I went because the owner wanted to, arrived early to line up before the opening. I thought it was from 11:30, but it was actually from 12, so I killed time nearby and lined up 15 minutes before. I was the second in line, followed by one more group. We were able to enter right when they opened, but they stopped after serving these three groups. The rest had to wait. I'm glad I lined up! I wanted to go all out, so I got the garlic chashu miso, which is probably the most popular. Most of the other options also had garlic chashu. When it was served, I was delighted by the generous amount of chashu. The sizzling fried chashu was fragrant and delicious. The soup was surprisingly light miso flavor. I added all the spicy miso that came with it. I wish it was even richer. It was a ramen that I could finish easily without feeling heavy. Thank you for the meal!

A popular ramen shop in Otaru run by a French owner. The atmosphere is a bit different from regular ramen shops, with jazz music playing inside. I ordered the garlic chashu miso ramen and katsuobushi rice. The soup was a perfect balance between rich and light, making it easy to drink up. The crispy and juicy korochaa topping was excellent, making the ramen very high-quality. The katsuobushi rice had shredded bonito on rice soaked in bonito broth. It was delicious on its own and paired perfectly with the ramen soup. If you have room in your stomach, definitely try it out. It was delicious.

Local friend's recommended ramen shop. Waited in line for about 40 minutes. The shop is understaffed, so it's no wonder there's a line. The taste was elegant and not too heavy. However, it was a bit lacking for those who prefer punchier ramen. The chashu was more like braised pork and delicious, I would like to try it in a braised pork bowl style!

Garlic Chashu Miso Ramen - 1030 yen There is a lot of chashu, so it's filling. I didn't really taste the garlic, but the chashu is flavorful and delicious. It's not the usual circular shape, but chunky chashu which is easy to eat. The noodles are thin and firm. The soup lacks a bit of depth due to no artificial seasoning, but it's still tasty. Katsuomeshi (small) - 260 yen The rice is well seasoned, and it tastes even better when paired with the soup. There are disposable chopsticks, tissues, toothpicks, pepper, and water at the counter. Since it's run by one person, it takes some time to be seated and for the food to be served. I had to wait 45 minutes before finally getting a seat. There are empty seats, so hiring an extra staff member might be a good idea... But the service is efficient. The customer service is decent.

I went on Wednesday at noon. It seemed to be run by a one-man operation, and it was a holiday, so the line was crazy long! It took us 2 hours to finish eating. I ordered garlic chashu miso ramen, and my companion ordered soy sauce ramen. When we ordered, we were told that the bonito rice was sold out. I was looking forward to it, so I wish they had told us sooner. The miso ramen was just okay... It tasted better when I added the spicy miso for flavor. I also tried the soy sauce ramen, and it was better than the miso ramen!

Good day everyone! After enjoying some non-alcoholic drinks and half-fried food, let's head to another popular restaurant for lunch in Otaru, "Ramen Tokaiya". When we entered, there were 7 people waiting in line, but luckily we found some chairs near the counter to sit and wait. After a short wait, we finally heard the voice of the owner, who was managing the restaurant alone. The cozy interior with just a counter and dim lighting matched perfectly with the stylish background music. I was tempted by the garlic chashu miso ramen for 1,030 yen, but decided to go with the soy sauce ramen for 850 yen to save room for dinner later. The presentation of the ramen was beautiful, with chashu, menma, pickled mustard greens, half a boiled egg, sesame seeds, and green onions. The clear soup was generous and delightful, although the flavor of the broth was not as strong as I prefer. I think adding the recommended bonito rice would enhance the overall taste. Lastly, I noticed that despite the high cost, having a ticket machine would be more efficient and hygienic for both the customers and the hardworking owner. I wonder how busy they get on weekends. Now, off to Wing Bay for a movie! Thank you for the delicious meal!

Located close to Otaru Station, the location is convenient. I tried the garlic chashu miso ramen. The soup has a gentle miso flavor. For those who like it stronger, there is a separate spicy miso condiment that you can add, which enhances the taste. I personally added a little towards the end and enjoyed it until the last drop. The chashu is placed on top towards the end, and it is fried in a pan, crispy and juicy, which adds a fun texture to the dish. Since the soup is on the milder side, I am now curious to try the soy sauce version as well.

