When you think of sightseeing trips to Asahikawa, Asahiyama Zoo probably comes to mind.
Many people may decide to extend their trip to Furano, Biei, or even Sapporo.
Asahikawa is a popular destination for many tourists traveling to Hokkaido because of its easy access to various famous sightseeing spots.
What is of great interest to those who use Asahikawa as a base for their trips is where to find delicious food, right?

Where on earth is the best gourmet food in Asahikawa?

You can eat good food if you pay for it, but…

Quoted：Asahikawa Sightseeing Information

Asahikawa, as usual, is famous for seafood and ramen.
However, it is very difficult to find good food in Asahikawa if you are not familiar with the area.
Unless you are friends with the locals, the chances of finding good food in Asahikawa are slim.
Naturally, seafood and other local delicacies are almost always good because of the local character.
Furthermore, if money is no object, you will be able to find a lot of delicious food in Asahikawa.
However, most people who come to Asahikawa want to try various activities and buy souvenirs… don’t they?

So this time, we will introduce Asahikawa’s gourmet food that you can enjoy on a budget of up to 2,000 yen!
Now you can become a master of Asahikawa gourmet!

The criteria for selection

The restaurants introduced here are those that are recommended for their taste while keeping cost in mind first and foremost.
There are, of course, many more famous restaurants out there, and some people may say, “This place is definitely better!”
However, this time, I would like to introduce a restaurant that meets the quiet needs of many people who want to travel to Asahikawa at the most reasonable price possible – I have picked up restaurants with a maximum budget of 2,000 yen.

Asahikawa is famous for its Asahikawa Ramen, but we don’t want to introduce you to a place where all the restaurants are Ramen!
So, we will introduce only two restaurants in each category.

So, here is the list!

Downtown Asahikawa Hormone: Baba Hormone

Quoted：Good! Hokkaido!

First pick-up is Baba Hormone (intestines), a hormone place with a downtown Asahikawa feel.
Asahikawa locals call it “Baba Horu.”
In fact, not only Genghis Khan but also salted hormone are very popular in Asahikawa!
(Some say it originated in Asahikawa.)

In recent years, as hormone has become increasingly popular among women, fashionable hormone places have appeared, but this place operates in a chaotic atmosphere that evokes the good old days in Asahikawa.

Quoted：Good! Hokkaido!

The menu here is hormone only!
So, all you have to do is to ask for “X servings! and you’re good to go.
This restaurant is so popular that by the time it opens at around 4:00 p.m., there is already a line out the door.
The reason for this popularity is the freshness of the hormone and the low price!
Since the menu only features hormone, you can also bring in your own rice balls and other items, which is a nice feature.
If you are going to Asahikawa, “Baba Horu” is definitely the place to go.

When it comes to Asahikawa ramen, you can’t miss this place: Ramen-ya Tenkin Shijo Branch

Quoted：Ramen-ya Tenkin

Ramen-ya Tenkin Shijo Branch is called one of the most popular Asahikawa ramen restaurants.

This ramen has a rich tonkotsu-based soup blended with soy sauce, and the medium-thick noodles are well mixed with the soup to provide an exquisite taste.
Soy sauce is often thought of as a refreshing type of soup, but this soup plays on the strength of its richness.
The fact that the surface of the soup is covered with lard keeps the soup from cooling down, which is indeed wisdom from Asahikawa, a snow country.
Vegetable ramen is also available, which is a great way for women to eat a lot of vegetables.
The vegetables are well matched with the soup, so you can enjoy the soup from the ingredients to the noodles all the way through to the end.
The price of a bowl of ramen starts at 700 yen, so it is not the over 1,000 yen ramen that is becoming the mainstream in Tokyo and other areas.
If you order it with Sapporo Classic Beer, you are sure to have a blissful time!

 

A long-established Asahikawa ramen restaurant: Asahikawa Ramen Aoba

Quoted：Mago no Tekken ki 

Tenkin is tonkotsu-based, but Asahikawa ramen is characterized by the use of lard in a double soup of seafood and animal origin.
Asahikawa Ramen Aoba is known as the originator of this type of ramen.
This restaurant serves the royal road-style, refreshing shoyu (soy sauce) ramen.
The firm, yellow, wrinkled noodles are well mixed with the clear soup with a seafood flavor.

