Visited for the first time on December 22, 2021, this was my 141st visit of the year. Today, I had to take a break from work to handle the arrival of a VIP at Kurayama at 11 a.m. Even though the task would only take about an hour, I decided to take the entire morning off. I thought about going to a chiropractic clinic, but before that, I wanted to grab something to eat! So, I decided to head to Sapporo for some ramen. I went to Ichikura Ramen Yokocho Store, where I was the only customer at that late hour. The owner was running the place by himself. When I hear "Ichikura," I usually think of Asahikawa ramen, but this place had salmon broth ramen, so it must be a different store. There were three flavors available, and I couldn't decide, so I asked the owner which one brings out the best flavor. He replied, "All of them are popular with regular customers," so I went with the soy sauce flavor that seemed to go well with the salmon broth. The ramen arrived in about 5 minutes. It had a clean appearance and seemed refreshing. I took a sip of the soup, and it was quite delicious! It had a refreshing taste with a solid presence of salmon broth. The broth had a decent amount of fat, giving it a smooth texture. I quite liked the flavor. The noodles were less hydrated compared to Sapporo noodles, which paired well with this type of soup. There were no stir-fried vegetables, but the volume of the chashu was quite generous and satisfying. Overall, the balance was good, and it was a very easy-to-eat ramen. If the soy sauce flavor was this good, then I'm sure the salt flavor would be delicious too, and I'm curious about the miso flavor as well. I finished every drop of the soup. I've almost conquered all the stores at Ramen Yokocho, but I regret leaving this flavor for last. It made me want to come back and try the other two flavors. It was delicious! Thank you for the meal!

I went to the restaurant on the third day of Golden Week before 8 pm on a weekday and waited for about 5 minutes to get in. There are only three stores in Hokkaido (the main store is in Asahikawa), and it was my first time trying the salmon broth ramen, which was really delicious. It's no wonder they have a Bib Gourmand! Apparently, a world-famous influencer from the Philippines came and introduced it, and now about 40-50 people come from the Philippines every day. The owner of the restaurant is really nice, and he said it was the first time in a while that he had talked to a Japanese person, haha.

I didn't eat any carbs at the first place, so I decided to have ramen for the first time in a while at Ramen Alley! I couldn't decide which one to choose, but I ended up going with Ichikura, which isn't known for egg noodles. The owner's recommendation was different from all the others, so I ordered the soy sauce ramen in the middle of the menu. The noodles were white and slightly chewy, almost like udon noodles! It was not too salty and didn't make me thirsty, which was great.

Today, I visited the morning market at Tachi-nose Pier in Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture early in the morning, and then took the Shinkansen and local express train to Sapporo. It's my first time in Sapporo since May. I hadn't had breakfast, so I stopped by this restaurant in Ramen Alley for a quick bite. The restaurant sells meal tickets, and I chose the "Salmon Miso Chashu Noodle" this time. It cost 1,000 yen including tax. I was excited about the salmon-based broth. When the ramen was ready, I found it refreshing. The ramen was quite delicious, and I even drank about 5 bowls of the soup with a spoon. It's nice to have ramen that you can enjoy drinking the soup.

Salmon broth soy sauce ramen is available at the original ramen alley. Asahikawa is the main store, so their specialty is probably the shoyu ramen. The soup, made mainly with salmon broth, is refreshing and rich in flavor, allowing you to enjoy the taste of soy sauce ramen. Currently, while many shops in the original ramen alley are closed, if things haven't changed, this Ichizou shop should still be open.