Upon arriving in Otaru, the first meal I had was at this ramen restaurant. I had this restaurant on my list since I decided to visit Otaru! The restaurant opens at 12:00, and I arrived at 11:10, which was too early! Of course, there was no line since it was a weekday, so I thought I would be okay. I did some shopping and arrived at exactly 12:00, only to find out that they were already open with a waiting line of 5 people. Panic! I had to be somewhere else by 13:00! There was a sign outside saying, "We are operating with only one person, so please be prepared to wait during busy times." I waited for a while, but the line was not moving fast. I realized it would be impossible to make it to my 13:00 appointment, so I had to reschedule. As you can see, the counter seats may look available, but they adjust the seating according to the number of people and move the dividers around. The owner does everything - cooking, serving, cleaning, guiding, and billing - all by themselves, so it naturally takes time. I was seated at 12:30, and it took 30 minutes to serve the 5 people ahead of me. My order was the Garlic Chashu Miso Ramen for 980 yen. When the chashu arrived at the counter, it seemed to be saying, "Ju~♪." It looked like they fried the chashu in oil and put it in the ramen! The toppings included chashu, half-cooked egg, green onions, and sesame seeds, with yellow thin curly egg noodles. The miso soup was a bit light, but when I mixed in the spicy miso provided at the beginning, it became very tasty, especially with the chashu fat. The chashu was crispy on the outside but tender inside - delicious! I also ordered the Katsuobushi Meshi for 350 yen, which was rice cooked in bonito broth topped with katsuobushi, green onions, and sesame seeds - very tasty. The Gyoza for 550 yen was a bit pricey, but it was quite delicious. The gyoza took longer to be served, and when it arrived, I was surprised by its appearance, resembling a French "galette" with its wing-like part. I dipped the wing part into the ramen soup, which was enjoyable. My companion had the Miso Ramen for 830 yen, which was also delicious. After finishing our meal at 13:25, we saw a line of 10 people waiting outside. Overall, everything was delicious. Thank you for the meal!

I ordered the garlic chashu miso ramen to satisfy my hunger. I skipped the katsuo meshi as I wasn't too hungry. The ramen came with generous portions of chashu, giving it a hearty and bold flavor. The miso soup was surprisingly light, creating a good balance overall. I enjoyed it while it was hot. It seems to be a popular spot, as there may be a line depending on the time of day.

Soy sauce ramen and miso ramen!! The soup is delicate and delicious! The noodles are slightly sweet and medium-thick curly noodles! The chashu is crispy the moment you bite into it!! Sweet, juicy, and delicious! The chef is said to be French-trained... no wonder it's so delicate!! I loved it so much! And when I visited towards closing time, they gave me some leftover popular bonito rice ❤️❤️ And it was so delicious! I have to go back again! ❤️

Wataikaya Shoyu Ramen for 800 yen. The amber-colored soup made with white soy sauce gives a light impression at first bite as it does not use chemical seasonings or lard. As you continue eating, you will notice the depth of the flavor. The crispy sautéed chashu is soft and delicious. The pickled mustard greens also add a nice accent to the taste. The ramen, made carefully for each customer, was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

