Lamb Lamb Dining Hokkaido, a Genghis Khan restaurant in Sapporo's Maruyama district, originally started in Shinshinotsu Village, Hokkaido, and has become a hot topic in Sapporo for its high-quality lamb. The restaurant offers various ways to enjoy lamb, including not just Genghis Khan but also shabu-shabu and hamburg steaks. Here, we introduce the deliciousness of their Genghis Khan and other dishes, as well as some of the restaurant's surprisingly recommended menu items.

Look for the pure white sign

The Maruyama Genghis Khan restaurant, Lamb Lamb Dining Hokkaido, is conveniently located less than a minute's walk from Exit 6 of Nishi-18-chome Station on the Tozai Subway Line. Although it faces the road, it's set back slightly, giving it the feel of a hidden gem. Step through the door and you'll find a spacious, deep interior with a calm atmosphere reminiscent of a Western-style restaurant. In addition to tables and counter seats, there are also raised seating areas with sofas.

The interior features a wine cellar. Large windows fill the space with soft light.

"Thick-cut Shoulder Loin" (1,500 yen), a rare cut with only a small amount available per lamb

The restaurant's prized lamb is from New Zealand, where the animals are raised on young pasture grass without artificial feed. They use only lambs under six months old, which means the meat has very little of the characteristic gamey smell and a rich, savory flavor. To minimize any odor from loss of freshness, the meat is cut to order (with the exception of the marinated Genghis Khan).

"Three-Variety Platter" (1,800 yen, photo shows a serving for two). The yakisoba made with champon noodles is a popular way to finish the meal.

To truly savor the deliciousness of the lamb, the "Three-Variety Platter" is a great place to start. This luxurious set allows you to compare the thick and tender fresh lamb, the marinated Genghis Khan soaked in a soy-based sauce, and the shoulder slices with their exquisite balance of lean meat and fat. There are two dipping sauces: a fruity sweet sauce and a spicy one with a kick of ginger, each offering a different range of flavors. The marinated Genghis Khan is said to be prepared using a secret recipe taught to the owner, Hiroaki Tanaka, by his mentor.

"Lamb Hamburg Steak" (900 yen). The restaurant recommends cooking it to medium-rare.

The restaurant offers lamb in various styles, including shabu-shabu, steak, and lamb chops, but the "Lamb Hamburg Steak" is a menu item that's rapidly gaining popularity. Made with fresh meat, it's hand-pattied daily. It's 100% lamb with no fillers. The patty is served pre-seared, but you can cook it to your preferred doneness on the Genghis Khan grill. The dripping meat juices are absorbed by the vegetables, ensuring none of the flavor goes to waste.

The grooveless Genghis Khan grill is a custom-made item designed for even cooking and less smoke. It's also perfect for grilling the hamburg steak.

One bite is surprisingly free of any gamey taste. It has the firm texture characteristic of coarsely ground meat and a condensed, savory lamb flavor. It truly feels like you're taking a hearty bite of pure meat.

Enjoy it with either herb salt or the special soy-based steak sauce.

Mr. Tanaka also runs a medium-sized home garden and actively uses the vegetables he harvests.

For those with a big appetite, there are course menus with a 90-minute all-you-can-drink option, which can be ordered on the same day. They also offer lunch on Saturdays and Sundays, serving a set meal featuring their signature hamburg steak with vegetables, a small side dish, and soup. You can choose the size of your hamburg steak from 150g, 200g, or 300g. From casual parties to lunch, the appeal of Lamb Lamb Dining is the ability to enjoy high-quality lamb in a variety of settings.

*All prices include tax.

Lamb Lamb Dining Hokkaido

■Location: 1-46 Odori-Nishi 17-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo ■Hours: 6:00 PM - 11:00 PM (L.O. 10:30 PM) Saturdays & Holidays: 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM (L.O. 2:00 PM), 6:00 PM - 11:00 PM (L.O. 10:30 PM) Sundays: 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM (L.O. 2:00 PM), 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM (L.O. 9:30 PM) ■Closed: Mondays (If Monday is a holiday, open and closed the following Tuesday) Click here for details and map information for "Lamb Lamb Dining Hokkaido"

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