PULU2

Soup curry in Sapporo is not the broth-based Japanese curry you know from Tokyo, it's a liquid spice stew born in Hokkaido in the 1970s, and most visitors still expect the thick katsu-curry paste they've seen elsewhere. PULU2 corrects that misunderstanding immediately: this is a thin, aromatic broth layered with Hokkaido vegetables and your choice of protein, served in a bowl designed for spooning, not scooping. The format is closer to Thai curry soup than Japanese curry rice, and the 27-seat basement room near Chuo Kuyakusho Mae station has been refining it for long enough to earn four consecutive Tabelog 100 Curry EAST selections (2019, 2020, 2023, 2024).

Why PULU2 Earned Four Tabelog 100 Selections

The Tabelog 100 is Japan's most competitive restaurant award by volume, earning four consecutive nods in the curry category signals consistency, not novelty. PULU2's broth is built from a spice base that diners adjust by heat level (1 to 10), and the vegetables, pumpkin, eggplant, bell pepper, okra, are roasted separately before assembly, so each retains texture rather than melting into mush. Counter seating (seven seats) gives a view of the kitchen's assembly line; tables with four seats each handle families and solo diners without reservations, since walk-ins are the norm. At JPY 1,000 to JPY 1,999 for lunch or dinner, this is Sapporo's most accessible award-recognized dining experience, no tasting menu, no omakase upcharge, no dress code, and no credit cards (cash and QR payments only).

What to Order and How the Room Works

The menu centers on protein choice: chicken leg, pork shoulder, or seasonal vegetables, each swimming in the same turmeric-yellow broth with cumin, coriander, and garam masala depth. Rice comes on the side, served separately so you control the ratio of broth to grain. The spice scale runs from 1 (mild) to 10 (sweat-inducing), and the kitchen recommends starting at 3 or 4 if you're unfamiliar with the format, this is not the sweet Japanese curry served at chain shops, and level 7+ will overwhelm conversation. Takeout is available, and the venue also ships curry kits for mail order, though the in-room experience is worth prioritizing: the basement location feels like a neighborhood hideout, counter seats fill by 12:30 PM during lunch service, and the staff moves quickly enough that turnover happens within 30 minutes during peak hours.

Compared to Sumika, which charges JPY 8,000 to JPY 9,999 and requires advance booking for kaiseki-style progression, PULU2 delivers award-level execution at one-eighth the price with no reservation friction. The trade-off is format: Sumika is a multi-course evening; PULU2 is a 20-minute lunch or casual weeknight dinner. For soup curry purists, this is the anchor, Ajanta Sohonke and [Curry Senmon Ten] Maruyama Kyoju. are in the same price band but lack the Tabelog pedigree. If you're mapping a Sapporo curry crawl, start here, walk-in access and consistent quality make it the easiest decision on the list. Closed Sundays; open Monday through Saturday from 11 AM to 2:30 PM and 5 PM to 8 PM, with service ending when the daily batch sells out. Check our full Sapporo restaurants guide for other curry specialists and broader dining context across the city.