I couldn't watch the WBC final due to work, and I had been turned down for lunch a few times, so I decided to visit this place. Around 12:10, no other customers were there, and the friendly owner welcomed me and seated me at the end of the counter. The TV was showing the celebration after the WBC victory, and the owner asked if it was okay to keep it on. Of course, I wanted to know more, so I said it was fine. The owner, who used to play soccer, mentioned that he found baseball interesting for the first time during this WBC. I ordered the chicken white broth mixed noodles. The owner mentioned that the large portion was free, but since I have a small appetite, I opted for the regular size. (The two women who came in after me ordered the large size and won...) The noodles arrived soon, and it was quite a generous portion. I had doubts if I could finish it all. After mixing it up, I started eating. The flat thick noodles were voluminous but delicious. The ample toppings like green onions, red pickled ginger, and mustard greens were also tasty. The friendly owner added to the good atmosphere, and we had a toast for the WBC victory. It's a shame they didn't have soup-based ramen, but overall, it was delicious. Thank you for the meal! Oh, I forgot to use the coupon on Tabelog...

Today's lunch ramen was at the long-awaited "Rafuya" restaurant. Originally opened in 2014 as a "Abura Soba" shop, in 2020 it became part of the "Hien Group" and offered both Abura Soba and Ramen as "NOODLE BAR Umi to Kumo Rafuya." In July 2022, due to the expiration of the franchise contract, it separated from the Hien Group and reopened as a "Mazesoba specialty Rafuya" offering only mazesoba. The restaurant's logo has also been restored to the original "Rafuya" mark. The new Rafuya operates only during the day, with a different format for the evening. The regular holidays are irregular, but they often close on Sundays and Mondays. They are preparing for social media, so please check there for updates. Rafuya in Sapporo has been serving Abura Soba for quite some time. It's probably the third after "Komefutei" and "Taoka." The naming of "Abura Soba" gives an impression of richness and oiliness, so this time the new store deliberately calls it "Mazesoba" instead of "Abura Soba." The restaurant is located at Nishi 4, Minami 2, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, on the 2nd floor of Oyoyobare behind the old 4 Plaza. As before, the small interior has only 7 counter seats, giving it a cozy hideaway atmosphere. The menu consists of "Mazesoba" and several variations. All items come with soup, and various toppings are available starting from 50 yen. Today, I ordered the basic "Original Mazesoba" for 780 yen and added a "raw egg" for 50 yen. The dish arrived in about 8 minutes. The Mazesoba was served in a white pedestal bowl with the Rafuya logo, and the toppings included minced meat, raw onions, seasoned menma, fried garlic, green onions, nori, sesame seeds, and a pink naruto in the center. I added the separately ordered raw egg to the center and mixed it well. The thick and chewy noodles coated with the soy sauce-based sauce at the bottom of the soup had a smooth slurping texture. The savory ingredients like minced meat, menma, and fried garlic combined with the raw egg to create a mellow flavor. The spiciness of the raw onions followed afterward, with support from the green onions, nori, and sesame seeds. The balance of sweetness, acidity, and saltiness was exquisite. I thoroughly enjoyed every bite until the last noodle was gone. Once again, I finished the entire bowl. It was truly a delicious experience with the "Original Mazesoba" from Rafuya after a long time. This bowl has been a staple in Sapporo's mazesoba culture. It had been 5 years since I last had mazesoba at this restaurant, as I had only been eating ramen during the "NOODLE BAR Umi to Kumo Rafuya" era. It was delicious as ever. Next time, I will definitely add the "ochazuke" to finish off the meal. I always like to end with rice. My 100th bowl of the year was enjoyed at the revived Rafuya. Thank you for the meal. *100th bowl of 2022 / Total 725 bowls (visited on July 19, 2022) (posted on December 14, 2022)

It was a long time since it rained. Despite the season, the rain was not chilly but rather humid. In this city with a developed underground network, there were fewer people walking outside like snow. The main street area was undergoing rapid redevelopment, with old buildings being demolished and new ones being built. As I walked around the area, I noticed a small, old building with a new yellow sign on the wall. The sign was hard to read, with a modern design that seemed to contradict itself. Curious, I followed the sign to find a shop on the second floor. Inside, the shop was small with only five seats, and it was full of high school students chatting. I ordered the "Oil Soba" on the menu, drawn in by the humid rain. The oil soba here was different from the traditional style, with a variety of toppings and thick flat noodles. As I tried to enjoy the dish, the flavors seemed to mix and disperse, making it hard to grasp the essence of the oil soba. Adding more vinegar and chili oil didn't make a significant difference. The simplicity and uniqueness of oil soba seemed lost in the mix of flavors. The high school students devoured their oil soba and left, while the staff remained indifferent. A quote by Bernard Shaw came to mind, "There is no love sincerer than the love of food."

I tried oil noodles for the first time! The place was a bit hard to find and the space was quite small. As soon as I opened the door, I tripped over... Yes, even though there was a sign warning about the step, I didn't see it and fell over the high step. I'm sure many people have done the same. And the oil noodles I ordered! In simple terms, it's like ramen without soup? But the flavor was rich and the ingredients mixed well together! The standout was definitely the diced chashu! The marbling and tenderness were really delicious! It's worth going back just for that. I really want to go again! Just be careful of the step at the entrance.

