Sapporo Junren

Established in 1964 (Showa 39) by Akira Muranaka, this is the foundational shop of Sapporo Miso Ramen, marking the origin of a lineage that would later lead to the famous restaurant "Sumire." Located in a residential area of Hiragishi, Toyohira Ward, Sapporo City, it's a suburban spot about a 5-minute walk from Sumikawa Station on the Namboku Subway Line, offering a total of 20 parking spaces in front of the store and across the road. It attracts a higher proportion of families and customers arriving by car, serving a slightly different clientele than competing shops in the city center. The menu primarily features three types: Miso, Shio (salt), and Shoyu (soy sauce), alongside mini and half portions of fried rice (cha-han) that originated from staff meals (makanai). The signature Miso Ramen is a Sapporo-style dish, combining a rich soup based on Hokkaido miso with medium-thick wavy noodles (chubuto chijire-men) from Morisumi Seimen. These noodles have a slightly higher water content, giving them a pleasantly chewy (mochi-mochi) texture, balancing both firmness (koshi) and their ability to entangle with the soup. Toppings include chashu (braised pork slices), menma (seasoned bamboo shoots), onions, bean sprouts, and green onions, with additional toppings like corn, butter, and ajitama (seasoned soft-boiled egg) also being popular ways to enjoy it. The side of fried rice (cha-han) is so highly regarded that it's said to "transcend the typical ramen shop offering," boasting a classic preparation with perfect seasoning and a refreshing accent of beni-shoga (pickled red ginger). "Junren's Fried Rice Mix" is sold in-store, with many fans recreating the taste at home. The clean and bright interior offers 20 seats (10 counter seats, one 4-person table, one 6-person table), welcoming a wide range of customers from families to solo diners.