Review of two visits in August 2023 combined. This is a ramen shop run by the owner of "Rakuten", you know, during the day. It's been a while since I last visited, but I noticed that the menu has expanded, and I was curious about the Tonkotsu Shoyu ramen, so I decided to try it out. It seems to be a house-style ramen, but the owner hasn't fully mastered it yet, as he is still learning from his mentor (the owner of Otaru's homemade noodle shop) who learned from the master of Hiragishi-style ramen. - Tonkotsu Negi Shoyu (900 yen) - Tonkotsu Negi Miso (900 yen) The richness of the tonkotsu broth is quite strong and dense, but since there are no artificial seasonings, the umami flavor is moderate, and the attempt to enhance the richness with extra lard is noticeable, resulting in a thick layer of oil film after finishing the soup. When I was younger, I used to skim off the oil film and drink it, and I especially loved the oil film of the original owner's "Ramen Ichiban", but as I get older, well... (^^; But I actually like this kind of thing, so I'll come back to eat it again. (^^; I feel like soy sauce goes better with this house-style soup than miso. At night, "Rakuten" uses a tablet ordering system, so it's hard to have a conversation with the owner, but here, the distance is closer, so we talked about old-fashioned dining establishments in Otaru and exchanged information about food for about an hour after finishing our meal. Well, we both love "Yamaoka-ya," so it can't be helped (laughs).

I've been curious about this shop for a while (located in Shin Minato Market). There were 3 customers before me and 1 after me. I was torn between the boiled sardine ramen and the pork bone soy sauce ramen, but ended up deciding on the pork bone soy sauce ramen in large size. It took 7 minutes to wait. The noodles were medium thick with a distinct wheat flavor and a chewy texture. The soup was not the type where the pork bone flavor is strong... it had a pretty strong garlic taste! The chashu was a thin slice of a large piece, and the toppings were just seaweed and green onions, very simple. There was no egg or bamboo shoots. If I were to eat here again, I would probably go for the boiled sardine ramen next time.

I'm inside the Shin-minato Market in Otaru City. The market is open from 11:00 to 14:00, closed on Wednesdays and Fridays. The purpose of my visit today is a shop recommended by the owner, who mentioned it as a ramen inspired by MEN-EIJI, called "Kyoya," which uses noodles from Kyoya. MEN-EIJI is a young genius owner who has continued to make ramen without chemical seasonings in Sapporo, despite mixed opinions, and has grown to become a famous ramen shop representing Hokkaido. The shop uses noodles from Kyoya, which is influenced by EIJI, and the soup is learned from the same place. The atmosphere inside the shop is typical of a ramen shop in the market. I ordered the Shio Chuka Soba (700 yen), which was on sale for 700 yen instead of the usual 750 yen. The soup was strong in chicken flavor, with a hint of bonito that became more noticeable later. The balance was good, with a slight resemblance to soba broth. The soup had a strong saltiness but also a solid umami flavor despite being free of chemical seasonings. The amount of soup was a bit low, but adding vinegar towards the end would have been even better. The homemade noodles from Kyoya were thin and straight, with a firm texture that absorbed the soup well. The chashu was thinly sliced and perfectly seasoned, with chopped ginger adding a unique touch. Overall, the ramen had few toppings but was reasonably priced and made with quality ingredients. I enjoyed the meal and would love to revisit to try other items on the menu.

Today I visited a restaurant that I had been curious about for a while! They use noodles from "La-men Kyoya" and the soup is said to be inspired by the owner of Kyoya Matsubara, carrying on the DNA of "MEN-EIJI." The owner, Furukawa, also mentioned on YouTube that the "Chuka Soba" is similar to the soup from EIJI's early days, so I was really interested in trying it. But first, I chose the "Tonkotsu Shoyu" to taste the base tonkotsu soup. The rich tonkotsu soup reminded me of EIJI with its sticky texture and was incredibly delicious. The homemade noodles by Kyoya also had the spirit of EIJI and were delicious. I was very satisfied with the unexpected flavors. Next time, I want to try the "Chuka Soba" with tonkotsu and dashi broth. The location is great, inside the Shin Minato Market! If you have the chance to visit Otaru, be sure to check it out! #La-men Niko-chan #Tonkotsu Shoyu #La-men Kyoya collaboration #homemade noodles #MEN-EIJI DNA #ramen #Otaru #Shin Minato Market

I went out during the morning on a weekday and decided to quickly grab lunch here. It was my first time visiting. Even though it's a weekday, it's summer vacation, so it was almost full. Luckily, there was one seat available at the end of the counter, so I was able to sit down. I ordered the Chinese noodles (750 yen) and the braised pork rice (300 yen). The Chinese noodles were simple, with noodles, seaweed, green onions, and 2 slices of chashu. When I tried it, it had a taste similar to soba noodles. The soup, made without any artificial seasonings, was delicious. Next, the braised pork rice. The aroma was amazing, I really like the scent of cinnamon. The combination of the meat and rice was very satisfying. Even though it was a mini-sized bowl, I would love to try the full-sized version! I'll definitely come back again. Thank you for the meal!

