Matsuo Jingisukan was founded in Takikawa, Hokkaido in 1956. It is a famous restaurant that has been loved by the people of Hokkaido for many years as a pioneer of Hokkaido's "seasoned Jingisukan," which is lamb marinated in sauce. This time, we visited Matsuo Jingisukan Kita 19-jo Higashi Branch in Kita-ku, Sapporo to learn the secret of the unique taste and the thoughts of a long-established restaurant that creates new menus for the next generation while preserving the traditional taste.

The Kita 19-jo Higashi store is located about 10 minutes by car from Sapporo Station. The store sells the familiar Genghis Khan.

Since the Meiji period, the government has been focusing on sheep farming to produce wool fiber. In the past, Hokkaido had sheep breeding farms in Tsukisamu and Takikawa in Sapporo, so it was inevitable that a culture of eating lamb would emerge. However, lamb has a strong flavor, so a major challenge was how to make it tasty. There have been methods of marinating lamb in sauce for a long time, but it was none other than "Matsuo Jingisukan" that focused on the method of making the sauce and played a part in establishing it as a part of Hokkaido's food culture.

The Matsuo way is to simmer vegetables in his special sauce.

The secret sauce is made with a soy sauce base and is made with onions and apples, which are mainly grown locally in Takikawa City, and is used unheated. The reason for not cooking it is not only to ensure the flavor, but also to ensure that the meat is always served fresh. The natural sweetness of the ingredients reduces the meat's unpleasant odor, while also bringing out the moist and tender texture and umami flavor of the lamb. Aiming to create a seasoning that everyone, young and old, can enjoy, this sauce was developed without using raw garlic, and has been made to the same recipe since the restaurant was founded.

Starting in January 2022, the iron pot will be updated to the sixth generation design. The rim has been widened to make it easier to stew vegetables.

The "4 Kinds Tasting Set" with drink is 3,400 yen (photo shows 2 servings). If you don't know how to grill it, the staff will teach you.

The most popular menu is the "4 Kinds Taste Comparison Set." You can compare premium lamb made with tender thigh meat, lamb with just the right amount of fat, mutton with an excellent balance of flavor and umami, and rare lamb heart with a unique texture. One portion of Genghis Khan is a generous 240g, and we also recommend adding udon noodles or a raw egg to eat like sukiyaki.

In addition to thickly sliced lamb rolls, lamb sausages and udon noodles are also available in sets (orders must be made for two or more people / menu only available at Kita 19jo Higashi, Kotoni and Miyanomori stores)

"We want to spread the joy of eating lamb," so we started serving the Chinese hot pot dish "hot pot" in January 2024. The recipe is authentic, created by a Chinese chef at our sister restaurant "Dim Sum Sapporo." There are two types of soup: a spicy soup with plenty of medicinal ingredients such as nutmeg, star anise, and Sichuan peppercorns, and a white soup made from pork bones and chicken bones. We recommend adding curry spices and udon noodles to the white soup to finish off the meal.

Orders are accepted for parties of 10 or more. The most popular plan is the "Standard Plan" which includes a bowl of udon for 2,900 yen per person.

At the Kita 19-jo Higashi store, we also rent out a large pot for 10 people that can be used for outdoor Genghis Khan. Delivery is free to parks and homes in Sapporo city, and cancellations are free even on the day (up to 2 hours before the scheduled time). They will also clean up the pot after the meal. You can enjoy Hokkaido culture in a variety of situations, such as outdoor recreation and neighborhood events.

Manager Yuki Koizumi holds a 10-person Jingisukan pot. The pot is an astounding 60cm in diameter!

(All prices include tax)

Matsuo Jingisukan North 19 East Branch

■Location: Kita 19-jo Higashi 8-3-2, Higashi-ku, Sapporo ■Business hours: 11:00-22:30 (last orders 22:00) ■Closed days: Open everyday Click here for details and map information for "Matsuo Jingisukan Kita 19-jo Higashi Branch"

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