible broth that’ll have you slurping up every last drop! The broth-soaked fu (wheat gluten) is also delicious, with large, hearty slices of chashu pork that are sure to satisfy!

The best-selling dish is the special Shio Ramen, topped with fu and nori. Salt is a staple flavor when it comes to Hakodate ramen, so many customers opt for this classic. Other options include Soy Sauce and Miso.

They also offer side dishes like gyoza and shumai, along with the popular Hokkaido specialty, Zangi (fried chicken), which can be ordered by the piece. In fact, an order of zangi together with your Shio Ramen is just another great way to enjoy the local cuisine of Hakodate! Place your order using the touch panel ticket machine once you enter the restaurant, available in multiple languages for ease of use, regardless of if you speak Japanese.

When it comes to Hakodate's local cuisine, seafood dishes like sushi and seafood bowls are a must! One recommended spot is Kantaro, a kaiten-sushi chain with four locations around the city. Promoting itself as "Hakodate's Gourmet Kaiten-Sushi," the shop uses an original blend of Hokkaido rice for its sushi and seasonal ingredients sourced primarily from Hakodate and other parts of Hokkaido.

The Ugaura Main Branch, located halfway between Mount Hakodate and Yunokawa Onsen, faces the Tsugaru Strait. Clear days offer views of Aomori Prefecture across the strait, with ocean views from the window seats, which only adds to the restaurant’s popularity. Counter seats are arranged around the central kitchen, giving you a firsthand look at the skilled sushi chefs at work.

Ordering is easy, just use the touch panel at your table. Seasonal seafood items are featured throughout the year, so be sure to check both the touch panel and in-store displays for current offerings.

Consistently popular choices include the Seasonal Squid and Tuna Sampler, both staples of Hakodate’s seafood scene. The Seasonal Squid typically features maika (Japanese flying squid) from June until the end of the year, and yari-ika (spear squid) from late December until May, most of which as locally sourced. In Hakodate, it's also common to enjoy your squid with ginger instead of wasabi!

The Tuna Sampler features carefully selected tuna from various regions across Japan, showcasing one piece each of otoro (fatty tuna), chutoro (medium fatty tuna), and akami (lean tuna), each with their own irresistible, melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Other popular items include sea urchin and roe gunkan sushi, sourced primarily from the Hakodate area, as well as fries made from Hokkaido's "Inka no Mezame," a potato variety known for its chestnut-like sweetness, and "ara-jiru," a rich salmon-based miso soup.

Other highlights include the scallops and whelks. The shop purchases the shellfish fully intact and shucks them on-site for unmatched freshness. The "Anago no Ippon Nigiri" features slices of eel several times larger than the rice, making it a dish that’s visually impressive and highly recommended.

Snaffles is a popular confectionery shop, with ten branches in Hakodate City. Its signature product is the Cheese Omelet, a cheese cake known for its light and fluffy melt-in-your-mouth texture. Not only is this cake a local favorite, it's a popular souvenir for travelers, as well.

While most Snaffles locations mostly deal in cakes and baked goods, a few of them offer dine-in options. However, Snaffles Dining, opened spring 2024, is only one of 10 locations that stand out as a restaurant-focused sweets shop. It’s situated on the second floor of the Hakodate Tsutaya Bookstore, located in the suburbs of Hakodate City.

The menu features a variety of dishes, including hamburgers, sandwiches, hamburg steaks, pasta, and galettes, as well as desserts like parfaits and cakes. One notable dish is the Big Cheese Omelet, available in limited quantities daily. While the shop’s classic Cheese Omelet is about 3 cm tall and 5 cm in diameter, the Big Cheese Omelet has the same height but measures nearly 15 cm in diameter!

The Big Cheese Omelette is similar to the regular Cheese Omelette in flavor, fluffiness, and creamy, melt-in-your-mouth texture. What sets it apart is the addition of whipped cream, berries, chocolate sauce, and matcha powder on top, allowing you to enjoy a variety of flavor combinations of cake and toppings. And because there's so much of this delicious cake, there's that much more to enjoy!

The Big Cheese Omelet is a rather hefty serving, so it's perfect to share between 2-3 friends for dessert. Of course, if you're a sweets lover, you might want to tackle it all by yourself! (For the record, our own sweet-loving Nobuka also managed to finish it by herself!)

This exquisite dessert allows you to fully enjoy the traditional flavor of Snaffles, so be sure to give it a try! Additionally, the shop offers a variety of other goods including cakes, making it a great spot for souvenir shopping, as well!

The Hakodate-based chain restaurants introduced in this article have been long loved by locals for many years. They started as local favorites, gained popularity among tourists, and have now become popular spots frequented by both residents and visitors alike. Each establishment offers signature and seasonal dishes that are beloved by all. So if you're heading to Hakodate, be sure check out these recommended spots, and try everything they have to offer!