There were two ramen shops on my list, but unfortunately, the one I wanted to try was already closed by the time I arrived in Asahikawa. So, I ended up going to another ramen shop called Kagura. It was already 3 pm, and there were only a few customers inside. I ordered the salt ramen, but the noodles seemed overcooked and had a strong flour smell. The toppings were okay, but the soup lacked the usual richness and depth of flavor that I expected from Asahikawa ramen. Overall, I was a bit disappointed with the experience at Kagura.

This is "Kobo Kato Ramen Kagura Honten" located in Kagura, Asahikawa City. I stopped by after work because I wanted to eat ramen. "Kato Ramen" is a famous noodle-making company in Asahikawa, and this restaurant seems to be affiliated with them. Of course, they use "Kato Ramen" noodles. I also wanted to try their rice dishes, so I ordered the "Special Pork Bowl (small) & Ramen Set" (1,200 yen). You can choose between "Aged Soy Sauce" or "Salt" for the ramen, and I chose the Aged Soy Sauce. They offer self-service soft drinks, so I had a Melon Soda while waiting. It took about 7-8 minutes for my meal to arrive. The Aged Soy Sauce ramen had a brownish broth, with a pork bone flavor. It had a mellow taste. The noodles were the typical low-water content thin curly noodles from Kato Ramen, which I think is a typical Asahikawa ramen style. The pork was shoulder loin, and the bamboo shoots were lightly seasoned. The noodles were deliciously coated in the soup! The Special Pork Bowl had tenderly cooked meat with a slightly sweet sauce that soaked nicely into the rice. I found both the ramen and pork bowl quite satisfying. Can I have another drink after the meal? I decided to have a cola afterwards!

"I tried the seared toro chashu with salt seasoning for the first time, after enjoying the aged soy sauce previously. The visual presentation is very appealing, with the chashu placed nicely and the lard floating like a thin skin on the surface. It really stimulates the appetite. The toro chashu itself is flavorful and delicious, with a nice grilled pork-like texture on the surface. The soup is creamy and smooth, not too salty, which makes it easy to keep enjoying. While the aged soy sauce is good, trying the salt seasoning is definitely worth it! The complimentary soft drink bar is also a nice touch."

"Jukusei Shoyu Yasai Ramen" for 920 yen is a ramen shop located near Asahikawa Michi no Eki along the national highway. When you order ramen, you get a complimentary soft drink! This time, I tried the most popular Jukusei Shoyu with added vegetables, called Shoyu Yasai. Jukusei Shoyu is a mellow shoyu ramen that seems to be a favorite. If you opt for the "rich and delicious" option, it comes with back fat. The vegetable ramen comes with bean sprouts and onions as toppings, with one slice of chashu. The noodles have a slight softness to them, which I personally like. The soup was flavorful and delicious!"

"I had the 'Seared Pork Belly Char Siu (Aged Soy Sauce)' for 990 yen with an additional 'Flavored Egg' for 150 yen, along with the 'Medium Spicy Miso Ramen' for 1,030 yen at the long-awaited Kato Ramen. The restaurant is easily recognizable by its large sign along the national highway. The interior is spacious with sunken seating, tables, and a counter, making it a comfortable space for solo diners or families. This time, I decided to go with the separate printout of the recommended menu, choosing the 'Seared Pork Belly Char Siu (Aged Soy Sauce)' and adding a flavored egg. I always trust the recommendations of the restaurant, as it shows their confidence. The dish arrived in just a few minutes. The soup had a rich flavor typical of aged soy sauce. The noodles were slightly firm, which I enjoyed. The seared pork belly char siu, though varying in thickness, was tender and flavorful. The additional flavored egg had a natural lemon-yellow yolk, as advertised by the restaurant. It was soft and slightly runny, but not overly rich in flavor. The complimentary drink options were a nice touch, especially for children. As I admired the pro wrestling posters at the entrance, the staff kindly shared some information with me. As a pro wrestling fan, it was an enjoyable experience! 'Thank you!' The meal was delicious. I will definitely come back!"

