Jiki Minami2Jo

As other stores begin lowering their shutters late into the night in Sapporo, the lights and energy of Jiki Minami Nijo are still going strong. The izakaya, a Japanese pub-style bar, is among the throng of extensions under the Jiki brand, where its list of 70-plus sake would put other bars under the table, and its equally impressive menu of drinking snacks more than holds its own. Don’t expect a grungy, subterranean round tavern when you enter Jiki. The sleek double doors and large picture window keep its facade and soul entirely cosmopolitan, and you'll be greeted with a warm “irasshaimase!” (welcome) as you step inside. Efforts to channel an intimate bar are still there, through its private room that sits up to 14 people and 40-plus seats. When you scan the menu, there are three highlights: sake, as it should be; charcoal-grilled yakitori, as expected — but surprisingly, soba also makes it into the list. For its skewers, Jiki takes a nose-to-tail approach with its Gitarou Shamo chicken, a high-protein, low-calorie bird, breaking it down into 10 different cuts to be grilled over white-hot charcoal. While you can order a la carte, the best way to experience Jiki is by opting for the course menu, which includes an all-you-can-drink option that even covers beer. The course wraps up with handmade soba, kneaded and cut by the manager. The buckwheat is sourced from different regions in Japan, depending on the season, but it's usually coarsely ground for texture. According to the manager, soba is the perfect pairing for your sake — and the right comfort food to close the night.