Salt ramen is delicious, isn't it? My friends had motsu-ni ramen. But more importantly, today's scorching heat is over 30 degrees! It was tough not having the air conditioning working at the ramen shop. Well, they probably had it on, but it wasn't cooling properly. Hot ramen is undeniably tasty, but if the environment isn't right, it can be a bit of a downer. There may be various reasons, but I hope they prioritize improving the environment as part of the dining experience.

There is no particular reason, but I passed through the noren of Santoka Ramen... it was many years ago... before it became famous, I liked it, but I started to stay away after it turned into a white, cloudy type of salt broth... | ˙꒳¯ ) I had missed lunchtime by a large margin on this day, and I was about to give up... the noren was out! (๑•̀ㅁ•́ฅ✧Yatta... [Pork bone shio with green pepper] ♬ It must be referring to Aonanban... ( ˙꒳​˙ ) I had overcome the white, cloudy soup at the Gen-san branch... so maybe this one will be okay? I love Gen-san's Aonanban... alright ♬ I noticed there was a "chibi ramen" on the menu... (*^^*) I heard that the noodles are about 2/3 the normal size... great, won't affect my evening drink... haha. The friendly staff brought it to me ♬ "Is it enough for you?" "It's just right because it won't affect my evening drink ♬" They smiled (￣∀￣) It was quite spicy and stimulating ♡ Even though it's pork bone, it's light and delicious ✩.*˚ The salt level was to my liking ♬ The piping hot temperature... well, within the acceptable range. The noodles... were to my liking, but a bit different? I finished this green pepper version from Santoka Ramen more than their regular salt ramen~ ♬ Thank you for the meal~ (*´∀`)♪

This is a local restaurant that I should be familiar with, but I always end up going to the main branch due to work. However, this time, I came here with my child. Thank you. When I pointed to an unfamiliar menu, the staff warned me that it's spicy, but I insisted that I'll be fine. The green onion rice (on a hot plate) is indeed spicy, almost making me choke, but I can handle it and it's delicious. The spiciness blends well with the green onion rice. The conclusion is always the same - green onion rice is delicious (laughs).

I looked up Yamakawa Fire Biei store and found out that there was also one in Yokohama, but it closed in May this year. I'm not sure where it was located, but it seems it opened around the same time we moved here. I had never been there, but I used to go to the Harajuku store a long time ago. It's been a while! I ordered the Blue Tang Pork Bone Shio for 990 yen. The deep salt flavor is followed by the blue tang that comes later. It's spicy! The chashu is tender and easy to eat, and the noodles are firm and go well with the soup!

I had the opportunity to try miso ramen for lunch during a business trip, which was once a popular choice at a shop in Sanjo, Kyoto. The miso flavor wasn't very strong, and the broth was light. Personally, I would have preferred a stronger miso flavor. Nowadays, there are many other shops offering delicious miso ramen, so the competition is tough.

"I stopped by on my way to Obihiro. The tables were full, but the counter was not too crowded, so I was seated quickly. I ordered the classic 'shio ramen' here. It arrived in a few minutes. The soup had a delicious flavor typical of Santoka, but the noodles were a bit disappointing. They had a texture I don't like, which detracted from the overall taste. The toppings, wood ear mushrooms and chashu, were tasty. The atmosphere of the restaurant was a bit chaotic at the counter. You could hear the clatter of dishes being washed and the staff chatting loudly. Next time, I'll opt for a table."

I had the Special Melty Meat Ramen (Salt) with a JAF coupon, and I also tried the Flavored Egg. The special melty meat was delicious, especially the chashu. I like my noodles firm, and they were just right. However, I found the soup a bit lacking compared to other Yamatoya ramen.

Around 10:30, I went for a drive. My beloved car is already 25 years old and only comes out on holidays. I've been driving this car since before I got married, and I've continued to drive it since then. I drove along a scenic country road and reached Biei. I decided to treat my wife today and asked her where she wanted to go. She chose Yamatoh火. We arrived at around 11:30. We used hand sanitizer at the entrance and were seated at a table. Now, what should we order? My wife already decided on the salt ramen. With the JAF card, we could choose between extra pork or a boiled egg, and she chose the pork. (One free item per card) I had instant noodles for breakfast, so I wanted some rice. I chose the gyoza set meal, which came with a small ramen and rice. The salt flavor seemed like a good choice. It took about 10 minutes for the food to arrive. First, the salt ramen and rice came. The bowl was the same size as my wife's salt ramen, just with a different amount of noodles. The soup was rich and light, with a nice hint of sweetness. Despite being pork bone broth, it was surprisingly light and lacked any unpleasant smell. The noodles were cooked perfectly. Shortly after, the gyoza arrived. They had a unique and light flavor, but out of the five pieces, four had broken skins. They lacked juiciness, the skins were too soft, and there was no crispy texture. The rice, although freshly cooked, was quite soft. My wife was very satisfied and exclaimed, "Wow, it's been a while since I had such delicious ramen!" I was also impressed by the ramen, so I plan to order just the ramen next time. Thank you for the meal. I will definitely visit again.

While walking from the Zerubu Hill to my accommodation today, I noticed a sign for Ramen Santoka. I didn't know they had a branch in Biei as well. It's been a while since I had Ramen Santoka. I decided to go for the basic salt ramen and ikura rice. As expected, it was delicious. The ikura rice was just as good as before. I also tried the soy sauce ramen, which was also great. There used to be a branch in Shinsaibashi, but it's gone now. I'm grateful for the opportunity to eat here again.

