I had salt ramen at "Abe Ma," formerly known as Aji no Sanpei, located at 3-2 Higashi-hikari 5-jo, Asahikawa City (priced at 720 yen). It is a simple Asahikawa salt ramen with green onions, bamboo shoots, and chashu. The noodles are from Katou Ramen, creating a sesame oil-based salt ramen. Most customers choose miso, spicy miso, or extra spicy miso at this restaurant. "Abe Ma" took over from the "Aji no Sanpei Higashi-hikari branch," which closed on July 31, 2021, and opened with a new name on October 11, 2021. The restaurant was quite crowded, and they have switched to a ticket vending machine system. The menu is mostly unchanged from the Aji no Sanpei era. Prices range from 720 yen for salt ramen to 860 yen for miso ramen (with spice levels from 1 to 30). The noodles in the salt ramen are delicious Asahikawa noodles from Katou Ramen, and the soup is piping hot with sesame oil. Some may have mixed opinions on sesame oil-based salt ramen, but I still prefer miso ramen. Overall, it was a satisfying meal.

It's been about two years since my last visit to this place, which used to be part of Sanpei but has now become Abema. I wonder if the taste is the same as Sanpei's? I should visit Sanpei next time to compare. I was able to get in easily this time. I always had the impression that it's always crowded and hard to get in. Even on weekdays, there's usually a wait. But on this day, I got in without any trouble. Maybe people are avoiding spicy ramen because of the heat? The prices are not listed. The menu outside lists the spiciness levels and toppings, but no prices. This could lead to surprises when ordering. In reality, I ordered the ramen and mini katsudon. I considered getting just the katsudon, but I really wanted to try the ramen after such a long time. I bought the meal ticket. The specialty here is the miso ramen, with its sweet and spicy miso flavor. They also have soy sauce and salt options, but I've never seen anyone order them. The ramen ranges from spiciness level 0 to 10, priced at 970 yen, with additional charges for higher spice levels. The last time I visited two years ago, the miso ramen was 860 yen. I chose the same seat as last time. The restaurant has a counter with 6-7 seats and 2 tables. Surprisingly, I was seated at the same spot as my last visit. It's amazing how timing can make such a difference. About 10 minutes after I entered, there was a line forming. I guess I really lucked out with the timing. I ordered the Sanpei miso ramen with a spiciness level of three and a side of small rice. The total came to 1120 yen. The ramen had a sweet taste first, followed by spiciness. The spiciness was manageable, thanks to the sweetness. The inclusion of cabbage in the ramen helps to mellow out the spiciness. The noodles are low in water content, almost straight noodles. The lack of water content allows the noodles to absorb the spicy soup, enhancing the sweet and spicy flavor. The bowl has a ridged surface, allowing the sesame to be ground in it. I ended up sweating quite a bit from the spiciness. I drank a lot of water. I also tried the rice with the miso soup, and the sweetness of the rice complemented the slightly spicy soup well. Overall, I was able to finish the spiciness level of three. Maybe next time I'll try level four? If I get too confident, I might end up regretting it. But I remember trying the super spicy ramen at the original Sanpei store in Kagura back in the day. I think I'll try to forget that memory. It was a delicious meal.

It's been a while since I visited Asahikawa. There are really delicious ramen shops in Asahikawa. Among them, this shop is one that I want to visit again. I visited around 2 pm on a holiday. I was able to enter easily as I avoided peak hours. Of course, I ordered the spicy miso ramen, the usual number 10, with extra green onions. It was as delicious as always. It's spicy but also sweet. The texture of the cabbage and green onions is irresistible. I feel like it could be a bit spicier, but I can't quite step up to the next level yet. If you choose the extra spicy option, it's over a thousand yen! Next time for sure!

Since becoming Abema-san, this was my first visit. I wanted to eat the rich-tasting Katsudon that was available during the Sanpei-san era, so I went there. I ordered the Miso Ramen, level 3 spicy, with a topping of fried mochi plus a mini Katsudon for 1560 yen. It seems that only those who order ramen can request the mini Katsudon. The Katsudon had the traditional rich flavor from the past, but the unity between the meat and the breading was lost, which was a bit disappointing. The taste was delicious though. The Miso Ramen, level 3 spicy, was a bit too spicy for me. I decided I would go for level 2 next time. Also, I was very disappointed by the lack of vegetables. While toppings are available, I can't help but feel they are a bit overpriced. The fried mochi gave me the same sense of being overpriced. Everyone has their own perspective on this, but as someone who has been going since the Sanpei-san era, I couldn't help but think of Sanpei Ramen as having lots of vegetables and mochi. It feels like they are separating the original selling point and making it an extra cost... That's the impression I got. By the way, it's a ticket system, and it seems that electronic money cannot be used at all.

