Menya Nanabe (麺屋菜々兵衛) in Sapporo, Hokkaido
Menya Nanabe is a small ramen shop in the suburbs of Sapporo, serving up Michelin-rated Bib Gourmand ramen. With a recommendation like that, how could I pass it?
They had a two-page menu that was relatively simple, but their main seller is their Toripaitan Shio Chicken Ramen for 780¥ ($7 USD). I opted for a large for 50¥ more and a soft-boiled egg for 100¥.
Despite the lunch hour, I only had to wait about 30 minutes before I could get the bowl I was eagerly awaiting. The thin noodles were firm, yet had a delightfully springy texture and the large portion was well worth the extra yen and definitely filled me up. The egg, slice of chicken, and chashu were all flavorful, soft, and deliciously satisfying.
However, all was not perfect. While the broth was decently flavorful, it was a bit thin and watery compared to some famous toripaitan shops Kansai is famous for.
Still, I heartily recommend this place and I could definitely understand why it has a coveted rating from Michelin.