When you think of Hokkaido, sightseeing is certainly a highlight, but what you really look forward to is the food! And among all the delicious food, one that holds an unshakeable position is "Sapporo Ramen"♪

But if you ask locals where you should go, you'll get a lot of different answers. There isn't one single absolute recommendation, and each restaurant has its own unique characteristics and delicious food, which I think is one of the hallmarks of Sapporo ramen.

So, I'd like to introduce my personal recommendations for Sapporo ramen restaurants. By the way, I'll occasionally add updates to this page, so please come back often if you can!

Suburban shops I want to visit by rental car
・Ramen Mokuren
・Yugeya
Recommended restaurants to eat at in the city
・Ramen Shingen Minami 6-jo Store
Menya Yukikaze Susukino Main Store
Isono Kazuo
If you're going to eat at "Ramen Republic" near Sapporo Station
・Yoshiyama store

Suburban shops I want to visit by rental car

First up is "Ramen Mokuren," located in Nishino, Nishi Ward, on the west side of central Sapporo. It moved from its previous location in Shijo, Nishi Ward, to a more easily accessible location at a busy intersection, and it now has more seating capacity.

Upon entering the restaurant, the fragrant aroma of garlic fills the air, whetting your appetite.
Here is the most popular item, "Miso Ramen" (750 yen).

The fresh mizuna and green onions are very appealing. It's a great idea to dissolve the ginger halfway through to enjoy the change in the soup's flavor!

The noodles are slightly thinner and curly than typical Sapporo ramen noodles. They have a good texture and coat well with the broth, making for a smooth and easy-to-eat ramen.

The light soup is delicious. It's not too rich, fragrant, and refined. Be careful when it's freshly made, as it's quite oily and especially hot. It's even better when eaten on a cold winter day!
Incidentally, regular customers who don't like too much oil can also order it "less oil."

The tender, melt-in-your-mouth char siu pork pairs perfectly with the soup. The noodles, soup, and toppings are all well-balanced, making this a perfectly crafted dish.

Ramen Mokuren
Address: 1-1, Nishino 4-jo 5-chome, Nishi-ku, Sapporo City, Hokkaido
Telephone number: 011-676-8172
Opening hours
Weekdays 11:00-15:30, 17:00-20:00
Saturdays-and-Sundays congratulation 11: 00 ~ 20: 00
Store holiday: Thursday
Parking: Yes

Next up is Yugeya, a ramen shop located in Fushiko, near the Kanrai Interchange on the Sapporo Expressway. This is also a small shop, with counter seats and three tables for four people. When I visited, it was full, so I shared a table with other customers.
This is the light miso ramen (700 yen). The rich version with pork back fat is popular, but I prefer something lighter, so I went with this.

Medium-thick, wavy noodles. I'm happy that they're served at just the right firmness – not too hard, but firm enough!

And then there's the soup. Although it's described as light, it has a surprisingly rich flavor.
But here's the strange part: when you swallow it, there's absolutely no salty taste left in your throat. You can enjoy the milky, gentle miso flavor just in your mouth. Some people might find it lacking, but I like it!

Despite its appearance, this char siu is well-cooked and has a satisfying texture.

The parking lot is shared, but you can usually find a spot without any problems.

Yugeya
Address: 4-1-5 Fushiko 4-jo, Higashi-ku, Sapporo City, Hokkaido
Telephone number: 011-784-7774
Opening hours
Weekdays 11:00-15:30, 17:30-20:00 (No evening service on Wednesdays)
Saturdays and Sundays 11:00-20:00
Store holiday: Thursday
Parking: Yes

Recommended restaurants to eat at in the city

Next, we'll introduce some excellent restaurants in the Susukino area, perfect for a night out.

Ramen Shingen's main branch is located in Ishikari City, next to Sapporo. As it's famous, there's usually a line. Inside, there are only L-shaped counter seats that can accommodate about 12-3 people.

The menu items are named after old country names. By the way, there are three staff members in the kitchen. I was impressed by their excellent teamwork and efficient work!

This is Shinshu (Kokumiso), 760 yen. It comes in a wide bowl, longer than a pair of chopsticks. A half portion is also available for those who don't need a large serving.

These are slightly thick, springy noodles that are satisfying to eat. They have a wonderfully chewy texture!

It looks rich, but it's mild. The generous portion of soup has a creamy, gentle flavor, almost as if it contains butter.

As you can see, the char siu is incredibly tender! Of the seven restaurants we're introducing today, this one is arguably the most authentic "Sapporo miso ramen," a perfectly crafted bowl that's uniquely Sapporo.