The miso ramen with pork cutlet topping was delicious. It cost 1420 yen and was worth it. The pork cutlet was really tasty and seemed to justify the price. Although pork cutlet ramen is a famous dish in Asahikawa, it might be just as good without the ramen (lol).

I wanted to try something unique to Asahikawa. There were a few options, but I decided to go with ramen. I ended up at this place, which had changed its name. I bought a food ticket and then found a seat. The mochi topping caught my eye, it seems like it's a new addition. Maybe due to rising costs. I like my noodles firm, so I requested that. An elderly customer asked if they still had the Sanpei ramen, but the staff kept saying it was "level 10 spicy." There was a bit of a misunderstanding. Oh, the ramen I used to eat here! I remember sweating and dripping with snot while eating it in the past. But this time, I handled the spice pretty well. Maybe I've become more tolerant to spicy food. I left some mochi for in-between bites. The soup was so flavorful, just like I remembered. Overall, I was very satisfied. I think next time I'll go for an extra spicy option.

This is my first time here since Abe-san and Sanpei-san took over. This miso ramen is perfect for those who like thick and spicy broth. I ordered level 5 spiciness with extra mushrooms. Even though it's still before lunchtime, there was a line. Look for the red vertical sign. The miso soup has a rich flavor, paired with curly noodles. The spiciness at level 10 was manageable for me. The mushrooms complemented the ramen well. It was delicious eating the ramen while sweating. Thank you for the meal!

This was my first visit since becoming an Abe supporter. I came here because I wanted to have my child try a spicy ramen. I ordered the Shoyu Ramen with extra green onions for myself. It looked appetizing and I finished it quickly. My child had the Miso Ramen with level 3 spiciness and was sweating while eating it. Unfortunately, I don't have a photo of the Miso Ramen.

"I had the 'Miso Ramen 5 Spicy' for 970 yen. I had heard that it was delicious at 'Aji no Sanpei', so I tried to go for lunch once, but it was full and I couldn't get in. This time, I shifted the time a bit and secured a counter seat. When I was younger, I used to eat very spicy food, but now that I'm older, I think a sweet and spicy flavor is the best, so I chose level 5 spiciness. After it was served, I added 3 spoonfuls of garlic from the table to enhance the garlic flavor. We have to take advantage of the mask era here. I like my vegetables crunchy, so I quickly flipped them over. The noodles, soup, everything is delicious. Among recent ramen shops, this is top-notch. The umami surpasses the spiciness. The soup has a really good broth. I want to drink it all up. Adding garlic was also good. Some people avoid garlic for various reasons, but let's enjoy delicious food!"

Recently, there have been a lot of posts about Asahikawa... haha because there are mountains there haha. In two nights and three days, I had my fourth bowl of ramen (￣∀￣). Even though I walked 30 kilometers in two days, burning calories seems to be a challenge, right? haha. Also, I have been drinking during that time. Now, today, I just have to go back to Sapporo. So, I arrived 15 minutes before the opening of this ramen shop recommended by my senior (I heard it gets really crowded). I was the second customer at that time, but just before the opening, more and more customers started lining up in front of the shop... Anyway, I got in on the first round so it was okay. Since I don't come here often, I splurged and ordered the miso ramen level 10 spicy (free MAX), with extra green onions, extra vegetables, and spinach topping, it was around 1200 yen I think. Despite its color, the miso ramen was not very spicy, in fact, it had a strong sweetness. The toppings were satisfying and good value for money. The soup was delicious, but it completely betrayed my expectations for spiciness! I guess I'll have to pay extra for more spice if I want to satisfy my spicy food cravings. But it was tasty, so I kept drinking it and after finishing it, my face looked swollen... in a way, this kind of ramen is quite rare!

Three portions of level 10 spiciness with green onion topping. The normal version does not come with green onions. I absolutely hate ramen without green onions, so the topping is a must! The pork cutlet bowl is the deliciously rich type that seems bad for your body (in a good way)!

Before the pandemic, I used to visit Asahikawa quite often, and whenever I come to Asahikawa, I always go to Mitsubayashi at Higashi Ko. However, when I arrived this time, I noticed that the name of the restaurant had changed. Feeling a bit uneasy, I entered the restaurant and found a ticket machine installed, with the menu remaining the same as before. It seems like the owner's son has taken over, which was a relief. I ordered the spicy miso ramen with extra wood ear mushrooms. The dish arrived fairly quickly, and I was happy to see that they still serve the ramen in the same traditional bowl. The Asahikawa ramen noodles paired well with the slightly sweet and spicy miso soup. It seemed like the sweetness has decreased compared to before, but it wasn't a big issue. It was also nice that they still accept the old loyalty cards from the previous restaurant. I would definitely like to visit again when I'm in town for business!

