Sapporo Soup Curry: SOUL STORE Review (Tanukikoji Shopping Street)

Located in Tanukikoji 7-chome, Sapporo, “SOUL STORE” is a recommended specialty soup curry restaurant known to those in the know.

Its greatest feature is the big visual impact of its “fried burdock”—a piece coated in white batter, so big it spills out of the bowl, placed right on top. And it is delicious. In addition, 4 types of soup with different personalities are prepared, including the original soup curry flavor “Classic,” the mild “BOSSA,” and “Homemade Mala.”

The interior is a calm, cafe-like space with counter and table seating, used by a wide range of customers from tourists to locals. In this article, based on photos from the author’s own visit, we introduce the highlights of “SOUL STORE.”

Highlights of “SOUL STORE”

Deep, Flavorful Original Soup Curry

The soup curry at SOUL STORE features a deep flavor where the dashi (broth) comes through clearly. The basic “Classic” soup is one where not only the kick of the spices, but also the umami of the ingredients spreads through your mouth in layers. The spiciness is just right, and it is truly a delicious soup curry—great with well-cooked white rice, whether you pour it over, dip into it, or simply drink it as soup on its own.

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This is the moment of dipping rice into seriously delicious soup curry. Dipping sweet white rice into spicy soup curry is truly delicious. Setting aside whether it is good manners or not, it is one of the tasty ways to eat it.

Fried Burdock Spilling Out from the Bowl

What stands out most in SOUL STORE’s soup curry is the long “fried burdock” spilling out of the bowl.

The moment it is brought to you, you are first surprised by its big visual size. A piece of burdock long enough to seem to pierce from one end of the bowl to the other sits right on top, wrapped in white batter. When you actually eat it, the batter is crispy and fragrant, and the inside is surprisingly tender. Perhaps because it is thoroughly cooked, the natural sweetness of the burdock comes through clearly.

This fried burdock is not just big—its pairing with the soup is also outstanding. Eating it crispy as-is is naturally good, and dipping it into the spicy soup to let the batter soak up flavor before eating is also delicious. It is a nice topping that becomes addictive once you try it, living up to its visual impact.

Plenty of Menu Options to Suit Your Preference

SOUL STORE has an extremely rich variety of menu items—a delightful point that lets you choose according to your mood of the day.

Naturally including the standard “Chicken Curry” and the most popular “Chicken and Vegetable Curry,” the lineup is well-stocked enough to make you wonder which to choose—such as “Seasonal Vegetable Curry” with around 10 types of seasonal vegetables. Additionally, unique dishes where you can really taste the umami of the meat are also available, such as “Chunky Lamb and Seasonal Vegetable Curry” and “Hokkaido Beef Stewed with Green Onion Salt and Maitake Mushroom Tempura Curry.”

Because you can also fine-tune the spiciness and rice amount, you can build your own best bowl. You can be satisfied no matter what mood you are in.

Super Delicious Zangi You’ll Want Alongside It

One of the recommended menu items at SOUL STORE is the side menu “Zangi” (Hokkaido-style fried chicken).

The batter is fried crisp and fragrant, and the meat inside is surprisingly juicy. It is not ordinary fried-chicken zangi, but a “this is zangi” dish elevated to a supreme taste. It has volume, but because the meat quality is good, it can surprisingly be polished off in no time.

Sweet and Delicious Lassi

SOUL STORE’s lassi features a thick, rich mouthfeel. Types with fruit (sauce) such as mango exquisitely match the refreshing acidity of the lassi with the sweetness of the fruit.

Because it has a moderate sweetness, it is perfect for refreshing your mouth after a meal, as well as for a break while eating spicy curry. It is a drink you definitely want to order if it is on the menu.

Calm and Stylish Interior

The interior of SOUL STORE has a warm, calm atmosphere based on wood grain.

Seating consists of counter seats that solo guests can use without hesitation, and table seats where you can take your time with family or friends. Lighting and interior decorations are also stylish, offering cafe-like comfort rather than that of a soup curry specialty shop.

Once you step inside, it is a very nice space where you can forget the hustle and bustle of the city and focus on your meal.

Location & Access for “SOUL STORE”

Location

“SOUL STORE” is located in Tanukikoji Shopping Street 7-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo City. It is in an easily accessible spot within walking distance of Subway Namboku Line “Odori Station” or “Susukino Station.” Because it is on the 2nd floor of a building rather than a street-level shop, it is easy to pass by; take care not to overlook it, using the signboard as a landmark.

Information for “SOUL STORE”

Item	Details
Store Name	SOUL STORE
Address	2F F-DRESS 7F Bldg., 3-2 South 3 West 7, Chuo-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido
Access	About a 10-minute walk from Subway “Odori Station” or “Susukino Station” (Inside Tanukikoji 7-chome)
Business Hours	11:30–15:00 (L.O. 14:30) 17:30–20:30 (L.O. 20:00)
Closed Days	Irregular holidays
Seating Capacity	22 seats (Counter seats and table seats available)

How Crowded “SOUL STORE” Gets

Because “SOUL STORE” is a popular shop, by opening time at 11:30 people are already lining up enough to fill the stairs in front of the shop (around 20 groups).

Because “SOUL STORE” has a relatively fast turnover, even if there is something of a line, you can enter after waiting 30 minutes or so. If you want to get in early, customers start lining up little by little from around 11:00, so if you arrive before 11:00 and queue, you can often get in on the first seating when it opens at 11:30 (not guaranteed).

“Frequently Asked Questions” for “SOUL STORE”

Summary: “SOUL STORE”

Located in Tanukikoji 7-chome, Sapporo, “SOUL STORE” is a soup curry specialty shop where lines form daily due to creative ingredients and deep-tasting soup. Cooking that brings out the deliciousness of the vegetables in particular has a solid reputation, making it a shop you will want to check out at least once if you visit Sapporo.

• One-of-a-Kind Topping: The “fried burdock”—large enough to pierce through the bowl—is exquisite not only in visual impact, but also in its crispy texture and burdock sweetness.
• Specialty Soup and Vegetables: 4 types of soup where the dashi comes through, and fresh seasonal vegetables sourced from contracted farmers used generously.
• Rich Menu: Starting from standard chicken, the menu types are numerous, and the side menu “Zangi” and rich “Lassi” should not be missed either.
• Points to Avoid Crowds: Because lines form before opening, if you are aiming for the first seating, lining up 30 minutes before opening (around 11:00) goes smoothly.

“SOUL STORE” is a recommended shop you will definitely want to eat at even in Sapporo, a fiercely contested soup curry scene. In a calm space, you can enjoy soup curry with a deep flavor.

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