8 recommended pork bowl and ramen restaurants for lunch in Obihiro and Tokachi.
Pork bowls are one of the most popular local delicacies in the Obihiro/Tokachi area. The aroma alone is enough to whet your appetite for this dish, which is made by mixing fragrant grilled pork with sweet and spicy sauce and placing it on a bed of rice. From long-established establishments to newcomers, each restaurant competes with the others with its own cooking methods and secret sauce. There are also popular ramen stores that draw long lines. Here are some of the best restaurants that serve delicious pork bowls and ramen recommended for lunch.
[pork bowl] [ramen].
- 1 Ganso Tonadon no Pancho
- 2 Tokachi Pork Donburi Ippin Obihiro Honten
- 3 Butadon no Tonda
- 4 Butadonjyo Butaya
〈Ramen.
[pork bowl] [ramen].
1Ganso Tontodon no Pancho
The birthplace of pork bowls, established over 80 years ago.
Founded in 1993, this is the original restaurant specializing in buta-don (pork bowl). Raw loin meat is used for the pork bowl. It is carefully grilled over a charcoal fire and dipped in a sweet and spicy secret sauce. The soft and fluffy roast is the result of the charcoal fire. The fatty flavor and sauce are sure to make your meal go down a treat.
There are four types of pork bowls: pine, bamboo, plum, and flower. The amount of meat increases in order from Matsu to Hana, and Matsu is the most reasonably priced. Since the first owner's wife was named "Ume," the name of the restaurant was given to Ume in honor of the labor involved in running the restaurant, and Ume was ranked higher than Matsu.
Commitment to not opening any branches in order to preserve the flavor as the original.
An undeniably popular restaurant that still draws lines even now that more and more pork bowl restaurants are following suit. Originally invented by the first owner in Tokachi, where pork is an integral part of the food culture, buta-don has become a representative taste of Obihiro and has been loved throughout the ages. In the 34-seat restaurant, customers share seats with each other during busy hours, as in the old days.
- Ganso Tonadon no Pancho
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11-19 Nishi 1-jo Minami, Obihiro City, Hokkaido MAP
2 minutes walk from JR Obihiro Station
11:00-19:00
Mondays, 1st and 3rd Tuesdays
0155-22-1974
None
2Tokachi Pork Donburi Ippin Obihiro
Popular store directly owned by a traditional sauce maker.
Sorachi, a company that has been manufacturing jingisukan and yakiniku sauce in Hokkaido for many years, opened this pork bowl specialty restaurant in 2000.
The basic pork is loin. To preserve the flavor of the ingredients, the sauce is unheated and aged at a low temperature. While grilling the meat marinated in the sauce, it is dipped in the sauce several times to ensure that the meat is fully soaked in the sauce. For the rice, we use Japanese rice, which is hand-polished and cooked in small batches. The rice is cooked a little hard, but when it is mixed with the sauce, the texture is just right. This dish is the result of many special considerations.
Enjoy the close-up view of the grilling process.
Because it is prepared by a professional sauce chef, the meat and sauce are of course a perfect match. The seasoning that enhances the deliciousness of the pork has gained popularity, and there is often a line out the door during lunch and dinner hours.
In the center of the restaurant is an open-type kitchen where the meat is grilled using only binchotan charcoal, with the sauce applied over and over to seal in the flavor of the meat. While waiting for the meat to be cooked, the sound and aroma of the meat being cooked in front of you will inevitably stimulate your appetite.
In addition to the main Obihiro store, there are five other stores in Sapporo.
- Tokachi Pork Donburi Ippin Obihiro Honten
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- 3-5 Nishi 21 Minami, Obihiro City MAP
- 6 min. drive from JR Nishi-Obihiro Station
- 11:00-21:00
- Closed on weekends and holidays
- 0155-41-1789
- Free of charge
3Pbutadon no Tonda
A butcher store started this pork bowl restaurant where customers can choose the part of the pork they want to eat.
In 2004, the previous owner, who used to run a butcher store, opened a restaurant specializing in pork bowls. It is rare for a pork bowl restaurant to allow customers to choose their favorite part of pork from three types: loin, belly, and fillet, which is unique to a restaurant with its roots as a butcher store. The pork loin is chewy, the belly has sweet fat, and the fillet is soft and juicy. If you are at a loss for which part to choose, we recommend the "Loin and Belly Assorted Buta-don", which features two different parts of pork so that you can enjoy the difference in texture and taste.
