Everything you need to know about Sapporo’s amazing ramen noodles! | List of Articles | Cuisine | Welcome to Sapporo (2024)

As one of Japan’s top ramen cities and the birthplace of miso ramen, Sapporo has so many ramen restaurants that you won’t know where to start. We’ll help you find a bowl of ramen you’ll love!

Sapporo is the birthplace of ramen noodles in miso broth, and the city’s ramen is now one of Japan’s top regional dishes. The classic dish features crinkled noodles with a medium thickness in miso broth, with seasonings such as bean sprouts and onion adding the perfect accent to the flavor.

Miso ramen made its debut in 1958, with the miso broth created by Morito Ohmiya, the first owner of Sapporo miso restaurant Aji no Sanpei, and a new style of noodles developed by Takayuki Nishiyama, the founder of Nishiyama Seimen. The noodles are aged in large quantities of water, making them smooth and easy to eat.In addition to the classic miso ramen, Sapporo ramen has evolved to include various broths from soy sauce and salt to crab. These newer styles are more than able to hold their own, with popular salt and soy sauce ramen restaurants popping up around Japan in recent years. We recommend trying all of them and seeing which one you like best!

And you can find great deals on ramen by downloading the Sapporo Gourmet Coupon app. 

Everything you need to know about Sapporo’s amazing ramen noodles! | List of Articles | Cuisine | Welcome to Sapporo (1)
Contents
  1. The secret behind Sapporo ramen’s amazing taste
  2. Where to find the best miso ramen
  3. Check out the most famous places for yourself!
  4. Enjoy great deals with Sapporo Gourmet Coupon!

The secret behind Sapporo ramen’s amazing taste

Everything you need to know about Sapporo’s amazing ramen noodles! | List of Articles | Cuisine | Welcome to Sapporo (4)

Mention Hokkaido to a Japanese person and one of the first things they’ll think of is its delicious ramen. Sapporo is one of Hokkaido’s top three ramen spots the others being Asahikawa and Hakodate and its ramen has been a firm favorite dish among locals for generations. The phenomenon is said to have begun with a stall at Nijo Market after World War II, before spreading to the entertainment district of Susukino and various spots around the city. It is now a smash hit among locals and tourists alike. So what makes Sapporo ramen so popular? The answer is the noodles! The crinkly noodles with a medium thickness were developed especially for miso ramen, with their thickness, elasticity and wavy shape designed to hold the broth well. That perfect match between the noodles and the broth is what makes Sapporo ramen so irresistible. The first stop on your ramen journey in Sapporo must be Sapporo Ramen Yokocho. With 17 famous miso ramen restaurants, this alley is always hopping with locals and tourists. Make sure to check out the details—sometimes there are events with special deals like half-price ramen.

Everything you need to know about Sapporo’s amazing ramen noodles! | List of Articles | Cuisine | Welcome to Sapporo (5)

The Ganso Sapporo Ramen Yokocho

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Where to find the best miso ramen

Everything you need to know about Sapporo’s amazing ramen noodles! | List of Articles | Cuisine | Welcome to Sapporo (6)

We know the miso ramen restaurants that started it all and the places that draw a crowd. Visit each of these must-try restaurants and you’ll notice that each restaurant’s carefully perfected broth is unique. Here are our top picks!

Aji no Sanpei

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The miso ramen phenomenon began right here. Aji no Sanpei serves classic Sapporo ramen with a miso broth and plenty of vegetables. It has a deep-rooted fans and is often packed at lunchtime, but their ramen is worth the wait.

【Shop Information】
Address: Minami 1-jo Nishi 3-chome 2, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Daimaru Fujii Central 4F
Closed: Monday, Second Tuesday of each month (closed irregularly depending on the season)

Saimi

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One look at the crowds in this restaurant and you can tell the locals have given it their seal of approval. The white miso-based broth has a rich yet refreshing flavor, with grated ginger adding a unique accent.

【Shop Information】
Address: Misono 10-jo 5-chome 3-12, Toyohira-ku, Sapporo
Closed: Mondays, closed irregularly twice a month, the New Year’s holiday

Ramen Sapporo Ichiryuan

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This restaurant has earned legions of fans for its Hokkaido ingredients and the care that is taken with every last grain of flour used in the noodles (that’s where it gets its name!) Its top dish pairs its famous energizing miso ramen with char siu made from prime pork shoulder for a top-of-the-line bowl of ramen.

【Shop Information】
Address: Kita 4-jo Nishi 1-chome , Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokuren Bldg. B1F
Closed: closed irregularly on Sunday

Keyaki (Susukino flagship store)

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The miso ramen in this specialty restaurant has been made with care—the pork knuckles, vegetables and other ingredients are simmered for over 10 hours to draw out the delicious umami flavor. Try the ramen that locals rave about!

【Shop Information】
Address: Minami 6-jo Nishi 3-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Mutsumi Bldg 1F
Closed: closed irregularly

Check out the most famous places for yourself!

