Fried Rice (Large portion)

Today, four women took a car and traveled 200 km to Setana Town for a day trip. Two of us supported the drivers so they wouldn't get bored, and now it's time for us two to head back. We had a delicious meal on the way there, but let's review the dinner we had on the way back first. It was already past 6 PM, and the roadside station we passed was closed. So, we decided to go to Jozankei and visit a restaurant I had wanted to go to. The exterior of the restaurant looked inviting, so we went in. An elderly couple greeted us warmly, and the atmosphere was lively. A regular customer was relaxing with hokke fish and beer. We ordered soy sauce ramen and tsukimi soba, and the soba was not hand-made, as the grandma proudly pointed out. She also mentioned that the restaurant only accepts cash, not cards. While waiting for the soy sauce ramen, we chatted with the staff and the regular customer. A German young man appeared and wanted to set up a tent to sleep, so we all discussed where he could do that. The soy sauce ramen arrived, and it was full of ingredients like chashu, spinach, boiled egg, green onions, naruto, and seaweed. The broth wasn't too heavy, but you could taste the flavorful dashi. The atmosphere in the restaurant was friendly, and the staff and customers made our dining experience enjoyable. If you're tired of the hotel dinner in Jozankei, this is the place to go. The ramen was delicious, and the tsukimi soba was also a hit. Thank you for the wonderful meal!

My wife and I had a day off together, so we decided to go for a drive to Jozankei. We usually head towards Niseko, so it was nice for a change. We walked around Sapporo Lake and the hot spring town, then stopped for lunch. When we entered the restaurant, the owner mistook us for foreigners and asked, "Two? Two?" The counter and table seats were all packed, so we sat in a small raised area in the back. We ordered our meals, and the owner brought us water. My wife ordered the hamburger set, but the owner said they were out of ground meat and sliced pork, although they had just restocked the pork in the morning. I couldn't help but think they should have restocked the ground meat too. Regardless, we were okay with the owner's easygoing attitude. My wife had soy sauce ramen, I had miso ramen. The ramen arrived promptly, with a traditional look and toppings like sliced pork, boiled egg, narutomaki, spinach, wheat gluten, seaweed, and chopped green onions. The soup was not too hot, salty, or bland, with a gentle flavor. The noodles were slightly soft, but they complemented the ramen well. Overall, it wasn't anything extraordinary, but it was a good choice. If we have the chance to eat in Jozankei again, we would like to visit this restaurant once more. "Thank you for the meal."

When I sweat in the hot springs, I always crave ramen. We casually visited this old ramen shop for the first time at 10 p.m. The two customers before us were enjoying ramen and fried rice while chatting happily. At the counter, a regular customer was watching TV with a beer in hand. The relaxed atmosphere of the hot spring town's long-established ramen shop put us at ease. We quickly ordered miso ramen and my companion ordered salt ramen. We also added some gyoza after being intrigued by the menu on the wall. The ramen arrived in about 5 minutes. With naruto, spinach, egg, and aburaage on top, it had a nostalgic look. The soup was light with a strong chicken broth flavor, but the miso ramen had a nice miso richness, and the salt ramen had a good balance of saltiness that kept the flavors interesting. It was delicious. A few minutes later, the gyoza arrived. The thin skin had just the right amount of crispiness, and the filling inside matched well with it. It was delicious. We had a good time listening to stories from the talkative and friendly motherly figure. Thank you for the meal. We will visit again.

