Amewayasashiku NO,2 — Restaurant in Sapporo

This is the best ramen I've had in all of Sapporo. Full stop. That scallop paste is to die for. They are better than any other ramen place I've tried in Sapporo, and I've tried many: I've waited in line with tourists for Sapporo Ramen Haruka (rated #1 place to eat on TripAdvisor for the area) located in original Ramen Alley; I've waited over an hour in line with the locals for Ramen Shingen, which by the way has a constant line of 30-50 people waiting every day, every hour. 雨は、やさしくNO,2 or as I like to call it "Number 2 ramen" squarely knocks all of these places right out of the park. Their miso ramen is incredible. Their shio ramen is incredible. Try both. Their soup base is a light, buttered corn-based broth, and it's exquisitely wonderful. Their fried, crunchy burdock and their soft stewed burdock provide really nice contrast as toppings. Their soft-boiled egg is perfect and a good extra. But the REAL star of the show is their scoop of scallop paste (that comes on top of each ramen bowl) that you are encouraged to mix into the broth but easily something you can just eat straight. Put simply, "No. 2 ramen" is really #1---it's the best. Their take on ramen is honestly fresh and innovative. It's as if I only had a rudimentary idea of what Sapporo ramen was all about until I came here. No. 2 ramen may even be better than Kikanbo of Tokyo. It's worth the trip. Eat here...you will...

I’d seen Ame-wa-yasashiku in Ramen Walker magazine. I was attracted by the fried gobo (burdock root) in their pictures and was it looked like an interesting bowl.

The soup of tori-paitan, which is to say, tonkotsu’s chicken cousin, but then they do something I’ve not seen before which is to have a dollop of scallop paste (yes, the shellfish) on top for you to mix in.

It adds an interesting richness and depth of flavor. My partner was not as convinced as I, but you can ask for it on the side. Not that with side dishes like the chashu-don, there is also an amount of bonito flakes. Again, I really liked it, but might not be for everyone.

The ramen itself is good. Complex and I appreciated the mix of sliced chicken on top. One slice of white meat, one of brown and one of a chicken meatloaf. Nice variation.

The premises at No. 2 are new and fancy enough for a date, if you’re so inclined. From the counter you can see the kitchen is clean and cooks do...

Pretty uniquely crafted ramen. Well-thought out and put together.

From the broth that develops in flavor as the scallop paste melts within, and the peppery layer at the bottom of the bowl. To the tempura burdock that was softer than I expected. The chicken was tender and easy to bite through. And the onions on top helps give it a refreshing bite through.

Personally, it does get heavy at the end. But was generally...