A hidden gem known only to those in the know.
Niku no Asakura TEXT/YUSUKE TOKOSHIMA, PHOTO/NAOKO TAKAHASHIDown a narrow alley barely wide enough for a single car, on the second floor of a white concrete house, sits the insider’s favorite “Niku no Asakura.” A red lantern hanging in the window signals it’s open. Owner Sennari chose this quiet spot in Maruyama because he wanted people to enjoy great meat somewhere peaceful. Customers sometimes tease him for deliberately picking such an out-of-the-way location, but he laughs it off — he’d wanted a spot on the main street, but this was the only place available. The interior has a strange, minimal atmosphere: a living-room-like carpeted space, an exposed ventilation fan, a shichirin grill placed casually on the table, an idiosyncratic menu board. First-time visitors might feel a little uneasy, but the meat and dishes that come out are exceptional every time. That gap is part of the shop’s charm.
Niku no Asakura's signature dish is shio (salt) jingisukan. Carefully selected Suffolk-breed shoulder, prized for its exceptional marbling, is simply seasoned with a rock-salt spice blend and tossed with green onion mixed in sesame oil. There's no trace of gaminess, and even people who normally dislike lamb are said to enjoy it here. The wagyu sagari (skirt steak) is eaten sukiyaki-style, dipped in egg yolk — the lean cut's natural sweetness is enhanced even further. To finish, there's gyu-toro rice: fresh flakes of beef quickly tossed with the house's addictive special sauce, filling your mouth with rich, sweet umami. Even if you're already full of meat, this is a separate stomach entirely.
Sennari buys all his meat in large whole cuts, inspecting each one himself, choosing the tastiest sections to slice, and serving them the way he believes brings out the most flavor. It's easy to see why regulars, drawn in by this dedication, keep coming back. Weekends bring plenty of local families — "Maybe it's because we have tatami seating," he says modestly, though it's clear proof that even families with children can enjoy the place comfortably. "I want to satisfy people, or rather, surprise them," Sennari says. You might forget how to get here, but you'll never forget the shop itself.
Niku no Asakura
Minami 5-jo Nishi 25-chome 2-12, Chuo-ku, Sapporo
TEL.090-9435-3793
TEL. 011-561-4887
Hours: 5:00 PM–11:00 PM
Closed: whenever the owner collapses
www.29asakura.com
関連する記事
新着ピックアップ
-
A genuine flavor that has walked alongside Sapporo's history.
3 Long-Established Ramen Shops in Sapporo -
150 years, and still beloved.
Ganso Kaminari-yoke Shinko -
A new standard that goes beyond a boom.
3 Sapporo Soup Curry Restaurants We Secretly Want to Keep to Ourselves -
Watching over the neighborhood for half a century — Susukino's mom and pop.
Hachiya
