On September 17, 2023, revisiting "98th Ramen Shop in 2023" Today is the second day of a 3-day weekend, so I decided to extend my trip a bit and headed to Asahikawa. The reason for my visit to Asahikawa is to try a ramen shop known as a famous shop in Asahikawa. It's a shop I haven't been to before, so I was really looking forward to it when I arrived in Asahikawa. However, I found out that there was a major event happening, and all the paid parking lots around the station were full!! This kind of thing can happen (-_-;) After wandering around as a parking refugee for about 30 minutes, if it's impossible, then there's no point in staying in Asahikawa (lol). So, we discussed where and what to eat instead. My wife remembered me passionately talking about a place she wanted to take her to, so we decided to go there. We headed to Misoraibetsu Banihatsu Branch [2nd visit]. This is a shop that I was deeply moved by when I visited alone before. My wife definitely loves this ramen, so we had planned to come here together this time. We arrived around 12:30, and I was worried about the crowds, but there was plenty of parking space and empty seats inside the restaurant. We sat at a table and checked the menu. I really wanted my wife to try the salt flavor, so I was glad when she chose salt (lol). Since I had tried the soy sauce flavor on my first visit, this time let's go with miso. Honestly, I could already predict that both soy sauce and salt flavors would be delicious at this shop, but I still wanted to try the miso flavor. My wife can taste her salt ramen, so it's fine. Oh, let's also try the mini curry that I was curious about. We placed our order and waited. My wife seemed to be looking forward to it a lot. I think it will exceed her expectations (lol). And here comes the ramen! Looks great! The simple form is irresistible! Even with miso, the ingredients are the same. I'm looking forward to it. I immediately took a sip of the soup. Oh, I see... that's how it is! It can't beat the soy sauce in terms of bringing out the broth, but they have chosen a miso that goes well with it. The soup has a quite deep flavor. The noodles are similar to the soy sauce flavor, thin noodles with a high water content, and they have a good texture that goes well with the soup. Although the quality of the noodles is different, it somehow feels close to the miso flavor of Asahikawa ramen. The chashu in the toppings is delicious. I didn't feel that much last time, but the firm, lightly seasoned chashu is to my liking. It has quite a bit of fat, but it's good in its own way. Oh, the miso is delicious too! I definitely want to try the spicy miso next. My wife tasted the salt soup. She took a sip and was convinced that this is definitely a winner!! I might personally prefer salt over soy sauce. This was also as expected. My wife seemed to be a little impressed while eating her salt ramen. It definitely exceeded her expectations. That's what she said (lol). Now, the curry. In terms of quantity, it felt like a mini, and the appearance was just an ordinary curry. However, when I tried it, I was a little surprised. It was spicier than I thought. Then comes the sweetness. This level of spiciness in the default curry at a ramen shop might be too much for children to eat. However, it felt like a curry without water, with a quite authentic taste of spices and meat fibers. Everything I ate was incredibly delicious. Of course, I finished the ramen, including the soup. I also finished the curry neatly. This shop is truly exceptional. I am convinced that it is worth spending 2 hours to go and eat here. Next time, I definitely want to try the salt flavor. I also want to try other menu items! It has become a favorite shop for both my wife and me (^^♪ It was delicious! Thank you for the meal♪

Today, I had decided to eat ramen at this place for a while. I didn't really think about what time I would arrive, so I ended up getting there right at the closing time of 13:30 (´･ω･`). The place is open from 11:00 to 14:00, so it's actually quite challenging to make it in time. And they only open for lunch, no dinner service. When I entered the restaurant, it had a different atmosphere than usual. I greeted the owner (an older lady) and her daughter (a middle-aged woman) and was seated at the counter. Turns out, the raised seating area was occupied by the daughter's friends and their families. It was lively and nice. Then, the granddaughter (a high school student now) of the owner came over from a table in the back to greet me. Wow, she's grown so much. I remember meeting her when she was in 4th grade. The group at the back table turned out to be her school friends. So, does that mean we accidentally came to a place where only family members are allowed? The curtain was closed, and it seemed like it was turning into a family gathering. The owner (the older lady) just smiled and said it was fine. So, I ordered a "special salt ginger" for my partner who can't have wheat flour, a "salt ginger" for myself, and a "mini curry rice." The "special salt ginger" for my partner is basically a separate noodle made with rice flour in boiling water for my partner who can't have wheat flour (^^) The soup here is a blend of kelp, dried fish, and pork bones, making it a hearty Asahikawa ramen soup. It's not light at all, packed with umami. The ramen here is delicious! If you don't have high expectations, you'll be pleasantly surprised (^^) Look, you can enjoy authentic Asahikawa ramen with horse meat at this place. It's a cozy spot at Banibato Family Restaurant♫

