Houryu Ramen Rankoshi is a local ramen shop in Rankoshi, Hokkaido, that is easy to add to a lunch stop when you are driving through the area.
I visited just before noon on a Friday with coworkers, waited about five minutes, and noticed that the parking area was almost full, with regular cars, trucks, and motorcycles parked outside.
We tried the Tokusen Miso Ramen, Kara Miso Ramen, and Shoyu Ramen. All three were satisfying, and I honestly felt that I would like to come back again. The restaurant had both counter seats and table seats, with a bright and casual atmosphere that felt comfortable for a coworker lunch, a road trip stop, or a touring break.
Houryu Ramen Rankoshi｜Taste, Reviews, and Restaurant Atmosphere
Tokusen Miso Ramen is the most popular choice
The menu marked Tokusen Miso Ramen as the most popular item. It is made with a carefully prepared homemade miso sauce, and the menu also mentions golden ginger from Kochi Prefecture as an accent. Reviews also mention that the miso flavor is mellow rather than overly heavy, making it a good first choice for miso ramen lovers.
Goma Miso, Kara Miso, and Shoyu make it easy to choose by taste
The Kara Miso Ramen lets you choose the spice level, while the Shoyu Ramen has a deep-looking soy sauce soup with a satisfying flavor. Reviews also mention Goma Miso Ramen, chewy noodles, chashu pork, menma bamboo shoots, and green onions, so this shop works well when each person wants a different style of ramen.
Reviews often mention the soup and miso flavor
The reviews provided mentioned the rich soup, miso ramen, ginger accent, and the kind service. Reviews are personal impressions, but they matched my experience in one important way: the miso ramen felt rich and flavorful without being too heavy, and it made me want to stop by again if I am nearby.
The restaurant feels compact, bright, and lively
From the restaurant photos, you can see counter seats in front of the kitchen and table seating inside. The interior has a warm wooden look and a casual local ramen shop feel. Some reviews mention that the shop is a little compact, so it is better to expect a short wait during busy lunch hours.
Good for drivers, motorcyclists, and lunch stops
When I visited, the parking area had different types of vehicles, including cars, trucks, and motorcycles. Some reviews also mention stopping by during a motorcycle trip or after camping, which makes the shop feel like a practical ramen stop for road trips around Rankoshi and nearby areas.
Access and Basic Information
- Restaurant name: Mendokoro Houryu
- Area: Rankoshi, Hokkaido
- Address: The sign at the restaurant showed 80-1 Rankoshi, Rankoshi-cho, Isoya-gun, Hokkaido.
- Phone: The sign at the restaurant showed 0136-57-5088.
- Opening hours: The sign at the restaurant showed 11:00 to 14:00 and 17:00 to 20:00. Last order was shown as 13:45 for lunch and 19:30 for dinner.
- Closed: The sign at the restaurant showed that it is closed on Mondays. It also said that Wednesdays and Sundays are lunch only.
- Visit timing: Just before noon on a Friday
- Who I visited with: Coworkers
- Waiting time: On this visit, we waited about five minutes before being seated.
- Parking: The parking area was almost full when I visited. I saw regular cars, trucks, and motorcycles, but I did not confirm the number of parking spaces.
- Main menu prices: The menu showed Tokusen Miso Ramen at 1,000 yen, Goma Miso Ramen at 1,000 yen, Shoyu Ramen at 950 yen, Sio Ramen at 900 yen, Kara Miso Ramen at 1,000 yen, and Children’s Ramen at 650 yen.
- Limited items: The menu showed fried rice as a dinner-only item limited to 10 servings. Gyoza and shiso gyoza were shown as available only on weekdays and Saturday evenings.
- Payment: A sign at the restaurant said cash only. Credit cards were not accepted according to the sign.
- Waiting rule: A sign asked waiting customers not to enter the dining area until guided to their seats, and to wait in the vestibule or near the entrance.
- Seating atmosphere: From the photos, counter seats and table seats were visible.
- Restroom: I did not check the restroom during this visit.
- Google Maps: View Mendokoro Houryu on Google Maps
FAQ｜What to Know Before Visiting Mendokoro Houryu
Q. Is Mendokoro Houryu good for a coworker lunch?
A. Yes, it felt easy to visit with coworkers. We went just before noon on a Friday, waited about five minutes, and the casual atmosphere made it comfortable for a lunch stop.
Q. What is the restaurant atmosphere like?
A. The interior looked bright and casual, with counter seats and table seats. It felt like a lively local ramen shop rather than a quiet place for a long stay.
Q. Is it crowded at lunchtime?
A. On my visit, we waited about five minutes just before noon on a Friday. Since the parking area was almost full, it is better to allow extra time during lunch hours.
Q. Is parking easy?
A. I visited by car and used the parking area, but it was almost full at the time. I saw cars, trucks, and motorcycles, but I did not confirm the number of spaces.
Q. Is it good for motorcycle touring or road trips?
A. It looks like a practical stop for drivers and motorcyclists. Motorcycles were parked outside, and reviews also mentioned visiting during touring or after camping.
Q. Which ramen should I try first?
A. If it is your first visit, Tokusen Miso Ramen is the easiest choice because it was marked as the most popular item. Kara Miso, Goma Miso, and Shoyu are also good options depending on your taste.
Q. What do reviews often mention?
A. The provided reviews mentioned mellow miso flavor, ginger, chewy noodles, rich soup, and friendly staff. Since reviews are personal opinions, it is best to use them as helpful hints rather than fixed expectations.
Q. Can I pay by credit card?
A. A sign at the restaurant said cash only. It is safer to bring enough cash before visiting.
How to Combine It with Nearby Travel
Mendokoro Houryu works well as a lunch stop when driving around Rankoshi and nearby areas. I visited mainly for ramen, so I did not check detailed information about nearby sightseeing spots during this visit.
Reviews mention people stopping by during motorcycle touring or after camping. If you are planning a drive, a workday lunch, or a road trip through the area, it is easiest to plan your schedule around lunchtime and leave a little extra time for parking and waiting.
Tips for Lunch, Driving, and Touring
Do not assume it will be empty before noon
We were seated after about five minutes, but the parking area was already almost full. If you are visiting during a work lunch break or on a road trip, it is better to allow extra time.
Wait outside until you are guided
A sign asked waiting customers not to enter the dining area and to wait in the vestibule or near the entrance until guided. This is useful to know before visiting, especially when the shop is busy.
Bring cash before you go
A sign at the restaurant said that only cash is accepted and credit cards are not available. If you are traveling from outside the area, prepare cash in advance so you do not have trouble at checkout.
Check limited menu items on the day
The menu showed fried rice as a dinner-only item limited to 10 servings, while gyoza and shiso gyoza were shown as available only on weekdays and Saturday evenings. If you are visiting for side dishes, check the day and time before going.
Conclusion｜A Worthwhile Miso Ramen Stop in Rankoshi
Houryu Ramen Rankoshi is a good choice if you want a satisfying ramen lunch during a drive, workday break, or motorcycle tour around Rankoshi. The Tokusen Miso, Kara Miso, and Shoyu Ramen we tried were all enjoyable, and reviews also mention the miso flavor, ginger accent, and rich soup.
The restaurant felt bright and casual, with both counter seats and table seats. However, the parking area was almost full before noon on a Friday, so it is best to visit with a little extra time, especially during lunch hours.
Before you go, check the location here: View Mendokoro Houryu on Google Maps.
