I stayed in Sapporo on my trip to Hokkaido. I went to a beer garden and had plenty of beer and Genghis Khan, then wandered around the Susukino area. After my stomach settled a bit, I decided to go to Ramen Alley because when in Hokkaido, you have to have ramen, right? My wife had a good feeling about this particular restaurant at the entrance of Ramen Alley, so we went in. The place looked full from outside, but there were two seats available at the counter. The owner seemed a bit brusque at first, but he was actually a friendly guy, apologizing for making us wait and chatting with customers. He was running the place by himself, so I guess he was trying to keep the turnover quick. I had a Sapporo Classic beer while waiting, and when the ramen arrived, it was delicious. I tried a bit of my wife's spicy miso ramen, and it had just the right amount of heat and flavor. My miso ramen was also tasty as expected. I would definitely go back when I visit Sapporo again. Thank you for the meal.

At around 8:45 PM on September 8, 2023, my friend and I visited the restaurant. While everyone else ordered corn butter miso ramen, I decided to have salt ramen. The saltiness was just right and it was delicious.

I was planning to go to "Saimi" but arrived in Sapporo late so I had to give up. I tried to eat buttered potatoes at the food stalls in Odori Park but they were sold out. I decided to try Ramen Alley, but most of the shops were closed (tears). The ones open for business were "Shimijimi," "Ikura," "Tenho," "Tokuitomiya," and "Karyu." I immediately went to the long-established "Karyu." I ordered miso ramen. It arrived in a few minutes. I took a sip of the soup. It was light but had a rich umami flavor, just the kind of miso soup I like. The noodles were medium-thick egg noodles from Nishiyama Seimen, chewy and slippery, just like Sapporo ramen noodles should be. The chashu and bamboo shoots were assertive, but in perfect balance with the soup and noodles. And the crunchy bean sprouts were a must! This was the miso ramen I was hoping for. It seems I prefer the classic miso ramen over the pure sumi style. Thank you for the meal!

At this restaurant in the Sapporo Ramen Alley, we had the Corn Butter Ramen for ¥1,100, Special Gyoza for ¥500, and a canned beer for ¥450. The ramen had plenty of corn and butter, with medium-thick curly noodles that perfectly matched the miso soup. It's a traditional Sapporo ramen. The taste was amazing, I'm so satisfied!

I rushed into this shop in Sapporo Ramen Yokocho in Susukino just before closing time! The shop owner was full of manly spirit and very kind. I had the Corn Butter Ramen for ¥1,100, Special Gyoza for ¥500, and a canned beer for ¥450.

Located at the entrance on the south side of the Sapporo Ramen Yokocho, this ramen shop has been in business since the opening of the original Sapporo Ramen Yokocho in 1971. The interior has an L-shaped counter and two 4-person table seats. The owner runs the shop alone. The service may come off a bit brusque, giving off a traditional Showa-era ramen shop vibe. The real question is the taste. I ordered their recommended spicy miso ramen. The noodles were served promptly after being cooked right before my eyes, and I was surprised by the wild presentation. The traditional spicy miso ramen is made with pork and vegetables for richness, and chicken broth for a light finish. The hot soup with floating lard, crunchy stir-fried bean sprouts, and yellow medium-thin curly noodles from Nishiyama Seimen were all delicious. The large chashu slices were well-marinated. The spiciness was just right, and I added some extra heat with shichimi spice. It was very tasty. While tourists tend to go for miso ramen or miso butter corn, I highly recommend trying their spicy miso ramen as well. Follow @moritapan7 on Instagram for videos.

I had miso ramen at "Ajino Kararyu" in the Susukino Ramen Yokocho in Minami 5-jo Nishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo. The line at Shinshin was as long as ever, so I went straight to the ramen alley where I could get in quickly. It was late, but there were only a few places open. The ramen after drinking was delicious.

After having Genghis Khan at Susukino, I felt like having ramen, so I headed to Ramen Yokocho. Even though it was late at night, there were many people on the street. Since Ajinohyakuryu had a full house with spacious seating, I decided to go here. It was great, didn't disappoint, haha. The ramen was delicious!

There was a restaurant in the alley that I hadn't been to before called "Ajino Kararyu." There were 3 customers before me, and all of them ordered miso ramen. I was in the mood for salt ramen, so I ordered that. Soon, my ramen arrived. I usually go to Shingetsu for salt ramen, so the cloudiness of the soup was refreshing. However, it was just a normal salt ramen that you can find anywhere. Even though they don't use any special salt, the price of 900 yen is quite high compared to other places! Considering the location, 800 yen should be the limit. I won't be coming back for the salt ramen. Next time, I'll just go with miso.

