Special Bento Box for 1300 yen. It is a two-tiered bento box with shrimp fry, tonkatsu, shumai, tamagoyaki, potato salad, simmered dish, etc. The portion size is small for the price, but the taste is decent. It is a good option for when you crave fried food. The popular an-kake yakisoba is also delicious and offers good value. The curry is tasty and homey, but it tends to run out late in the day. Overall, it is a safe and tasty choice.

I was alone in Kitami, and after being rejected by two consecutive places I aimed for from my notes, I needed to find a replacement to meet today's quota. I found a soba shop on the highway, "Soba no Sanpuku," and decided to enter despite my initial hesitation. It was empty as expected, and I ordered the salt ramen. The noodles were thicker and chewier than I anticipated, the menma was flavorless, and the naruto had a fridge smell. The chashu lacked fat, and the soup was not too salty but made my throat dry. Overall, the noodles did not sit well with me, so I left some unfinished.

After seeing "Katsura Ramen" on a friend's social media, I couldn't help but crave it. Although there are places in my town that offer Katsura Ramen, I decided to venture into Kitami City and visit Sanpuku's Higashi store. There is also a Sanpuku along Midori-en Street, but they don't serve Katsura Ramen there. The parking lot at the East store can accommodate about 4 cars. Inside, the atmosphere is nostalgic. While most people order the "Ankake Yakisoba," I decided to go for the Katsura Ramen. "Katsura Ramen, large size!" I ordered, and the old man in the kitchen shouted "Katsura Ramen!" Perhaps he forgot to take the order, as he asked me, "Did I take your order, sir?" But it's okay, grandpa! Then, the Katsura Ramen arrived!! The clear soup had a familiar, comforting color. After taking a bite, I realized that ordering the Katsura Ramen as a side to the Ankake Yakisoba might have been a better choice. This time, the outcome was disappointing, but I highly recommend the Ankake Yakisoba. Next time, I'll challenge myself with the Ankake Yakisoba topped with Katsu.

I really like the curry here, but the yakisoba (with salt and thickened sauce) is actually recommended.

I often come here to eat Ankake Yakisoba, but today the owner was not there, and the noodles were burnt and bitter. On top of that, the sauce was too hard and didn't mix well with the noodles, which was disappointing.

Pork cutlet curry, including tax, costs 1001 yen.

I decided to skip the company cafeteria and have lunch outside. I thought I might as well do a review on Tabelog, so here I am. I have been here a few times before, but I haven't reviewed it yet. It's called "Sanpuku Higashi-ten" and it's technically a soba restaurant. However, it's rare to see people actually eating soba here (laughs). The menu includes various set meals, bento boxes, rice bowls, and noodles. It's a perfect casual dining spot. So, I decided to try the ramen at a soba restaurant. I vaguely remember enjoying the "miso" ramen here a long time ago. I ordered the "shio ramen" for 600 yen. It took about 6-7 minutes. An elderly waiter brought it to me. As soon as it arrived, there was a faint animal smell. The appearance of the ramen was pretty standard. The soup was slightly thick and lard-based. The noodles were medium-thick and slightly curly. They had a good chew but weren't too firm. The chashu was a bit salty. Overall, the animal smell seemed to be coming from the chashu. The toppings included menma, wheat gluten, narutomaki, and green onions. I wasn't expecting much, but my taste buds from before I started using Tabelog can't be trusted. "Sanpuku" is known for its "ankake yakisoba," a classic menu item that every Kitami resident knows. It's a popular dish at the "Ryokuen-ten," but it didn't seem as popular at the "Higashi-ten." These old-fashioned Showa era diners in the city are becoming endangered species. I hope they continue to thrive for a long time.

I went to Sanfuku and had the large yakisoba for 900 yen. It's a simple dish that I've been eating since my student days. The taste hasn't changed, it's a straightforward flavor. I feel like eating it about twice a year. It's a simple taste, but that's what I like about it. Many people overwhelmingly order this dish. I don't really recommend anything else. The yakisoba with thick sauce is 100 yen cheaper at the Midori-en branch. I think I prefer it over the Midori-en branch. When I feel like eating it again, I'll come to the Higashi branch. There's a new local specialty in Kitami called the salt yakisoba. I don't really feel like eating it, but when it comes to Kitami's yakisoba, this is the one people think of.

I visited Sanpuku Shokudo for the first time. The restaurant has a traditional feel to it and I was the only customer when I arrived around 7 o'clock. The place is quite spacious with 3 tables for 8 people, 2 tables for 4 people, and 3 small raised tables for 4 people. A friend recommended the Ankake Yakisoba, so I ordered that with extra noodles for an additional 100 yen. I asked for the meat to be excluded. The menu is quite extensive with reasonable prices for soba and udon. I would like to come back to try the soba next time. It seems like the restaurant is run by two men, possibly a father and son. The atmosphere is very quiet with no unnecessary chatter. The Ankake Yakisoba arrived soon, filled with plenty of vegetables such as Chinese cabbage, carrots, onions, wood ear mushrooms, and squid. The noodles were crispy and the flavor was slightly sweet with a perfect balance of salt. Another male customer ordered a large portion of the same dish, indicating its popularity. When the man brought his order, he noticed my empty tea cup and discreetly refilled it, showing attention to detail. The only downside was the sticky floors throughout the restaurant, likely due to its long history. Overall, the yakisoba was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

Today, I came to Kitami for work. The client treated me to a pork cutlet bento from Sanpuku Shokudo Higashi Store. Whenever I come to Kitami, they always get me this bento. The bento box is two-tiered. The main dish is about three pieces of tonkatsu (pork cutlet). There is also a large shumai dumpling and tamagoyaki (rolled omelette) included. However, the standout is the potato salad. It really ties everything together. It is undeniably delicious and makes a great side dish with rice. While the tonkatsu itself would be tastier if freshly fried, it's still enjoyable in the bento. I like to enjoy the variety of side dishes like the tamagoyaki and shumai. I would definitely recommend visiting the restaurant to try it yourself. Thank you for the meal.