Kasiu

Image: Notice - February 2025

There is often a queue at the entrance. In this case, you need to write down your name and the number of people in your party on the waiting list. Then, kindly wait nearby. Your name will be called as soon as a table become available.

Since graduating from university in Sapporo, plenty of restaurants have appeared and disappeared. Nearly all the places I used to frequent have closed down. 

Nonetheless, some of them have survived the global financial crisis in 2008, the downturn following the Tohoku Earthquake in 2011 and the pandemic in 2020. This is a testament to how these restaurants have been loved by locals.

So, I would like to briefly introduce a few of my favourites on this blog, although the information is admittedly quite personal. What matters most is that they have managed to stay open despite the hardships. 

Additionally, the restaurants that I post are very common and well-known among locals, so the staff may not be particularly comfortable serving customers in other languages. This can be a great opportunity to try speaking in Japanese. 

Kasiu (かしう)

According to the HP of Kasiu (Japanese site), it opened in 1959.

Address : 

060-0063, 3-4, Chuoh-ku, Sapporo

5 minutes on foot from Susukino Subway Station of Namboku line (green line)

Phone : 

+81-11-231-5688

Business hours : 

Wednesday to Sunday

11:00 to 16:00 for lunch

17:00 to 22:00 for dinner 

*There are summer and winter breaks: check the HP

Category: 

Chinese cuisine

★★★★★ : Quality

★★★★☆ : Cost

★★★★☆ : Access

★★★★★ : Atmosphere

★★★★☆ : Cleanliness

★★★★★ : Menu

The easiest way to reach Kasiu is to walk through Tanukikohji Shotengai (shopping arcade). Each section of arcade is numbered on the edge of its roof. If you are coming from Tanukikoji 3, which connects to Pole Town, the underground shopping mall, look out for the number 4 (狸小路４: Tanukikohji 4); once you reach it, turn left -  you will not miss the sign for 'Kasiu' (香州).

Image: Tanukikohji Shopping Arcade (狸小路商店街) - July 2025

Image: The signboard of Kasiu (香州: the yellow one at the centre) - July 2025

Image: Entrance - February 2025

As a university student, I used to visit Kasiu frequently with friends and even now, I always have lunch there at least once whenever I am in Sapporo. I usually order 'No.56: Fried rice with crab' (Kani-chahan: カニチャーハン) as it brings back memories of my university days every time I have it. 

Image: Menu - July 2025

The taste has remained unchanged, though the price has increased by a few hundred yen over the years. Still considering the generous portion size, it is probably cheaper than in most European countries. You might be surprised, as it is heavier than it looks.

Image: No.56: Fried rice with crab (¥1,000 : US$7) - July 2025

If you are unsure where to go for lunch in Sapporo, I wholeheartedly recommend Kasiu. Although the cuisine is classified as Chinese, the flavours have a distinctly Japanese touch.

Image: Entrance - October 2005