The fourth ramen in Hokkaido following Sapporo's miso, Hakodate's salt, and Asahikawa's soy sauce, and the fifth ramen including Kushiro, is the local ramen of Muroran City in Hokkaido, known as "Muroran Curry Ramen". There is no clear definition, but each shop has its own unique features. The originator of Muroran Curry Ramen is said to be the shop called "Ajino Daio". The roots of Muroran Curry Ramen seem to be in Tomakomai, not Muroran. Curry ramen was first introduced by the Tomakomai-based "Ajino Daio" in 1965, and later Muroran's "Ajino Daio" founder trained at the Tomakomai branch and established a shop in Muroran in 1971. The current "Ajino Daio Muroran Main Store" was relocated to Chuocho in 1972. In the 1980s, several shops in the city began offering curry ramen, and in 1999, former Morning Musume member Natsumi Abe introduced Muroran's Ajino Daio curry ramen on the radio, attracting fans nationwide. The "Muroran Curry Ramen Association" was established in 2006 to promote "Muroran Curry Ramen" as a local ramen nationwide. About 60% of the approximately 50 ramen shops in various areas offer curry ramen, and the association's official website lists member shops and a ramen map for foodies. I visited one of the member shops of the "Muroran Curry Ramen Association" called "Gentle Noodles" this time. Established in 1996, the shop specializes in curry ramen. There are currently three locations in Muroran and Date, including the "Nakajima Store" in Muroran. I visited the "Nakajima Store" which is open until 3 am on weekends. The place is about a 14-minute walk from Higashi-Muroran Station. The parking lot was full, so I was directed to park at the vacant lot across the street. I visited on a Thursday night around 9 pm, and the shop was about 70% full. I managed to enter just before the shop closed due to soup running out. The menu includes curry ramen, salt, soy sauce, miso, and tsukemen. I ordered the "Cheese Curry Ramen" without hesitation. The noodles are made from four types of 100% Hokkaido wheat, with pork bones, and the chashu is from Anping-cho. The unique cheese topping has a thick texture even before mixing, with a rich and spicy flavor. Mixing in the generous amount of cheese enhances the creaminess without overpowering the base curry flavor. The noodles are the yellow thick curly noodles commonly found in Sapporo ramen, with a chewy and firm texture. Toppings include chashu, wakame, green onions, bean sprouts, etc. The chashu has a tender texture and the overall combination is excellent.

Today, I went to Jentoru Men in Higashi-Muroran. When it comes to Muroran ramen, it's all about curry ramen! And when it comes to curry ramen, it's all about this restaurant! The soup ☆☆, noodles ☆☆☆. The curry soup is spicy with a mature taste! For me, it was a bit too mature...just my personal opinion.

The ramen in Muroran is curry ramen. The Gentlemen's curry ramen had the same toppings as soy sauce or miso ramen. I used it for lunch, and the lunch set came with 3 gyoza and rice, which was very satisfying. While eating the curry, I put the tender chashu on the rice to make a chashu bowl. I poured the curry soup over it to make curry. And finally, I poured extra curry soup to make it like risotto. They also mentioned that you can add cheese as a topping. I'll try that next time.

Visited after drinking for a bowl of ramen. This shop specializes in curry ramen and has several locations in the Sorachi area. The interior has an L-shaped counter and a raised seating area in the back. It was run by a female owner operating alone. I ordered verbally the "Muroran Curry Ramen (890 yen)" and it arrived in about 5 minutes. This is what I imagine curry ramen to be. The curry itself may seem cheap and commercial, but it is spicy and perfect for a post-drinking meal. It has a superficial depth but also a richness that is satisfying for a post-drinking meal. The noodles are the classic yellow curly Sapporo style, and they complement the slightly thick soup very well. The curtain displays "Nishiyama Seimen". Personally, I prefer this curry ramen over the original "Aji no Daiou" curry ramen from the two stores in Muroran and Tomakomai. This is my impression after a post-drinking meal, so I will revisit for a daytime meal to try it again.

First time visiting this noodle shop! I was curious and decided to order the curry ramen without hesitation. There was a female staff member working efficiently by herself. Soon enough, the curry ramen arrived. The chashu slices were thin but large! The chashu was so tender that it seemed like it would melt in the soup. It was spicy but just the right amount, and I couldn't stop eating it! Once I started drinking the soup, I couldn't stop (lol). It was delicious. Thank you for the meal!