Welcome! ┌¬o＊　＊　＊　2014.08　↓Located on the main road leading to the Jozankei Onsen town from Route 230 in Minami-ku, this ramen shop is a hidden gem. The facade may be a bit unassuming during the day, but at night, it's inviting. |o| °д°)ﾉGara-ra-ra~ "Welcome!" greeted by the friendly husband and wife owners. It's only 6 PM and there are no other customers yet, so coming early was a good choice. I asked for their recommended ramen and got a glass of cold water. I decided to start with an Asahi beer because why not ( = ´∀´)ﾉ凵゛ "It's chilly at night, you know~" the owners are like caring parents, expressing their concern. In August, wearing a tank top might be a bit challenging with the temperature difference haha. The sound of boiling noodles and cooking fills the air as I watch TV with one ear and eye while enjoying the show with the owners. After ordering, I noticed they have a wide variety of set meals! The words "fried rice, gyoza" reminded me of the late-night snack bar. The soy sauce ramen arrives, and it's a nostalgic sight. The soup is rich with the umami of chicken bones, delivering that traditional flavor I've enjoyed for years. The thickness of the chashu and the sliced egg add to the charm. The menma, nori, and wheat gluten complement the noodles perfectly. The soup is so delicious, I could drink it all up. Eating here is pure bliss, and watching the owners enjoy TV together is heartwarming. Just having a place like this makes it a tourist attraction in itself. I regret not staying at the nearby ryokan and drinking here, but I've decided I'll be back. Thank you for the delicious meal!

It was quiet in the late-night hot spring town. The sound of the river could be heard in the distance. Meow. A cat's voice could be heard from somewhere. Clang, clatter. After getting out of the bath, I quickly dried my hair, borrowed sandals from the hotel, and went outside. The cool breeze felt refreshing on my still-warm face. Clang, clatter. I headed to a nearby dining hall called "Kondo". It was past 11 PM. Normally, I would think it's not good to eat ramen at such a late hour, but tonight was an exception. I was a little hungry after the bath, and having a dining hall open nearby was convenient. The dining hall had a counter and a few tables, and an old man who had been in business for 50 years was making ramen behind the counter. The soy sauce ramen was topped with seaweed, wakame seaweed, egg, fish cake, chashu pork, spinach, menma bamboo shoots, and green onions. It was a classic ramen with plenty of toppings. The slightly salty soup, curly noodles, and slightly soft texture made it delicious. Eating ramen before bed, something I don't usually do, made it taste even better. The low laughter from the late-night TV, and the middle-aged men in yukata and jackets at the table, drinking beer and waiting for their ramen, created a cozy atmosphere. It was my first time experiencing this kind of ramen place, and it was exciting. The owner seemed a bit intimidating at first, but by the end, I felt warm. Thank you for the meal. I will definitely visit again.

One of the enjoyable activities at a hot spring inn is taking a leisurely stroll through the hot spring town at night. While it's fun to have a lively company party, walking with the sound of wooden clogs echoing softly and feeling the hot spring atmosphere is a nice way to warm your heart and feel the refreshing breeze on your body. When your slightly tipsy head and stomach demand something, it's "night-crying soba," or rather, ramen. "Shokudo Konno" is a grateful restaurant that lights up even on a quiet night in Jozankei, soothing the hearts of travelers. The stubborn old man-like owner welcomes you. However, it goes without saying that if you show a mature attitude, he will come to you. With a big smile and warm but few words, the service is excellent. The taste of the ramen enjoyed with beer is like the good old Showa era. The well-balanced saltiness, a flavor that is easy to understand but not overly heavy. The naruto, sliced boiled egg, and spinach fit perfectly in the hot spring town setting. The ramen that may not be satisfying in everyday city life is quite different in this hot spring town. It's much better than modern ramen.