After visiting the old Juhara residence, my wife and I discovered a catchy noodle shop with a warm curtain at the unvisited Shin Minami Taru Market! We originally planned to have sushi for lunch, but my wife decided to sit at the counter instead. I ordered the discounted Niko Niboshi Ramen with seaweed, while my wife ordered the regular ramen. The noodles were delicious, and the ginger-infused soup was also tasty. Sprinkling some pepper made it even better! My wife was also satisfied, saying this is true Japanese cuisine! The Niko Niboshi Ramen cost 600 yen, and the seaweed topping was an additional 100 yen. The regular ramen cost 750 yen. Thank you for the delicious meal!

I checked out of my accommodation at Dormy Inn and visited Shinminato Market two days in a row. I purchased the Kushiro salmon sujiko from Sato Suisan, which I enjoyed last time. I also had a ramen lunch at Nico-chan, which I liked before. On this day, the Chinese noodles were available for just one coin! The meal included: - Shrimp tempura rice ball (a delicious rice ball made with tempura sauce rice and shrimp tempura) - Chinese noodles (I chose medium-thick noodles) - Soup (high-quality soup made with natural ingredients and fish and pork bones) - Homemade medium-thick noodles made from Hokkaido wheat (medium-thick noodles enhance the flavor of the noodles) I really like this restaurant and I want to visit it again!

I visited around 13:00 on a national holiday. This ramen shop, "Ramen Kyoya," uses homemade noodles with full cooperation from two famous shops in Otaru. You order from the menu and pay in advance. I ordered the Misoramen (850 yen) with extra green onions (100 yen) and it arrived in about 7-8 minutes. It has a nice miso aroma. The soup is light and clear. The medium-thick noodles are excellent, but personally, I prefer them a bit thicker since it's miso ramen. The chashu is moist, tender, and delicious. The standard Chuka Soba and Shio ramen also look delicious. Thank you for the meal!

I checked out of the hotel where I stayed the previous day and arrived at Shinminato Ichiba Market for two consecutive days. My wife went shopping while I visited this place for the first time. The menu included Shinminato Salt Ramen (the soup has a gentle flavor with a hint of seafood and no chemical seasonings, reminiscent of Eiji's style). The noodles were homemade by the owner, who used to work at Eiji in Sapporo. The toppings included scallops, which are typical of Otaru. Even though I was still full from breakfast at the hotel, I enjoyed the delicious meal before leaving the restaurant.

A ramen shop that focuses on authentic flavors. The noodles and broth are just right. They introduce a new ramen every month to keep things fresh. This collaboration between two well-known izakayas in Otaru is gaining popularity. The noodles are provided by Ramen Ra-men Kyo, and they are delicious. This shop has great potential for future growth.

In Otaru, there is a restaurant called Maikaru Otaru near Chikko Port Station, or rather, it is now located near Wing Bay Otaru in the newly opened Shin Minami Otaru Market this spring. Due to the declaration of a state of emergency, it was closed until early September. I visited before noon on a weekday. There were 2 customers already seated and no one waiting. I had imagined the restaurant to be a bit more stylish, but it was similar to the surrounding fish markets. The only seating available was at the 5-seat counter. There were low tables that seemed to be for waiting customers, but you couldn't eat there. I ordered the Chinese noodles (thin noodles) for 750 yen and the Lu Rou Fan (300 yen). You can choose between thin and medium noodles for the Chinese noodles, and the soup is said to be unseasoned. Although Lu Rou Fan was not on the menu, they were able to provide it. Lu Rou Fan is a Taiwanese specialty, a bowl of rice topped with pork simmered in spices and soy sauce. It was served in a half-size portion, so I had it as a substitute for white rice. The Chinese noodles (thin noodles) had a type of noodles that I like, with a taste of wheat flour. The soup, although unseasoned, was thick, so I couldn't fully appreciate it as I prefer a lighter soup. The Lu Rou Fan was easy to eat with the flavor of star anise being subtle. And it was reasonably priced. It's understandable why the counter seats wouldn't fill up just by eating this. Thank you for the meal.

