Yanoki, a popular ramen shop in Hassamu, Nishi-ku, Sapporo, is a branch of the famous Sapporo shop Sumire, and has attracted attention as the third shop after Ayami and Oshima in Tokyo. Since opening in February 2016, this super popular shop has maintained its popularity while also striving to further improve its taste. This time, we will introduce the most popular ramen by far and the secret behind its flavor.

The restaurant is located about a 7-minute walk from JR Hassamu Station. If you are visiting by car, it is close to Route 5 and Sapporo Shindo, and there is a parking lot with space for 12 cars, so you can rest assured. The restaurant is not very large, with 8 seats at the counter and 2 tables.

In addition to Parking Lot No. 1 in front of the store, there are also Parking Lot No. 3 available.

Yanoki's most popular dish: Miso Ramen

The overwhelmingly popular dish is the "Miso Ramen" (1,000 yen). This piping hot bowl, called the "pure Sumi style," is made by adding lard and garlic to a heated wok, and then stirring the bean sprouts with an exquisite flame control that doesn't burn them, resulting in a fragrant and crunchy texture. The soup is then poured into the wok and served piping hot, making this a true Sapporo style bowl. There's no steam, so be careful not to burn your tongue!

The key to the deliciousness of the soup is the special miso sauce, which is made by blending several types of miso. This miso sauce is rich in flavor, yet has a refreshing aftertaste. When you dissolve the grated ginger that comes with it, the flavor changes to a refreshing one. You won't be able to stop drinking the soup!

The noodles are made with Morizumi Seimen's specially ordered noodles, carefully selected to perfectly match the soup. The medium-thick, curly noodles have a pure texture and are so delicious they'll make you think, "This is Sapporo!"

The owner, Mr. Anazawa, says he wants to preserve the tradition of "Sapporo Miso Ramen" and that he works hard every day preparing ramen. When asked about the secret to the deliciousness of Yanoki, he replied, "The way the bean sprouts are fried is fragrant," "The amount of salt is calculated so that you can drink the soup to the last drop," and "The assertion and balance of each ingredient."

This is a superb bowl of ramen that tastes even better when you take in the attention to detail that goes into each ingredient. Please try this miso ramen made by a thoroughbred in the Sapporo ramen world.

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