Local ramen shop revisited. This chain has three locations in my city. The main branch has been around for over 40 years, and I think this one is about the same age. It's located near the police station. Come to think of it, this is where I got my first ever police questioning. (;^_^A) "Horyu East Branch" at 1:30 PM on a weekday. Only one other customer. It's not too crowded at this time. I ordered the "Salt Ramen" for 750 yen. The soup is a bit bland, lacking in richness and flavor. I usually don't use the condiments on the table, but today I needed some pepper to help. It seems like the taste varies between branches. The main branch and parallel branch have similar and delicious flavors, but... Looking back at my reviews, the main branch got a 3.5, the parallel branch a 3.4, and this East Branch a 3.0. Well, some people must like this taste since it's been around for so long... Next time, I'll skip the ramen and try the "Gyoza Rice."

On May 11, 2020, "Ebi Shio" is recommended here. This time, I had "Butter Soy Sauce & Gyoza Rice". The traditional soy sauce with butter was a perfect match. The gyoza was delicious too. Thank you for the meal. I'm really full now.

I grew up in Sapporo until high school (specifically as a ronin student), so I can't forget the taste of Sapporo ramen. I really love miso ramen. After that, I spent time in Asahikawa, where the miso ramen has a slightly different taste. When I crave miso ramen, it has to be Sapporo-style. I visited Kitami for my son's sports tournament. I researched this restaurant within walking distance from the sports center. It said that the miso ramen is delicious. Hmm, sounds good. I arrived on a scorching hot summer day. It was so hot. But inside the restaurant was pleasantly cool. I looked at the menu and found the reasonably priced Chashu Ramen for 850 yen. I decided to try the miso chashu ramen. It's rare to see a ramen shop using a wok these days. Here, they use a well-seasoned wok. When stir-frying bean sprouts, flames rise. Oh, yes, when I was a child, the ramen shop I always went to had the sun rising from the wok. It's really nostalgic. It feels good. After about 5 minutes, it was ready. Oh, this color is it. The color of the soup. A slightly whitish miso and oil floating on top. It looks good. The noodles are Sapporo-style curly noodles. Everything is to my liking. The soup is piping hot. This is good too. The bean sprouts are crunchy. This is also great. The chashu is tender and delicious. Memories of my childhood from about 40 years ago come flooding back. Sapporo's miso ramen. Recently, there has been an increase in ramen shops where you just pour soup over boiled noodles and add toppings. In the past, most shops used a wok to "cook". The prices were cheap and it felt good. I enjoyed it. I don't have many opportunities to visit Kitami, so it was a good experience. If I have the chance to go again, I would definitely want to go. Thank you for the meal.

I went to Hooryu Higashiten in Kitami! Today is also ramen (^_^) I passed by two places that were closed or had a long line, and finally decided on this one. There are two locations, and I chose the East store. The place was almost full when I entered, but there was some space at the counter. I ordered the miso ramen for 700 yen. It seems like a husband and wife run the place, as they work together smoothly. After about 15 minutes of waiting, the ramen arrived. It was a relatively small bowl. The miso flavor was unique, not too strong but with a good umami taste. It felt like a mix of miso and salt ramen. The noodles were medium-thick curly noodles, which paired well with the miso broth. Although I usually enjoy rich ramen, this light miso ramen was also delicious. I have had Kitami ramen four times now, and three out of four have been great. Maybe I'm lucky, or maybe there are just many delicious ramen shops here. Today, I enjoyed a tasty bowl of ramen at Hooryu. Thank you for the meal! (⌒0⌒)

Today, I didn't like the menu at the company cafeteria, so I went out for a quick ramen. It's only a 5-minute drive from the office. I went to "Ho Ryu East Store." Last time, I tried the salt ramen and it was okay. Today, I tried the miso ramen for 700 yen. The soup was thin and tasted like it had artificial seasoning. The miso flavor was subtle. The noodles were on the soft side. The chashu was small and there were some overcooked vegetables. I added grated garlic and chili pepper on top and finished my meal. Overall, it was a bit disappointing this time.

