Ramen

The main shop of Junren, founded in 1964, which created the original style of Sapporo miso ramen. Together with Sumire, which came later, it is the head of the "Jun-Sumi" family, and it reopened in its current building in 2018.

I arrived at 3:05 pm on a Saturday. The shop was full, with eight people waiting. I got a seat at 3:20, and by about 3:30 there was no one waiting. Most customers seemed to be Japanese tourists; I didn't see any visitors from overseas.

Inside there are 10 counter seats and 2 tables. First, buy a ticket from the machine at the entrance. It's cash only, and there's no English on the machine. Take a seat on the waiting chairs and the staff will come to collect your ticket.

The menu has miso, spicy miso, shoyu, and shio ramen, plus rice dishes and sets. My recommendation: miso ramen, and nothing else.

I was hungry this time, so I ordered the Miso Ramen and Half Fried Rice Set. The soup is quite rich, and under its layer of lard it's hot enough to burn your tongue. It never cooled down, right to the end. The noodles are the yellow egg noodles typical of Sapporo. The bean sprouts soak up the soup, and there's ground pork and menma too. You get about two slices of chashu, tender and richly seasoned. Grated ginger sits on top; I started eating from the other side and stirred it in later for a change of flavor. The ginger taste is gentle.

The half fried rice is about one rice bowl. The rice is on the firm side and tasty, but with such a rich ramen, the set was a little too heavy. Next time it's miso ramen with plain rice.

I gave it three stars because, as a fan of tonkotsu, thin noodles, and rich flavors, this is exactly my kind of bowl. The moment I finished, I wanted to come back.

By the way, I went by car. Coming from central Sapporo, the shop is on the right. I forced a right turn to park in front of the shop, but Junren also has a parking lot across the road (on the left), and it's easier to park there and walk across.(Updated October 2026)

A miso ramen shop from the Sumire lineage, one of the most famous names in Sapporo miso ramen. It's in a residential area of Hassamu, near AEON Hassamu.

I arrived around 5:10 pm on a Tuesday (a national holiday), just after the 5 pm opening. There were already about five people at the counter and customers at the tables too. By around 5:30 pm it was full, so I recommend going early.

There are counter seats and table seats, so it's easy to come with family. First, buy a ticket from the machine at the entrance. Cash only.

This time I had the Miso Ramen (¥1,200). For a Sumire-style shop, the miso soup is on the lighter side and not too rich. Grated ginger sits on top, and stirring it in halfway lets you enjoy a change of flavor. The noodles are the yellow, curly kind typical of Sapporo. The chashu was tasty too, and next time I'll order the chashu-men.

I gave it one star because, as a fan of tonkotsu, thin noodles, and rich flavors, I found it a solid, classic miso ramen. The price also felt a little high.

By the way, I went by car (parking available). The parking lot is a bit tricky, so be careful.(Added October 2026)

Men Shoki, near Kita 24 Jo Station, opened in Sapporo in January 2022. Its owner, Mr Nakano, previously founded Seabura no Kami in Kyoto. The shop was selected for Tabelog’s Hokkaido Ramen Top 100 in 2024 and 2025. I came to try something different from classic Sapporo miso ramen.

I arrived around 2:15 pm on Monday, 26 October 2026. I sat down without queuing, although roughly 80% of the seats were occupied even at that hour. Quite a few people around me were ordering ramen rather than tsukemen, noodles served with a separate dipping broth.

Buy a meal ticket from the machine to order. The machine and notices were mainly in Japanese, and I paid in cash. I ordered Hokkaido Sandai Kombusui Tsukemen for ¥1,600, plus ¥150 for a large portion: ¥1,750 in total. It arrived around 2:25 pm, about ten minutes after I sat down. These were the prices on my October 2026 visit.

For ramen fans looking for a different style, my suggestion here is the kombu-water tsukemen I tried. Ramen was also available, but I did not try it on this visit and cannot judge it.

The dipping broth tasted salty, with a clear stock flavour, without being overwhelmingly strong. I noticed pepper too. Yuzu kosho, a citrus-and-chilli condiment, was served alongside. As I ate, the kombu water carried by the noodles gradually diluted the dipping broth.

The flat noodles sit in kombu-infused water. A staff member told me to taste the noodles on their own before dipping them. The delicate kombu umami made them enjoyable just as they were. Lemon was served alongside too.

The onion was crisp and refreshing. The large, thin slices of chashu pork reminded me of ham. Overall, I felt the toppings let the ingredients’ natural flavours come through.

I gave it one star because I found it tasty and original, but it would not be a reason for me to travel a long way on its own. I would recommend it if you are nearby. It is a stylish bowl built around kombu umami, a salty dipping broth and the ingredients’ natural flavours. At ¥1,750 for the large portion, though, it felt expensive compared with my usual ramen meals in Sapporo. For overseas visitors coming to Sapporo for the first time, I would suggest trying a classic local ramen first. This is more for people already familiar with Japanese ramen, or those looking for a new style.

I used a nearby paid car park. A notice outside the shop on my visit offered a choice of extras when showing a parking ticket, but I did not use the service. Check the current terms and availability with the staff.(Added October 2026)