I ended my drinking session. In the midst of snow falling like sleet, I decided to visit the original Sapporo Ramen Alley. To my surprise, the alley was covered in snow. I had always thought that the alley was inside a building, but it turned out to be different. The alley was actually flanked by separate buildings without a roof covering. I have visited some of the shops in the alley before. Today, I went to Nidaime Marurai-ken. This is an old-established shop that has been in business before the alley was established. I chose their Hokkaido-made Okhotsk Salt Ramen (800 yen). There were 4 customers when I arrived around 11 PM, and 3 of them had just left. The owner cleaned up the shop neatly before I sat down. The ramen was served in about 7-8 minutes. First, the soup. The salt flavor was mild and well-rounded. It had a rich taste from pork and chicken broth. The sweetness of the chicken was prominent but not overpowering. Delicious! The noodles were thin straight noodles made from whole grain flour with buckwheat. The firm texture matched well with the soup. When I dipped the noodles in the soup and ate them together, it was delicious! The chashu was large and thinly sliced. It was fatty and flavorful. Yummy! The menma was average. I finished everything quickly. I even drank most of the soup. It was a mild and gentle ramen. I would like to try the miso ramen next time! Thank you for the meal. P.S. I talked to the owner about the lack of a roof, and he explained that the old buildings on both sides of the alley were not strong enough to support one.

Simple yet nostalgic flavors. As you eat, you can't help but feel comforted.

On January 27, 2018, the reviewer visited the second generation of Marurai Ken in Hokkaido and tried their soy sauce ramen for 800 yen. This was part of their challenge to visit all the stores in the Ramen Yokocho. The reviewer found the restaurant to have a low hurdle compared to others they were considering for their finish line. There were five Chinese tourists waiting for their ramen ahead of the reviewer, and it took about 20 minutes for the ramen to be served. The ramen had stir-fried vegetables and two pieces of chashu pork. The soup had a slightly salty soy sauce flavor but was easy to drink. The noodles were firm and curly, and overall, the reviewer found the ramen to be good but not particularly memorable. Despite planning to visit another restaurant after this one, the reviewer felt too full after finishing this bowl, so they decided to end their ramen adventure for the day.

This is a shop that I first visited when I was in elementary school and have been longing for ever since. I had been to Hokkaido on a trip, but never had the opportunity to go to Susukino... Finally! At the end of my third year of high school, I was able to come back and eat again. The taste of memories that laid the foundation for my ramen. I can't explain it well, but it's so delicious, so please come and visit!

I ordered Hokkaido black soybean miso ramen for 800 yen and Hokkaido round soy sauce ramen for 800 yen. It's hard to believe that it's a ramen alley, as the atmosphere feels so Japanese without any chemical seasonings. I thought that might be the case, but I must admit that my judgment is greatly influenced by the amount of alcohol consumed. The soup is clean and the chewy noodles are exquisite, which may seem mismatched. Maybe it's the alcohol talking, but if you're going to blame it on the alcohol, please don't tell me not to write a review. However, I was surprised to find such a well-made ramen in the alley. I am grateful for the previous reviews.

During a business trip to Sapporo, I went hopping from sushi restaurant to sushi restaurant and ended up wandering around looking for a place to eat miso ramen. Feeling a bit cold, I randomly walked into this restaurant. It was past 11 PM but there were still a few customers. I ordered the miso ramen and it arrived in a few minutes. I tasted the soup first and found it lacking in richness. The bean sprouts seemed too watery. The noodles were just average. I felt a bit unsatisfied throughout the meal. Personally, I would have liked it to have more richness.

This is a restaurant I used to frequent. There are now many delicious ramen shops in Susukino, so I haven't been here for a while. I visited to try the "Hokkaido-produced Okhotsk salt ramen," which I had not eaten before. It seems to be a chicken broth-based soup. The clear broth has a mild sweetness and is not too rich, which is just right for me. The salt is from Okhotsk, but I don't have a refined palate to discern the difference in salt, although it feels smooth. The seared chashu is delicious, but the salt may be a bit strong in the toppings? The whole wheat noodles look good and are cooked just right. The menma is slightly sweet in flavor, tasty! I still like this ramen shop for its gentle flavors. I will come back to try the soy sauce ramen (my personal recommendation)! Thank you for the meal (^o^)

Welcome.---------- September 2016 ----------After looking around the original Ramen Alley, I settled on this place as my final stop. The friendly and welcoming owner greeted me with a smile and quickly took my order. The Hokkaido Marudai Soy Sauce Ramen had a rich and flavorful broth without any artificial additives. The combination of the sweetness from the floating lard, the strong umami from the chicken broth, and the mellow depth of the soy sauce created a delicious soup. The stir-fried bean sprouts and marinated bamboo shoots added a nice crunch and flavor to the dish. The large and tender chashu pork slices were full of meaty goodness. The whole wheat noodles had a chewy texture that was satisfying. Overall, it was a great dining experience with a warm send-off from the owner. Thank you for the delicious meal.

