Spakatsu is a beloved local specialty of Kushiro, Hokkaido, combining spaghetti, a generous pork cutlet, and rich meat sauce on a sizzling hot iron plate. Considered a soul food of Kushiro, it is a familiar favorite among local residents and a signature dish found at restaurants throughout the city.
The dish is especially associated with Izumiya, a long-established Western-style restaurant in Kushiro. A typical serving features thick spaghetti and a substantial tonkatsu-style pork cutlet arranged on a piping-hot iron plate, with a generous amount of specially prepared meat sauce poured over the top.
Spakatsu was created at Izumiya, which was founded in 1960. The dish was originally developed with the idea of giving diners a satisfying meal using high-quality pork, creating a sense of indulgence in an affordable Western-style dish.
The hot iron plate also has a practical purpose. Kushiro has a cold climate, so serving the meal on a heated plate helps keep the food hot from the first bite to the last. The plate also gives the pasta a lightly toasted, aromatic character as it continues to cook.
The name Spakatsu is a shortened form of “spaghetti with cutlet.” Thick pasta is topped with a large, substantial pork cutlet and covered with a rich meat sauce. The combination of crispy cutlet, savory sauce, and pasta creates an exceptionally filling meal.
The sizzling iron plate adds another dimension to the experience. The edges of the pasta can become slightly crisp and fragrant, while the rich meat sauce seeps into the noodles and coats the cutlet.
Although Spakatsu may be unfamiliar to visitors encountering it for the first time, its combination of pasta, cutlet, and meat sauce has an immediately comforting quality. The flavors are rich and satisfying, while the sizzling presentation makes the dish particularly memorable.
Today, Spakatsu is enjoyed by people of all ages in Kushiro, from children to older residents. What began as a restaurant creation has become a distinctive part of the city’s everyday food culture.
For travelers exploring eastern Hokkaido, Spakatsu offers a delicious taste of Kushiro’s local character. Rather than being a traditional Japanese dish, it represents the creative evolution of Western-style cuisine in Hokkaido, shaped by the city’s climate and dining culture.
Enjoying a steaming plate of spaghetti, crispy pork cutlet, and rich meat sauce straight from the hot iron plate is one of the most satisfying ways to discover Kushiro’s unique culinary heritage.