Jingisukan (“Genghis Khan”) is Hokkaido’s beloved grilled-mutton barbecue, a smoky, sociable feast named for the dome-shaped grill said to resemble a warrior’s helmet. Diners cook lamb or mutton and a pile of vegetables — onions, beansprouts, cabbage, pumpkin — over the convex iron grill, where juices run down to flavour the veg around the rim. Washed down with ice-cold beer in a summer beer garden or a lively grill house, it’s one of Hokkaido’s most fun and convivial meals.

This guide covers what jingisukan is, how to eat it, where to try it and tips.

🗓️ Quick Reference
What Grilled lamb/mutton & vegetables
Grill Dome-shaped (“helmet”) iron grill
Price ~¥1,500–3,000 per person
Where Sapporo grill houses & beer gardens
Good for Groups, beer pairing, summer dining

What is jingisukan?

  • Lamb or mutton (fresh or sometimes marinated) grilled with vegetables on a convex iron dome.
  • Two styles: dip after grilling in a tare sauce, or marinate before grilling — both delicious.
  • The shape lets fat and juices drip to the edges, flavouring the vegetables as they cook.

How to eat it

  • Pile vegetables around the rim and grill the meat on top so the juices run down.
  • Don’t overcook the lamb — a quick sear keeps it tender.
  • Add rice or noodles at the end to soak up the flavours; pair with cold beer.

Where to try it

  • Sapporo Beer Garden: the classic all-you-can-eat jingisukan-and-beer experience in a historic brick hall — see our Sapporo beer guide .
  • Susukino grill houses and specialist shops across the city — see our Sapporo guide .
  • Summer outdoor beer gardens in Odori Park serve it too.

Combine your visit

Jingisukan rounds out a Sapporo food tour:

How to get there

  • Grill houses cluster in Susukino and central Sapporo; the Sapporo Beer Garden is a short ride/walk east of downtown.
  • Available across Hokkaido, but Sapporo has the densest, most famous selection.