Ramen Shingen Minami 6-jo Store
Address: 8-2, Minami 6-jo Nishi 8-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo City, Northern Hokkaido
Telephone number: 011-530-5002
Opening hours: 11:30 AM to 1:00 AM the following day
Store holidays: Open all day
Parking: None

Next up is Menya Yukikaze, a noodle shop located a short walk from Susukino towards Nakajima Park. This is also a small shop that can only accommodate 12 or 3 people.

This is their most popular dish, the rich miso ramen (800 yen). The defining feature here is the incredibly creamy soup. The taste itself isn't strong or spicy, but rather it has an unbelievable smoothness—a flavor you won't easily find anywhere else.

The slightly thick, curly noodles go (naturally) very well with the creamy soup.

You can really get a sense of the richness of the soup. However, it has a mild and gentle flavor that is unique to Yukikaze and sets it apart from other rich ramen dishes.

A generous slice of tender, melt-in-your-mouth char siu pork sits atop the bowl. But that's not all; there's also chicken in the soup. The towering pile of green onions and wood ear mushrooms also complements the creamy broth perfectly.

Overall, this is a bowl of ramen you can only get in Sapporo. Definitely give it a try! Please note that this restaurant is closed during the day and on Sundays and public holidays, so be sure to check beforehand if you're visiting as a tourist.

Menya Yukikaze Susukino Main Store
Address: LC 11th Building, 4-2-6 Minami 7-jo Nishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Telephone number: 011-512-3022
Business hours: 19:00 to 2:00 the next day
Closed on Sundays and public holidays
Parking: None

Next up is another restaurant located in Susukino. It's called Isono Kazuo, and it's only open late at night.
It's located in a multi-tenant building in Susukino.

As you walk down the narrow corridor of the building,

Yes, I found it! It's a small shop with only 6 counter seats, and there's usually a line.

After a short wait, this arrived: Sapporo Black (800 yen). As you can see, it's impressively rich!

I expected a strong salty hit, but instead, a surprisingly rich and flavorful taste spread throughout my mouth. It's good.

The noodles, which have turned a color similar to yakisoba, are medium-thick, chewy, and go down smoothly.

The char siu (roast pork) is unseasoned. The rich flavor of the soup enhances the taste of the char siu.

If you start to feel the flavor is getting too strong as you eat, add some shrimp powder. The flavor will change, and you'll want to eat it again! You can also order grated ginger to add to the broth (free of charge).

The owner, who looks just like the person in the sign, runs the place all by himself. Whether you enjoyed a night out in Susukino or not (?), this is the perfect drink to end the night and make you want to come back again!

Kazuo Isono
Address: 1F, Dai-2 Asahi Kanko Building, 21, Minami 5-jo Nishi 5-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo City, Hokkaido
Telephone number: 011-520-5533
Opening hours: 22:00 PM to 6:00 AM the following day
Store holiday: Sunday
Parking: None

If you're going to eat at "Ramen Republic" near Sapporo Station

Next, let me introduce a bowl of ramen that you should try at "Ramen Republic," conveniently located near Sapporo Station.

Sapporo Ramen Republic is a food theme park located on the 10th floor of "Esta," about a 5-minute walk from the ticket gates of Sapporo Station, featuring popular ramen restaurants from all over Hokkaido.
Eight renowned restaurants are featured!

This time, we've carefully selected one store from among them and will introduce "Yoshiyama Shoten."
We have variations in miso, soy sauce, and salt flavors!

Here's the most popular item, the roasted sesame miso ramen (780 yen). The fragrant miso and sesame flavors are irresistible.

The noodles are slightly thin and curly, and they go down smoothly with the soup.

The soup is slightly spicy, and the savory flavors of the miso and stir-fried ingredients hit the tongue and throat directly, without being cloying. Because of the high amount of lard, it's quite hot when freshly made.

The ramen comes with two slices of char siu (roast pork), and the soup is further enhanced with stir-fried vegetables and minced meat to deepen the flavor.

If the previously mentioned Shingen ramen is described as a mild-flavored ramen, then this soup can be described as a sharp, straightforward flavor.

Yoshiyama Shoten Sapporo Ramen Republic Branch
Address: Sapporo ESTA 10F, 2-1 Kita 5-jo Nishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Telephone number: 011-520-5533
Hours: 11: 00 ~ 22: 00
Closed on: None
Parking: Available (charges apply)

Final thoughts

So, that concludes my selection of six Sapporo ramen restaurants, chosen entirely based on my own judgment. What did you think? I can almost hear some of you saying, "That's strange to include!" or "Why didn't you include that place?", but please forgive me, as it's all a matter of personal preference. I've really come to realize that even within the category of Sapporo miso ramen, there's a wide variety. If you're a ramen lover, I highly recommend trying two or three different bowls while you're in Sapporo!

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