I really love Banihatsu Bunke, and my partner and I went for a ride on our bikes after a long time. We first met while riding our bikes and chatting at the Rain Dragon Michi no Eki, discussing where to have lunch. We found this place in relatively nearby Meisaiushi Town. Back then, my partner could eat ramen without worrying about wheat flour like now. Today, my partner brought his own rice flour noodles to the restaurant. The owner, a kind lady, understood the situation and served us with a smile. The daughter, who was in charge of cooking, prepared the same rice flour noodles that my partner brought. It was thoughtful of them to be prepared even though they didn't know when we would come. My partner ordered the special "Shio Shoga" with rice flour noodles, and I ordered "Shoyu" with rice. This place is a branch of the former Banihatsu in Asahikawa, although the original store in Nagayama has closed. It is not a chain or under the same management, just a continuation of the name. The ramen here is a classic Asahikawa style with tonkotsu, vegetable chicken broth, kombu dashi, and seafood. The soup is amazing, with a rich tonkotsu body and a base of kombu dashi. It's not light but has a satisfying taste. My partner, using rice flour noodles, couldn't help but feel a bit of dissatisfaction compared to wheat flour noodles, but he appreciates the effort put into making it special. We will pass by this area again next month, so we'll keep the rice flour noodles for then. If you're curious, check out Banihatsu Bunke in Meisaiushi Town. It's a rare and delicious ramen spot. Enjoy your visit!

I have visited this place several times, but this time I tried the miso ramen. At first, it looked super spicy, but when I took a sip of the soup, I was surprised to find that it wasn't spicy at all. It was actually very mellow and delicious. I guess it's just a regular miso ramen! For those who like spicy food, I recommend ordering the spicy miso ramen. The soup was quite oily! The miso itself was delicious, made in-house! The green onions were crunchy, the bamboo shoots were chewy! The pork was tender. I love the noodles here. My companion had the salt ramen, which they said was the best. The curry here is also delicious, with a nice spicy kick. I will definitely visit again! Thank you for the meal! ★

Today, I came alone. As soon as I entered the shop, the shop owner (an older lady) asked, "Oh, welcome! Where is your wife today?" They also asked their daughter (the lady of the house), "Are you dining alone?" I sat at the counter and ordered "miso chili oil" and a "mini curry." Usually, I would choose soy sauce or ginger, but this time I decided to try the "miso chili oil." This "miso chili oil" is essentially spicy miso. Here, they serve it in the form of miso balls that you dissolve little by little and eat. Surprisingly, even if you dissolve all the miso balls, it doesn't become too salty. It's quite amazing. You know, if you put a lot of spicy stuff like the one at Y◯yama's, it would become overly salty. But not here. It's really something special. And the curry rice is delicious! The curry rice is unexpectedly spicy. It might be too much for kids. This carefully simmered curry rice is seriously tasty. As I was leaving, the shop owner (the older lady) gave me some finely chopped dashi kombu as a souvenir for my wife. Thank you so much as always. Really, this place is special. There's no other place where I feel as good as I do here. You know, there's no other place like Hanabusa Family that makes you feel so at home. ♫

The main branch was located in Asahikawa City, Eiyama, and operated only for lunch at the dormitory of the Asahikawa University High School baseball team called "Burning Hearts". However, as a ramen shop, it has closed down, and now only the branch in Myoseushi Town is in operation. They serve soy sauce ramen with a side of mini curry. I have never been to the main branch, but the ramen and curry are both delicious. It's so good that it feels like Rikidozan would say, "Try it! You'll fly!" and clench his fist with the power of youth. It's so flavorful that it really makes you feel energized. Thank you very much.

