Matsuo Jingisukan Sapporo Kotoni

Restaurant Details

Founded in 1956, Matsuo Jingisukan opened its first flagship in Takikawa, near Hokkaido’s center, at a time when mutton was primarily favored by blue-collar workers. Over the decades, it has evolved into a beloved local barbecue chain, proudly championing the prefecture’s signature dish: jingisukan.

A close relative of yakiniku, jingisukan — derived from “Genghis Khan” — features mutton or lamb grilled on a dome-shaped metal skillet. At Matsuo, the meat is marinated in a soy-based sauce infused with apples and onions, lending it a gentle sweetness and tenderness. This cherished recipe has been faithfully passed down for over 60 years, from generation to generation and store to store.

Decades later, enjoying jingisukan at Matsuo Jingisukan's Kotoni branch is still very much a communal experience. There’s no single “right” way to prepare the dish, but friends and families gather around the grill. Vegetables are typically arranged first around the skillet’s moat, followed by the marinated meat placed on the dome, as the meat cooks, the marinade melts, trickling down to infuse the vegetables with its rich flavor. Plates are shared, and the freshly cooked proteins are enjoyed together.

With Hokkaido’s signature flavors on the table, paired with a warm and lively atmosphere, a visit to Matsuo Jingisukan’s Sapporo Kotoni branch feels like a journey back to the prefecture’s roots preserved through the decades.