Soy sauce ramen. 770 yen. I really wanted to eat ramen, so I visited. I have always loved Katou Ramen. It was delicious. However, the chashu was thin. I would be happier if it were a little thicker.

I once had the opportunity to try the pork belly chashu at a ramen shop called Erei in Obihiro (which has since moved and changed its name). It was incredibly delicious and left a lasting impression on me. I ordered the seared pork belly chashu soy sauce ramen and a mini seared pork belly rice bowl, which arrived within 5 minutes. The ramen had 5 slices of pork belly chashu on top and the soup had a cloudy appearance typical of Asahikawa ramen. The soup had a mild soy sauce flavor without any sharp edges. The seared pork belly chashu was tender and flavorful, with a nice smoky aroma. The bamboo shoots were soft and had been desalted. The noodles were the classic low hydration, medium-thin curly noodles commonly found in Asahikawa ramen, and they paired well with the soup. The mini seared pork belly rice bowl was generously topped with meat, which had a savory and slightly sweet sauce that complemented the rice well. There were some inconsistencies in the rice texture, but overall it was a satisfying meal. The fact that soft drinks were complimentary was a nice touch.

I want to quickly recover from the recent damage I received... I don't want a clear soup, I want a delicious one, even if it's cloudy... I have a few favorite places in mind, but I'm not sure which one to choose... Remembering that I visited this place a couple of times when it first opened, I decided to go back after a long time for a type of meal that I enjoy. It's a ramen place, so I think they can help me recover from that damage... haha. I ordered the Special Pork Bowl (small) with Ramen set for 1150 yen (choice of aged soy sauce or salt). Since it's a revenge visit, I chose the soy sauce flavor! The interior of the restaurant seems a bit different from when it first opened... They also offer drink service, which is nice. I think I'll have a cola after my meal. The staff is very friendly as well. The food arrived piping hot... The noodles are my favorite low hydration type, and I love Kato-san's noodles. The delicious soup has a rich pork bone base. It's exactly what I wanted today. This smooth and delicious ramen soup is what I was craving for... :( ;´꒳`;) I feel better now... Thank you for the meal~ ( *ˊᵕˋ* )

Visited around 11:30 am on a Sunday in December. It was quite crowded. Asahikawa is known for its soy sauce ramen, so I also ordered a seasoned egg. It arrived in about 10 minutes, and while the soup was a bit rich, it had that traditional Asahikawa ramen taste. Thank you for the meal!

This is a weekday lunch during an outdoor assignment. It was already past 1:30 PM, so the peak hours must be over by now. At this time, there were fewer customers. "Katou Ramen" is a well-known noodle company in Asahikawa. The same name is used for this restaurant. When I asked the staff, they said it's affiliated with the noodle company. They use noodles from "Katou Ramen," so it seems like I will encounter a unique bowl of "Asahikawa Ramen"! I ordered the "Aged Soy Sauce Ramen" (720 yen, tax included) with the "Delicious! Seasoned Egg" topping (100 yen). Since the menu clearly says "Delicious!" I decided to give it a try (laughs). The staff mentioned, "We offer a complimentary soft drink to our customers." So, I grabbed a cola from the drink corner and waited while sipping on it! In about 5 minutes, the ramen was served! It definitely looks like "Asahikawa Ramen." The brown soup indicates that pork bone is used. The soup is smooth and not overpowering. The noodles are low-hydration medium-thin curly noodles that mix well with the soup. The chashu is thin but large, probably made from pork shoulder. The menma is lightly seasoned and salted. And the "seasoned egg" topping is delicious! It's half-cooked and gooey. The yolk is nicely marinated all the way through! It has a strong flavor and tastes great. It's no wonder it's labeled as "Delicious!" on the menu! This ramen has the typical taste of "Asahikawa Ramen." It was a satisfying bowl!