In August, I visited this place. My partner cannot eat wheat flour, so they brought in "rice flour noodles" and had a special "salted ginger" made for them. Today, we bought Chinese noodles made with rice flour from the nearest coop in advance, and decided to bring them in! I thought about it carefully, no matter how much of a regular at a restaurant you are, if you bring your own ingredients and ask them to "cook it for you," they will be reluctant, right? Even at a ramen shop, if they tell you, "This combination of this soup and this noodle is our specialty!" there's nothing you can say in return, right? It's not something that is generally accepted. But you know, this place is a "special" restaurant that will listen to such unreasonable requests. Of course, it's not a service they offer to all customers. In fact, the fact that we can make such unreasonable requests and have them heard means that we have a deep level of trust with this place. My partner ordered the "salted ginger" with the rice flour Chinese noodles they brought in. I ordered the regular "salted ginger" and "rice". So, this review will focus on my "salted ginger". It's a tonkotsu and seafood-based Asahikawa ramen with a salt soup right in the middle, topped with grated ginger, pickled ginger, and sesame seeds fried daily in the shop. This soup pairs well with the low-water Asahikawa noodles. My partner's "rice flour" Chinese noodles are also quite good. Personally, I still have a soft spot for the noodles from the previous visit, like the pho. But having a ramen that my partner, who has a wheat flour allergy, can safely eat is something to be grateful for. Today, the shop owner (grandma), her daughter (mom), and the granddaughter (the sign girl) who we haven't seen in a while were there. The conscientious SR brought a variety of taiyaki as a gift, just for being demanding. When I first visited the shop before it moved, the granddaughter (the sign girl) was in 4th grade. She helped with serving, taking orders, and washing dishes, thinking about what to do next without waiting for instructions from the shop owner (grandma) or her daughter (mom). And when she needed to hydrate herself, she would quietly hide behind something, being careful not to be seen by customers. I was really surprised. Can a 4th grader be so dedicated to customer service? We also heard about the nearby tofu shop, so maybe we should stop by there too? Oh yeah, we also visited a bakery before. Yep, Banihatsu Bunge is a great place. I'll definitely visit many more times.

The Sh〇ー Hanabukai branch manager seems to be behaving well here, quietly eating ramen (laughs). He was recommended to try the salt and ginger ramen, so he visited for lunch during his tour. Inside the restaurant, there were two women, one around my age and the other in her thirties. I ordered the salt and ginger ramen, and when it arrived, it had ginger and red pickled ginger in the center. I dissolved the ginger in the soup and took a sip, "Oh, this is good!" The delicious salt soup with a hint of ginger flavor and aroma added. Asahikawa's ramen [Ginger Ramen Mizuno] has a considerable amount of ginger melted into the soy sauce ramen, making the ginger flavor stand out, but it's surprisingly delicious and not awkward. It's a different approach to salt ramen. You can taste the subtle deliciousness of the ginger in this ramen, and I understood why the branch manager recommended it. The branch manager made a tearful effort to deal with his wife's recently developed wheat allergy. My wife has also developed allergies to apples and plums as an adult. "He's a kind person who thinks of his wife, isn't he?" said the mature woman, but it seems like she's playing the role of a good customer here. I nodded in agreement, as I didn't want to shock her by mentioning the misdeeds in Hanabukai. I'm a kind person (laughs).

I visited this restaurant for lunch during a touring trip. It had been 2 years since my last visit, so I completely forgot where it was located. Plus, I approached it from the opposite direction coming back from Rumoi, so I was a bit confused (lol). I tried to input the address into my bike navigation system, but the address "9-1, Meisaiushi-cho" was not registered. I assumed it was a typical rural address within that area, so I set Meisaiushi Elementary School as a midpoint and used Google Maps to find the exact location. There were 3 cars in the parking lot, but inside the restaurant, there were only 2 seats available at the counter. The 3 groups of customers before me were families, indicating that this place is quite popular. I had tried the soy sauce ramen last time, so this time I ordered the salt ramen. The salt ramen that arrived had a slightly cloudy, clear soup, and the noodles were visible through it, looking very appetizing. As I slurped the soup and then the noodles, I thought, "Wow, this is delicious!" The light yet flavorful soup paired perfectly with the Asahikawa noodles. If it had been Sapporo noodles, the noodles would have overshadowed the soup, but Asahikawa noodles absorb the flavor of the soup and spread it in your mouth. I am originally from Fukuoka, and my first ramen in Hokkaido was Sapporo ramen. Even though I currently live in the Sapporo ramen area, I fell in love with Asahikawa ramen when I encountered it during my time working in northern Hokkaido 20 years ago. I usually prefer soy sauce ramen, but the salt ramen here is delicious. I couldn't resist and ended up drinking all the soup, which I had not done in a long time.