Located in a bustling district in Nakajima, this place is open until late at night. As a local, I sometimes crave curry ramen. On a Monday night around 9 pm, there was one group of customers when I arrived and four groups after. There are counter seats as well as raised seating areas. About 90% of the customers were wearing work clothes. I wonder if there are more people coming after work at this time than those who have been drinking. The ramen had large slices of chashu, seaweed, green onions, and a small amount of bean sprouts. The noodles were medium-thick and curly, and you could add 50 yen to adjust the spiciness, although I opted not to as I don't like it too spicy, but it was still manageable. I noticed some mashed pieces in the soup and when I asked the staff, they said it was "vegetables." Perhaps it was onions? When the chashu soaked in the soup, it became tender and had just the right amount of lean meat and fat, making it delicious. The curly noodles paired well with the thickened soup. I wanted to finish the soup completely, but due to my high blood pressure, I had to stop halfway. My child ordered the Hakata-style tonkotsu ramen, while all the other customers ordered curry ramen. Some even ordered rice. The curry ramen wasn't too spicy, fitting my taste perfectly and ranking high in terms of deliciousness. However, I found the temperature of the soup slightly lower than I prefer. If it had been a bit hotter, it might have become my favorite curry ramen. My child was very satisfied with the tonkotsu ramen. Since they are open late, I would like to come back for a late-night meal.

When it comes to Muroran, you have to try the curry ramen at Jen to Men, located near the hotel where I stayed. This was my second visit to this restaurant, and I ordered the curry ramen for 830 yen along with a small serving of rice for 150 yen. The ramen arrived promptly, and the curry broth was sweet and spicy, but not too thick. It paired well with the rice and was delicious. The yellow egg noodles were a perfect match for the soup, and the toppings of seaweed, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, green onions, and chashu were all tasty. The chashu was so tender that it practically melted in my mouth. I enjoyed slurping the noodles and savoring the soup, then mixing the rice with the remaining broth at the end. Before I knew it, I had finished every last bite. It was delicious! I will definitely visit again the next time I'm in Muroran. Thank you for the meal! ^^

The other day, I was in a rush and looking for a place to eat ramen when I stumbled upon this restaurant. It seemed quite popular as it was packed. Luckily, they had a parking lot. I ordered their highly recommended curry ramen. It took quite a while to be served, probably because it was crowded. The taste was rich, but that was about it.

In Nakajima Town for lunch. This curry ramen shop in Hokkaido's ramen guide, maybe in the Do-nan edition, is ranked alongside "Daio". Arrived around 11:50 am on a weekday with one person already there. Ordered the famous "Muroran Curry Ramen" (830 yen). The landlady was handling everything alone and the dish arrived in just 5 minutes. The soup was quite rich and heavy, with a strong saltiness rather than spiciness or heat. Compared to "Daio", the noodles here were slightly firmer, which helped them to mix well with the soup. After finishing, I broke out in a sweat, perhaps due to the spices. Some people were adding rice for a second helping, but I left half of the soup as it felt too salty. It's a small shop in a small town, so no queues or anything. For first-timers in Muroran, it might be worth a try.

Another famous specialty in Muroran is curry ramen! This place is known for its rich soup with fine particles of onions, giving it a smooth and delicious taste. Located just a 3-minute walk from a famous yakitori restaurant, we visited around 19:00. The place is bright and lively, serving drinks from 17:00, making it a great spot for a quick meal. We saw a customer enjoying their curry ramen at the counter and decided to order the same. You can add cheese, but we opted for the default option. The ramen is unique as they cook the soup and curry together in a large frying pan before serving it. It took about 5 minutes for our order to arrive. The large chashu pork slices were very impressive visually. The soup had a smooth texture from the fine onion particles and a mild curry flavor, making it rich yet easy to eat. The secret to its deliciousness lies in the seaweed topping, adding a wonderful flavor and depth to the broth. The wheat noodles had a sweet flavor and a chewy texture, blending well with the soup. The fatty chashu pork melted in the soup, enhancing its flavor. We enjoyed every last drop of the soup. It was incredibly delicious. Thank you for the wonderful meal!