Last week, before going to eat a gyoza set meal, I took a peek at this alley for the first time in a while...more like passed through. There were only 3 shops open at the time, but it was still before 5 pm, so that might be why. I saw a ramen menu sign at a shop that looked subtly delicious, so I thought I might give it a try. However, I didn't confirm the name of the shop at that time, so I checked the picture in my memory on the "Original Sapporo Ramen Alley Official Website" and found it was this shop. Well, based on the menu photos, it looks light and tasty... I arrived a little past 4:30 pm. Upon entering, the lanterns on the ceiling were bright, but only 3 shops had lit lanterns. Inside the shop with only a counter, there were no other customers. After sanitizing my hands, I sat down and looked at the menu. I decided on the soy sauce ramen. I wanted to have a beer too, but a small bottle for 600 yen...it's reasonable compared to 700 yen in the alley on Route 36, but it's before payday... The menu here doesn't have ramen with scallops or crab, common in this area. They do have butter corn ramen. But I wonder if anyone really puts butter and corn on soy sauce ramen? Surprisingly, does it go well with soy sauce flavor? (Continued) Looking around the shop, I noticed a large commitment displayed on the wall. I'll write it here... "In the Kanto and Kansai regions, there are dishes and cultures that emphasize the use of ingredients, but in Hokkaido, there is no culture of using such ingredients. Focusing on the broth of Hokkaido's representative fish, salmon, but Hokkaido lacks the technology for processing bonito flakes, so we commissioned the production of salmon flakes to a bonito flake processing factory in Makurazaki City, Kagoshima Prefecture. Based on this salmon flake, we started researching original soup and after trial and error, we succeeded in commercializing a soup that brings out the unique flavor of salmon flakes like never before. The finished product, a carefully crafted salmon broth, extracts 3-4 times more amino acids than bonito flakes, creating a rich and fragrant soup. Please enjoy the original salmon broth ramen to your heart's content." Well, being the original, they certainly have their own commitment. But I have never come across another shop using salmon flakes in their soup (laughs). After about 4 minutes, the "Salmon Broth Soy Sauce Ramen for 800 yen" appeared. The soup was clear, with quite a bit of fat floating in it, and neatly folded noodles were in it. The toppings included menma, two large slices of chashu, green onions, and a boiled egg cut in half, sprinkled with white sesame seeds. First, let's start with the noodles. The noodles were medium-thin from Samiya Seimen, slightly curly, and white and bouncy. The soup, I couldn't quite tell if it was bonito or salmon flakes that gave it its flavor. It was a light and flavorful soup, with a good depth of flavor. It was a bit warm, but a good soup. I ended up drinking it straight from the bowl. The chashu was tender, and overall, it was a refined ramen. Thank you for the meal (laughs).

The ramen alley was less crowded than usual, and the specific restaurant I had bookmarked was empty. I couldn't decide between miso, soy sauce, or salt ramen, but I ended up ordering the salmon broth soy sauce ramen. It was delicious. If there's no line next time, I'll definitely come back.

After drinking, I wandered around the alley thinking about what to have for my last meal. The word "salmon bushi" caught my eye, so I entered the shop without hesitation. It was a small shop with about 7 seats at the counter, one customer already inside, and no one behind me. There was no ticket machine, so I placed my order with the staff and paid after eating, following the traditional system. I ordered the "Salmon Bushi Miso Ramen for 800 yen". The noodles were white with a slight wave to them. The soup was supposed to have a salmon bushi flavor, but I couldn't really taste the salmon... The miso flavor was very weak, making me wonder what kind of ramen I was eating. The toppings included green onions, bamboo shoots, chashu, and white sesame seeds. The chashu was tender and delicious. Thank you for the meal. m(_ _)m

I stayed in Sapporo on a business trip and decided to have ramen after having a drink. I was unsure which restaurant to go to, so I stopped by Ramen Yokocho where many shops are gathered. I actually ended up going to a similar ramen alley behind it by mistake. It was surprising to see so few shops there, but I realized my mistake. With so many options to choose from, it was difficult to decide, but there was a comparison table of each shop's features which helped me find my preferred ramen. After some hesitation and other shops being full at the time, I decided to dine in this particular shop. Soon after, a group of people from Thailand who had just arrived in Japan also showed up, and the shop quickly became full. It was all about timing. The bowl I chose from the menu was a medium-spicy Miso ramen with corn toppings. It was served in about 8 minutes. The noodles were white, not too thick or thin, just the average thickness. The soup was spicy but had a good balance of miso flavor, just the right level of spiciness. It was more of a light miso flavor than I expected. Maybe adding butter as a topping would have enhanced the richness. I prefer noodles that are a bit thicker and firmer. Enjoying Sapporo ramen in Sapporo gives a sense of satisfaction. This is important.

