14 Must-Try Popular Restaurants for Lunch in Chitose!

Since Hokkaido’s gateway to the skies, New Chitose Airport, is located here, many people visiting Hokkaido set foot in Chitose. However, in reality, most people don’t know much about the city of Chitose itself. It often becomes just a place people pass through. But in fact, Chitose has plenty of interesting tourist attractions and popular gourmet spots! So why not take the opportunity to enjoy a delicious meal in Chitose after landing at the airport?

In this article, we’ve carefully selected 14 highly recommended lunch spots, not only in New Chitose Airport but also in the downtown area.

1. Doremo LeTAO

Doremo LeTAO is a large sweets shop situated on a vast 1,600-tsubo (approximately 5,300 square meters) property. Surrounded by a birch forest, it offers a bright, open space where you can relax and enjoy lunch or tea time at your leisure. Among the many items on their menu, the most popular is their pancakes. These fluffy pancakes are made with plenty of cream cheese and ricotta cheese, promising a blissful experience.

The texture melts gently in your mouth—something only LeTAO can offer. You can also customize your order by choosing toppings like berries, syrup, or ice cream to create your ideal pancake dish. For those who aren’t fond of sweets, they also serve dishes like omelets and pasta, so no worries! Make sure to check out their original menu featuring seasonal Hokkaido ingredients as well.

2. Butadon Tonsuke

A must-visit lunch spot in Chitose is “Butadon Tonsuke.” Located near the roadside station “Salmon Park Chitose,” this restaurant specializes in herb pork and Yongen pork dishes. It’s well-loved by the locals of Chitose for its delicious offerings, and its calm, welcoming interior makes it a perfect place for lunch in the area.

Their recommended dish is the "MIX Set," which combines herb pork and Yongen pork in one bowl. You can choose between loin or belly cuts, and it comes with miso soup, chilled tofu, tamagoyaki (Japanese omelet), and a soft drink. Plus, rice large portions are free! It’s a great value lunch set where you can compare the flavors of herb pork and Yongen pork.

Of course, their single pork bowls are also extremely popular. The herb pork is raised on feed that includes herbs, giving it a mild, non-gamey flavor and sweet fat. By the way, Yongen pork is pork bred from four different species, adding another layer of flavor and tenderness. You’ll enjoy its soft, juicy texture.

3. Yanagibashi

Located in Shinonome-cho 5-chome, close to Chitose Station, “Yanagibashi” is a long-established set meal restaurant. Known for its affordable prices and hearty meals, it has been loved by the people of Chitose for many years. In particular, their minced meat cutlet set meal (menchi-katsu teishoku) is outstanding. If you’re having lunch in Chitose, this place is a must-check!

The popular menchi-katsu set comes with a large minced meat cutlet and a generous serving of shredded cabbage, making it a very filling dish. The cutlet is made with minced pork and beef mixed with lots of vegetables. It looks like a tonkatsu but has a juicy flavor all its own. The Chitose-style way to enjoy it is by dipping it in ginger soy sauce. Their miso soup is also packed with ingredients, which makes the meal even more satisfying.

With over 60 menu items, you can always try something new every time you visit. If you like fried dishes, the chicken tender cutlet and fried fish are also recommended. They also offer simmered fish dishes like mackerel simmered in miso, making this place more than just a lunch stop. Their curry is also delicious—be sure to try their menchi-katsu curry too!

4. Donburi Chaya

Donburi Chaya is a seafood rice bowl restaurant located inside Chitose Airport. Originally from Sapporo’s Nijo Market, the owner was once a fishmonger, so they are especially particular about the quality of their seafood. Among their best selections are salmon roe, crab, sea urchin, and shrimp—the stars of any seafood donburi. The Chitose branch carefully selects its ingredients with the same passion.

Their most recommended dish at the Chitose branch is the “Marusen-don,” which includes four small rice bowls and crab soup in one set. It’s a luxurious meal that lets you enjoy the taste of Hokkaido in a single order. Another option is the “Choose-Your-Own Mini Seafood Donburi,” where you can combine two mini bowls. There are also airport-exclusive dishes, like the “Fresh Italiano Seafood Donburi,” supervised by a French chef, and the “Toro Tuna Japanese-Style Jelly Donburi.”