I arrived in Muroran. When it comes to Muroran, it's all about curry ramen, right? Wait, what about Tomakomai? After doing some research, it seems that Tomakomai is where it originated, but now Muroran is synonymous with curry ramen. So, I visited the Jen'toru Men Nakajima restaurant. The name "Jen'toru Men" is nice. This restaurant is located in the city center. It was only one group of customers when I visited around 12:30 on a weekday. I ordered the curry ramen and the lunch set, which comes with rice, pickles, and gyoza. The food was served in about 5 minutes. I took a sip of the soup first. The rich curry soup was delicious. The curly noodles held up the soup well. It's a taste that you crave in the cold winter. When I first saw seaweed in the curry soup, I was puzzled, but now I think seaweed is a must in curry ramen. Thank you for the meal.

Muroran, Nakajima-cho. Today's shop is Jentoru Men Nakajima-ten. It is located in the downtown area of Nakajima. I had already visited two other places and had some time to spare before my next reservation, so I decided to stop by for a beer and some gyoza. The restaurant has a counter with 6 seats, as well as 3 2-person tatami rooms and 2 4-person tatami rooms. I was surprised to see they had Hakata tonkotsu ramen on the menu, which is rare in Muroran. I ordered the Hakata tonkotsu ramen with firm noodles, and was asked if I wanted red pickled ginger in it. The ramen was quite authentic, with thin Hakata-style noodles. The soup was a bit light, but it was just right after drinking. They also offer extra noodles, but I didn't order any since I had plans for later. Overall, the ramen was satisfying after a few drinks. This place is famous for its curry ramen, and everyone else in the restaurant was ordering that. However, I personally find curry ramen too heavy after drinking. I usually can't eat ramen after drinking, but I might be able to handle the tonkotsu ramen here again. Thank you for the meal.

I had the Muroran curry ramen. It was delicious. It's no wonder it's considered a specialty. What's great is that it's not just curry added to ramen soup. I think it would be absolutely delicious to add rice to the remaining soup and eat it like ochazuke after finishing the noodles. The noodles are medium-thin curly noodles. They go well with the curry soup. The chashu is also impressive. I wonder if it's homemade. It has just the right amount of fat and is tender. The wakame seaweed is nice. It goes well with the soup. When you slurp it together with the noodles, it's even more flavorful. Eating wakame makes me feel like I'm eating something good for my body. The perfect balance of the soup and the wakame topping makes me think that they must be particular about the other flavors of ramen as well. Thank you for the meal!

Located near the drinking district in the Nakajima area of Muroran City, my colleagues and I visited this restaurant as the final stop for our drinking party. The entrance is narrow but the interior has depth. There is a counter seat in the front and table seats in a raised area at the back, giving off a Showa-era ramen shop atmosphere. In addition to the basic three flavors, there are various other menu options, but since Muroran is famous for curry ramen, I ordered the "Muroran Curry Ramen (830 yen)" this time. It was ready in about 8 minutes. The curry topping may look rich, but when mixed with the soup, it has a smooth and easy-to-eat flavor. Despite the richness of the curry, it is surprisingly light, making it a perfect choice for a meal. I have also tried the curry ramen from other famous shops in Muroran, but personally, I prefer the taste of this one. The miso ramen also looked delicious, so I would like to try it if I have the chance.

I stopped by during a business trip to Hakodate. While curry ramen at Daio is famous in Muroran, I stumbled upon Jentoru Men and decided to give it a try. The shop is larger than it looks from the outside, with a tatami seating area in the back. My boss, who has bad knees, didn't like the tatami seating, but it was crowded so we had no choice (laughs). Besides curry ramen, they also offer miso ramen and fried rice, but when in Muroran, it has to be curry ramen, right? The dilemma was whether to go for regular curry ramen or cheese curry ramen (laughs). I ended up choosing cheese curry ramen. As a result, I think the cheese was unnecessary (laughs). It wasn't the kind of cheese I was expecting, more like a cheap cheese sauce. To be honest, there wasn't much of a difference in taste. But the curry ramen itself was very delicious. It had a taste similar to vegetable potage, which I really liked. Next time, I might try curry ramen with rice!

I had to go to Muroran for some business, and my colleague kindly took me to a curry ramen restaurant after our first stop. The restaurant was located next to a izakaya we had been to before. We sat at the counter and ordered the Muroran curry ramen as planned. Since there were no other customers, our ramen was served quickly. I started by tasting the soup. The first bite was just the right amount of spiciness. The second bite was a bit too spicy for me. By the third bite, I realized it was too spicy for me. However, there was seaweed in the ramen which helped to balance out the spiciness, allowing me to enjoy the meal. The noodles were medium-thick curly noodles and I really liked the texture. With the help of the seaweed, I managed to finish the noodles. Honestly, it was a bit spicy for me, but still delicious. I'm grateful for the seaweed. It really did a great job (laughs) Thank you for the meal.