Finally, we arrived at Jozankei, the hidden gem of Sapporo. In this "hot spring town," there is a dining establishment called "Konno," which is probably the southernmost ramen shop in Sapporo (although there is a ramen shop called "Karak" nearby, this one seems to take the lead). Just a side note, there is also a ramen shop at the International Ski Resort, but surprisingly, it is not in the south but more towards the west (I might visit there soon). On a January afternoon in 2014, I entered the restaurant and was surprised by the bustling atmosphere. The place was packed with regular customers, creating a lively scene reminiscent of a local bar. "Do you have a seat for me?" I asked. In response, the friendly proprietress pointed to a table and said, "Sit there! This gentleman is really kind, so don't worry! Hahaha." With no reason to refuse, I sat down amidst the laughter of the regulars. My main purpose for visiting was, of course, the ramen. I didn't come all the way to Jozankei to strike up conversations with random customers and talk about life. So, I decided to try the recommended "shoyu ramen" by the proprietress. The waiting time was about 13 minutes. I took a sip of the soup. It had a rich flavor with a good balance of soy sauce. The amount of oil was moderate, but the temperature of the soup was a bit low. Next, I tried the noodles. They were pleasantly soft and chewy, catering to the elderly with their gentle texture. "For a place like this, it's quite well-made," I thought. It seems that busy restaurants like this one can serve fresh ingredients to their customers. Overall, it was a satisfying meal. I will definitely visit again when I stay overnight at the hot springs. As the economy seems to be improving with Abenomics, the ski season is finally here. My ramen journey continues without leaving a trace, just like a determined skier descending a slope. I look forward to enjoying a beer while gazing at the moon from an outdoor hot spring. Can't wait for another hot spring trip. Cheers!

2012/4/14 Revisited "Kono" for the 54th time in 2012 Continuing from last year, I couldn't resist visiting again (laughs). Even after eating a delicious dinner, I always crave the food at this place when I come to Jozankei. It's Kono Shokudo. After dinner, drinking some alcohol and soaking in the hot springs, I gradually digest the food in my stomach. Finally feeling like I could eat some ramen, I visited around 11 PM! Since it's right across from Furukawa, you can easily go in your yukata! When I opened the door to the empty restaurant, I was the only customer. It was just me and the owner. Today, it was just the owner working. As usual, I ordered the miso ramen! I waited for the ramen to be ready in the quiet atmosphere of the restaurant. In about 6 minutes, the ramen arrived!! It's the usual ordinary ramen. Let's dig in!! The taste is also just orthodox. Nothing special. That's the kind of ramen it is. However, ramen in the hot spring town is exceptional. Especially in Jozankei, this place is open until around midnight, which is very convenient. Thank you for the delicious ramen once again today!! It was delicious! As I was leaving, I had a conversation with the owner. I think he remembered me from the last time I came, and he remembered me this time too (laughs). Even though I don't come that often... I will definitely visit again, so thank you for everything!! Thank you for the meal! ----------------------------------------------------- A few years later, I revisited "Kono" for ramen! 2011/5/14 "57th bowl of ramen in 2011" When I left Furukawa, "Kono Shokudo" was right across the street. With a tipsy body craving ramen (laughs), isn't it the best to eat ramen after staying at a hot spring inn, drinking a lot, and soaking in the hot springs...? Last time I stayed at Furukawa, I also had ramen here. When I entered, despite it being late at night, there was a family of four having dinner. Since I was alone, I sat at the counter. That seat felt nostalgic - it was the same seat as last time. Last time, it was three guys visiting (laughs). The father and mother were running the place. Since I went in my yukata from Furukawa, the father said, "Furukawa is a nice inn, right?" We talked about my previous visit and the ramen arrived. Oh, this is miso ramen. Let's eat right away. Hmm! The soup that warms my tipsy body. A light taste from the old days. To put it simply, there's nothing special about the soup (laughs). The noodles were slightly on the softer side, but it matched the light soup well. The toppings were simple, with no stir-fried vegetables. Even though I ate a lot at Furukawa, I finished the ramen in no time!! Honestly, it's really just an ordinary ramen. It's not very delicious or unique, and if someone told me I could eat this ramen near my house... I wouldn't feel the same way. However, being so close to where I stayed and open late, I think it's a valuable place. A grateful shop that satisfies the stomach of a ramen lover like me. It's a place that always welcomes you and makes you want to come back, where you can feel the warmth of the couple who warmly greet the tourists. It was delicious! Thank you for the meal!!

Cafeteria Konno ===========