This is a series introducing lunch buffets that made us think, "I definitely want to come back here!" This time, we're featuring the "Northern Terrace Diner" at the Sapporo Grand Hotel, a long-established pioneer of hotel buffets in Sapporo.

The Sapporo Grand Hotel, located near Sapporo Station, opened in 1934 as the first full-fledged Western-style hotel in Hokkaido. It is well-known as a prestigious hotel that has hosted many dignitaries and celebrities from Japan and abroad. On the other hand, it is also said to be the birthplace of the Ramen Salad, and its restaurants, bars, and bakery are popular with locals for their casual and welcoming atmosphere. It was one of the first to offer a lunch buffet, which remains incredibly popular.

The Northern Terrace Diner is on the first floor of the hotel. The dining tables are separate from the buffet counter, allowing for a relaxed dining experience. The buffet counter, surrounded by an L-shaped open kitchen, features cold appetizers, hot dishes, salads, desserts, and bread. Its compact layout makes it easy to see everything at a glance, and you can conveniently grab dishes from any open spot. The culinary theme changes every two months, combining classic favorites with seasonal dishes, making you want to come back again and again.

The cold appetizers feature a visually stunning array of hors d'oeuvres made with plenty of seasonal vegetables.

One of the great things about a buffet is being able to eat plenty of fresh vegetables.

In addition to dressings, there's a wide selection of olive oils and balsamic vinegars.

The hot dishes, featuring meat and fish, are seasoned just right so you won't get tired of the flavors.

Beyond the deliciousness of the food, care is taken to keep hot dishes warm and cold dishes chilled. Also, since they don't put out large quantities at once, the food is turned over quickly and replenished frequently, showing their commitment to serving food as fresh as possible.

The ever-popular curry changes from time to time.

On this day, it was the hotel's original Keema curry with the rich flavor of minced meat.

It's also fun to make your own tacos by adding your favorite toppings (※may not always be available).

At the live cooking station, chefs serve freshly prepared dishes right from the open kitchen, including meat dishes like steak and a Western-style specialty. On weekends and holidays, chefs also carve and serve freshly roasted beef. The meat dish of the day was a tender steak. With three different sauces to choose from, you'll be tempted to go back for seconds.

The specialty dish changes monthly. On this day, it was garlic shrimp.

The slow-roasted beef is available all-you-can-eat on weekends and holidays only.

The Sapporo Grand Hotel's house-made bread is highly regarded among bread lovers, and of course, it's featured in the buffet. The croissant and French bread are particularly high-quality, so be sure to try them. Next to the bread corner is a honey bar, where you can enjoy drizzling different honeys on your bread and desserts. It's amazing to discover how different the flavors of honey can be depending on the type!

The jumbo French bread has a crispy crust and a chewy interior.

A wide array of honeys, from Hokkaido-produced varieties to flavored ones like rosemary and lemon.

Indulge in a luxurious honey tasting, something you can't easily do on your own!

Personally, my favorite was the "Hokkaido Wildflower Honey."

One of the keys to enjoying a buffet is to save room for dessert. It's easy to get full from the main dishes, but the Sapporo Grand Hotel also puts a lot of effort into its sweets, with its new-style dessert buffet "THE SWEETS!" being extremely popular. You'll definitely want to try everything. The desserts are generally less sweet, highlighting the natural flavors of the ingredients. They come in bite-sized portions, so you might just be able to conquer them all!

The desserts, with their different textures and flavors, are each unique and keep things interesting.

For a palate cleanser, the fruit gelées are highly recommended.

The drink station offers a wide variety, from standard coffee, tea, and various juices to sodas and even Katsugen (a Hokkaido-exclusive lactic acid drink). The all-you-can-drink wine option is a reasonable +950 yen, and for an additional +1,000 yen, you can get all-you-can-drink Sapporo Classic beer too! While wine buffets are common, an all-you-can-drink draft beer option is rare and a fantastic choice for beer lovers.

There are also syrups to make your own soda, so you can adjust the sweetness to your liking.

There are three types of white wine and three types of red wine. The beer is poured from a server.

・Well-balanced overall, perfect for buffet newcomers.
・Dishes highlight the natural flavors of ingredients, are not overly strong, and are easy to enjoy.
・The theme changes every two months, making you want to visit again.
・Food is replenished frequently, so there's little stress from waiting.
・The quality of the bread and desserts is high!
・In addition to wine, an all-you-can-drink beer option is available.

※Photos are from the time of the visit. The menu may vary depending on the season.

※All prices include tax and service charge.

Sapporo Grand Hotel

■Address: Kita 1-jo Nishi 4-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo
■Phone: 011-261-3311
Click here for details and map information for "Sapporo Grand Hotel"

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