After the social gathering, I stopped by Ramen Alley on the way back. Despite eating and drinking a lot, do I still want to gain weight? Do I want to replenish calories? I was drawn to the seared chashu. The interior of the shop had an L-shaped counter and the previous customers were mostly salarymen returning from a party. I ordered the seared chashu ramen with black soybean miso from the bald-headed owner. The owner's swift movements and meticulous work were impressive! Now, how was the ramen? First, the chashu rolls. The chashu was perfect in terms of searing, thickness, and cut. The other toppings were white negi and marinated shinchiku. As for the soup? It was mild and gentle in flavor, but lacked a strong umami taste, which was unexpected. The noodles were medium-thin straight noodles, possibly from a noodle factory. Since the soup wasn't too rich, the noodles might be a good match. Well, it might be just right for a closing ramen.

After finishing a meeting with a client on the 13th, I went out for drinks in Susukino. We started drinking at 6:00 PM and continued until around 11:30 PM. It was a rare occasion for me to drink so much. To end the night, the client took me to this restaurant in Ramen Yokocho. I ordered the soy sauce ramen, which is shown in the photo. I'm sorry, but I can't remember if it was delicious or not. If it was an impressive ramen, I would have remembered even while drunk. However, the fact that I can't remember suggests that it was just average. But I am satisfied that I was able to eat ramen in Ramen Yokocho for the first time in over ten years. I am truly grateful to the client for treating me. Thank you very much once again.

I visited the restaurant recently. The interior was very clean and I was impressed. I could feel the owner's dedication in the store. The menu also seemed to focus on soybeans, which was promising. I ordered the second menu from the top with soy sauce. Normally I go for miso or salt, but this time I chose soy sauce. The soy sauce was flavorful and delicious, thanks to the owner's dedication. However, personally, I think it would be even more delicious with more richness and sweetness. The owner was the only one there, creating a nice atmosphere, and I was truly impressed by how clean the interior was. Thank you for the meal.

Sapporo business trip, finishing with ramen. A ramen shop in Ramen Alley. The locals said it's strange that the ramen costs nearly 800 yen. Well, it's a tourist spot, so five men entered the shop. The shop has only 8 counter seats, and the old man runs it alone. The smell of burnt garlic when making the ramen is already appetizing. The shop is rare for using black soybeans, so expectations are high. The soup is very smooth and the noodles are surprisingly elastic despite being thin. However... the soup doesn't stick to the noodles... but the flavor is strong... it was a very strange taste. Thank you for the meal.

I dropped by this place on my way back after having a drink at another place. I had heard about this restaurant before, but didn't realize it has been around for decades. They specialize in ramen made with local Hokkaido ingredients, and I ordered the Hokkaido black soybean miso ramen for 800 yen. The salt and wheat in the noodles are also sourced locally. The soup is made from pork bones and chicken bones. It may seem like a typical Sapporo ramen, but it's a bit different from the touristy ramen spots. Both the noodles and the soup were delicious. The noodles were not the typical bright yellow curly noodles, but rather a blend of whole wheat flour resulting in a light brown color with a subtle wave. I didn't think 800 yen was cheap, but considering the use of local ingredients, it seemed reasonable. I quite liked it and would like to have it again.

I visited this restaurant which is one of the original ones in the ramen alley. It is located in the middle of the alley and has a small L-shaped counter with limited seating. The friendly master runs the place alone. I ordered the Hokkaido black soybean miso ramen (800 yen) pictured. They also offer other options like soy sauce made from whole soybeans and Okhotsk salt. Although the miso ramen looks rich, the soup was actually mild and slightly thin. The medium curly noodles and toppings were delicious. It's not that it's not tasty, but I personally felt something was lacking. It might be good for those who prefer a lighter flavor.