I visited the popular restaurant "Ramen Banihatsu Bunka" in Imose-ushi Machi. The main branch is located in Asahikawa. While the ramen is popular, the curry is also a must-try. They offer mini curry, which is convenient. I ordered the soy sauce ramen with mini curry set, and my companion ordered the salt ramen with mini curry set. The soy sauce ramen has a refreshing soup with a good balance of richness, making it easy to finish. The noodles are thin and slightly less moist, which enhances the flavor as you eat. The curry has a hint of fruit sweetness followed by a kick of spices, making it very delicious. I highly recommend trying the curry set. Before leaving, I couldn't resist ordering the takeout iced coffee for only 100 yen, and I recommend getting the large size for a great deal.

Visited around 1 PM, with one group of customers ahead of me and strangely four solo customers behind me. Ordered the Salt and Ginger Ramen for 850 yen. The kitchen was run by two women. Due to being behind the first group, my ramen arrived in less than 10 minutes. The soup was clear and refreshing, with two slices of chashu and pickled ginger on top. The color wasn't too bold, making it easy to eat. The soup didn't have a strong ginger flavor, but the pickled ginger added a nice touch. I wonder if ordering it without pickled ginger would make it a regular salt ramen. The soup itself had a good balance of saltiness, sweetness, and umami, making a regular salt ramen sufficient. I'd like to try the curry next time, perhaps ordering a half size combination. Thank you for the meal.

In Minamifurano Town, there is a place where you can enjoy Asahikawa Ramen. I visited for the first time and ordered the Shoyu Ramen for 750 yen. I also heard that their curry is delicious, so I ordered the Mini Curry for 300 yen (with a 100 yen discount when ordered with ramen). The ramen had simple toppings like pork chashu, sinachiku, and green onions. The soup was gentle with a soy sauce flavor, just like Asahikawa Ramen. The noodles were also from Asahikawa and tasted great. I then tried the curry, which was spicy but comforting. I alternated between the ramen and curry, creating a unique flavor combination in my mouth. Before I knew it, I had finished everything, creating a new dish in my mouth - Muroran Curry Ramen (laughs). It was a quick and satisfying meal.

I bought thick tofu and thick fried tofu at Tanaka Tofu Shop with my little sister carrying the bags. For lunch, we had Asahikawa ramen at Banhatsubunke, which seems to have its main store in Nagayama. The shop is run by a woman. I asked for soy sauce as usual, while my wife asked for her usual salt. The noodles don't seem to be from Katou. They are thin and quite filling. The soup is light, but I wish there was a bit more of it. The salt version has a seafood smell to it. The chashu is just okay. They also have tsukemen, so I'll try that next time. It's not particularly outstanding, but it's nice to be able to eat decent Asahikawa ramen at Mebaushi.

