The perfect winter warmer?

Restaurant options in Niseko keep getting better and better every year. The range of places and different foods to try is fantastic, whether you are looking for a quick bite on the street from one of the food carts in the middle village or you are ready to be seated for a full degustation at Michellin starred Kamimura. The choices can almost be daunting so if you're looking for  a quick go to and you'd like to try a quintessential hokkaido comfort food, it doesn't get much better than soup curry.

A bowl of curry with egg, egg plant, broccoli and mushrooms.
How delicious does this look!

Soup curry is said to have originated in Sapporo all the way back in the 1970's and draws influence from Thai, Indonesian and Sri Lankan cuisine. Soup Curry, along with Ramen is a food Sapporo is famous for and now there are literally hundreds of soup curry stores accross Hokkaido. Each one has it's own take on the dish and every shop its own unique charm. 

Sapporo Soul Food's yelow store front
A great lunch in Sapporo

So what exactly is soup curry? The variations are endless but it is essentially a spicy curry flavoured soup full of vegetables and at least one protein the most common being chicken or pork but sausage. Seafood and hamburger steak are also common variations. Vegtables and meat are often partially sauteed or deep fried and then finished in the soup before serving. The soups base may be pork, chicken but can also be prawn or vegetable.

Go to vegatables are kept simple and you will usually find potatoe, carrot and pumpkin. But these are just the beginning, have you ever tried lotus root, okura, shimeggi mushrooms or natto? In the saftey of a spicy broth, nows your chance!

A bowl of curry with lotus root, carrots, potato and salad
Tsubara Tsubara soup curry in Hirafu

So where can we find soup curry in Niseko? Tsubara Tsubara is Hirafu's own soup curry go to. Located in Izumikyo this popular restaurant is busy for lunch and dinner throughout the winter. They serve authentic soup curry as well as a variety of Nabe (hot pot) options as well as a number of traditional japanese dishes such as Grilled Hokke (Atka Mackeral). Tsubara Tsubara has english menus, bookings although not usually needed can be made 1 month in advance and they do takeout! 

Tsubara Tsubara is located here which is within walking distance of the following great Holiday Niseko properties ~ https://holidayniseko.com/lodge-mori-apartmentshttps://holidayniseko.com/shiki-and-koyukihttps://holidayniseko.com/star-chalethttps://holidayniseko.com/yukine.