From the taste of Sanpei, the previous owner retired and the son took over the shop. The layout inside remains mostly the same, but a ticket machine and self-service water dispenser have been installed on the left. At the ticket machine, it is worth noting that fried mochi has been changed to a topping only option. I liked having a little something extra as a palate cleanser, but now it comes as a topping with 7 pieces. I don't need that many. Now, I ordered the reliable miso ramen level 5 spicy and after about 10 minutes, it was served. The sesame oil flavor remains the same. Has the bowl gotten a bit smaller? Was it always like this? I can't remember. The flavor is almost the same. The balance of sweet miso and spiciness is well done, and the sesame oil flavor and hot temperature are consistent. The cabbage is crunchy and delicious. Inheriting the taste is not easy, especially with rising costs, but they seem to be working hard at it. It would be nice if they could offer the fried mochi as an optional extra at a lower price.

The locals took me to this place, which used to be called Sanpei Ramen. During lunchtime, customers kept coming in and there was always a line. The staff worked efficiently to make ramen quickly. I had the miso ramen, level 8 spiciness, with extra vegetables. The portion was quite large and very filling. The flavor was amazing, with a good balance of spiciness and richness. The sesame oil added a nice touch. Be prepared to sweat a lot because it's quite spicy, and the ventilation may not be the best.

On Christmas night, as a holiday dinner, I had "Spicy Miso Ramen (Level 3) 860 yen + Fried Rice Cakes (7 pieces) 100 yen". My daughter, a high school student, went out with her friends, leaving me and my wife behind. So, the two of us went out to have dinner together♪ This place, known as "Aji no Sanpei", has been beloved for 25 years. In October of this year, the business was passed down, and the name and store were renewed. Now, it stands as the king of spicy miso ramen in the city. Normally, it's a popular spot with long lines, but today we were able to walk in easily (laughs). Without hesitation, I ordered the Level 3 spicy miso ramen from the ticket machine. I also added the fried rice cakes, which are a must-have for me. Soon after, the spicy miso ramen was served. The aroma of sesame oil rising from the steam was comforting. I took a sip of the soup. Mmm, it's deliciously spicy! The first thing you notice is the strong spiciness of the red miso. Then, the mellow sweetness of the white miso follows. It's a deep and delicious miso soup! Of course, it pairs perfectly with the low hydration rate noodles from Asahikawa. The noodles soaked in the soup are incredibly tasty. Not to mention, the combination of fried rice cakes with the soup is unbeatable in flavor. It's a must-try experience. Sweating while enjoying every last drop of the soup, my wife and I agreed that it was delicious. Another customer who arrived later had added white leeks on top of the fried rice cakes. "That must be delicious too," we couldn't help but chuckle together. Next time, we'll definitely order the Level 3 spicy miso ramen with fried rice cakes and white leeks!

In the past, there were rumors of the popular sweet and spicy ramen shop closing down. It was said that it might be taken over by family members or undergo a transformation. I finally visited the place after things had settled down a bit. I ordered the super spicy ramen (level 10) which was a signature dish of the shop. The young staff seemed busy and energetic. The wait time was around 10 minutes, and they even provided paper aprons, which I find essential. The ramen was served in a hot bowl, and the aroma of the sweet and spicy soup was appetizing. The portion size was large and the balance seemed a bit off. The flavor was slightly different from before, with more sweetness and a lighter taste. The shop was always crowded with loyal customers. I haven't tried the regular miso ramen yet, but I plan to challenge it with extra spice next time. Overall, it was a satisfying experience.

When it comes to Sanpei's, it is a famous restaurant in Asahikawa known for its spicy miso ramen. The main store in Kagura closed down and reopened in Kamii. However, that location also closed, and now it has opened on Ichijo Street. There is a new place called Harumitsu that opened, but I have not visited yet. Sanpei also had stores in Toyooka and Toko, but it seems that the Toko store has changed recently. It has become a red building with a different exterior and name. I thought Sanpei had passed away, but it doesn't seem to be the case. Anyway, I decided to try the food. However, Sanpei's miso ramen is spicy. Last year, I visited the same place, and the menu was displayed outside, making it easy to decide before entering. The menu has changed slightly at Sanpei. Now, you buy a ticket first and then place your order. The interior is not very spacious, so it can take time if you are indecisive. It's better to decide outside and then enter to find the button to order. You can also choose the level of spiciness now. After a 30-minute wait, I finally got my order of Sanpei's miso ramen, now called Abe Ma. The set I ordered was a miso ramen with a mini pork cutlet bowl, which turned out to be quite expensive. I opted for medium spiciness, even though even one level of spiciness is usually too hot for me. The ramen had a hint of sweetness and then the spiciness kicked in. The taste was still the same as the original Sanpei miso flavor. The noodles were the same as before, low in moisture but not overly dry. The soup was served in a large bowl, making the portion look smaller than it actually was. The mini pork cutlet bowl was a nostalgic favorite of mine, and it did not disappoint. The unique flavor of the miso pork cutlet bowl was satisfying, and the portion size was generous. Despite the name change, the taste remained true to the original Sanpei's style.