5. Tandoori Restaurant Asa

Tandoori Restaurant Asa is a place where you can enjoy authentic curry prepared by Nepalese and Indian chefs. Once you step inside from the dark-colored exterior entrance, you’ll find mainly table seating and a small raised tatami area. The uniquely designed lighting gives the restaurant a charming and memorable atmosphere.

They offer three types of lunch sets, all of which come with all-you-can-eat naan. Set A includes your choice of curry (from nine different types), a salad, and unlimited naan. Set B features cheese naan for your first serving, and Set C includes chicken tikka in addition to the curry and naan.

6. Makigama Pizza Kobo Pizzado

Makigama Pizza Kobo Pizzado is a specialty pizza shop located inside the roadside station “Salmon Park Chitose.” Originally from Kuromatsunai Town, the hugely popular “Pizzado” pizzas can now also be enjoyed in Chitose, thanks to its convenient location.

They always have 15 types of pizzas on the menu. The potatoes, corn, and onions used in the toppings are locally sourced from Chitose. The mozzarella cheese and sausages are specially selected from Kuromatsunai as well. Their whole wheat dough is fermented with natural yeast and baked in a wood-fired kiln, resulting in a fluffy interior and crispy, fragrant crust.

Their recommended menu item is the “Quattro Keller,” which combines four types of cheese, including Kuromatsunai mozzarella and cream cheese. The blended cheeses create a mild flavor, and if you drizzle honey over the top, it turns into a delicious, dessert-like treat!

7. Toa Coffee House

Toa Coffee House is a classic retro-style café located on Nakanohashi Street, not far from Chitose Station. Known for its Showa-era atmosphere, this long-established café has been loved by locals in Chitose for years. Their deeply flavorful coffee includes their original blend with a mild acidity, as well as authentic straight coffees.

At the main Toa Coffee House in Chitose, you can find a wide variety of classic light meals such as toast, sandwiches, pancakes, daily lunch specials, pasta, pilaf, curry, and gratin. It's a great chance to enjoy nostalgic menu items that differ from modern cafés.

If you visit before 11:00 AM, you can order their traditional morning set, which includes coffee, a thick slice of toast, and a boiled egg. If you're staying in Chitose, it’s a perfect spot for breakfast. For freshly ground coffee in Chitose, Toa Coffee House is a must-visit.

8. HOKKAIDO Kamome Shokudo

Have you heard of the movie Kamome Shokudo, set in Helsinki, Finland? There’s actually a café-restaurant in Chitose inspired by that film! About a 10-minute walk from Chitose Station, HOKKAIDO Kamome Shokudo offers a cozy atmosphere with lots of Scandinavian charm.

The lunches at Kamome Shokudo are known for their generous portions. One of their recommended dishes is the “Big Grilled Salmon,” which recreates a menu item from the movie. It features a large, perfectly grilled salmon served with soup and salad. You can choose your main side from rice, bread, or onigiri. Other popular options include pasta, gratin, and chicken cutlet sandwiches.

Not only is the food delicious, but the friendly staff make it easy to relax, and you might find yourself wanting to stay longer than expected!

9. Shokuzaki Kobo Katsufuji

Shokuzaki Kobo Katsufuji is a tonkatsu restaurant located in Suehiro 2-chome, just a 5-minute walk from Chitose Station. The interior has counter seats, table seats, and a small raised tatami area, giving it the spacious feel of a traditional diner. Their menu focuses on tonkatsu, but they also serve minced meat cutlets, fried shrimp, croquettes, and more.

As expected from a tonkatsu specialty restaurant, they offer four different sizes of loin cutlets: Regular Loin, Premium Loin, Large Loin, and Extra Large Loin. If you want to try a variety of flavors, the “Assorted Set Meal” is a great choice, which includes a combination of loin cutlet, minced meat cutlet, fried shrimp, shrimp cream croquette, and vegetables. The breading is crispy without being greasy, allowing you to enjoy your meal until the very last bite.