I went to this place to finish off a drinking party. I know I'll gain weight by going to places like this, but I can't help it. It was around half past midnight when I peeked into Ramen Alley, and only a few shops were open. I chose this shop, which I had never been to before. I was the only customer there. I ordered the classic miso ramen (800 yen). I waited while watching TV. The ramen was served in about 5 minutes. It had a white miso soup with medium-sized slices of chashu, menma, half a boiled egg, green onions, and white sesame seeds on top. The soup was sweet and tasty. It wasn't Sapporo ramen, but it was delicious. The noodles were slightly thin and curly. They weren't yellow, so they didn't seem to be egg noodles. They were cooked just right. The chashu was delicious, with a slightly thick and well-seasoned taste. The green onions added a nice touch. I finished it in no time. Thank you for the meal.

I stayed in Sapporo and had some sushi before finishing the night with ramen at a shop in Ramen Alley that I had been curious about for a while. I chose the Salmon Shoyu ramen, which is made with salmon broth that is not commonly made in Hokkaido but is actually made in Makurazaki. The presentation of the dish was beautiful, with a clear appearance due to the white soy sauce base. The flavor of the salmon broth was distinct and delicious, and the noodles were cooked perfectly. This ramen is a great choice for a satisfying meal. I would like to try the salt flavor next time.

Salmon broth ramen is a genre that emerged in August 2019. This particular shop is located near Susukino intersection, within the Ramen Alley. The alley has been around since 1951 and is known for its famous miso ramen shops. Among them, there is a unique variation called "salmon broth" ramen. The photo shows the soy sauce version of the salmon broth ramen. The hot soup has a deep salmon aroma. In addition to soy sauce, they also offer miso and salt flavors. This shop is less crowded compared to other shops in the alley, so it's perfect for those looking for a quick meal. Of course, they also serve regular miso ramen.

I came back to the original Ramen Alley once again. Last time I visited this street, I bookmarked a few shops that serve light ramen. One of them is Salmon Bushi? Honestly, I've never heard of it before. I ordered the salt ramen. In Hokkaido, most ramen shops heat up the soup in a small pot, so it's piping hot...! The soup. Yes, I can definitely smell the salmon. It's light and just right for my taste that day! Let's talk about the noodles. Oh, they are thin and pale, like a Hokkaido beauty? At the next table, there was a parent and child visiting from Taiwan for sightseeing. They were ordering in English. The owner also tried to communicate in broken Chinese. They ordered thick noodles (a secret menu?) with spicy soup. The spicy soup is on the menu.

During my business trip to Sapporo, I visited the "Original Sapporo Ramen Alley" in Susukino. With 17 shops lined up on one street, it was quite difficult to decide which one to try. After walking back and forth a few times, I finally settled on "Ichikura" because they use "salmon broth" in their ramen. I've heard of bonito broth and mackerel broth before, but salmon broth was a first for me. They have it made by a bonito processing plant in Makurazaki City, Kagoshima Prefecture, which is famous for bonito broth. I tried the "Miso Ramen" for 800 yen. Among Hokkaido ramen, this one had a relatively light miso soup base, and the salmon broth added a delicious depth of flavor that I couldn't get enough of. The noodles were also different from the usual medium-thick curly egg noodles, they were medium-thick curly noodles that were a perfect match for the soup. I also had a taste of the shoyu ramen that my colleague ordered, and it was also very delicious!