Smaller tables and counter seating available to accommodate a wide range of customers.
The pork is carefully selected from the best pork produced in Tokachi, and each piece is carefully cut by hand and grilled on a grill without using a machine. The sauce has been handmade for about 50 years since the time the restaurant's predecessor ran a butcher store, and the rice is also carefully selected, using only rice produced in Tokachi.
After relocating in 2017, the number of seats and parking spaces were greatly increased so that more people can enjoy the popular taste.
- Butadon no Tonda
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- 17-2, Higashi 10 Minami, Obihiro City, Hokkaido MAP
- Approximately 8 minutes from JR Obihiro Station by car
- 11:00-18:00 *Close when sold out
- Sunday
- 0155-24-4358
- Free of charge
4Pibudon Butaya
Rich pork bowl made with rare "Kamikomi pork".
Pork bowls are available in two ranks, ordinary and special, with a choice of loin or belly, respectively. The meat used for the special grade is the rare "Kamikomi pork," of which only two or three out of 100 are known to exist. This Tokachi pork is characterized by its juicy flavor, with plenty of fat in the lean meat. In particular, the belly meat has a sweet fatty taste, and many repeat customers come back. The loin, with its rich meat flavor, also has a strong following. Each serving contains approximately 200 grams of meat, making it a hearty meal.
Enjoy a set meal with Asahikawa ramen noodles.
In addition to the pork bowls, the ramen noodles are also popular. The owner is a former ramen chef who carefully prepares authentic Asahikawa ramen. For those who want to enjoy both, we recommend the set menu that includes a pork bowl and ramen. The most popular set includes both full-sized portions. On weekdays, the restaurant is crowded with local businessmen, and on weekends and during the season when people go back to their hometowns, there are lines of family members waiting in line. In the seven years since its opening, the restaurant has quickly taken root in the local community and won the hearts of regular customers.
- Butadonjyo Butaya
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- 1-21 Nishi 23-Jo Minami, Obihiro City, Hokkaido MAP
- Approx. 4 min. walk from JR Nishi-Obihiro Station
- 11:00-15:00 *Saturdays, Sundays, and during Bon Festival ~ 18:30
- Mondays (open if Monday is a national holiday)
- 0155-37-3130
- 15 cars
〈Ramen.
5Ramen Misuzu
Proud of the soup made with Tokachi ingredients
The most popular menu item is the "Kodawari Misuzu (Shoyu). This menu item was created with the idea of "Guest/customer commitment" in mind, as many regular customers topped the simple "Misuzu Ramen" that was originally available with chashu pork and menma. Other miso and salt flavors can also be enjoyed.
The base soup used for all ramen is made by slowly simmering pork bones, seafood, and vegetables without boiling, resulting in a clear broth. The soup is characterized by its rich yet refreshing taste.
A popular restaurant that continues to be loved by the locals
The restaurant has been located in an arcade in the center of downtown Obihiro for more than 30 years. There are many regular customers who have been coming to this ramen store for three generations, both parents and children. The soup is made with pork bones, seafood, and vegetables grown in Tokachi, and the noodles are made with flour produced in Tokachi. The restaurant is one of the leaders of Tokachi's ramen culture.
The restaurant has a total of 22 seats at the counter and tables. The cozy and comfortable interior has a modern atmosphere with a white base color, and is well known for being easy to enter, even for a woman alone.
- Ramen Misuzu
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- 8-20, Nishi 2-jo Minami, Obihiro City, Hokkaido MAP
- 5 min. walk from JR Obihiro Station
- 11:00-20:30 *Close when sold out
- Wednesday
- 0155-23-4706
- None
6Ramen Tonpei
A flood of fans of the soup with seafood broth
On weekends, long lines form at this popular ramen store. In addition to salt, soy sauce, and miso, the restaurant also serves "bean sprout ramen" and "bamboo shoot ramen.
The base is a clear broth made by boiling whole chicken, pork bones, chicken bones, and other ingredients to extract the flavor and richness of the animal parts, while eliminating excess fat. The soy sauce flavor is made with Soda-bushi and Saba-bushi (mackerel bones), while the salt flavor is made with scallops and salt from the Shiretoko deep sea water. The balance between the animal and seafood broths is exquisite, and while the seafood flavor remains strong, it is not cloying.
