鷲尾★ジロー
◆Cafe Ramen Series Vol. 3
In the early Showa era in Sapporo, it was popular to eat ramen at cafes. Is this tradition still being carried on in modern times? Let's visit a cafe that serves ramen, "Ramen Cafe Maitake" in Shin-hassamu, Teine Ward. This place is more like a ramen shop with a cafe menu rather than a cafe serving ramen, if that makes sense. It used to be located elsewhere before. The shop is located in Shin-hassamu, Teine Ward in Sapporo. Turn onto Shimohassamu Street towards Teine, then turn right at the signal for "Shin-hassamu 4-6". The Sapporo Shuyukai Hospital and Inazumi Police Box on the right will serve as landmarks (just before Kyoei Bridge). As you go a little further, you'll find a stylish shop nestled in a residential area. It's not facing a major street, so it has a bit of a hidden gem vibe. The sign says "Cafe & Ramen," making it easy to spot. There are 4 parking spaces in front of the shop. The interior has 4 calm table seats. There is no counter, and the owner and his wife handle the kitchen and the dining area. The menu includes popular dishes like oil soba, shoyu, shio, miso, and limited editions (this time it's hiyashi chuka and tantanmen). For this first visit, I ordered the "shio ramen" for 700 yen. Water is self-service, and condiments and chopsticks are provided in a separate box on the table. The cafe-like atmosphere is reflected in the tidy table setup. After about 10 minutes, the ramen was served. Surprisingly, all the cafes in this series seem to take some time to serve the food. Is it a sign to not rush? The bowl is a long, elongated cut stand bowl with a white ceramic body and a saucer. It looks stylish and appealing. Now, let's dig in. First, the soup. It's delicious! The salt soup has a subtle ginger flavor in the hot broth. I think the broth is made from animal products. The aromatic oil in the soup is impressive. Maybe it's scallion oil? It adds a punch to the clear soup. The noodles are low hydration thin straight noodles. They have a firm bite and a smooth texture, making them quite interesting. They are supplied by Sagamiya Seimen. The toppings include 3 slices of chashu, chopped scallions, flat menma, and spinach. The chopped scallions give off a fragrant aroma. The chashu, made from pork belly perhaps, is roasted and thick. It's tender and melts in your mouth. Now, as always, I finished every last drop of the soup. Yum! I cleaned my bowl and cup. Indeed, this is a "cafe-style authentic ramen." The key is the aromatic oil in the broth. The ramen turned out to be more authentic than I expected, and the soup remained piping hot until the end. Since the place was full and there were already 3 groups waiting, I decided to settle the bill and leave early, even though I had planned to enjoy a coffee and read a book. The waiting customers included families and college students, showing a wide range of clientele. It seems like this place has firmly established itself in the community, especially with a university nearby. With such delicious ramen, it's no wonder there's a line. Next time, I might try their famous oil soba. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal. *57th bowl of 2021 (visited on June 6, 2021).