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In addition to the classic miso ramen, Sapporo has a plethora of restaurants serving other styles such as soy sauce or salt ramen. Some have garnered media attention for their carefully perfected dishes—here are some you can’t miss!

Japanese Ramen Noodle Lab Q

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This restaurant created a buzz with its ramen featuring Hokkaido Shintoku chicken (free range chicken). Salt ramen and soy sauce ramen are both mainstays here, each one perfected for a mindblowing flavor. Make sure you try the famous char siu—the word on the street is that you’ll be hooked after the first bite.

【Shop Information】
Address: Kita 1-jo Nishi 2-chome 1-3, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Rindo Bldg B1F
Closed: Sunday

Ame Wa, Yasashiku No. 2

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Ame Wa, Yasashiku No. 2 became a hit with its new style of ramen where white chicken liver paste is dissolved in the broth. No other restaurant serves this taste sensation, and locals can’t get enough of it.

【Shop Information】
Address: Kita 7-jo Higashi 3-chome 1-1, 28-8, Higashi-ku, Sapporo
Closed: closed irregularly

Tsunatori Monogatari

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This restaurant stands out from the rest with its rich, punchy flavor and blend of spices you’ll want to enjoy again and again. The chef used to work in restaurants specializing in Western foods, and this background comes through in the inventive new dishes that sit beside umami-rich classics such as soy sauce and salt ramen on the menu.

【Shop Information】
Address: Shinei 4-jo 3-chome 2-5, Kiyota-ku, Sapporo
Closed: Wednesday

Chuka Soba California

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Chuka-Soba California serves ramen noodles in a clear soy sauce soup, which is rare in Sapporo. Located a 3-minute walk from Exit 5 of Kikusui Station on the Subway Tozai Line, the clean and stylish restaurant looks like a café or a Western-style restaurant. Both counter seats and table seats are available. Orders are taken at the ticket machine by the entrance. The restaurant is often so crowded that there are lines of people waiting, so be sure to allow plenty of time for your visit. Many fans from within and outside of Hokkaido frequent the restaurant for its carefully prepared seafood based soup. They fall in love with the gentle flavor of the soup, which is full of the delicious taste of niboshi (dried sardines) without any artificial flavors.

【Shop Information】
Address: Kikusui 3-jo 4-chome 4-6, Shiroishi-ku, Sapporo, Viva Kikusui 1F
Closed: Friday

Sumire

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The soup is made with homemade miso and broth made from pork bones and vegetables. Noodles and toppings are perfectly balanced with this soup to create the deeply flavored ramen. The medium-thick noodles are perfectly matched with the rich broth and have a smooth texture. Toppings include roasted pork, bamboo shoots, green onions, and bean sprouts. It is a highly satisfying bowl of ramen.

【Shop Information】
Address: Nakanoshima 2-jo 4-chome 7-8, Toyohira-ku, Sapporo
Closed: Open all year round

Menya Takaichi

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Menya Takaiichi, a popular ramen restaurant in Sapporo, is known for its famous niboshi (dried sardine broth) ramen. The carefully prepared soup and deliciously rich back fat create an exquisite harmony of flavors. With a homey atmosphere loved by the locals, this ramen restaurant is also a place where tourists can drop in casually.

【Shop Information】
Address: Higashinaebo 12-jo 3-chome 1-5, Higashi-ku, Sapporo
Closed: Tuesday

Sapporo Junren

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Junren is a long-established ramen restaurant in Sapporo, and many other famous restaurants actually have their roots here. It boasts its own original miso sauce and broth, which is combined with noodles and toppings in a perfect balance. The noodles are medium-thick, which goes well with the rich miso soup, and the toppings are simple, such as roasted pork and green onions. This is the style that makes the ramen taste the best. This ramen restaurant with a relaxed atmosphere is popular among both tourists and locals.

【Shop Information】
Address: Hiragishi 2-jo 17-chome 1-41, Toyohira-ku, Sapporo
Closed: closed irregularly

Ramen Toranoko

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Ramen Toranotora offers spicy ramen noodles like soup curry. The spices and the pork- and chicken-based soup are perfectly balanced to create a pleasant, unique flavor. Located in a residential area near the center of Sapporo, the restaurant has only counter seats and welcomes both tourists and locals. Enjoy Sapporo’s famous ramen and soup curry at the same time.

【Shop Information】
Address: Minami 5-jo Nishi 24-chome 1-17, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Toei Bldg.
Closed: Wednesday

Enjoy great deals with the Sapporo Gourmet Coupon!

Everything you need to know about Sapporo’s amazing ramen noodles! | List of Articles | Cuisine | Welcome to Sapporo (20)

Check out all the Sapporo Tourist Association’s top picks for ramen and other cuisine in the Sapporo Gourmet Coupon app. Download it now for great deals on amazing meals!