Ramen restaurant in Higashi-Ko, Asahikawa City. It opened as "Abema" on October 11th, following "Aji no Sanpei". Every time I thought about going, there was always a line before opening. I thought it might have calmed down a bit in November, but it's still very popular. Just to be safe, I arrived 15 minutes before opening. I was the first in line. Then, one car after another arrived. About 10 people entered right at opening time. By 11:10, there were people waiting for seats. I left at around 11:20, and all the waiting seats were taken, with about 5 people waiting outside. You buy food tickets from the machine and the staff will guide you to your seat. I definitely want to try the spicy miso here. Last time I had "8 spicy" at "Sanpei", so this time I'll go for "10 spicy"! Up to 9 spicy is labeled as "miso ramen", but 10 spicy and above are labeled as "super spicy ramen". I ordered the "Super Spicy Ramen (10 spicy)" (860 yen) and added "Fried Mochi (7 pieces)" (100 yen). Water, wet towels, and paper aprons are self-service next to the ticket machine. It arrived in about 7-8 minutes. The blend of miso (white miso) and super spicy (red miso) seems to adjust the spiciness. 10 spicy was definitely spicy at first, but within the spiciness, I could also taste a sweetness. Maybe it's the sweetness from the vegetables? It's a deeply flavorful soup. The noodles are low-hydration medium-thin curly noodles, very delicious when combined with the soup! The fried mochi goes well with the super spicy soup! There were 7 bite-sized pieces. I enjoyed dipping them in the soup! I included a photo of the November business hours, which are until 4 pm every day, with no evening hours. I hope "Abema" continues to thrive as one of Asahikawa's popular ramen shops!!

The other day, I arrived at a restaurant I had previously given up on just 5 minutes before opening, but there were already customers waiting in line. I bought a meal ticket from the ticket machine at 11 o'clock. There was a large menu on the outside wall, so I was able to decide what to order while waiting, which was nice for someone like me who struggles with ticket machines. I ordered the level 3 spicy ramen with extra spicy sauce and garlic mayo rice. The noodles were firm and the dish was served in 15 minutes. It had a nice aroma. The first sip of the soup was spicy, but the ramen here is not just about spiciness. The sweetness of the vegetables and the richness of the soup stand out more than the spiciness. There was plenty of oil floating on top, and it was piping hot. The soup was truly delicious. The cabbage and bean sprouts had a good crunch to them, adding to the overall taste. I ordered the firm, medium-thick curly noodles with low water content, and the chewy texture was outstanding. It was a well-balanced bowl of ramen. As for the garlic mayo rice, it was topped with finely chopped chashu, white sesame seeds, green onions, and mayonnaise, but it didn't have any particular standout features. The finely chopped chashu was easy to eat. This is my favorite part of the spicy ramen.

I had miso ramen with a spice level of 5 at Abema-san for lunch today. It cost 860 yen, and I added a pork cutlet for 380 yen and fried mochi for 100 yen. The restaurant opened on October 11th, so it was very crowded. You can choose the level of spiciness for the ramen, and I went with a medium 5. It was served in about 10 minutes. The pork cutlet topping added more volume to the dish. The soup stayed hot until the last bite. The sweet and spicy flavor of the ramen was quite enjoyable. You can also choose the firmness of the noodles, and I recommend going for the firm option. Abema-san is a place that can get you hooked.

The "Abe Ma" restaurant, formerly known as "Aji no Sanpei Higashimitsu branch," reopened with a new look after closing on July 31st this year. It seems like they have kept the counter but converted the raised seating area into regular table seating. You need to buy a food ticket and wait to be seated. Once seated, you need to get your own water, towels, and paper aprons near the entrance. I tried the miso ramen for 860 yen, opting for a mild "level 9 spiciness" to avoid a runny nose. Despite being busy, the service was fast. The soup had the familiar Sanpei flavor, with a nice balance of sweetness and depth even with the added spiciness. Just like at Sugawara Sanpei, you can add the fried rice cakes as a topping, but with 7 pieces, it was too much for me to finish. It seems that the sons who used to be the main cooks during the Aji no Sanpei days have taken over, as the taste remains delicious and unchanged. My concerns about a runny nose were unfounded, so no need for a runny nose rating!