Stopped by during a sightseeing trip in Biei. I had been to Yamagata Fire in Asahikawa before, but I didn't know they had a branch in Biei as well. I ordered the char siu ramen. The staff all seemed like part-timers. The ramen arrived in about 10 minutes. The taste was neither good nor bad, just average and could be found anywhere. I remember it being quite good in Asahikawa, so I guess it's inevitable for the taste to vary when a chain expands. Yamagata Fire is a well-known name in ramen, so if you try it for the first time at this branch, you might be disappointed. Especially in Biei where there are many tourists, if the taste drops, it could affect the reputation of the main store as well.

There are few dining options in Biei, and travelers often struggle to find dinner due to the impact of the coronavirus. After making a mistake at a restaurant yesterday, I was determined to find a good place to eat today, but the changing schedules and closures due to the coronavirus made it difficult once again. After some research, I found a hit on the national highway, "Ramen Santoka," a well-known chain with its main store in Asahikawa. Although I was hesitant to have ramen in Biei, I was too tired to think about it and decided to give it a try. It was just past 5 pm when I arrived, and I was the first customer. Later, a few more customers trickled in. The restaurant is spacious with counter and table seating available. The service, cleanliness, and atmosphere were all good. This place is famous for its salt ramen. The owner had the salt ramen, and to try something different, I ordered the soy sauce ramen, both priced at 850 yen. The ramen arrived in less than 10 minutes, served in cute bowls. The salt ramen is pork bone-based, while the soy sauce ramen is fish-based. The noodles are relatively thin. The soy sauce ramen had toppings of seaweed, fish cake, chashu, and green onions. The salt ramen had toppings of chashu, fish cake, bamboo shoots, green onions, and wood ear mushrooms. The chashu was not the melt-in-your-mouth type but had a nice chewy texture. The salt ramen stood out for its depth of flavor in the broth, while the soy sauce ramen was also tasty. This restaurant is a valuable find for those struggling to find dining options in Biei. Thank you for the meal.

While driving, I came across the famous Yamakage Ramen and immediately made a U-turn to park. Since it was a late hour, there was no wait and I was able to enter right away. The taste was delicious, but I ended up sitting at a table and the staff handed me a hot bowl directly, almost burning my hands... I wish they had warned me. The rice was also very delicious.

I passed through Biei and decided to stop by this ramen shop. It was quite crowded even though it was past 2 o'clock. I couldn't decide between salt or soy sauce, but ended up choosing salt. While soy sauce is the typical choice for Asahikawa ramen, salt is recommended here. I was hungry so I ordered the chashu ramen. The chashu and other toppings were served separately. I took a sip of the soup first. It was flavorful and delicious, but a bit salty. I tried a piece of chashu next. It melted in my mouth. Then I tried the noodles. They were thin and the unique non-water added noodles of Asahikawa ramen. It was still delicious. I used to come here often, but it had been a while since my last visit.

Today is a day when I want to eat spicy miso. It's rare for me to actively want to eat miso other than at Yoshino. I had been eating tonkotsu ramen (salt flavor) for the past few times, so I thought I already know about shoyu... and decided to go with miso. The waiting time was incredible. But the turnover was fast. There were over 10 people waiting, but I was able to sit at the counter in less than 5 minutes. It seems like they serve about 6 servings per batch. If you miss the timing, you have to wait (this time I waited for over 10 minutes), but watching the dishes coming out one after another, it didn't feel like I was waiting that long. My husband had tonkotsu ramen (which is essentially pork intestine), and I had the spicy miso ramen as I originally planned, along with some negi rice in between. Maybe because it was crowded, the noodles were slightly cooked longer than usual (laughs). But the miso flavor was stable as always, even with the spicy kick. Oh! I forgot to add the boiled egg!

I used it for lunch, but I arrived a little off the lunch time, so the parking lot was completely empty. When I entered, the staff looked at me with a puzzled expression... I felt a bit uncomfortable, but since I was already inside, I decided to sit at the counter. The staff were washing dishes right in front of me, which made me feel uneasy... I should have chosen a booth instead. I asked for salt. The taste was okay, but I couldn't fully enjoy it and felt a bit unsettled. Next time, I'll go when it's busier. Thank you for the meal.

When it comes to Zaru Ramen Yamakawa, they are known for their salt ramen, but personally, I prefer soy sauce ramen. The light and mild soup with thin noodles may feel a bit lacking, but it leaves you wanting more.

As a reward for splitting firewood, I was taken all the way to the town of Biei. Initially, we were planning to go to the Western-style restaurant Junpei, but it was really crowded with tourists, so we chose this place instead. I ordered the tender chashu ramen, and it was delicious with a chashu that had a unique taste compared to what I usually eat. The high-quality fat from this chashu melts into the soup, making the flavor even better. It was particularly delicious on a cold day, and it was a taste that made me want to come back again.

My daughter likes the motsu-ni ramen, while I prefer the classic salt ramen. The taste here is consistently delicious, right?

I went to the famous restaurant Yamagatake Biei in Asahikawa. I ordered the recommended salt ramen, and it was a great choice. The rich flavor had a hint of sweetness, along with the sourness of the pickled plum, making it very delicious. The noodles had a nice firmness, and I definitely want to eat it again.

I was supposed to go looking for delicious food in Furano, but it looks like I won't make it by 1 o'clock in Biei, so we decided to go for ramen instead. It's Saturday, but is it empty? I had a bad feeling... When I registered with the QR code, they gave me a small paper cup of cheap orange juice as a service. My partner and I ordered salt ramen, but oh? It's lukewarm? We looked at each other without thinking. The taste is weak... It completely lacks that richness and umami that even instant ramen can reproduce! What happened? The taste has changed so much... They have a sign saying "Yamagata" but is it okay? Probably not okay. I won't come here again.