On a certain holiday, while wandering around the city, I suddenly remembered a small cafe that was closed for the day. So I stumbled into this ramen shop across the street that I had never visited before. Located on the upper floor of a building where a famous tempura restaurant is on the first floor, the shop has a counter with 5 seats and another counter with 2 seats facing each other. Young people kept coming and going, creating a lively atmosphere. The background music was a golf broadcast on TV, oh wait, now it's women's relay race! On this day, I was tempted by the "Shio Paitan Ramen (750 yen)" from the menu, which is the shop's specialty, but since I was feeling a bit greedy, I also considered the "Niku Niku Abura Soba". In the end, I decided to go with the "1.5 servings" of the Shio Paitan Ramen. Taking a bite, the noodles were thick, white, flat noodles with a chewy texture. Even with 1.5 servings, it was quite filling. The salt-based sauce that coated the noodles was excellent and delicious, raising my excitement level. I look forward to my next visit. The toppings included dried shrimp, chopped seaweed, green onions, menma (bamboo shoots), pickled ginger, mustard greens, naruto (fish cake), and diced chashu pork. Mixing them all together created a well-balanced and delicious bowl of ramen. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by the high quality and balance of flavors in this abura soba. Thank you for the meal.

Salt white soup half 500 yen, Heartland beer 390 yen. After work, I casually went to a third place for drinks ((´∀｀))ｱﾊﾊﾝ Between PIVOT and Yon Yon Valley Ebi Heaven branch on Yoyoyo Street, on the 2nd floor of San's, a small shop. For lunch that day, I had one inari sushi. I was thinking of heading home soon to fill up my stomach before leaving. The inside of the shop was occupied by a university student at the counter, but it seemed full until I noticed a solo seat by the wall that looked like it was added later! I'll quietly enjoy my beer in the Heartland glass for 390 yen, despite feeling some stares. The oil noodles come in half size for all menu items, and the Haku White Soup is like a Hakata-style grilled ramen. It comes with neatly arranged toppings: 8 ranger chashu, green onions, pickled mustard greens, red pickled ginger, bamboo shoots, seaweed, naruto fish cake, and shallots? The light pork bone and salt sauce go well with the curly thick noodles, which are chewy and delicious (*´∀`)♪ The half size was just right for me, I wasn't sure if I could finish a regular size. I was planning to head home, but... I still had room in my stomach, so what should I do? lol. Thank you for the meal (^ω^)

In Tokyo, oil soba became a temporary trend and there are still many specialty shops, but there are few in Sapporo. In Sapporo, miso ramen is the main dish, and both tsukemen and oil soba are just side dishes. In this context, the oil soba at Raku House is outstanding, comparable to Tokyo's. The seasoning is excellent, and the toppings are delicious. It's been a while since I've had such tasty oil soba. The prices are reasonable, with free extra-large and super-sized portions, making it a great deal. When you're tired of miso ramen, this is the noodle dish you want to try.

I love oil soba, but this shop's version is my favorite because it has a lot of toppings and is very delicious. They use vegetable oil for the sauce, so it's surprisingly healthy. You can choose from regular, large, or extra-large noodles. The toppings include chopped seaweed, fried shallots, chopped onions, menma, green onions, and chashu. I like to add a raw egg as an extra topping. After finishing the noodles, you can get an extra serving of rice for an additional 50 yen and mix it with the leftover sauce for a delicious second meal. Thank you for the meal.

Pivot is located on the second floor of Oyoyo Valley, a little to the west. I heard that both Oyoyo Valley and Onihige Rock offer delicious food, so I was torn between the two as I headed there. However, Onihige Rock happened to be closed, so I went straight to Pivot. I ordered the oil soba for 700 yen. While waiting for my food, I listened to the staff and customers chatting, and I liked the relaxed atmosphere created by the casual attitude of the staff. The oil soba did not disappoint and was delicious as expected. Towards the end, I started to get a little tired of the flavor, so I thought I should have tried mixing in some condiments. Next time, I'll learn how to eat it and give it another try.

This is my first time visiting this restaurant for lunch. The interior is not very spacious, so it was crowded with a few people waiting. The ticket machine has evolved into a touch screen. I ordered the "Manpuku Set" which includes a large serving of oil noodles, a pork bowl, and a large glass of black oolong tea. The glass is huge! The pork bowl was surprisingly small, with pork, green onions, and sweet and savory sauce on top of rice. The oil noodles were reliably delicious, and the large serving size was quite substantial. I finished it all, but it was quite spicy.

I came to this restaurant seeking something a bit stimulating. There were no other customers. I had the counter to myself for dinner. I ordered the spicy mixed noodles. I was drawn in by the appetizing visual. After waiting for about 10 minutes, it was served. I mixed it all up and took a bite. It was really delicious. It didn't have as much kick as it looked, but the meatiness, the impact of the leeks, and the richness of the sauce were quite impressive. I added some chili oil halfway through for more spiciness, just the way I like it. At the end, I added some vinegar for a change in flavor. It was excellent. I enjoyed a satisfying bowl.

I think the oil noodles here might be the best. The price is cheap and you can get free extra large or special servings. It would be even more convenient if the place was bigger. It's difficult though, the location seems expensive for rent.

The menu says it's about a third of the calories of ramen. It's flavorful but not too heavy. I'm hooked on it.

Oil soba (extra large) 700 yen.

Meaty and oily ramen for 900 yen.