☆First visit on August 29, 2021☆ I visited Mebetsu Town for my son's official baseball game. Mebetsu is a town in Sorachi that you don't typically visit unless you have business there, similar to Kamisunagawa Town or Utashinai City. Oh, I mean it's not on a major national highway, so you wouldn't pass through unless you had a reason to. The game started at 11:00 am and ended at 11:50 am. A decisive victory! Congratulations!! The kids brought their own bento boxes. I had declared from the beginning that I didn't need a bento box since I planned to eat somewhere else (laughs). The children of my longtime best friend are also on the same team, so we decided to go out for lunch together. We had both done our research (laughs). We went to a restaurant very close to the game venue. It was exactly noon, and there was only one other group that entered the restaurant at the same time as us, so it was just us and them in the restaurant. This way, we won't be late for the practice game against the same team in the afternoon. We had already decided on soy sauce ramen since we had done our research. I added a mini curry for 300 yen (set price with ramen). My friend had only the ramen. My friend, who has maintained the same body shape since long ago. Or rather, she seems to have lost weight. And then there's me... Adding a mini curry means that's how it is (laughs). Now, the food arrived promptly. It really looked like Asahikawa ramen! Looks delicious!! The mini curry also had just the right mini size!! It's great. I took a sip of the soup. Oh? This is a tasty one! My friend agreed too. The noodles also had that distinctive Asahikawa ramen texture. This was quite a high-quality Asahikawa ramen. The mini curry was a rich roux curry. You can also feel the spiciness quite a bit. It's like a medium level of spiciness. It might be spicy for young children. It should be fine for elementary school students and above. I would definitely want to visit this restaurant again when I come to Mebetsu. It's the kind of place that would be popular even in Asahikawa. That's how delicious it was for me! I also quite like curry. This lunch turned the dreary holiday of baseball pick-up into a good one. Thank you for the meal!!!!!!

I had the miso ramen with extra chashu. The soup was spicy with miso flavor. The restaurant has both counter and table seating. The staff are all female. Highly recommend coming here if you're in the area. It's within walking distance from the station.

Today, I went to a restaurant a little away from Asahikawa and ordered a soy sauce and mini curry set. It arrived in about 10 minutes. The soup was clear with a generous amount of lard on top. It was hot enough to drink until the end. Despite the abundance of lard, the soy sauce flavor was mild, complemented well by the bonito broth. Those who prefer strong flavors may find it lacking. The bamboo shoots were salted, and the chashu was made from soft pork belly, lightly seasoned. The noodles were low hydration, thin, and curly, matching well with the soup. This type of noodle would also be good with a salt flavor. Overall, it was a well-balanced ramen with a nostalgic feel. The curry had a sweet taste from the vegetables cooked until they lost their shape. It was a nice touch to receive complimentary coffee. Thank you for the meal.

Oh! It's been a year, hasn't it? I've been neglecting this place for quite a while. Hello, this is a favorite spot of my partner. We used to come here often on our bikes. It's been about a year and a half since then. My partner developed a sensitivity to wheat flour, so we haven't been here for two years. Today, we had some business in Nayoro, so we're stopping by here on the way back. We left Nayoro at 12 o'clock. This place closes at 2:30, but it's okay, we'll get there by 1:30 if we take the highway. I apologized to the owner (an elderly lady) for not visiting in a while. We ordered soy sauce ramen and a small rice while catching up on recent events. She mentioned that a biker friend had visited recently. Oh, that must be our dear reviewer Hiroyuki-san, right? Today, neither her daughter (the owner) nor her granddaughter (the sign girl) were there. Well, it's a weekday after all. For me, this place serves the best Asahikawa ramen in the world. Even if I eat delicious Asahikawa ramen elsewhere, nothing can beat the ramen here. Conversely, anything served here, even if it's just lying around, tastes exceptionally delicious to me. Yes, I'm sure of it. The owner is so thoughtful, she had prepared some "okazu kombu" in a Tupperware for my partner before I even asked. She was also talking to the daughter about my partner, who hasn't been coming lately. They were experimenting with using rice flour noodles so my partner can eat. I'm grateful for that. You know, even if my partner can't have the ramen, we can still order just the soup and rice. It's about time I bring my partner here. I have such strong sentimental feelings for this place. Banibatto Bunke, it's a great restaurant.♫

Shoyu ramen might be the basic, but with the new coronavirus, I missed going out for ramen. I finally got to try the shoyu ramen at Banhatsuten, and it was delicious. I like to slowly dissolve the ginger in the soup as I eat, savoring the changing flavors with each bite. The chashu was also very tasty, with a flavorful oil. Overall, Banhatsuten's ramen was a great experience.

