Hey there, fellow food adventurers! You know that feeling when you discover a ramen shop so good you can’t stop thinking about it? That’s exactly what happened to me with Ebisoba Ichigen. I previously shared about the famous Ramen Shingen in Sapporo, but today I’m excited to tell you about another amazing ramen spot that’ll make your taste buds dance – Ebisoba Ichigen!
Where to Find This Shrimp Ramen Paradise
The main branch is actually a bit away from Susukino Station, which is the heart of Sapporo’s tourist area. I actually stumbled upon it when I was heading to Sandria, that sandwich place I told you about before. The line of people waiting outside caught my eye, and when I looked it up, turns out it’s super famous! I wanted to try the main shop but honestly, the wait was just too long.
But here’s the good news – they have a branch at New Chitose Airport! So on my last day in Sapporo, I decided to give it a try. The New Chitose Airport branch is located in the “New Chitose Ramen Street” on the 3rd floor of the Hokkaido Domestic Terminal. Perfect for that last meal before flying home!
Opening Hours That Work for Travelers
- Airport Branch: 9:00 AM – 8:30 PM
- Main Shop: 11:00 AM – 3:00 AM
The airport location closes earlier than the main shop for obvious reasons. I managed to visit shortly after they opened since my flight time worked out perfectly. What surprised me about the main branch was seeing those crazy long lines even in the middle of the night! Japanese people seem to love eating ramen after a night of drinking. That’s probably why many famous ramen shops stay open until dawn.
The Wait (Yes, Even at the Airport)
I arrived around 9:30 AM, just a bit after opening time. While other restaurants were relatively quiet, Ebisoba Ichigen was already packed with a line forming outside. I waited about 20 minutes before getting a seat. Since it’s at the airport, most customers were travelers like me. They thoughtfully provided a space to store luggage, which was super convenient.
Menu Options and Pricing
The menu was displayed outside the shop, and I was relieved to see it was translated into Korean (and other languages too). This was particularly helpful because ordering here is a bit complex – without translations, I would’ve been totally lost.
All their ramen is shrimp-based, but you get to customize it in three ways: the broth, noodles, and depth. For the broth, you can choose between miso, shoyu (soy sauce), or shio (salt) – basically the three types of ramen Hokkaido is famous for. Then you select your noodles – thin (which is the default) or thick. Finally, you decide on the depth of flavor – original or deep.
You can also pay extra to increase your noodle portion, add toppings like chashu or egg, and even order rice on the side. Prices start from about 950 yen for a basic bowl, with additional charges for extras.
They also serve drinks including beer, oolong tea, and orange juice.
When I visited, ramen was 900 yen, but it seems the price has increased to 950 yen now. Looks like inflation is hitting Japan hard too…
Restaurant Atmosphere
The interior was clean and had a nice vibe. Most seats were at the counter, spaced closely together to accommodate many customers, with dividers between seats. This made it comfortable even for solo travelers like me to enjoy a meal without feeling awkward.
The Star of the Show: Shrimp Ramen
The first thing I got was a Sapporo draft beer. Since it was my last meal in Sapporo, I couldn’t resist! The Sapporo beer was refreshingly cold, and the combination of cool beer with rich shrimp ramen was absolutely fantastic.
I ordered the most basic version – miso broth shrimp ramen. The ramen had an even stronger shrimp flavor than I expected, creating an incredible umami taste. The shrimp flavor was so dominant that I think the different broth options might not make a huge difference, though I’d like to try the others next time. For noodles, I went with the original thin option, which wasn’t too thin and had a nice chewy texture.
I was tempted to order extra rice to soak up the broth (because that’s delicious!), but I noticed they had onigiri (rice balls) on the menu, so I ordered that instead. The combination of hot broth with the fluffy rice ball was perfect.
Final Thoughts
Ebisoba Ichigen is definitely one of the must-visit ramen spots in Sapporo and New Chitose Airport. If you want to experience the rich flavor of shrimp-based ramen, you absolutely need to check this place out. Just be prepared for a wait, so plan your visit with some extra time to spare.
New Chitose Airport has many other great places to eat besides Ebisoba Ichigen. I’ve also posted about Kantaro Sushi, a famous sushi place at the airport, so check that out if you’re looking for more airport dining options!