Finally, Otaru. Finally, Watamiya. Today's work was in Otaru after a long time, so I finally decided to go eat at "Ramen Watamiya," which I had been curious about for a while. Opened in 2003. It is a well-established restaurant that was also featured in the Michelin Guide Hokkaido in 2012 and 2017. The restaurant is a 3-minute walk from Otaru Station. Walk along Chuo Street leading from Otaru Station to the canal. You can use the indoor parking lot of the pachinko parlor "Playland Happy" right in front of the store. You will receive a service ticket for 2 hours from the store. After passing through the curtain, I entered the store. The interior of the store consists of long counter seats only. It's quite crowded, but I managed to get a seat. The interior of the store is somewhat dim, and jazz music is playing in the background. Despite being a ramen shop, it has a calming atmosphere. It's like a bar. The owner, Furuyama, who has trained in French cuisine for over 10 years, is the only one working. Because he is alone, he is quite busy with cooking, serving, and cashier duties. Now, looking at the menu, the ramen comes in three types: soy sauce, miso, and garlic chashu miso. Another popular item is the owner's proud bonito rice. So, I ordered the "garlic chashu miso ramen" for 980 yen and the "bonito rice (small)" for 250 yen. The price of 980 yen for ramen is good. It doesn't exceed the 1,000 yen mark, so there is a psychological sense of reassurance. This pricing strategy makes you feel like you might as well order a side menu. The total exceeds 1,000 yen, but I think this pricing strategy is a win for the restaurant. The sound of the kitchen ingredients being sautéed is pleasant. After about 10 minutes, the spicy miso and bonito rice arrived, followed by the appearance of the miso ramen covered with chashu on the surface. The bowl is a vividly patterned Tamadon. So, let's dig in♪ First, the soup. (*^▽^*) The hot and delicious soup is a combination of pork and chicken broth with seafood such as kombu and bonito. White miso is used to adjust the flavor, and garlic is added to finish the soup. This is delicious. It's impressive how he can bring out such a rich flavor without using chemical seasonings. The noodles are medium-thick curly egg noodles. They are high-water noodles that carry the rich soup well. The noodles are provided by Kobayashi Seimen. The surface of the soup is covered with crispy fried bite-sized chashu. It's crispy and juicy. Super delicious♬ The menma, cabbage, and wood ear mushrooms complement the rich miso flavor perfectly. A boiled egg hidden in the soup. It's a bit warm when added later, but it serves as a little break from the hot soup. Here, add the spicy miso from the separate dish. The mellow miso flavor starts to show a sharp expression. It's perfectly calculated. The bonito rice, cooked with the first-class dashi, is also delicious. It goes perfectly with the soup, and I devour this rice with the soup. It's delicious♡ So, once again, I finished every last drop of soup and every last grain of rice, slurping and eating until the end. Wow, this is an extraordinary bowl of ramen created by a "French chef." A non-conventional, outstanding dish. This taste is like "JAZZ." And it's the best free jazz♪♪♪ I'm curious about the default "soy sauce ramen" too. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal♬ *79th bowl in 2021 (visited on June 30, 2021)

I will contribute an article about Wataika, a Michelin-rated restaurant I visited the other day. - Soy sauce ramen (800 yen) This ramen features a double soup made from chicken and pork bones, and it is well-designed to bring out richness and flavor that made me exclaim "wow!" It is light yet has a nice depth of flavor. The blend of 6-7 types of seafood such as kombu and bonito creates a delicious broth with a rich umami taste. The medium-thick noodles allow you to enjoy the wheat flavor while savoring the amber-colored soup. It was a highly satisfying bowl. Thank you for the meal! ☺︎

There were only counter seats in the shop, and it was run by one person. Jazz music was playing in the calm atmosphere. However, customers kept coming one after another. The owner worked diligently. I ordered soy sauce ramen and garlic miso chashu. The soy sauce ramen looked like salt ramen. The taste was light. The garlic miso chashu arrived with the chashu still sizzling hot. The taste was definitely miso! There was also spicy miso topping, so I enjoyed changing the flavor while eating. I'm not sure if I would go again, but it would be easier to go if the adjacent paid parking lot offered a discount instead of using the pachinko parlor's parking lot.

