There is a lot of reasonably priced and delicious food in the region compared to Tokyo, and I would highly recommend the ramen salad in Hokkaido.
Hm? Is it ramen or salad? Many of you may be wondering.
Ramen salad is a cold salad originating in Hokkaido, a dish in which plenty of vegetables and cold Chinese noodles are enjoyed like a salad, and is loved by Hokkaido residents from adults to children.
It is on the menu at many izakaya (Japanese-style pubs) in Sapporo, and a quick look at gourmet food websites shows that there are more than 600 restaurants serving ramen salad in Sapporo alone.
So, in this article, I will explain about ramen salad in Hokkaido, its history, points of attraction, recommended famous restaurants, and sightseeing spots in the area, including my own experience.
I hope you will find this article a good opportunity to learn about ramen salad in Hokkaido.
How did Hokkaido’s Ramen Salad come into being in the first place?
Hokkaido’s Ramen Salad was created in 1985 at the opening of Sapporo Grand Hotel’s beer hall, Big Jokki.
The head chef at the time wanted to offer “ramen that can be enjoyed even in summer,” and developed it as a new menu item that was different from Chinese-style cold noodles.
To avoid duplicating the chilled ramen noodles offered by the hotel’s Chinese department, the head chef combined ingredients that were available on the spot to create “ramen that can be tasted like a salad.
This was later dubbed “ramen salad” and spread throughout Hokkaido.
Why did ramen salad take root in Hokkaido?
Ramen salad is characterized by its healthy, vegetable-rich taste, which has earned it the nickname “Ra-sala” and has become a household dish.
It has become so familiar to Hokkaido residents that it has even been adopted as a school lunch menu item.
Hokkaido is home to many ramen lovers, and ramen salad, with its light and refreshing flavor, has become a staple menu item at izakaya (Japanese-style pubs) and karaoke bars, and has even spread so widely that it is now sold at convenience stores.
The fact that it can be freely arranged and easily prepared at home has also contributed to its popularity among people of all ages, from children to adults, and it has taken root as Hokkaido’s representative B-class gourmet.
Wow. It is interesting to know that ramen salad became popular in Hokkaido because of the school lunch program.
Three Attractions of Hokkaido’s Ramen Salads
I have summarized some of the attractions of Hokkaido’s ramen salads.
Exquisite fusion of salad and ramen
Ramen salad, which originated in Hokkaido, is a chilled dish of cold Chinese noodles topped with plenty of vegetables.
It is similar in appearance to chilled Chinese noodles, but differs greatly in that the vegetables take center stage rather than the noodles.
It is widely loved in Hokkaido as a healthy dish that allows one to actively consume vegetables, based on the concept of “putting ramen in a salad.
It is so common that it is nicknamed “Ra-Sala” by Hokkaido-area residents and is even on school lunch menus.
It is a staple menu item that can almost always be found at izakaya (Japanese-style pubs) and karaoke parlors, and is so deeply rooted in Hokkaido’s food culture that even convenience stores sell products labeled “ramen salad.
A wide variety of arrangements that can be enjoyed with dressings
One of the attractions of ramen salad is the variety of dressings and the freedom of arrangement.
The original Sapporo Grand Hotel dressing is a combination of chilled chuka sauce and mayonnaise, while sesame dressing is the most popular and a staple at izakaya (Japanese style pubs).
Each family has its own recipe, and there are many variations, including sesame oil- and mayonnaise-based, soy sauce-based, sweet and sour with vinegar and sugar, and spicy with soybean paste added.
The arrangements are endless, such as topping with seasonal vegetables, pork shabu-shabu, or seafood.
Hokkaido’s unique food culture of enjoying the seasons
Ramen salad is a dish that represents the rich food culture of Hokkaido, which is a treasure trove of ingredients.
It is enjoyed throughout the year, using fresh vegetables from each season, adding sweet corn in summer, and serving it with hot soup in winter.
Born out of Hokkaido’s ramen-loving culture, this dish is known as a “Sapporo specialty” and is popular among visiting tourists.
It has become a staple menu item served at every izakaya in Hokkaido, and is loved by locals and visitors alike as a dish that offers a taste of Hokkaido’s uniqueness.
Indeed. Ramen has a high-calorie image, but you neutralize the guilt by adding the salad element…
My recommendation for the best ramen salad restaurants in Hokkaido
In this article, I will introduce some of the best ramen salad restaurants in Hokkaido and their recommended menus.
My recommendation for the best ramen salad restaurants in Hokkaido
My recommendation for the best ramen salad restaurants in Hokkaido
Big Jokki at Sapporo Grand Hotel
✅ Recommended Points
- Opened in 1985 on the first floor of the Sapporo Grand Hotel Annex, the beer hall “Big Jokki” is known as the birthplace of ramen salad.