Quoted：Mago no Tekken ki 

The most popular Shoyu Ramen, which keeps the traditional taste, is also reasonably priced at 750 yen per bowl.
For some reason, the restaurant even lists the fact that Jang Geun Suk has visited the restaurant on its menu.
Although it is a popular restaurant with a long line of customers, it is surely worth the wait.
If you visit Asahikawa, you might want to keep this in mind as a must-try ramen at least once!

A place appeared in the popular TV show: Jiyuuken

Quoted：Hibi no Shokutaku no Bibouroku

Jiyuuken, a traditional Western-style restaurant located in Heiwa-dori Shopping Park, has been in business in Asahikawa for about 60 years.

As the sign says, the restaurant boasts a menu of pork dishes and pork cutlets.
In 2016, the restaurant was featured in the popular TV show “Gourmet of solo,” and tourists from all over Japan now visit the restaurant during their trips to Asahikawa.
The most popular menu item is “Shioyaki,” or grilled pork with salt, but what is more interesting is the “Goro Set”.

Quoted：Hibi no Shokutaku no Bibouroku

In fact, this is the same set of dishes that Goro Inokashira, the main character in “Gourmet of solo,” actually ate when he appeared on the show.
The menu includes two crab cream croquettes, two fried hokke, miso soup, cabbage, and potato salad for the surprisingly low price of 1,080 yen.
Of course, the price is not only low, but the taste is also very juicy and extremely delicious!
Why not experience the taste of Goro’s?

A place reminds of good old Japan: Okushiba Shoten Ashikawa-tei

Next up is Okushiba Shoten Asahikawa-tei, a popular restaurant that serves a soup curry, a dish that is a must when you think of Asahikawa, Hokkaido.

Quoted：Webmist

At this restaurant, you’ll also find curry made with broth from thousands of prawns!
Such a luxurious tasting soup is hard to find in other restaurants.
What makes this restaurant even more special is the large number of ingredients used in the soup curry.
The fresh vegetables are served together with the soup-like curry, allowing you to enjoy the full flavor of the soup.
Some people may have the impression that soup curry is not very affordable, but at 1,210 yen for this curry with soft chicken and specially selected seasonal vegetables, you may feel that this restaurant is more affordable than other restaurants.

Quoted：Webmist

If you are going to visit Asahikawa on your trip, you must try their soup curry.
Enjoy the taste of Hokkaido’s rich nature at this restaurant, which was renovated from an old house with a retro atmosphere!

Extra: Genghis Khan Daikokuya 5-chome Branch

If you are visiting Asahikawa, you must try Genghis Khan.
Depending on what you order, it may be a little out of your budget, but if you want to eat Genghis Khan in Asahikawa, I recommend “Genghis Khan Daikokuya 5-chome Branch”.

Raw lamb and herbed lamb are very popular at this restaurant, and even those who love Genghis Khan are impressed by how delicious it is.
The raw lamb, in particular, is absolutely stunning in its tenderness!

There are many followers who swear that there is no other restaurant on the right side of this restaurant.
The price is 700 yen per serving for fresh lamb and 800 yen per serving for herb lamb, so it may seem like it will be surprisingly inexpensive, but you certainly won’t be able to stop calling for your order…
Please go only if you are confident that you can keep within your budget.

Enjoy variety of gourmet in Asahikawa!

How about the taste of Asahikawa with a budget of 2,000 yen?
It may be a tough price for those who want to enjoy alcohol as well.
There are many more gourmet restaurants in Asahikawa than we have listed here!
When you travel to Asahikawa, please take a look at this article and enjoy the gourmet life as well.

Of course, eating isn’t the only thing to look forward to in Asahikawa!
Be sure to check out our recommended activities for your trip to Asahikawa!

For Hokkaido activity experiences visit Basho Trip