Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan｜Menya takahashi

Easily easily one of the best Tsukemen in Japan. Faniliar taste of miso broth, but their taste is one of a kind and their own recipe. Ordered both normal and spicy, both were exceptional. Noodles were quality 👌🏼

In an attempt to not seem like overt exaggeration, this tsukemen is the most outstanding I've had nationwide. Most patrons come via car, but it is not too difficult to take a short bus ride (<10 mins) from Fukuzumi station. I arrived at 1010 on a Sunday morning, 20 minutes before the store opened, and was third in line. The queue quickly built behind me as more cars arrived. By 1020, there were already more people in line than the first round could possibly seat. The attendant opened the store promptly at 1030, and customers queued to purchase the meal tickets from a vending machine, and passed it to the attendant who would ask if you want it cold or hot, before you are seated. If the seats were filled, you would be asked to go wait inside your car or around the area after ordering and leaving down your name. I ordered - Miso Tsukemen (M 1.5x) (Cold noodles) ¥880 - Ajitama // Flavoured egg ¥120 The chef is a very friendly lady who knows her regular patrons well, and makes pleasant conversation with the customers while she cooks across the counter. It takes about 10 minutes to boil the noodles, so expect a bit of a wait. In no particular order: - The cold noodles had just the perfect toughness to be slurped up after being coated in the rich miso dipping - The menma (bamboo sprout) steeped in the dipping had a deep flavour that was brought out by the miso - The Ajitama had a yolk that was alive, oozing with a viscosity that is carefully prepared - The chashu melts with intense flavour after the lightest pressure - The onions that garnished the dipping provided a variety of texture and fragrance as they coat the noodles with the dipping Make sure to leave a bit of the dipping when you're done, and they will kindly offer you Wari soup. Somehow they just get the right ratio for it to taste delicious no matter how much you have left. I was kindly allowed to make a second order: - Tsukemen (S 1x) (Warm noodles) ¥800 - Ajitama ¥120 The fish broth dipping, without miso this time, provided a complex fragrance that cannot be compared. Both dippings were masterpieces in their own right. The warm noodles had a softer texture, and the heat further complicates the flavour of the dip in a rough, yet carefully balanced, manner. I wish to return here every day for the rest of my trip and in all future trips.

Great little tsukamen place on the outskirts of Sapporo. Cute waitress for bonus points.