- The menu, which was developed by the head chef at the time with the idea of “making ramen tasty even in summer,” is now widely loved as one of Hokkaido’s representative local dishes.
- It is a special place where you can enjoy the original flavor in the prestigious atmosphere of a grand hotel.
- Entering through the entrance facing Kita Ichijo Street, you will have the rare experience of visiting the birthplace of the historic ramen salad.
✅ Recommended menu
- Original Ramen Salad
- The “Original Ramen Salad” is a dish of cold Chinese noodles served with a generous portion of fresh vegetables and seafood and topped with a special dressing.
- The dressing is a mixture of the hotel’s original French dressing and Chinese dressing, which goes well with the firm special noodles.
- It is garnished with vegetables such as lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers, mussels, and shrimp, and accented with sour pickles.
- It is a taste unlike any other ramen salad and offers the authentic taste of the original.
Kagoya Sapporo Station South Exit Main Store
✅ Recommended Points
- This private room seafood izakaya is located in an ideal location just a minute walk from Sapporo Station.
- With the concept of “private rooms and Hokkaido’s finest ingredients,” the restaurant offers dishes made with carefully selected Hokkaido ingredients.
- In this luxurious space where all seats are private rooms, you can enjoy the delicacies of Hokkaido while maintaining a sense of privacy.
- This restaurant is also recommended for foreign visitors to Japan who can enjoy creative cuisine using fresh seafood and Hokkaido ingredients in a relaxed atmosphere.
✅ Recommended menu
- A Hokkaido specialty! Seafood Ramen Salad
- Kagoya’s “Hokkaido Specialty! Kaisen Ramen Salad” is a gorgeous menu item that uses an abundance of seasonal seafood from Hokkaido.
- Topped with fresh shrimp, scallops, and other seafood, the dish is served with crunchy vegetables and special noodles tossed in a special dressing.
- Not only visually spectacular, but also deeply flavorful, this menu allows you to enjoy Hokkaido’s seafood to the fullest.
- It is also popular among foreign visitors to Japan. Because of its large volume, it is recommended to share it with a small group of people.
Imari Sapporo North Exit Branch
✅ Recommended Points
- This Japanese-style izakaya with private rooms is located at the north exit of Sapporo Station.
- Counter seating is also available, allowing you to enjoy the craftsmanship of the chefs right in front of you.
- It is an adult’s hideaway where you can enjoy a variety of dishes that make the most of Hokkaido’s local ingredients and Hokkaido’s local sake.
- Private rooms are available for small groups and groups of friends, allowing you to enjoy a relaxing meal in a private space.
✅ Recommended menu
- Ramen noodle salad, Tantanmen style
- Imari’s “Ramen Salad – Tantanmen Style” is a unique and creative addition to the standard ramen salad menu.
- It features a sesame-flavored tantanmen-style dressing with a perfect balance of savory and rich flavors.
- The unique arrangement of the combination of Hokkaido’s typical seafood and the bounty of the land makes this dish a new possibility for Hokkaido’s ramen salads.
- You can taste a menu full of creativity that breathes new life into Hokkaido’s traditional ramen salad.
Oh. Each restaurant has its own unique atmosphere, so it’s really hard to decide which one to try…
Column: What is the difference between ramen salad and chilled ramen noodles?
Ramen salad and chilled ramen are similar but different.
The biggest difference is that in ramen salad, the “salad” is the main ingredient and the noodles are only part of the filling.
The amount of vegetables is larger than the noodles, and the dressing is poured over the noodles.
On the other hand, chilled ramen is primarily a “noodle dish,” with the ingredients serving as toppings.
The dressing is also different. Ramen salad often uses sesame mayonnaise or soy sauce-based dressing unique to Hokkaido, while chilled chuka uses vinegar or soy sauce-based sauce.
Ramen salad is a food culture unique to Hokkaido, created in Sapporo in 1985, and is now a local staple that also appears in school lunches.
Heh. The difference is whether the star of the show is the salad or the noodles. Also, there may be less vinegar- and soy-based dressings…
Recommended places to stop by in Sapporo while visiting Ramen Salad
Here are three recommended places to stop by in Sapporo during your meal.
✅ Clock Tower
This historical building, known as a symbol of Sapporo, was built in 1878 as a demonstration hall for the Agricultural College of Sapporo.
It is now designated as an important cultural property, and inside there are exhibits introducing the history of Sapporo.
The impressive clock with dials facing in four directions plays a beautiful tone every hour.
Located in Kita 1-jo Nishi 2-chome, Chuo-ku, the museum is a 10-minute walk from Sapporo Station.
The reddish-brown exterior of the wooden structure is loved by many photographers and is a popular photo spot day and night.
