When you come to Sapporo for ramen, Menya Saimi is definitely one place you shouldn’t miss for miso ramen! Apparently, even local Japanese people highly recommend it. It’s extremely popular, and a line often starts forming as soon as it opens.
The broth has a pork bone base, but the pork flavor isn’t too strong. Paired with fragrant miso, it’s rich without being overly heavy, with a noticeable soybean aroma. The overall flavor is very well balanced. The bean sprouts are an especially great addition. Even after being stir-fried until fragrant, they retain a wonderful smoky wok flavor and stay crisp and delicious after soaking in the broth! The chashu is also very tender, with just the right amount of fat, so it doesn’t feel greasy. Although waiting in line is honestly a little tough, it felt well worth it after eating. The broth, noodles, meat, and bean sprouts were all on point. If you come to Hokkaido, I really recommend having a bowl of Menya Saimi’s miso ramen!