I went to Sapporo for work. After enjoying delicious sashimi and grilled fish in Susukino, I wandered around Ramen Alley. I ended up choosing this place. The miso butter ramen I love was simply delicious. It felt like, "Ah, this is the miso ramen I've been looking for!" Recently, I had a Sapporo miso ramen in Tokyo that left me feeling unsure, but thanks to this meal, that feeling has been resolved. The Sapporo classic beer also complemented the meal well. Thank you for the delicious food!

In the evening of the second day of my business trip to Hokkaido in March 2023, I had seafood for dinner and wine, but finished with ramen. After wandering around, I ended up at Ramen Yokocho, which was bustling with tourists. I had a miso ramen for 900 yen. It was a simple miso ramen, nothing special. The owner was working alone, handling a large number of customers. I felt a sense of admiration for his hard work as I ate my bowl.

I didn't have a satisfying meal at the izakaya, so I decided to head back to Susukino and visit the original Ramen Alley. Before that, I passed by the new Ramen Alley where there seemed to be more people. At the original Ramen Alley, I visited a place called Ajinohana. It's a small restaurant with an L-shaped counter and two table seats, and the owner is running the place alone. I quickly placed my order for the Miso Ramen priced at ¥800, which is quite reasonable. After a short wait, my ramen was served. It was a simple miso ramen with a light broth, unlike the thick Sapporo miso ramen that is common. The toppings included bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, green onions, chashu, and seaweed. The broth didn't stick to the noodles much, and the noodles were medium-thin. The bean sprouts were more crunchy than usual, and the chashu was initially cold but tasted good after soaking in the soup. Overall, even though it may not sound great when described, I found this light ramen to be quite enjoyable. Thank you for the meal! This kind of light ramen is also nice once in a while.

During my business trip to Sapporo, I attended a social gathering and ended the night with ramen at Ramen Yokocho. It was late and not crowded, so I chose this place with many solo diners. Despite being full, I opted for a simple miso ramen and surprisingly finished it all. I would love to come back here when I'm sober.

It's been a while since I visited Ramen Yokocho. I passed by, glancing at the shops, but didn't stop. Many of the shops have changed, and I'm thinking of trying to visit them all. There's a big shop that catches your eye at the south entrance, with two shops combined. On this day, there were many tourists, with some shops having long lines while others were empty. The menu is not displayed, so I ordered the "Miso Ramen" for 800 yen. The interior of the shop has an L-shaped counter, with customers sitting side by side. The ramen is served, and I find it difficult to grab the bowl as it's hot and slippery. The ramen has bean sprouts, chashu pork, chopped green onions, bamboo shoots, and seaweed. The noodles are medium thickness and curly, and the soup has a strong miso flavor with a noticeable sourness. The chashu pork is lean with a hint of a meaty aroma. The bean sprouts are crunchy but lack flavor. The noodles are cooked al dente and go well with the soup. Overall, the ramen was okay.

I visited "Ajino Hanaryu" for the first time in 10 years at the end of Ramen Yokocho. The restaurant has relatively more space compared to other shops, with table seats available, so I have had many opportunities to drop in without waiting in line. Looking at the menu, I saw the nostalgic Crab Ramen and Seafood Ramen. I remember trying the Crab Ramen before and being surprised by the lack of harmony between crab and ramen. This time, I ordered the Corn Butter Ramen. When it comes to Hokkaido miso ramen, corn is a must. It was delicious with the harmony of miso flavor, butter aroma, and sweet corn taste. The crunchy bean sprouts added a nice texture, and I couldn't stop eating. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

Today I visited a restaurant in Sapporo Ramen Yokocho for a late-night snack. The restaurant has both counter and table seating, and the kitchen is clean with no noticeable oil stains. I chose the miso ramen this time, and it was more filling than I expected. The soup was rich and the combination of vegetables and chashu was excellent.