Sapporo Ramen Alley. A place mainly for tourists as local residents don't often visit. Ended up at Ramen Yoko after finding out the desired shop was closed on an irregular day off. It seems like only about half the shops are open during the day. Already visited several shops so thought this one would do. The deciding factor was the rare green lantern at the ramen shop's entrance. The small shop only has an L-shaped counter. The interior has a modern and chic color scheme. The menu is as shown in the picture. I ordered miso ramen with an extra flavored egg, while my companion ordered salt ramen. The cooking process can be observed up close due to the small space. After about 6 minutes, the ramen was ready. Starting with the miso ramen, the large chashu was belly pork, and the leeks and grated ginger were a unique touch. The soup had a layer of lard on the surface. The taste was a simple miso flavor with less salt compared to recent miso ramen, making it ideal for warming up in winter. The ginger was unnecessary in my opinion. The noodles were medium-thick curly Sapporo noodles. The slightly cold ingredients were a bit of a concern, but the soup itself stayed warm thanks to the lard. The flavored egg was not too strong but cold (laughs). The price with the extra egg was 900 yen... Honestly, it's a bit expensive. My companion's salt ramen arrived. The clear color indicated salt. The soup was already lukewarm. It seemed a bit disappointing. Miso ramen stays warm with the oil film, but salt ramen cools down quickly. Apart from the taste, the lukewarm soup was a bit of a letdown. After leaving the shop, my companion also mentioned that the soup was already lukewarm when served. It would have been better if they had reheated the bowls. Another thing that bothered me a bit was the service. It felt a bit too casual, giving off a typical Hokkaido vibe. Looks like I might be staying away from Ramen Alley again...

2013 #278 It feels like it's been a while since my last Sapporo wonton ramen pilgrimage, but this time marks the 10th one! There are still many more to discover ♬ Also, have you noticed how many shops in Ramen Yokocho serve wonton ramen? Once you step out of Chuo Ward, there are even more, so you end up finding different interesting shops (^◇^;) No other customers when I arrived, just one after me. Wonton ramen is quite expensive, isn't it? #278 @Sanshoku Wontan Men (Okhotsk Salt) for 900 yen. Here it is ♬ The wontons in the photo look a bit different from the three-colored ones, but oh well... The slightly cloudy soup has a slightly strong taste, but it's incredibly delicious ♬ It's like a light pork bone soup, and it goes down smoothly after each sip (＾ｰ^) The noodles, upon closer inspection, are made with whole wheat flour. The texture didn't really feel like whole wheat due to the high water content, but I think it would be even more interesting with lower water content. Now, onto the wontons. Starting with the scallop one, it's just so delicious!! You can really taste the flavor of the scallop in it ♬ The pork wonton has a juicy filling that's tasty, and the shrimp wonton has a firm shrimp texture and a nice flavor!! The char siu is lightly seared and delicious too ♬ If I had to say something, I don't think they need to use white leeks. If they used green onions, it would change the color and flavor, I think. But this soup here, it's just so tasty ♬ If this was in the 700 yen range, it would be perfect (T . T) Thank you for the meal ☆～（ゝ。∂） 2012 #024 @Hokkaido Black Soybean Miso Ramen for 800 yen. The Ramen Yokocho series continues (‾▽‾) It's like, you think you know it, but you don't really know it. You knew about it, but you pretended not to. This place is exactly that kind of shop, isn't it? Also, when did it become the second generation? (^◇^;) Two customers already there, and one after me. Despite running the shop in the same place for a long time, the interior has a modern cleanliness to it. And the lively shop owner ♬ This kind of thing really changes the impression in a good way. Looking at the menu, it seems like they've modernized it compared to before. #024 @Hokkaido Black Soybean Miso Ramen for 800 yen. Appearance-wise, it doesn't look like a miso ramen made with black soybeans. It has a fair complexion, with layers of lard and back fat, as well as grated ginger on top, indicating it's not your traditional miso ramen. There's a moderate animal and garlic smell, and the miso gives off a nice aroma. The soup is milder than expected, with a smooth miso flavor. The back fat might be responsible for this, and the slight sweetness is sure to appeal to everyone. I added ginger halfway through, but honestly, this bowl doesn't really need ginger. I wonder about putting ginger on everything just because it's miso. The noodles are basic Sapporo style, with slightly lower water content. They go perfectly with the soup. The chewy texture is just right. The toppings include char siu, menma, bean sprouts, ground meat, green onions, and ginger. The thin but flavorful Dotonbori-style char siu has no unpleasant smell, and has a good meaty taste ♬ The bean sprouts hidden underneath have a crunchy texture that's not bad at all! The ground meat, acting as a hidden flavor, adds to the enjoyment towards the end. The second generation and the slightly modernized menu structure may have a hint of being swayed by the times. Well, that's something you can't avoid if you want to please the customers, but it does feel a bit sad. Nevertheless, it was undeniably delicious, so next time I visit, I'd like to try the Marudai Soy Sauce Ramen! Thank you for the meal ＼(^o^ ===========

