Dairoku-Ya, Ranked Second in Hokkaido's Food Scene – Don’t Miss the Genghis Khan BBQ

Text and photos by /Annie

When visiting Hokkaido, you definitely can’t miss out on Genghis Khan BBQ. This time, I found this place—Dairoku-Ya in Asahikawa—and its score on Tabelog is simply astonishing.

Checking the Tabelog Hokkaido listings, Dairoku-Ya actually ranked second among restaurants in the region, with an incredible score of 4.26.

Dairoku-Ya has two locations in Asahikawa, both in the city center—the main store and the 5-chome shop. The two are not far apart, and from the outside they look a bit dark and scruffy. If no one had told me it was a famous spot, I might not have dared to go in. I was initially worried that such a popular place would be packed, but fortunately, we arrived around 10 PM, so there weren’t many customers, though you do tend to run into a few drunk people at that hour.

As expected, the restaurant was filled with smoke, and my clothes ended up carrying a strong smell of grilled meat after the meal.

Because I’d printed a coupon in advance, we got a small discount. For two people, the price was 1,800 yen per person.

If you’re still hungry, you can order more meat—700–900 yen per plate. It’s a good option if you’re not full, and since you’re sharing, even picky eaters can enjoy it.

First came the beer—seems a bit odd to have Genghis Khan BBQ without a beer, right? But I’m not drinking much these days, so I only managed a third of the cup.

A side of daikon radish salad came first, which was refreshing and appetizing—perfect for cutting through the richness of all the grilled meat.

Soon after, the waiter spread a layer of fat evenly over the grill plate.

The staff grill the meat for you once first, then it’s your turn to take over.

Lamb Genghis Khan (lamb)
The lamb slices were a bit thick, and they tasted incredibly delicious after grilling—this might just be the best lamb I’ve ever had.

Pickled Lamb
This plate was seasoned with spices, so you didn’t need to dip it in any sauce.

The fruits and vegetables in Hokkaido taste incredibly sweet and fresh—I was amazed even though I usually don’t care much for corn.

We ended up ordering another plate of lamb Genghis Khan because we just couldn’t get enough. It was such a satisfying meal—even though we were a bit startled by some rowdy drunk customers at the end, it didn’t diminish the great experience.

Genghis Khan Dairoku-Ya Main Store
http://www.daikoku-jgs.com/information/
Address: 7-chome, 4-jo-dori, Asahikawa City, Hokkaido
Hours: 17:00–24:00 (Last order 23:30)
Irregular holidays
 

Annie @ Travel, Food & Play
Returning to the Heart of Traveling