Ankake Yakisoba" has been introduced on national TV programs and has recently become a well-known Otaru specialty. It gradually became popular in Otaru City in the 1950s after World War II, and is now a soul food served at many restaurants. The pioneer of this trend is "Chinese Restaurant Keien" (hereafter referred to as "Keien"). Let's take a quick peek at this so-called "Machi Chuuka" restaurant, which is the talk of the town!

Keien is located in the arcade of Otaru Miyako-dori Shopping Street, about a 5-minute walk from JR Otaru Station.

The restaurant is so popular and loved by the locals that there is sometimes a line out the door at lunchtime. The media coverage has increased the number of tourists visiting the restaurant, but even so, 80% of the customers are locals.

I immediately ordered the "Ankake Yakisoba" (820 yen including tax). Ankake Yakisoba was brought to the table with Chinese soup. The little bit of mustard on the corner of the plate is a common way of eating yakisoba in Otaru. The noodles with browned edges are well covered with the thickened ankake sauce. It is definitely delicious!

Another nice thing about this dish is that it is filled with plenty of ingredients. In addition to pork belly and shrimp, there are several kinds of vegetables in the dish, which looks very appetizing. The owner's recommendation for this delicious, nutritious, and filling fried noodle dish is also a good one!

That is the "Ramen (Vegetable Ramen) Miso" (770 yen including tax) and "Fried Rice" (770 yen including tax). The "Manzoku Set" (920 yen including tax), available only for lunch, allows you to taste both.

In addition to the fried rice, which is quickly stir-fried to a crisp, the miso ramen is also impressive in its flavor! The sweetness of the vegetables and the deep flavor of the miso is accented by a little bit of spiciness. The owner says that he changes the nuance of the flavor slightly depending on the season.

He also told us that he uses lard instead of salad oil in all of his dishes, which gives them a unique richness. I see that all of these efforts are expressed in the unique taste of Keien, which makes me want to eat there again.

We left the restaurant with our stomachs and hearts full of satisfaction, even though we were still tantalized by the "Curry Set" (950 yen including tax), a limited quantity of curry and ramen available at the same time.

If you visit Otaru, you should definitely stop by this famous restaurant.