Kitano Gourmet Sapporo Review: Shuttle & Kinki Fish

When I was planning my trip to Sapporo,

the absolute first thing I looked up was where to get the best seafood.

My husband and I are massive seafood lovers,

and Sapporo is world-famous

for its incredibly fresh seafood bowls (kaisen-don). 😋

We actually saw Choo Sung-hoon (Sexyama) on his YouTube channel

visit this specific spot and rave about

the kinki (thornyhead/channel rockfish) he had there.

"How good could it possibly be?" we wondered.

Driven by curiosity, it instantly became the #1 spot on our itinerary—

'Kitano Gourmet (北のグルメ亭)'!

Today, I'm sharing everything from how to book the crucial free shuttle

to the latest market prices for kinki fish!

✔️ To sum it up quickly:

🚌 Shuttle

Reservation required 1–2 days in advance!

Hotel pickup + return to Sapporo Station or your hotel available.

🐟 Recommended Menu

The grilled kinki that Choo Sung-hoon raved about is an absolute must!

🍱 Kaisen-don

Highly recommend the sea urchin (uni), tuna, and sweet shrimp combo!

⚠️ Heads up! ⚠️

When you board the shuttle, the driver hands out a gift coupon.

Please note this coupon can only be used for purchases at the market shops (not the restaurant)!

📅 How to Book the Free Shuttle Bus

(Link & Pro Tips)

The Outer Market is a bit of a trek from downtown,

but having a dedicated shuttle makes it incredibly easy.

Reservations 1–2 days in advance are a must, so check out the link below!

👉 [Free Shuttle Bus Booking Link]

Operates from 6:30 AM to 12:30 PM (every 30 minutes)

Just enter your hotel name (in English), number of passengers, and pickup time.

Once you get the confirmation email, you're good to go!!

🚌 From Hotel Pickup to Return

(Takes about 15 minutes)

We headed down to the lobby 5 minutes before our booking,

and right on time, a big shuttle bus adorned with seafood illustrations pulled up.

After a quick 15-minute drive,

we were dropped off right in front of the main Outer Market building!

(Note: I believe this shuttle is free on the condition that

you dine or shop at Kitano Gourmet!)

When you board the shuttle, they'll ask for your return time.

You can use the shuttle to head back after your meal,

and they even let you adjust the return time if needed!

Since you can choose to return to your hotel

or get dropped off at Sapporo Station for your next adventure,

it's super convenient for planning your day! 👍

🐟 The Famous Kinki Loved by Choo Sung-hoon:

Our Honest Review

As soon as we stepped into the market, our eyes went straight

to the kinki!

Kinki (Thornyhead) Price: 16,800 yen (based on market price for premium grade)

The price tag... is definitely a bit painful...

But wow... this flavor absolutely speaks for itself.

It's the absolute epitome of crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside!

The golden-brown grilled skin

literally bursts with rich, savory flavor like it's been deep-fried,

The moment you put a thick piece of the fish in your mouth,

the clean yet richly savory, buttery flavor

completely wraps around your tongue.

To put it into perspective,

it’s like taking the most delicious grilled yellow croaker

and concentrating its deep, rich flavor tenfold!

The second I took a bite, I instantly understood why

MMA star Yoshihiro Akiyama was raving about it so much.

🍱A Party in Your Mouth:

The Kaisendon Trio

The Kaisendon we paired with the grilled rockfish was absolute perfection!

The sea urchin (uni) had absolutely zero fishy taste—

just a creamy, sweet, and melt-in-your-mouth taste of the ocean!

The Tuna & Shrimp Kaisendon

was a heavenly combination of melt-in-your-mouth tuna

and incredibly fresh, plump shrimp with the perfect bite. 🍣🦐

Getting this level of quality, which would have cost way more at a fancy downtown restaurant,

at wholesale market prices made the experience so incredibly satisfying.

Restaurant Vibe & Atmosphere

Maybe because we arrived at 8:30 AM,

the market was generally quiet and peaceful!

Our order was taken right away, and the kaisendon

and uni arrived in no time!

However, they did warn us that the kinki (rockfish) would take about 40 minutes to grill.

(Though in reality, it took much less time! 😜)

Nijo Market vs. Curb Market (Kitano Gourmet) Comparison

Having compared them myself: Kitano Gourmet offers much better value

and a far wider variety of seafood than Nijo Market.

Taking the free shuttle to the Curb Market

is definitely the smarter move!

🎁 How to Get a Free Gift Worth ~$6

A complimentary kelp powder gift for purchases over ~$6!

Please note: this offer doesn't apply to the restaurant bill,

but is strictly for customers buying items at the market shop.

When you explore the market after your meal,

make sure to claim yours when purchasing dried seafood or souvenirs! 🎁

✔️ In a Nutshell

From the legendary kinki fish that stole Yoshihiro Akiyama's heart to the breathtakingly fresh kaisendon,

The ultimate Sapporo food experience, complete with a free shuttle!

The fun of handpicking your own fresh Kinki (broadband thornyhead) fish,

plus the ultimate convenience of a shuttle picking you up right in front of your hotel!

If you're planning a trip to Sapporo, don't miss out on reserving the free shuttle,

and make sure to try the best Kinki fish and kaisendon of your life!

If you have any questions about the taste of the grilled Kinki or how to book the shuttle,

feel free to leave a comment below!

I'll be happy to share my honest experience with you!