When going on a tour, I usually have a place I want to visit and food I want to eat in mind. However, on this day, I didn't have a specific place in mind. Usually, I think of the area first, like Niseko or Furano, and then choose a specific location from there. But this time, I couldn't think of any specific area, so I was pondering where to go when I came across this restaurant. One of my favorite reviewers, SR4003HT6, often visits this place and their reviews really convey the greatness of this restaurant. I don't usually go on food tours, but during my time working in Hokkaido, I developed a love for Asahikawa ramen, so I decided to give it a try. As I resumed dining out, I was concerned about whether the restaurant was taking precautions, especially since rural restaurants might not be as strict as those in urban areas. However, I didn't need to worry at all. It was lunchtime, but there were only two other customers, so it seems like everyone is still being cautious. The counter seats had spaced-out chairs and were separated by transparent acrylic boards. The tatami and table seats were also arranged so that one side was against the wall, reducing the number of people who could sit. All the staff at the restaurant were women, showing the attention to detail that reflects the owner's intentions. Even a young boy in lower elementary school was wearing a mask and grinding coffee beans with a mill, showing that he was a proper staff member. The main menu consisted of ramen and curry rice, but I came for the ramen, so I ordered that. I don't usually eat soy sauce ramen in Sapporo, but I like soy sauce in Asahikawa ramen. There are two types of Asahikawa soy sauce ramen: one with a soy sauce-colored soup and the other with a cloudy, brown soup. I prefer the latter, but the soy sauce ramen at this restaurant had a soup that was the color of soy sauce, but not as dark as black. With one slurp of the soup, I thought, "Wow, this tastes great!" It's a taste that is unique to Asahikawa ramen and I really enjoyed it. The noodles also complemented the soup perfectly. They weren't like Sapporo noodles with eggs, nor were they overly chewy like rubber noodles. Noodles in Asahikawa ramen have a unique texture. This experience reminded me that the harmony between the soup and noodles is crucial in a bowl of ramen. It wasn't a special bowl, just a regular one, but it was made with great care. When I asked about SR4003HT6 on my way out, I was recognized as a fellow biker. Apparently, in private, he's not a scruffy old man in rubber boots like me during work, but a gentleman in a tuxedo (just kidding).

I finally tried the shoyu ramen after 4 years of wanting to at Banifuku. The broth had a mild and delicious shoyu flavor, with a hint of fish powder perhaps. The amount of oil and soy sauce was just right. The simple toppings of two slices of chashu, menma, and green onions complemented the broth and noodles perfectly. The chashu was especially tasty. I also found out that they offer takeout for their curry, which I will definitely try next time!

It's been a while since I last visited Banihatsu Bunka, T_T. The last time I was here was in February this year. I remember there was still snow back then. At that time, my partner didn't have a reaction to wheat flour yet. We used to come here frequently just to see the daughter of the owner. Today, I had some business in Asahikawa, so I made a detour to visit this place before heading back. It was past noon, and the restaurant was almost full. Many customers were wearing work clothes. It makes sense because there are limited options for lunch around here. I waited near the entrance for a while, and then the owner's daughter (the mother) appeared. Luckily, a table at the back became available. I was about to be seated, but since I was alone, I asked another solo customer if they minded sharing the table, haha. We ordered my partner's favorite, salt ginger with rice. The salt ginger here is really delicious. I usually just had soy sauce, but I totally understand why my partner always goes for salt ginger. The rice is made from local Nanatsuboshi rice, which is incredibly tasty. The kombu used in the ramen broth pairs perfectly with the rice. This is homemade by the owner (grandma). Ah, Banihatsu Bunka was really good, even though it had been a while since I last visited. Oh, right. I'm going to write a lot anyway. Let me tell you about the connection between Banihatsu Bunka and Banihatsu in Nagayama. The former owner of Banihatsu in Nagayama and the husband of the owner (grandma) here were originally friends. They shared the name and ramen know-how, and the owner (grandma) opened a branch in Meisei town, with her daughter (the mother) mainly in charge of the ramen preparation. When school is out, their granddaughter (the daughter) helps out. After finishing the meal and the customers had calmed down, I apologized for not visiting for so long to the owner (grandma) and the daughter (the mother). I explained about my partner's health situation. My partner loves Banihatsu Bunka more than I do. Today, with my partner's encouragement, I visited alone, but this place is definitely somewhere we want to visit together. We might not be able to, but we will definitely come back together! I have to see the daughter of the owner too. We will definitely come back! ♫