I visited the restaurant after the snowstorm had subsided around noon. It was past 11 o'clock but there were no previous customers. The signboard was still up at the entrance, maybe because strong winds were forecasted for today? Even after entering, there was no one inside (laughs). The sensor beeped and finally a woman came out to take my order. Referring to reviews, I decided to try the shrimp salt ramen. There was only one other customer. Oh, they have miso ramen, I see. The ramen was served in about 10 minutes. Even before taking a bite, there was a nice aroma of shrimp. The surface seemed to be dyed yellow with shrimp oil. The broth was surprisingly light with a good aroma. As I continued eating, the saltiness became more pronounced. Although the shrimp flavor wasn't very strong initially, it came through later. The ramen was piping hot. The chashu and menma were well-seasoned. The peeled shrimp was firm, and the wakame provided a refreshing break for the palate. I finished the meal without leaving any broth. Afterwards, my throat felt dry (Thank you for the meal).

In the cold season, I crave warm food. Ramen is the best choice. I decided to visit this place on the weekend as it doesn't seem too crowded. Located in Takasago-cho, Kitami City, it's one of the four branches in the city. It's located across from the joint government building. The interior has counter seats and 5 sunken tables. It's quite busy, with about 80% of the seats filled. Many customers in work clothes are noticeable, as well as a few older ladies. The kitchen is run by the owner couple and three staff members. The owner is silent, only the staff member speaks. Just like the main branch of Ho-ryu, the owner is a silent old man. Is it a rule of the restaurant? I ordered the "Salt Ramen" for 700 yen. There was a wait, about 7-8 minutes. The soup is clear like other Ho-ryu branches, with a rich flavor. It comes with chashu, menma, and green onions. The stir-fried vegetables like bean sprouts, onions, and carrots are fragrant and delicious. The noodles are from Nishiyama and are slightly white. Overall, it's a tasty Sapporo ramen.

◆May 2013◆ Today I had a business trip to Kitami, so I decided to have lunch at Hooryu Higashi Branch, which is within walking distance. The location is next to Lawson Takasago Store on Aoba Street. It is a branch of the long-established ramen shop, Hooryu, in Miyama. The menu seems to be the same as the main store. The interior has counter seats and a raised seating area, and it was bustling with regular customers and families. [Ramen I had] When looking at the menu, I saw a new menu item, Ebi Shio Ramen, so I quickly ordered it. I love shrimp. The appearance is like a normal shio ramen with a hint of red shrimp oil floating on top. The fragrant shrimp aroma stimulates the appetite. The soup is quite rich in salt flavor, and the shrimp is not too rich, just subtly fragrant. The soup is very hot, and the crunchy texture of the vegetables is amazing. The vegetables are stir-fried in a wok, which is a big plus. The noodles are Nishiyama, but they are a bit too chewy. I felt that they would be better if they were a bit thinner and had more curls to match this soup. It had a nostalgic Sapporo ramen feel, which is the type of shop I like. Thank you for the meal.

I had ramen in Kitami!! I don't remember why I went to Kitami, but I found a ramen shop there. I sat at the counter, and the interior of the shop was surprisingly spacious. The quiet owner and his wife were behind the counter. There were 8 seats at the counter and about 5 tables in the raised area. The atmosphere was a bit tense, but the service was efficient. The owner seemed plain, and the shop was simple but clean. They also offered takeout and delivery. I ordered soy sauce and shrimp salt ramen. The bowl was preheated, which was a nice touch. The soup had a subtle shrimp flavor, but it was not overpowering. The seaweed in the ramen was not very flavorful, but I didn't mind. The noodles were standard and the chashu was a bit salty for my taste. Overall, the shrimp salt ramen was delicious.