The noodles and seasoning oil are also made with original care.
We are particular not only about the soup and sauce, but also about the seasoning oil and noodle selection. The seasoning oil, which is essential for ramen, is carefully seasoned by stir-frying dried sardines, shrimps, and other ingredients. In addition, low-moisture, medium-fine noodles imported from an Asahikawa noodle factory were chosen to match the soup. The flavor of the soup and the aroma of the wheat can be fully savored in one bowl.
Since the shop serves only 130 bowls a day, you may have to wait for the store to close before you can get a table. It is recommended to visit as early in the day as possible.
- Ramen Tonpei
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- 2-2-2-2 Nishi 2-jo Minami, Obihiro City, Hokkaido MAP
- 19 min. walk from JR Obihiro Station
- 11:00～14:30 *Close as soon as sold out
- Tuesdays, 1st and 3rd Thursdays
- 0155-22-4308
- None
7Natural ramen Menkichi Kino
Healthy ramen noodles made with the finest ingredients
The restaurant's health-friendly ramen noodles are made with natural ingredients, and the additives are kept to a minimum based on the belief that "nothing extra should be added. Alkaline ionized water is used throughout the entire cooking process, including soup preparation and noodle making, to add depth to the flavor. The noodles are made in the store and aged before use, and are characterized by their firmness and smoothness. The noodles are made with Tokachi flour, salt, and a small amount of brine, and are well mixed with the deep flavor of the soup made from bonito flakes, kelp, pork bones, and chicken bones.
We recommend the set menu with a bowl of pork rice.
The "Mini Pork Bowl Ramen Set," which allows customers to enjoy both ramen and the hidden favorite, pork bowl, at the same time, is a popular menu item among repeat customers. The pork grilled on the grill with homemade sauce is juicy and savory, and goes well with rice. The ramen is basically "Shoyu", "Shio", and "Miso". We also recommend the "Motsuni-Ramen" with a spicy broth topped with plenty of spicy pork chops, and the "Thick-sliced Aburi Chashu-Men" that lets you fully enjoy our specialty pork chashu. There is also a kid's space so that even small children can enjoy ramen at their leisure.
- Natural Ramen Menkichi Kino
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- 17-1 Kino Odori Higashi, Ondo-cho, Kawato-gun, Hokkaido MAP
- 14 min. drive from JR Obihiro Station
- 11:00-21:00
- Wednesday
- 0155-30-8780
- Free of charge
8Ramen Suzuya
A ramen restaurant featured in the Michelin Guide
This ramen restaurant is located in Hiroo Town, about an hour's drive from Obihiro City. It was rated "Michelin Plate" in the Obihiro/Tokachi area in the "Michelin Guide Hokkaido 2017 Special Edition.
The restaurant offers a wide variety of menu items, from "Mukafu Shoyu Ramen" to "Tokujo Shoyu Ramen" and "Tanran-men," each of which has its own strong fan base. The base soup is made by slowly simmering pork feet and whole chicken over low heat to create a rich flavor, and the thickness of the soup is adjusted according to the menu. We recommend the "Pirikara Shoyu Ramen. It is made with a spicy yet rich flavor.
Some days the ramen is sold out by mid-afternoon.
Since its establishment in 2002, this popular restaurant has drawn lines even on weekdays despite its suburban location. The soup, which takes a long time to prepare, is limited in quantity, so it is often gone by mid-afternoon. Some dishes are not available depending on the day, but regular customers ask, "Do you have any today? and then place their order. Even if they don't get their first choice, they are sure to leave satisfied.
If you are new to the restaurant and are unsure of what to order, we recommend that you start with the "Tokujo Shoyu Ramen," which has an irresistible aroma, and enjoy the taste of the restaurant's pride and joy.
- Ramen Suzuya
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- 71-4, Line 14, Aza Monbetsu, Hiroo-cho, Hiroo-gun, Hokkaido MAP
- Approximately 60 minutes by car from JR Obihiro Station
- 11:00 - close when sold out
- Sunday
- 01558-5-2226
- Free of charge
Local Guide who was in charge of this article
- Mineo Takahashi The Reliable Sightseeing Doctor
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