Tabelog ratingIn a residential part of Sapporo's Kiyota Ward, Pot-au-feu (ポトフ) has earned a formidable reputation among locals for one thing: stew. This is a specialist of Yoshoku (Japanese-style Western cuisine), focusing on slow-cooked, deeply flavourful dishes that have earned it multiple awards.
Guests come for two main reasons. The first is the signature Amerikēnu, a creamy, bisque-like seafood stew built on an intense lobster and shrimp stock. It's packed with large, perfectly cooked shrimp, scallops, and white fish. The second is the classic beef stew, slow-cooked for eight hours until the meat is fork-tender. Both are served with large chunks of individually cooked vegetables like potato, daikon radish, and broccoli, alongside two types of bread (baguette and focaccia) for soaking up every last drop of the rich sauce. Even the house salad dressings are so popular that many diners buy a bottle to take home.
The dedication to quality comes with a few trade-offs. As every dish is prepared to order, reviewers consistently report waits of 30 to 60 minutes for food to arrive. The dining room is small and parking is very limited, so patience is key. A few diners have also found the service to be brusque, and a minority feel the stews can be overly rich or a touch sweet, though this is a matter of personal taste.
Reviewers in 2024–2026 reported paying around ¥2,260 for the Amerikēnu seafood stew set and ¥2,360 for the beef stew set. Lighter options like half portions (around ¥1,330) and monthly lunch sets (¥1,450–¥1,650) are also available. Most diners feel the quality of the ingredients and cooking justifies the price, making it worth a special trip.
- Reservations: Reservations are not accepted. This is a first-come, first-served restaurant. A sign-up sheet is available from around 11:00 AM for the 11:30 AM opening; expect to queue on popular days.
- Getting There: The restaurant is a 4-minute walk from the "Mae 4-jo 2-chome" bus stop. You can take a bus from Fukuzumi Station (Toho Line) or Oyachi Station (Tozai Line).
- Payment: Cash and PayPay are accepted. Credit cards and other forms of electronic money are not accepted.
- Seating: 20 seats, including counter seats and tables.
- Children: Children are welcome.
- Parking: Limited parking is available for about 4–7 cars.
- Smoking: The entire restaurant is non-smoking.