The oldest member of Ramen Yokocho! The ramen industry in Sapporo has evolved greatly, but this place remains a valuable restaurant serving classic Sapporo ramen, unchanged from the past. Ramen Yokocho is famous for ramen in Hokkaido. However, locals never go there as they criticize it for being only for tourists. Nevertheless, many high-level and new ramen shops in and around Sapporo start here, showing a significant difference from the past. The most established among them is "Aji no Kararyu". They serve traditional Sapporo ramen, allowing you to taste the same old ramen as before. This was my first visit here. The location is on a corner south of Ramen Yokocho. It has a dignified atmosphere befitting a long-standing establishment. I stopped by after having a drink at "5-Tsubo" on my way back from work. The shop only has counter seating. It's quite spacious for a Yokocho shop. I quickly ordered the miso ramen. The ramen arrived in 5 minutes, quite fast! It had a large slice of roasted pork, stir-fried vegetables, a beige soup, and the usual yellow medium-thick curly noodles, visually representing the classic Sapporo miso ramen. The bowl with a blue dragon drawing on it was served as it is. This was common in Hokkaido ramen shops in the past. I regretted not adding butter and corn. When I took a sip of the soup, it was surprisingly light. It lacked the thick body typical of old ramen, but it was still quite delicious. The large roasted pork had a satisfying chew. The medium-thick curly noodles, a staple in Sapporo ramen, were quite firm. It reminded me of the noodles I used to encounter in old ramen shops in the past. I managed to finish the ramen, which served as a post-meal treat.

One day, I received a DM from a stranger asking for recommendations for the best ramen in Hokkaido as they were planning a trip there. I was faced with the difficult task of recommending just one ramen in a region with over 2,000 ramen specialty shops. I suggested trying miso ramen at "Ajino Kararyu" in Sapporo, a classic Sapporo-style ramen. Today, I visited "Ajino Kararyu" to enjoy their signature miso ramen. The shop, located in Susukino, is known for its welcoming atmosphere and traditional Sapporo ramen menu. I ordered the miso ramen, which was served with a variety of toppings including chashu, seaweed, menma, green onions, bean sprouts, and ground meat. The broth was a slightly sweet miso base with hints of saltiness, typical of Sapporo-style ramen. The noodles were medium-thick curly noodles, characteristic of Sapporo ramen, with a chewy texture. Overall, the miso ramen at "Ajino Kararyu" was a delicious representation of classic Sapporo ramen.

The miso ramen was light and flavorful! Even though I was quite full from sushi at the sushi restaurant, I couldn't resist stopping by on my way back to the hotel. I ordered the recommended miso butter ramen, which had vegetables that were cooked just right, not overdone. The taste was traditional with white miso, light yet savory. The atmosphere was also nice, making it a great ramen shop!

After finishing work, I met up with my wife and we went to Poppo+ in Susukino for drinks, then headed to this place in Ramen Yokocho for ramen. It was my first time visiting. I ordered the miso ramen and it arrived quickly. The stir-fried bean sprouts and hot soup paired well with the slightly firm, medium-thick curly noodles. It was delicious! I left the restaurant very satisfied with the old-school style bowl of ramen. (Another contender for best ramen spot!)

Today, I stopped by the restaurant on my way home from work. It's been a while since I last got off at Toyosui Susukino Station, maybe since June 27th. Today, I specifically came to this alley again. I noticed that some of the shops that had been closed for a while have reopened according to their official website. I don't plan on visiting all the shops, but it's nice to see more places open compared to last week. Today, I arrived a bit later than usual, around 5 pm. Normally, I come around 4:30 pm, but today was a bit later due to rushing at the end of work. There are some shops that only open in the evening, so the timing worked out. Yes, indeed, there are more open shops compared to last week. Today, I visited this particular shop. It's located on the corner facing Maple Street in Susukino 5th Street, and it had been temporarily closed since around April or May last year due to the pandemic situation. However, they reopened at the end of last month, so I decided to give it a try. This shop has been in business the longest among the 16 shops, since it opened in 1971 when the alley was established. But, I still don't see any tourists around. The local reputation for "Ramen Alley = bad" or "Ramen Alley = expensive" doesn't attract many people. I wonder how many people actually come to Ramen Alley after drinking? I haven't seen the peak time, so I'm not sure. When I arrived, there were only 2 customers, or so I thought until I realized it was actually the staff from another shop having a chat while drinking water (laughs). So far, I've tried shoyu ramen at 8 out of the 16 shops, so I decided to go with shoyu ramen at this 9th shop as well. I ordered the "Shoyu Ramen for 800 yen". It arrived in less than 4 minutes. It came with a thick slice of chashu, a small piece of seaweed, and some green onions. The noodles were the typical yellow medium-thick curly noodles from Nishiyama Seimen. However, compared to the noodles from another shop that respected the Sumire style, these noodles were slightly softer. As I dug into the noodles, I noticed a large amount of stir-fried bean sprouts. The soup was a combination of pork bone, chicken bone, and various vegetable flavors, but it tasted... sweet? Not salty, but sweet. The soup remained hot until the end, so that was a plus. Hmm, I think if you're going to eat at Ramen Alley, maybe miso ramen is the way to go? Well, thanks for the meal.