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[Shut Down: Ichiryu in Tomakomai] Surf Clam Ramen Topped with Chewy Surf Clam

May 1st, 2016

CONTENTS

Ichiryu
- TOMAKOMAI
- Ramen of Hokkaido
Ramen
- Surf Clam Ramen
- Jumobo Roasted Pork Fillet Ramen

Ichiryu

Aji-no-Ichiryu (味の一龍) is a popular ramen restraunt founded in 1984 in Shirakaba-cho, Tomakomai city, and is relatively near Itoi Station. Mr. Kenji Asano (浅野憲治) is a ramen restraunt owner. The Ichiryu is famous for serving Jumobo Roasted Pork Fillet Ramen (ジャンボチャーシューラーメン), and is very popular with big eaters. Unfortunately, The Ichiryu has been closed down since September 2019. The following is an article before closing down.

The ramen restraunt on the 1st floor of 2 story private house is not so large, and has an atomosphere such as a typical ramen restaurant. The interior decoration uses a lot of woods, so the warmth of the woods is felt. Counter seats, table seats and a small separate Japanese style room are provided, so I guess that even family customers may enjoy meals. In addition, a lot of Manga books are provided, so local people relax themselves.

TOMAKOMAI

Tomakomai (苫小牧) that 170,000 people live along Pacific Ocean is the fourth largest industrial city in Hokkaido, and is located in the central part of the Hokkaido. There are Oji Paper factory (王子製紙), petrochemical complexes and Tomato-Atsuma Thermal Power Plant, the largest thermal power plant in the Hokkaido. As for a climate, it is warmer than other places in Hokkaido in a summer or in a winter, and it features that the Tomakomai has less snow than other placess in the Hokkaido. Therefore skating as one of famous winter sports is prosperous, so ASIA LEAGUE ICE HOCKEY Team "Oji Eagles" is based in the Tomakomai. Because the Tomakomai is close to New Chitose Airport, and Tomakomai Ferry terminal is built, so the Tomakomai has traffic convenience. Article is here

Ramen of Hokkaido

Ramen is a noodle soup dish topped with ingredients. It is said that Chinese noodles is the root of the ramen, and there are various theories, for example, Mr. Mistukuni Tokugawa (徳川光圀 * Mitokomon (水戸黄門)) ate the ramen in 1697 for the first time in Japan or the first ramen was that Keitaimen noodles (経帯麺) served in 1488 was written in Biryueken Diary (蔭涼軒日録). Noodle soup dishes were spread out in Japan because Nanking noodles (南京そば) was served in various China Towns, Japan. In Hakodate with a China Town, Yowaken (養和軒) served the Nanking noodles in 1884. In Sapporo, it is a root of Sapporo Ramen that a noodle soup dish was cooked by Mr. Wang Wen Zai (王文彩), a chief chef of Takeya Shokudo (竹家食堂), in 1922. Houran (芳蘭), a branch of the Takeya Shokudo, opened a business in 1933 in Asahikawa. Asahikawa Ramen, Sapporo Ramen and Hakodate Ramen called the 3 Major Ramen in Hokkaido were born. But current ramen do not succeed to the taste of those ramen. Article is here

Ramen

I ate Surf Clam Ramen (ホッキラーメン) and the Jumobo Roasted Pork Fillet Ramen.

Surf Clam Ramen

I visited here around 17:00 on a weekday. A group of cusstomers enjoyed their meals. I sat a counter seat, and read a menu. The Jumobo Roasted Pork Fillet Ramen was most popular, but I had no motivation to eat a large portion of ramen, and ordered the Surf Clam Ramen using surf clam, specialty products of Tomakomai. The Tomakomai is the most caching place of the surf clam in Japan. The price was JPY 980.

About 10 minutes later, the ramen was served. Surf clam, bamboo shoots, wakame seaweed and green onions were on noodles. The ramen with 8 slices of the surf clam and the wakame seaweed was salt broth, so it was just like the sea. I ate a sip of soup immediately. It was tasty! I wondered if the surf clam flavor came out, so the taste of the soup enhanced good flavor.

The noodles were curled chewy egg noodles, and went well with the soup. Speaking of chewy, the surf clam was very chewy, so I had difficulty chewing it, but it was very tasty. After I finished eating, the owner served acup of coffee for free. Thanks owner!, and thanks for the tasty ramen!

Jumobo Roasted Pork Fillet Ramen

I visited here to eat the Jumobo Roasted Pork Fillet Ramen around 15:00 on another day. No one enjoyed a meal. I sat a counter seat, and read a menu. The Jumobo Roasted Pork Fillet Ramen has 2 types of flavor, soy sauce broth and miso broth, so I ordered Black Soy Sauce Broth Jumobo Roasted Pork Fillet Ramen. The price was JPY 1550.

About 13 minutes later, the ramen was served. First I was suprised at sight before my eyes because noodles could not be seen. Roasted pork fillets, bamboo shoots, a Japanese marinated soft boiled egg, fried bean sprouts and green onions were on noodles. I would eat a sip of soup immediately. But 4 huge roasted pork fillets covered with the noodles, so those blocked off my Chinese soup spoon. I barely had the soup. It was light taste, and tasted a little ginger. The soup was not as salty as its looks.

Then I would eat the noodles, but the noodles could not be seen, so I would eat the large roasted pork fillet first. The thickness of the roasted pork fillet was about 3 cm, and the length was about 8cm. Anyway, it was very large. It was not as tender as its looks, so it was easy to cut. It was a little salty for me, but it was tasty. If it taked time to eat the roasted pork fillet, the noodles might go limp, so I ate the noodles fast. The noodles were curled egg noodles, and were chewy. Finally I was full, so I had only 1 roasted pork fillet. I requested the owner a packing, and brougt back the rest of the roasted pork fillet. I was stuffed!

Surf Clam Ramen and Atmosphere of Restaurant Can Be Watched on Youtube

Movie of Surf Clam Ramen

Parking lot	Free parking is provided (3 cars)
Business hours	11:00-21:30
Regular closing day	First Monday, Second Monday, Third Monday and Year-end and New Year holidays
Telephone number	+81-144-73-0751
Home page	Home page is here
Mapcode	113 124 587*61