Visited on Friday, March 12, 2021, around 6:30 pm. I went to a ramen shop that I had been wanting to try for a while. It's a little over a 5-minute walk from Otaru Station, near a pachinko parlor called Happy. I wondered if they had irregular hours due to the recent self-restraint period, but it seems like they mostly operate during lunch hours and not so much during dinner time. Maybe because it was a Friday night? When I peeked into the shop this time, the curtain was hanging, and I saw some young people entering smoothly. Seeing that, I followed suit! The interior of the shop is narrow and dimly lit, with only a counter. It's a one-man operation! There were 3 groups of customers and 4 people in front of me. A few more groups came in after me. By the time I left, there were even customers waiting. It seems to be quite popular! There was a menu item that I had been eagerly waiting for, so I ordered that without hesitation! It was the "Garlic Chashu Miso Ramen" for ¥980. What a wonderful name, isn't it? It's something that seems common but is surprisingly not often heard. It's a dream come true for garlic lovers! While waiting, I caught a glimpse of the bonito rice of the person next to me. It made my mouth water! First, the condiments (spicy miso) arrived. Hmm... I should keep this for flavoring! It took 13 minutes from ordering. Due to being a one-man operation, the wait felt very long, but I forgot about it once I started eating. When the ramen arrived, it was visually stunning! The soup had a rich miso flavor and was incredibly delicious. The ramen came with a half-sized boiled egg, and the standout feature was the chunky block of char siu with a crispy burnt exterior. It had a strong presence even in the rich miso ramen! The noodles were the typical yellowish medium-thin curly noodles often found in Sapporo ramen. They were slightly firm, which is my preferred texture! The portion was quite generous, and although the bonito rice comes in two sizes, regular and small, if you have a small appetite, the ramen alone is more than enough. A nice touch is that they offer a large serving for an additional ¥50, or a smaller serving for a discount of ¥50, which is considerate. It was very delicious, and I was finally able to enjoy the bowl of ramen I had been eagerly anticipating. The owner has a shaved head and gives off a strict, old-fashioned fatherly vibe, but he is actually very kind. I look forward to trying the gyoza next time!

Wataikya Ramen with Garlic Chashu Miso Flavor for 980 yen. Finally visited Wataikya, a place I've been meaning to go for a while. Arrived 10 minutes before opening time and there was no line. Even after opening, it was not too crowded. The moment the ramen was served, the aroma of garlic was appetizing. The hot soup was relatively light. The noodles were typical of Sapporo ramen. The chashu, seared until crispy on the outside, added a nice texture and concentrated flavor, with the fat melting easily. Finished off with spicy miso for a flavor change. Enjoyed it a lot. Thank you for the meal.

The ramen made by a French chef was something I had never tried before! The clear soup was beautiful and perfect for those who like light broth. Even if you have to wait for over an hour, I think it's worth it to try this ramen.

I tried a clear soy sauce ramen and a miso ramen. The clear soy sauce ramen was a new experience for me, as it was a light ramen eaten with broth. The miso ramen had a rich miso flavor that I found interesting. I regret not noticing the black pepper and Sichuan pepper salt provided on the table earlier, as they would have added extra flavor. The char siu in both ramens was quite charred, making it a bit tough, which was a shame.

Even though it's the weekend and Otaru is empty due to the new coronavirus, the longest line is at this shop. I lined up 10 minutes before opening and was the first to enter. I ordered the highly recommended soy sauce ramen and katsuo rice. 10 minutes later, the dishes arrived. The soup is clear and the charred chashu looks delicious. The soup is light but definitely has a soy sauce flavor, not salt. Personally, I prefer a salt ramen with a bit more sweetness. The chashu is incredibly delicious, and the balance with the light soup and fragrant chashu is excellent. The best part was the katsuo rice. The flavor of the katsuo is well infused and delicious. Jazz music plays in the shop, creating a calm atmosphere that even women can enjoy. It's a delicious ramen shop. Next time, I think I'll try the garlic chashu miso ramen.

Introducing "Ramen Tokaiya" in Otaru City, Hokkaido. Established in 2003, this restaurant is run by a former French chef who trained abroad. The name Tokaiya comes from the owner's background. They are known for their use of natural ingredients and not using lard, chemical seasonings, or commercial sauces in their cooking. In addition to soy sauce ramen, they also offer unique miso ramen. I ordered the Garlic Chashu Miso Ramen & Katsuobushi Rice Small size. The chashu was seared and had a delicious garlic flavor. The restaurant is conveniently located 300 meters from JR Otaru Station. The menu includes ramen and side dishes like Katsuobushi Rice. The atmosphere inside the restaurant is cozy and welcoming. The ramen had a smooth and gentle taste with a blend of chicken, pork, and fish broth. The noodles were chewy and the chashu was seared to perfection. Adding the spicy miso paste enhanced the flavor even more. Overall, it was a delightful dining experience.