Hokkaido boasts many delicious gourmet foods made from agricultural and livestock products grown in its magnificent nature and fresh seafood. Hokkaido has many local ramen dishes named after the regions in which they are located, and three of them are famous: Sapporo’s miso ramen, Hakodate’s salt ramen, and Asahikawa’s soy sauce ramen, also known as “Hokkaido’s three major ramen”. In this article, we will introduce Miso Ramen, which is the pride of Sapporo!
What is Sapporo Miso Ramen?
Miso ramen is a type of ramen originating from Sapporo that uses a rich miso broth and medium-thick, wavy noodles. It is usually topped with stir fried vegetables such as onions, cabbage, and bean sprouts, in addition to chashu pork, minced meat, bamboo shoots, and green onions.
Before the 1950s, in fact, the ramen eaten in Sapporo (Sapporo ramen) was originally soy sauce and salt flavored. However, in 1955, the owner of one of the ramen restaurants in Sapporo created miso-flavored ramen with plenty of vegetables, inspired by miso soup, in order to make a nutritious ramen.
Miso Butter Corn Ramen with corn and butter toppings adds to the local flavor of Hokkaido. If you like ramen, you should try this local ramen at least once.
Recommended places to eat miso ramen
Hokkaido Ramen Dojo (北海道ラーメン道場)
Hokkaido is famous for its ramen, and each region of Hokkaido offers its own unique ramen. Local ramen from all over Hokkaido is gathered at the “Ramen Dojo” on the 3rd floor of the New Chitose Airport Terminal Building. In the Ramen Dojo area, 10 local ramen stores in Hokkaido are in operation. Sapporo’s famous miso-flavored ramen stores are also lined up in the area.
Other ramen shops in Asahikawa, Hakodate, and other cities also offer different tastes of ramen. You will find a menu list in front of the restaurant, so you can compare the differences between the ramen of each area and choose the best one.
Ganso Sapporo Ramen Yokocho (元祖さっぽろラーメン横丁)
Sapporo Ramen Yokocho is said to be the birthplace of miso ramen, and since its establishment in 1951, it has become a sacred place for ramen lovers, loved by both tourists and locals. It is a perfect spot for those who want to eat ramen in Sapporo but do not know where to go.
A total of 17 ramen stores are gathered in this Yokocho, all of which are selected popular stores in Hokkaido, and some of them are long-established stores that have been in business since the birth of Yokocho. There is a wide variety, so please take your time while walking around the stores to find the one you like best.