Suage4 Soup Curry in Chuo-Ku, Sapporo

As Sapporo City grows, we are trying to give our loyal readers more examples of Hokkaido soup curry.  Here we provide a glimpse into Suage4, part of small chain of soup curry restaurants.

Soup Curry Suage4 is the name for the fourth restaurant from Suage soup curry company.  There are at least five Suage soup curry restaurants in Hokkaido (and several more in Tokyo).  This Suage #4 shop is located on 2F in the Miredo Building (across Akarenga plaza), south of Sapporo Station.

The Miredo Building is a part of what I will call the “New Sapporo.”  While some parts of Sapporo can be a little run-down and crusty, the Miredo Building was completed sometime around 2021, becoming a refreshing addition to Sapporo’s downtown scene.  There is a very comfortable Starbuck Coffee on 2F (and another one on B1), that opens to a kind of indoor garden.  Suage4 is on this same floor, at the top of the escalator (next to the HIS travel group).

Miredo is listed as a “shopping mall,” but that isn’t quite right. It is a commercial building, with some restaurants on B1, 1F, and 2F, with presumably office or residential on the upper floors. Almost every seat at Suage4 shop has a view of the escalators; it is not particularly private or comfortable shop. It is the kind of place where an office worker might get lunch or dinner.  It is also popular with tourists, especially during the winter months.

The main attraction is of course the soup curry.

Soup curry tends to have a somewhat oily broth. All of that liquid doesn’t photograph particularly well, but we’ll do our best to show what we found when we stopped in for lunch one day.

As I was seated, there was some attempt to get me to use the QR-code system to order, which I rejected (per usual).  There was a real menu available.

Looking at the Suage4 soup curry menu, you’ll see at least four kinds of chicken soup curry, an option for pork, a vegetable option, a lamb option, and an oyster soup curry.  There is even a special Hokkaido pork “hamburg” soup curry (for 2800 JPY, which is a rather high premium for a pork patty).

For my meal, I ordered the standard chicken.

Crispy Shiretoko Chicken Curry: Potato, Carrot, Squash, Eggplant, Green Pepper, Maitake Mushroom, Boiled Egg, Mizuna Potherb Mustard
— From the menu at Suage4 in Sapporo

After you choose what kind of curry you want, you are then asked to choose your type of broth (Sauge, Green, or Shrimp), the level of spiciness (level 1 – 10), and how much rice you would like (small, medium, or large).

This “meat” + “broth” + “spiciness” is a common format for soup curry in Hokkaido.

As you can see on the menu, that option for Green Soup caught my eye.  It is only available at “level 3” spiciness, so I declined, and opt’d for the standard Suage Soup broth.

If you like “hot” spicy flavors, the Japanese can really deliver.  I have been crushed by too much spice before, and now I always and only choose mild.  In this case, I chose #1.  Generally, even “mild” spice will have you *sniffing* as spiciness of the food gets your nose to run.

As the soup curry arrived, everything was “on a stick;” everything, including the carrot and the potato (but not the eggplant).  It is my guess that several of the elements were deep fried (or pan fried) in oil.  As I started to eat some of of those stick-bound parts of the meal, my first impression was all that oil.

To be honest, I didn’t enjoy the first part of the meal; too greasy.  The eggplant, in particular, was very greasy; more of a grease flavor than even spice.  (I have since had the soup curry at Soup Curry Okushiba, and their eggplant was very greasy as well.) I liked the meal more, however, as I worked my way down to the broth.

The chicken was good.  It was not in any way “crispy” – but maybe it started out that way before they put in the broth?

Having everything on sticks lends itself to a process of eating everything individually, and not mixed in with the flavor of the broth. Because the broth was very good, if it were all mixed together (no sticks, traditional soup) I think I would have liked it more.

The broth was quite tasty – as I scooped down to the bottom of the bowl, it was thick, tomato-like, and delicious.

Again: the photographs don’t really do the experience justice.  You can see the oil in the bowl, and to be fair I’m convinced that that oil on the surface is part of what makes the flavor rich.

I finished the meal by eating the rest of the broth with a spoon.  With just the broth, I could taste much more of the spices.  There is some thicker soup-base at the bottom of the bowl that had a fantastic flavor.

Having spent a lot of time in Hokkaido, I’ve had the opportunity to have soup curry many, many times.  Of course, I’ve had the original Garaku many times (and the new Garaku Satellite, also many times); they are probably the most famous local brand.  I’ve had their sister company Soup Curry Treasure as well (also many times).  I like both of those shops a lot better than Suage.  I’ve also had Picante (in Maruyama), and Soup Curry King (which recently moved to a new location).  We’ll have a review of Soup Curry Okushiba Store Ekimae Soseiji online here soon as well.

Mostly because the Suage broth was so good, I’d like to try again. Next time I’ll get away from the sticks and try the Chicken Leg Soup Curry.

The line at Suage can be very long. Standing around near the escalator is not a great experience.  But once you’re seated, the service was good.  The shop was not cozy, but it was comfortable enough.

Overhead, Suage plays cheesy, modern, pop dance music. It was a little too loud.

I mentioned they wanted me to use my phone to scan the QR code, and then order via an app.  I think these anti-human solutions in restaurants are always a mistake.  I know they are dealing with some foreigners (and I assume their app runs in English and maybe Chinese?), but pushing your customers into their phones at a meal is not friendly.  It’s in-hospitable, and bad customer service (it’s no service at all).  Any shop that will bother to communicate face to face has an opportunity to create a better connection.

QR-codes always come across as “alien,” cold, and cheap.  I am sure some customers prefer them, but I don’t go out to eat to have an “Uber Eats” experience via a screen on my phone.  Bad idea. No thanks.

I do like this hand-made “we don’t take your pay app” sign, though.  Well done.

Here is the card of the Suage4 shop:

For more Sapporo Soup Curry see:

— Soup Curry Garaku Main Store
— Soup Curry Garaku Sitatte Sapporo
— Soup Curry Treasure
— Dehli Soup Curry (Indian flavors)
— Picante Soup Curry Maruyama