Ryuho
A beloved local Chinese restaurant on the outskirts of Sakata, near Shonai Airport, famed for its back-fat-laden rich ramen. With over 350 Google reviews averaging 4.0, it is among the most-reviewed restaurants in Sakata. Regulars rave that the combo of thick, fatty broth and chewy thick noodles is 'addictive.' At lunchtime the 18-space parking lot is regularly full. Set A at 1,250 yen (ramen + half fried rice + shumai + pickled vegetable) is praised by locals as 'the best bang for your buck.' Private rooms available (8–20 guests).
Reviews say: 'The back-fat-heavy rich ramen is addictive,' 'The lunch parking lot is always full,' 'Set A has insanely good value,' 'It's impressive to find ramen this rich in Sakata.' Google Maps 4.0/350+ reviews. TripAdvisor 4.0/5 reviews. Extensive local coverage on YouTube and blogs. Completely local — not tourist-oriented.