Sapporo, Japan, is home to Ramen Alley, the birthplace of miso ramen.
One travel writer tucks in and finds the best spots.
Courtesy of Visit Sapporo
I hear the music before I smell the food; the full-flavored riffs of AC/DC.
Credit:Courtesy of Visit Sapporo
But to foodies, it has one claim to fame above all others: Ganso Ramen Yokocho.
For true believers, Japanese ramen shops are holy places, andthisis the ultimate shrine.
The precise origins of miso ramen are disputed.
Mat Willder
The base of the broth is incredibly important.
Its what ties everything together.
Tanaka, like the heavy metal-loving Sasaki, takes his craft seriously almost religiously.
Courtesy of Visit Sapporo
Its something of a spiritual quest.
Everyone on this alley is trying to reach the same point; to climb the mountain of perfection.
Im surprised how this little lane and its ramen have become so famous, he said.
Jonathan Thompson/Travel + Leisure
Weve had people from Indonesia, Argentina, Brazil, Italy, and France in here already today.
I hope the warmth of the food and the warmth of the welcome speaks for itself.
The perfect place, in fact, to give birth to the perfect soul food.
Mat Willder