Everything you need to know about Sapporo’s amazing ramen noodles! | List of Articles | Cuisine | Welcome to Sapporo (2024)

FAQs

What is special about Sapporo ramen? ›

The big reason why Sapporo Ramen is delicious is that it uses high quality water from the snow on Mount Teine in the manufacture of its noodles. You can say that there are good ramen restaurants where is available fresh good water.

What is Hokkaido ramen known for? ›

A New Ramen Style from Sapporo

Sapporo is the origin city of miso broth ramen, made by using soybean paste for flavor instead of the traditional pork bones. Otherwise known as Hokkaido ramen, this variation when first introduced was a big change from the traditional pork bone-based broth that was commonplace.

What is so special about ramen noodles? ›

Noodles: Ramen noodles contain wheat flour, salt, water and a special alkaline water called “kansui.” “Kansui” is what gives the noodles their unique flavor and springy texture. Noodle shape and thickness often change depending on the type of ramen you're eating.

What is the weird thing in ramen? ›

Narutomaki: If you've ever noticed a small white disc with a pink swirl in a bowl of ramen or even a picture of ramen, that's narutomaki or fish cake.

What makes Sapporo unique? ›

Sapporo became world-famous in 1972 when the Olympic Winter Games were held there. Today, the city is well known for its ramen, beer, and the annual snow festival held in February.

What are the 5 things in ramen? ›

Ramen is a Japanese noodle soup dish with Chinese-style alkaline noodles. It is the harmony of five key elements of ramen: broth, tare (sauce), noodles, toppings, and oil.

What is the number 1 ramen in Japan? ›

1 Ramen (Tsukemen) Tomita's tsukemen is everything you'd expect it to be. It's the pinnacle of tonkotsu gyokai (pork and fish tsukemen).

What does ramen mean in Japanese? ›

While the word ramen means pulled noodles in Japanese when we talk about ramen we are also referring to the delicious dish that has become so popular around the world. Ramen mainly consists of the signature kansui noodles served up in a beautiful broth and decorated with different toppings.

Can you eat ramen when pregnant? ›

Craving ramen during pregnancy? It's fine to eat as an occasional treat, but since this popular packaged noodle soup is loaded with salt, carbs, and calories, don't make it a go-to meal. A serving of noodles with seasoning contains around 800 mg of sodium, which is more than a third of the recommended daily intake.

Is ramen good when sick? ›

Bone broths and broth-based soups like chicken noodle soup and ramen will keep you hydrated, plus, they're packed with nutrients, relieve congestion, and taste delicious. Staying hydrated with liquids like water and soup is key to getting better quickly.

What are 10 fun facts about ramen noodles? ›

10 Ramen Noodle Facts That You Will Never Forget...Especially Vegetarians
  • The first instant ramen was considered a high-end food item. ...
  • It's the most popular food item at Rikers prison. ...
  • Only the "Oriental" and "Chili" flavors of Nissin Top Ramen are vegetarian. ...
  • Some people like to eat ramen without even cooking it.

What is 🍥? ›

Known in Japan as narutomaki, 🍥is the cross-section of a particular fish cake, known for its iconic swirl. | Japan, fishcake | Have you ever wondered what certain Japanese emojis mean?

Why was ramen illegal in Japan? ›

Conflict & Difficult Times. The famine, food shortages and difficult times that followed World War II nearly wiped out the first wave of ramen's popularity. Making a living in the food business was made impossible after Japan's government prohibited people from making a profit from a restaurant or push cart until 1949.

What is forbidden ramen? ›

Japanese-style noodles made from our heirloom black rice instead of wheat. In addition to being gluten free, Forbidden® Rice is one of the most nutritious ancient grains. Our Forbidden Rice® Ramen has a delicious nutty taste and is a natural source of antioxidants (anthocyanins), magnesium, protein and fiber.

What are the benefits of Sapporo? ›

With its high content of protein and Vitamin A, drinking Sapporo has health benefits that is good for the heart and reduces the chances of heart attacks, strokes and other heart diseases with moderate consumption.

Is Sapporo Ichiban the same as ramen? ›

Sapporo Ichiban (サッポロ一番) is a brand of instant noodles (primarily ramen) manufactured by Sanyo Foods of Maebashi, Gunma, Japan.

What is Sapporo most famous food? ›

1. Soup Curry. Hokkaido is famous for being the birthplace of soup curry in Japan, with a number of restaurants in Sapporo specializing in the dish. It's made with a blend of original herbs and spices and has a soup that's thinner in texture yet much more intensely flavored than regular Japanese curry.

What are the characteristics of Sapporo? ›

Sapporo is the capital of Hokkaido. It's well known for ramen, beer, snow, and being home to some of Japan's most spectacular festivals. The most impressive is the Sapporo Snow Festival, held annually in Odori Park with huge scenes and structures constructed entirely out of ice.

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