I don't have family. I want to eat ramen. I prefer Asahikawa-style soy sauce ramen. And I prefer somewhere close to home (recovering from illness). So, I chose this restaurant. Looking at the menu, there are many types of ramen. But I'm aiming for the soy sauce one. This time, I'll add some char siu. I remember eating a spicy miso ramen before. It was surprisingly spicy. At that time, my son was eating soy sauce ramen and it looked delicious, so I wanted to try it this time. After about 10 minutes, it arrived. I tasted the soup. It's aged, but it has the typical flavor of Asahikawa ramen. It's delicious. The noodles are cooked just right. The char siu is a bit thin and small. It has some fat but not too much, making it easy to eat. As I eat, I feel like the noodles are clumped together in the soup. The boiled water seems to be left in the noodles, leaving a wheat flour-like taste in my mouth, which makes the soy sauce soup flavor fade. I prefer the noodles to be boiled in plenty of water, then drained well. It's a bit disappointing. But I still enjoyed it. I think it's reliable. Thank you for the meal.

During this visit back home, I had planned to go to the well-established HCY, but due to various circumstances, I ended up visiting this restaurant near my parents' house. The interior of the restaurant is bright and clean. It was bustling with families on a Saturday afternoon. The counter is set up in a unique way, slightly separated from the kitchen. I decided to order the recommended aged soy sauce ramen for 720 yen. I ordered it and was informed that a soft drink was complimentary. They had options like cola, Fanta, and Calpis available from a dispenser. It seemed like a service aimed at children or those who would be happy with something free, but I ignored it as I didn't want to fill up on drinks. After about 5 minutes, the ramen arrived with green onions, chashu, and bamboo shoots typical of Asahikawa ramen. I started with the soup, which had a subtle and mellow flavor. It wasn't bad, but it felt like it lacked a distinct taste. Perhaps I was too attached to the image of HCY ramen. Despite my initial thoughts, I ended up finishing the entire bowl. The noodles were, of course, from Katou Seimen, so there was no way they could be bad. Will I visit this restaurant again in the future? If I do, I'll be sure to ask for a stronger flavor next time.

In October 2018, I visited "Kato Ramen," a representative of Asahikawa low-hydration noodles. The Kato family has a long history in the ramen industry, with the first generation establishing Kato Ramen Co., Ltd. in 1947. The second generation also made their mark in the ramen scene, with one brother founding the famous Asahikawa ramen shop "Hachiya." The current Hachiya owner is the second generation. The first generation's eldest son took over Kato Ramen Co., Ltd., while the second son founded Yama Kato Ramen Factory in Asahikawa. The third generation's eldest son continues to run Kato Ramen Co., Ltd., while the second son operates "Aji no Yamabiko" and "Kobo Kato Ramen" in Asahikawa. The third son manages the Sapporo branch of Kato Ramen Co., Ltd. and two ramen shops in Sapporo under the name "Original Asahikawa Kato Ramen." The review focuses on one of the shops run by the third son, which offers a classic Asahikawa-style ramen called "Aged Shoyu Ramen" for 720 yen. The ramen features a pork bone-based soup typical of Asahikawa, with simple toppings like pork shoulder chashu, marinated menma, and green onions. The noodles are the signature low-hydration Asahikawa noodles from Kato Ramen. Overall, the ramen is light yet satisfying, perfect for those who enjoy traditional Asahikawa ramen. The reviewer notes that Kato Ramen's attention to detail and family-friendly atmosphere make it a reliable choice for a ramen outing.

The pork belly is delicious. The Asahikawa ramen with seafood broth is authentic in flavor. The pork belly is really tasty and goes well with rice. This is a classic Asahikawa ramen. If you're in the area and unsure where to go, you can't go wrong coming here.

The ramen is delicious, but the pork bowl is also great!

Asahikawa ramen. I ordered the Aged Soy Sauce Ramen for 770 yen. This is the true taste of Asahikawa with its thin noodles and flavorful soup. I truly feel like I have experienced Asahikawa. Soft drinks are all-you-can-drink.

I stopped by because I was passing by. You can help yourself to juice (there were several kinds). The ramen was also very delicious, and I want to go back again.

The taste is not bad, but the cost performance is poor. The noodles were thin and to my liking.

The store is spacious and the taste is consistent. It was delicious.