10. Koma Soba Tei

Koma Soba Tei is a soba noodle restaurant directly operated by the Chitose Agricultural Cooperative. They use "Koma Soba," made from buckwheat grown by farmers in the Komazato district of Chitose, and ground with a stone mill. The soba noodles and dipping sauce made with carefully selected ingredients from Chitose are a perfect match. You can enjoy a lunch experience that you can only have in Chitose!

Their recommended lunch dish is the “Gobo Kakiage Soba.” The crispy kakiage fritter, made with burdock root, has a satisfying crunch and goes perfectly with their soba. Another specialty is the “Kashiwa Seiro,” where you dip soba into a light chicken broth made from Chitose-raised chicken. It’s topped with “Sakura Hime” chicken, making it a filling and satisfying dish.

11. Drive-in Ito Butadon Meijin

Although it has “Drive-in” in its name, Drive-in Ito Butadon Meijin is actually located inside New Chitose Airport. The highlight of their butadon (pork rice bowl) is its light flavor. Their ultimate sauce, perfected through trial and error using a kabayaki (grilled eel) sauce base, pairs perfectly with both the rice and pork. If you’re in Chitose, this is definitely a dish to try!

At the New Chitose Airport branch, they offer not only the regular butadon but also airport-exclusive menu items like the “Aburi Cheese Butadon” and the “Special Mayo Butadon.” None of their dishes use excess oil, making them easy to enjoy without feeling heavy. For those who want a more filling meal, they offer the “Double-Decker Butadon,” which significantly increases both the pork and rice portions. It’s guaranteed to satisfy your hunger!

12. Soup Curry Lavi

Soup Curry Lavi made waves with its unique idea of adding extra soup as a topping to their soup curry. In addition to their fixed menu, they offer a monthly “Special Curry” that uses seasonal ingredients, as well as store-exclusive menu items, so you can enjoy a new soup curry experience every time you visit.

Their soup is a perfect balance of long-simmered bouillon and keema paste, giving it a distinctive yet easy-to-eat flavor. Even those who aren’t fond of spices can comfortably enjoy it. Popular toppings include their roasted shrimp soup, sesame soup, five types of cheese, and eleven types of vegetables. Other options like hamburger steak, bacon, frankfurter sausage, natto, and ravioli make the combination possibilities endless!

13. Matsuo Jingisukan

If you want to enjoy authentic jingisukan (grilled mutton) easily, head over to “Matsuo Jingisukan,” a long-established restaurant with over 60 years of history. The hallmark of "Matsujin's" jingisukan is its exquisite sauce. It’s said that it took 10 years to perfect, blending apples, onions, soy sauce, ginger, and a variety of secret spices. The sauce pairs perfectly not only with lamb but also with rice and udon, making you want to keep eating!

The recommended dish is the “Lamb Rib Roast Jingisukan Set.” This premium cut, which only yields about 700 grams from a single lamb, is very tender and juicy, making it a popular choice. If you’re new to jingisukan, don’t worry! The staff can help cook it for you. Before you leave Chitose, why not enjoy Hokkaido’s famous jingisukan at Matsujin?

14. Miso Kitchen

Miso Kitchen is a restaurant where you can enjoy izakaya-style dishes, all featuring their signature miso-based flavors. Their sweet miso sauce is used in a variety of dishes, such as fried chicken "zangi," miso katsu rice bowls, miso katsu noodles, and miso roasted pork noodles, offering a wide range of hearty options.

One of their most popular dishes for all ages is the “Omu-Cabbage.” This filling dish consists of a generous heap of finely shredded cabbage topped with a thin omelet. It’s served with okonomiyaki sauce, mayonnaise, and egg, creating a perfect flavor combination that will have you finishing the huge portion of cabbage in no time. It’s especially recommended for women!

◎ Summary

When you think of Hokkaido gourmet food, dishes like seafood, ramen, and jingisukan probably come to mind. But in Chitose, you can also enjoy meals made with plenty of locally sourced ingredients. There are long-loved eateries such as traditional set meal restaurants, soba noodle shops, and cafés that have been cherished by the people of Chitose for many years—definitely worth a visit!

And even if you don’t have time to head into town, it’s great to know that you can find plenty of dining options right at the airport.