Miso Curry Milk Ramen Ajino Sapporo Oonishi in Aomori

Miso Curry Milk Ramen

Ajino Sapporo Oonishi is known for one thing: the ramen that put it on the map. The broth starts with pork and chicken bones, into which miso, curry and milk are blended into a rich, savory base. A small knob of butter melts on top for extra creaminess, while the standard toppings — bamboo shoots, nori, roast chashu pork and bean sprouts — round out the bowl. The thick, curly noodles have that distinctive egg-yellow color.

Aomori's weather is cold and rainy for much of the year, and this bowl is exactly the kind of dish that warms you from the inside out. For us, it's one of the best ramen spots in Aomori.

Ajino Sapporo Oonishi

The dish was invented by Mr. Oonishi back in the 1970s. The "Sapporo" in the restaurant's name is a nod to its origins: the owner relocated his shop from Sapporo to Aomori to introduce locals to his new ramen creation. After a feature on Japanese TV, the place became a local favorite, and queues can build at peak times — though visit outside the lunch and dinner rush and you'll likely walk straight in.

The shop itself looks untouched since it opened, with a wood-paneled interior and a handful of counter seats and tables that still feel warm and welcoming. It's just a few minutes' walk from Aomori Station, close to the fish market.

Aomori

Aomori is the largest city on the northern tip of Honshu and the capital of Aomori Prefecture — Japan's top producer of apples. Thanks to its Shinkansen stop at Shin-Aomori, it makes an easy base for exploring the many sights scattered across the region.