On my 15th visit of 2021, I went to a large market in Otaru that is loved by tourists and locals. However, with the changing times, such markets are becoming less common. Now, the "Minami Otaru Market" and "Shin Minami Otaru Market" are more popular among visitors. The "market culture" of Otaru is something that should be cherished. Inside the "Shin Minami Otaru Market," a new ramen shop specializing in "umami-rich, seafood-based" broth opened during Golden Week. Otaru's food ambassador, "Hondatta Kimatta," gave it a first try with a morning ramen, making it a must-try bowl. After signaling to my local boss, I finally got to go there after being turned away due to the state of emergency on my first attempt. Although they recommended their new menu item "Lu Rou Mian," I aimed for their "Chuka Soba." The "Chuka Soba - Thin Noodles" for 700 yen is a collaboration between the owner of Otaru's famous izakaya "Rakuten" and the son of "Kamawanu." They use homemade noodles from the seafood pork bone ramen shop "Kyoya," following the footsteps of "Sapporo Meneiji" in Otaru. The sauce is free of chemical seasonings, the soup is pork bone-based, but it's an old-fashioned Hokkaido-style clear soup. The seafood flavor in the soup is delicious. Choosing the thin noodles from "Kyoya" was the right decision, as the wheat-scented noodles are tasty. The chashu is tenderly cooked and served in two slices. The aroma of the dried seaweed adds to the flavor. Although it's a ramen made by an izakaya owner, this bowl easily ranks in the top five in Otaru. Ramen shop owners in the city should not be complacent, as a shop like this, serving such a delicious bowl outside of specialty shops, has emerged. Ramen shops run by izakaya owners have suffered greatly from the pandemic's impact on nighttime operations. However, even after the pandemic is over, I hope they continue serving this bowl.

Visited "Ramen Nico-chan" for lunch with Mr. Charhanist after a long time. This time, I decided to try the Chinese soba and the Lu Rou Fan (Taiwanese braised pork rice) that I haven't eaten yet. But when the cheerful waitress mentioned that they also have Lu Rou Mian (Taiwanese braised pork noodles), I decided to go for that instead! The Lu Rou Mian was paid in advance, and I forgot the price. The owner of "Kamawanu" was on duty at the time, and although I'm not a big fan of mixed soba, the flavors of star anise and cinnamon in this one contributed nicely to the umami taste. The flat and chewy noodles from "Kyoya" were delicious, and overall, it was a good combination. The leftover toppings mixed with rice (with a raw egg yolk) was also tasty! I've tried almost all the ramen shops in the city (except for the Senhoku area), but this one definitely ranks in the top five! By the way, both owners (Kamawanu and Rakuten) mainly run evening establishments (izakaya)! (laughs)

[Niko-chan Ramen] A local ramen shop collaborating with a market stand, open from 9:30am. Perfect for a late morning ramen or an early lunch. The counter seats are separated, which is great. The "Chuka Soba" has thin noodles with a fish and pork bone soup that is piping hot. It's not too light or too heavy, and if you let it sit a bit, a nice oil film forms without feeling heavy. The straight thin noodles have a strong wheat flavor. The chashu must be cooked at a low temperature because it's super delicious. The "Lu Rou Fan" is not just pork belly on rice, it's an authentic Lu Rou Han dish! The unique flavor is great, but a bit more sauce would be even better.

During the revisit pre-opening period in May 2021 (4/29~5/1), only Chinese noodles were served, but after the grand opening with the regular menu, my family visited to try various items. However, they only had Chinese noodles and miso ramen, along with a side of Lu Rou Fan. Perhaps because their main business is the night restaurants (Rakuten & Kamawane), they chose to focus on their specialty dishes rather than offering a wide variety. The Miso Ramen (850 yen) had a similar appearance to the miso ramen at "Kyoya," with a gentle taste leaning towards a Japanese style rather than the rich and punchy style favored by many in Otaru. The noodles were deliciously chewy with a hint of wheat flavor, and the toppings included chashu, burdock, purple daikon, green onions, and some green leaves (not sure what they were). While the purple daikon seemed questionable in miso ramen, the overall experience was satisfying, especially for those who prefer finishing their soup.

The taste is excellent even when considering the city and suburbs! I always eat it when I come to Otaru.

Chuka soba with 750g of green onions. The amount of parking is just right, making it easy for cars to stop. Men are recommended to order the large portion. The flavor with bonito flakes is delicious.

Chuka soba for 750 yen. It has a unique flavor which might appeal to some, but it's not really to my taste. It has a slightly sour taste and a hint of light soy sauce flavor.

The ramen was delicious, but the bowl was a bit hard to eat from.