In September 2014, when traveling from Lake Saroma to Obihiro by car, we stopped here for lunch. We originally planned to go to "Aparetei Kitami Store," but it seemed to have moved, so we couldn't find it. The restaurant is located along Aoba Street in Kitami city, next to a Lawson convenience store. There is a noticeable yellow sign at the front of the building, with a red curtain hanging at the entrance. There are about five parking spaces in front of the building. The interior of the restaurant has a slightly retro feel, like a casual diner. There are about six tables for 2-4 people and a counter with eight seats. When we visited around 12:10 on a weekday (midway through a long weekend), there were about 5-6 groups of customers, mostly elderly locals. The menu offers various types of ramen such as miso, salt, and soy sauce, as well as tsukemen, hiyashi chuka (limited to summer), gyoza, and more. The prices are reasonable. I ordered the "Chashu Ramen (miso) for 850 yen," while my companion ordered the "Chashu Ramen (soy sauce) for 850 yen." Both were served in about 10 minutes. The "Chashu Ramen (miso)" and "Chashu Ramen (soy sauce)" seemed to have the same toppings except for the soup. Each bowl had five large slices of chashu, stir-fried vegetables (bean sprouts, onions), menma, and chopped green onions. The chashu had little fat and a firm texture, which I liked. The miso soup had a clear layer of oil on top, with a savory miso flavor and a hint of sweetness from the onions. It was not too rich but had a good depth of flavor. The medium-thick curly noodles had a nice chewy texture that paired well with the soup. This miso ramen seemed like a classic Sapporo ramen in terms of appearance and taste. It was a pleasant surprise to find Sapporo ramen in Kitami. I tried a bit of the soy sauce soup from my companion's "Chashu Ramen (soy sauce)," and it had a more distinct soy sauce flavor. It was good, but I personally prefer the miso flavor.

I'm curious about the popular shrimp salt ramen that costs 850 yen, which is more expensive than the chashu ramen. I'll try it next time when I have the chance. The tsukemen for 600 yen is served with hot and spicy rich miso dipping sauce, paired with Sapporo ramen's familiar Nishiyama Seimen's chewy medium-thick curly noodles. Toppings include chopped green onions, chopped seaweed, menma, and chashu. The chashu is made of chewy thigh meat that releases a lot of flavor as you bite into it. The dipping sauce contains sautéed bean sprouts and onions. It's truly the tsukemen version of Sapporo miso ramen.

I live fairly close by, so I visit this shop quite often during lunchtime. I'm a fan of their miso ramen. The soup is incredibly delicious. They also offer delivery, and I often see men carrying their distinctive bags leaving the shop. It's a sign that they are loved by the locals. I recently tried their tsukemen, and it was amazing with its rich soup and noodles. Whether you go early or in the afternoon, the taste is consistently good, so overall, I highly recommend this shop.

One of the ramen shops that has been operating for a long time in Kitami. They must have been able to continue for a long time because they have been maintaining a good taste. The shop is located across from the Kitami Joint Government Building, where the Hello Work office is located. It gets crowded during lunchtime. I ordered the "Salt Ramen." The noodles are medium thick and curly. The soup is clear and transparent. The toppings such as chashu and menma are very simple. The bean sprouts are crunchy and good. It's a completely standard dish, but quite delicious. It's a classic Sapporo ramen, isn't it? (^o^)v

A traditional ramen shop. I love that they serve it with hot stir-fried bean sprouts. The miso ramen is recommended. It reminds me of Sapporo-style miso ramen. That's why I always order the miso ramen. With miso, you can taste the miso flavor as well as the delicious soup. The shoyu is a bit on the strong side. The saltiness varies depending on the day. The noodles are also delicious, made with Nishiyama noodles. There is a parking lot in front of the shop, making it easy to visit.

I tried ordering delivery. I ordered the normal size for 950 yen, but when I upgraded to the large size, it became 1050 yen! Quite expensive, huh? Well, at least they deliver it to you, right? It's close by, so the noodles were still hot and not overcooked. The toppings included seaweed, fish cake, boiled egg, wakame seaweed, and wheat gluten - that's the "five toppings," right? I wonder if the default ramen comes with chashu pork, bamboo shoots, and stir-fried bean sprouts? The chashu pork was tasty and spicy with a soy sauce base. Other than that, there's nothing particularly noteworthy. Maybe the impression would change if I ate at the restaurant? The quick delivery service deserves praise.