Coco, the second generation of Bankaiken. Today, I came to Sapporo (^-^) ◇ 3-color wonton noodles miso flavor, half noodles, no vegetables I like wonton, so I couldn't help but enter the store. It seems that all the ingredients in this shop's ramen are from Hokkaido, which is very good. Now, the ramen served was quite simple because I asked for no vegetables. I tried the 3-color wontons first. The yellow one is scallop wonton, and it was quite good with a paste made from scallops. Next, the white wonton is pork. This was a safe and decent pork wonton. Finally, I wanted to eat the shrimp wonton, but I couldn't find the pink wonton anywhere in the bowl. It seems like they forgot about it. The scallop wonton was floating around instead. The shrimp wonton was the main attraction for me, but I decided to endure it without asking for them to cook the shrimp wonton now. The miso flavor of the soup was a bit lacking in saltiness for me, but it was quite delicious. The noodles are made from whole wheat flour from Hokkaido, so you can see bits of wheat husk in the noodles. I personally love it, so I really liked it. I left the restaurant thinking that I will definitely ask for the shrimp wonton next time. Thank you for the meal.

My travel companion has an average appetite, so after eating, we split up and I headed to Ramen Alley. Tourists were peeking into the shops lining the narrow alley. I hadn't done any research, so I walked back and forth a couple of times trying to decide which shop to choose. I was drawn in by a good smell coming from the storefront. You grab a beer from the self-serve fridge at the entrance. I tried the black soybean miso ramen. The miso flavor was rich and strong. The noodles were yellow, maybe egg noodles? Or perhaps colored with miso? The color of the noodles was quite impressive. The topping on the ramen looked like garlic at first, but it turned out to be ginger. It was my first time having ginger on ramen, but it worked well. However, towards the end, when I was drinking the soup, I could taste the garlic as well. It was rich and delicious.

Today is Sunday and it is the last day in Sapporo. We decided to eat ramen in Sapporo before heading back, so we looked for a ramen shop. I like miso stewed udon, but for some reason I don't like miso ramen. I prefer udon over somen or hiyamugi, but when it comes to ramen, I like thin noodles and dislike thick noodles. Based on TABETABI's recommendation, we decided to go to "Shingetsu" and walked from the hotel to find it. While searching for Shingetsu, we finally found it, but it seemed to be closed on Sundays. This kind of situation is common in my life, so I never panic. I am an adult. When I don't know what to do, I leave it to fate. When I looked beside the building, I saw a narrow alley called "Ramen Yokocho." Although I had heard of the name before, there were hardly any people inside. Only about 1/5 of the shops had customers, and even in those shops, there were only 1-2 customers per shop, some drinking beer as if it were a small bar. A large group of people suddenly arrived. They were all Chinese tourists with cameras and videos. I wonder how these deserted ramen alley felt to the Chinese visitors. As I was thinking, I started to feel hungry and knew I had to have lunch somewhere. Since I had already decided on ramen, I had to choose one of the shops in the alley. In such cases, I leave the decision to my wife. The reason is that whenever I make a decision, she always complains later. She criticizes my choices as always wrong, but she became my wife precisely because of that, so I have to endure it. I don't like being criticized, so I prefer to be on the complaining side. The interior of this shop was small with about 8 seats at the counter. I ordered salt ramen and my wife ordered soy sauce ramen, both with flavored eggs. The noodles in my salt ramen were thicker than I liked, but the soup was decent. The soy sauce ramen my wife ordered strangely tasted like miso ramen. I took a bite of her ramen, found it strange, and immediately returned the bowl to her, but for some reason, she almost finished the ramen. When we left the shop, I asked her how she managed to finish that strange-tasting ramen, and she replied, "I don't know why I ate it. I deeply regret it." My wife often behaves in ways that I don't understand. But in the end, she is just very eager to eat. She may pretend to deeply regret eating it after finishing, but there is no progress in her actions.