Niigata is known as a hidden ramen kingdom. The number of ramen shops per 100,000 inhabitants ranks fourth in the country. Tsubame-SanjoThe four main types of ramen in Niigata are called Niigata's four major types of ramen: Niigata-style ramen, Niigata light ramen, Niigata thick miso ramen (also known as miso ramen with split soup in the Makimachi style) and Nagaoka ginger shoyu ramen. While other prefectures usually feature one ramen per prefecture, Niigata is quite unusual with four major ramen.

In such a Niigata ramen war, there is one ramen restaurant that is not often talked about, but many people know of its existence. It is Sanpotei, which operates ramen, Chinese food and family restaurants mainly in Niigata Prefecture, a company with a history of more than 45 years, having been established in 1967.

（Sanpo Corporation website: http://www.sanpou-g.co.jp/

The area around the Kamegai IC in Nishi-ku, Niigata City, has recently been developed and turned into a shopping area. This time, we visited the new Sanpotei Kamegai branch in the shopping area.

The restaurant seems new and very clean. Of course I was alone, so I sat at the counter. The kitchen was quite modern (?) and clean. and clean.

The menu is designed exactly like a chain restaurant. I found out about Sanpotei as soon as I arrived in Niigata, but I still don't know what kind of menu they recommend (laughs). When I looked at the website after I came back, in the section called 'Sanpotei's commitment', it says exactly that 'Fried rice begins and ends with fried rice'. Employees are obliged to acquire the Fried Rice Skills Certificate! They're really pushing for fry rice! I'll try it next time!

Eat Shoyu Ramen 550 yen.

I ended up ordering the simple Shoyu Ramen 550 yen. The soup has a seafood aroma, with a slight amount of back oil and onions floating in the soup. It's nice that for 550 yen it comes with ajitama (seasoned eggs)!

The noodles are very simple. Probably not homemade or anything, but chain-like noodles. Chashu pork is also normal. Menma is also normal.

The taste is refreshing and you eat it in portions. The taste is also about "yes, it was delicious". It is like Sanpotei that there is never anything that is not good enough. No, it's delicious. But I want to eat ramen! I have the impression that when I want to eat ramen, I choose a ramen restaurant in Niigata.

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Why I come to Sanbotei.

It's not out of place, but it's not particularly great! I have the impression that Sanpotei is not a ramen restaurant that is particularly good, although it is not a must-have. However, I have such a strong attachment to Sanpotei that I sometimes have an irresistible craving for their ramen.

It was a very cold day in Vic Swan.

Was that the last game of the J-League season, or was it around the time of the opening of the season? On the day of Albirex Niigata's home game, which was really cold, Sanpotei opened a stall at the stadium and I had a bowl of Shoyu Ramen there. It was my first Sanpotei ramen, and it was so good that it brought tears to my eyes when I was freezing! I have such memories.

The memorable bowl of ramen I had that day is still one of the most impressive ramen I've ever had. I still remember what I had at Bix One and I still visit Sanpotei on a whim.