鷲尾★ジロー
I have commented before on eating ramen in Kitami, but Kitami is a city where both Sapporo-style and Asahikawa-style ramen flavors coexist. Tonight's dinner was at "Ramen En" in Kitami. This shop serves Sapporo-style ramen. Their website mentions that they trained at a ramen shop in Sapporo. I wonder which shop it was. The shop is located in Chuo Sanrin, Kitami City. It is on the west side of Kitami, towards Asahikawa. It shares a parking lot with Tsuruha Drug Sanrin Kitami store, making it easy to park. I arrived just before 7 pm and entered the shop. They apparently relocated last fall, and the new store has a beautiful interior. From the extensive menu, I ordered the most popular "En Miso" for 850 yen and the classic Kitami topping, "Delicious Salt Hormone" for 250 yen. While waiting for my order, I casually watched the kitchen and noticed a spectacular flame rising. The counter is separated from the kitchen by glass, so you don't feel the heat, but the high flames are quite impressive. After about 10 minutes, the ramen was served. It had a rich miso soup base with chashu, menma, green onions, flavored egg, and the added hormone topping. The bowl was simple and practical. Now, let's dig in. First, the soup. It had a tangy red miso flavor, with a light and savory broth. The noodles were yellow medium-thick curly noodles, with a firm and chewy texture. The toppings included stir-fried bean sprouts and onions in Sapporo style. The chashu was thick but had a slightly strong pork smell. It was also served lukewarm, which was disappointing. The pork hormone was fantastic, with a chewy and satisfying texture. The flavored egg was lukewarm, unfortunately. Overall, I finished every last drop of soup and found myself completely satisfied. Eating Sapporo-style ramen in Kitami was quite an experience. The hormone was delicious. However, the moisture from the stir-fried vegetables seemed to not have evaporated completely under the heat. The broth, despite being animal-based, felt a bit weak. If the balance between the stir-fried ingredients, soup, and sauce is improved, the flavor could be richer. But taste preferences vary from person to person. It's all just personal impressions. The taste can also change depending on your condition on the day you eat it, so ultimately, you have to try the ramen yourself to confirm your preferences. Thank you for the meal! *32nd bowl in 2021 (visited on April 19, 2021).