Muroran Curry Ramen for 750 yen. It's quite spicy, ranging from medium to very spicy. As you eat, the spiciness increases. The large slice of chashu soaked in curry was delicious. Eating this ramen at 11 PM, it had a good punch and was addictive.

"Jentoru Men Nakajima Store" This was my first time starting a drinking session in Muroran, but it got off to a late start, so it spilled over to the next day. For our fourth stop, we decided to end the night at this ramen shop. My companion had her eye on the "Curry Ramen" from the start. I wasn't particularly interested in a place with a name like this, but it seems to be popular among those who know it. Personally, I don't have a good impression of Muroran's curry ramen, so I wasn't interested at all. However, I recently found out from Mocha-chan's review that the place I dislike actually originated in Tomakomai. I feel like I might break out in hives... The previous customers were just one person, and there were two others besides us. We sat at the counter, but there was also a spacious raised seating area. Did they throw cushions at each other to decide the layout? The cushions were randomly placed all over. The staff, a guy and a lady, have a ventriloquist act going on, with the lady responding even when you talk to the guy. I already knew about this, so I'm playing along. It's quite fun. Despite being a ramen shop, it's a non-smoking establishment, which is fantastic. I'll give them the title of "Responsible Owners" for that. When I asked the guy, "Don't you have people complaining about the non-smoking rule and leaving?" he replied, "No, there aren't any." The ventriloquist lady chimed in as well. It's enjoyable. I highly recommend the curry ramen here. My companion had the "Curry Ramen," as expected. I was torn between the "Salt Ramen" and the recommended "Beef Tendon Shoyu Ramen." The beer was served in bottles, and the glass had ice in it. You can pour one regular glass, but the second one only fills up with foam. What's going on? Is it that dirty? The ramen arrived in about seven minutes. The "Curry Ramen" had a thick consistency, with a color that I like. It starts off sweet and then the spiciness kicks in, quite forcefully. It's pretty spicy. That's just my standard, having tried Indian food at the highest spice level. This is just a joke, so no need to react. My companion mentioned that the texture was a bit grainy. She said, "It tastes like grated apple." I didn't notice that, but maybe the sweetness comes from apple? She also said, "It's spicy and delicious." The "Beef Tendon Shoyu Ramen" had a generous amount of beef tendon on top. I thought this ramen was expensive, but it turns out it's not that pricey. The beef tendon was delicious. I can't eat just half of it. The noodles were Sapporo-style high-hydration noodles, which were delicious. Maybe a bit too soft? I didn't care for the seaweed, but at least there were no weird bean sprouts. Speaking of which, I had curry ramen with bean sprouts at a different place recently, and it was delicious. So, it's just that particular place that isn't good. It all comes full circle, right? It's always connected, so please stay with me. The chashu pork only came with the curry ramen, probably because of the generous amount of beef tendon. The soup had a strong umami and richness to it, making it a very tasty ramen. My companion said, "The beef tendon ramen was tastier." It's great that even the final ramen spot is non-smoking. That's the right attitude to have. If you're confident, that's all that matters. If you're annoyed and trying to send a message to the person smoking next to you by fanning the menu, then that's what I think of you.

The curry ramen had a strong base of fish and shellfish broth. The noodles were curly and slightly firm. The chashu topping was so tender that it fell apart easily when picked up with chopsticks. It was my first time trying curry ramen, and I was expecting it to be a bit sweeter, but it was quite intense in flavor.

I asked for a recommendation when I first entered the restaurant. I was recommended the curry ramen, so I ordered it. I couldn't help but think of the taste of Oomori's curry ramen, but I was surprised. It felt more like a soup curry, with vegetables melted in the soup and a collaboration with Chinese noodles. The curry had a strong impact, almost like the main character, while the noodles, maybe the supporting role, didn't stand out. The curry was delicious, and I could taste it in my mouth for about two hours. Personally, I think this is a restaurant that curry lovers will love.

It's been a while since my last visit. When it comes to curry ramen, people tend to think about the taste... However, this place is delicious too.