Due to a virus-related computer malfunction, the migration process to a new desktop computer has been completed. It took some time due to Windows 10 being new to me and health issues. I have resumed liking and commenting. Thank you for your understanding. [February 2019] "Ramen Yokocho" is the original ramen alley in Sapporo. It started in 1951 as "Kouraku Ramen Meiten Gai" with 8 shops in Hakkono area. In 1974, it relocated nearby and restarted with about 17 shops, now known as "Ramen Yokocho." Only a few shops from that time remain today. The turnover of ramen shops in Ramen Yokocho is quite high. In recent years, it has become more touristy and less frequented by locals. Efforts have been made to make it family-friendly, such as enforcing a smoking ban until 10 pm. Ramen Yokocho is located in the bustling nightlife district of Susukino, where many shops only operate at night. The "Original Salmon Miso Ramen Ichizo" is a ramen shop with its main store in Asahikawa. When we visited Ramen Yokocho, we headed straight there for lunch. The shop is located in the Hakkono area of Chuo Ward, within the "Original Sapporo Ramen Yokocho." The shop is in an old-fashioned building with an L-shaped counter and about 8 seats. There is only one lady running the shop, and there is no ticket machine. With no other customers in sight, we both ordered the "Salmon Miso Ramen." After a 7-minute wait, our two bowls of ramen arrived. - Salmon Miso Ramen - Noodles: Soggya Seimen's thin straight noodles similar to Asahikawa ramen - Soup: White miso ramen, a light and hot soup with a double broth of tonkotsu and salmon flakes - Toppings: 2 slices of chashu, half a boiled egg, menma, chopped green onions, white sesame seeds - Price: 800 yen (tax included) The "Salmon Miso Ramen" has a delicious light soup with a hot sensation. The noodles, soup, and toppings all embody the taste of Asahikawa ramen. While the flavor of the salmon flakes in the soup is not discernible, it has a savory Japanese-style broth. It is unknown if the salmon flakes used are "arabushi" or "honkarebushi." Personally, I love salmon flakes made in Makurazaki. I am glad that Hokkaido-produced salmon flakes are becoming more widespread. Next time, I think I'll try the "Salmon Shoyu Ramen." It was a delicious meal, thank you.

It's located in Ramen Yokocho. I think the main store is in Asahikawa. I remember eating here before, but I don't remember the taste. ★ Ichizou Ramen Soy Sauce ¥950 I got the one with lots of leeks ♫ Under the leeks are boiled eggs, menma, and shredded chashu. It has thin noodles. The soup apparently uses salmon flakes. I don't remember eating salmon flake ramen, so I can't describe it well, but it's delicious with plenty of umami and a gentle soy sauce flavor. I quite liked this ramen ^ ^

Today, I was thinking about what to eat and ended up naturally walking into the Ramen Alley...lol. So, today I entered the "Ichikura Ramen Alley Shop" located in the original Ramen Alley. Ichikura is originally from Asahikawa, and whenever I go to Asahikawa, I always make sure to stop by and eat there lol. So, I had high expectations (*´∀｀*). Excuse me! One bowl of Ichikura Ramen Shoyu [950 yen] please! After waiting for 5 minutes... it arrived! This bowl with plenty of green onions! (〃ω〃) Let's dig in (￣∀￣). Hmm... Hmm... Hmm... Huh? Wait, was it supposed to taste like this? It feels different... Did my taste buds change? Lol. It was quite shocking as the taste was different from what I remembered... Thank you for the meal. Taste: ★★★☆☆ Atmosphere: ★★★☆☆ Cleanliness: ★★★☆☆ Service: ★★☆☆☆

Our main store is located in Asahikawa, so it's understandable that the menu is limited considering the size of the shop. I tried the Shoyu ramen at Ichikura Ramen and it came with a large amount of negi (green onions), so even after finishing all the soup, there were still plenty of negi left. It's often said that Ramen Yokocho is more for tourists and locals don't go there, but in reality, locals also visit the area. While it's true that there are many tourists, some local residents also frequent the place. Some shops in Ramen Yokocho have only one branch there, while others are chain stores. I decided to test whether the taste of ramen at chain stores in Ramen Yokocho is inferior to the main store, but I found that the taste was not significantly different. Many people tend to say that the ramen at Ramen Yokocho is not good, but I wonder how many of those critics have actually tried the ramen there. Can someone tell me?

I went for a meal here as a way to finish off a night of drinking and having fun! It was really delicious!

Miso butter corn ramen was quite light and the noodles were thin, making it easy to eat. Personally, I liked the taste.

Ordered the salmon broth soy sauce ramen. The delicate broth is more refined than bonito broth. Perfect for finishing off a meal.