HOME Kansai Kyoto Kyoto Station, To-ji Temple 7 Must-Try Kyoto Ramen Shops - From Tasty Tori Paitan to Vegan Ramen Options!
7 Must-Try Kyoto Ramen Shops - From Tasty Tori Paitan to Vegan Ramen Options!

7 Must-Try Kyoto Ramen Shops - From Tasty Tori Paitan to Vegan Ramen Options!

Last updated: 8 February 2021

With its many kinds of ramen shops, Kyoto is home to an incredible selection of flavors. From the base of the soup all the way to the shape of the noodles, there are various kinds of evolved ramen in Kyoto. With this in mind, it’s not an exaggeration to say there's something for all to love!

Here we will introduce ramen and tsukemen, a ramen dish where noodles are dipped into the broth separately, in Kyoto recommended for first-timers. These dishes range from standard pork broth ramen known as tonkotsu to ramen that even incorporates duck.

The shops that serve these dishes are all located close to tourist attractions and stations, so you can casually stop by while sightseeing. Furthermore, they have taken countermeasures against Covid-19.

Table of Contents
  1. 1. Menya Gokkei: Endless lines are formed for the very popular, super-rich, tori paitan soup!
  2. 2. Menya Inoichi Hanare: An addictive, hearty tsukemen bowl with thinly shaved bonito flakes.
  3. 3. Nishiki Seaburanokami: Must-try Iekei ramen in Kyoto
  4. 4. Wajouryomen Sugari: Highly acclaimed tsukemen with very plump pieces of offal
  5. 5. Vegan Ramen UZU KYOTO: So delicious, everyone will love it!
  6. 6. Kyoto Gion Ramen Muraji: A ramen shop that makes it easy for solo female diners to stop by
  7. 7. Gion Duck Noodles: Umami from the duck is paired with French culinary techniques to create an original flavor

1. Menya Gokkei: Endless lines are formed for the very popular, super-rich, tori paitan soup!

「看板より行列を探す方が早い」とか。30〜40人以上が並ぶことになる場合は、整理券が配られる
「看板より行列を探す方が早い」とか。30〜40人以上が並ぶことになる場合は、整理券が配られる

Searching for a line of people instead of the shop's sign might be a faster way to find this ramen shop. If over 30 to 40 people are in line, you are handed a numbered ticket.

Kyoto's Ichijoji neighborhood is said to be a place where ramen-lovers gather. With many universities and student dormitories around the area, it is otherwise known as the "ramen highway". Moreover, due to the several ramen shops that crowd Higashioji-dori Street, it is also recognized as the number one battleground for ramen in the Kansai area.

In the midst of all of this, Menya Gokkei is a famous shop known for its continuous lines since opening in 2011.

Its thick, super-rich soup is reputable for getting you hooked after one bowl. On an especially crowded day, up to 160 people line up around the shop. We decided to speak to the shop's manager while savoring a bowl of this ramen.

In addition to counter seats, the shop has table seating and small Japanese-style private rooms. All purchases are made through meal tickets.
In addition to counter seats, the shop has table seating and small Japanese-style private rooms. All purchases are made through meal tickets.

Noodles and toppings highlight this robust soup that's powerful enough to withstand the weight of a Chinese soup spoon.

Toridaku (regular size), (800 yen including tax)
Toridaku (regular size), (800 yen including tax)

Let's try the signature dish, toridaku. As you can tell from the photo, the noodles seem to be on top of the soup rather than in the soup. This is already an indication of how thick it actually is. Also, toppings that stand out against the soup have been selected. This includes roasted pork shoulder, extra chunky bamboo shoots, and fine strips of leek.

A Chinese soup spoon stands upright in the soup!
A Chinese soup spoon stands upright in the soup!

Not being able to help ourselves, we tried sticking a Chinese soup spoon in the soup. According to the shop's manager, "Lately, there's been a sudden increase in customers who stick the Chinese soup spoon into the soup and take pictures."

The robust soup wraps firmly around the noodles
The robust soup wraps firmly around the noodles

Finally, it's time to taste. The soup is thick, but it isn't overbearing. The dish is filled with the umami flavor from the chicken. Although there's a slight graininess in texture, the soup has a creamy taste. You can also thoroughly taste the soy sauce flavor.

Also, to not be overpowered by the soup, the noodles are made so that you feel like you're actually eating them.

The custom-made noodles are boiled and taken out when they are still a little hard to achieve this. This contributes to the chewiness in texture. Even after taking the first bite, the noodles maintain their firmness and wrap around the soup.

Akadaku (regular size), (800 yen including tax): The bright red appearance of this dish is incredibly impactful!
Akadaku (regular size), (800 yen including tax): The bright red appearance of this dish is incredibly impactful!

We also tried akadaku, a dish that adds cayenne pepper to the entire surface of the toridaku bowl. With this dish, you'll catch a whiff of cayenne pepper even before you taste it. It's not extremely spicy, but it definitely has a kick. We recommend this to anyone who wants to try a variation from the original.

Everything is done for the soup. All efforts are concentrated into seeing how much the customers can be satisfied.

Mr. Sasae used to be a customer before he became the current manager. Charmed by the owner's stoic ways, he decided to join the restaurant industry.
Mr. Sasae used to be a customer before he became the current manager. Charmed by the owner's stoic ways, he decided to join the restaurant industry.

After enjoying the flavors provided by one of the popular shops in the prominent Ichijoji, we decided to speak with the shop's manager, Mr. Hironori Sasae. "Our shop doesn't serve side dishes such as Japanese-style fried chicken, we only serve ramen. The noodles and toppings are all made to compliment the soup." We could get a strong sense of particularity for the soup from his words.

However, the soup is under the complete supervision of the owner, and the recipe, as well as the ingredients, have not been shared with Mr. Sasae. "I roughly know that chicken is used and everything is of top quality, but only the owner knows the rest. My job is to stay focused on making ramen and to figure out a way to completely satisfy the customers."

He adds, "We use toridaku as the base for all ramen bowls, so ideally, for our akadaku and gyodaku bowls, we want to charge an extra 50 yen. On the other hand, it's a shame if students who come to try our ramen can only get the toridaku bowl because it's 50 yen cheaper. We want people to get what they want, so we've made everything the same price. We also offer free rice-refills." We could catch a sense of Mr. Sasae's thoughtfulness towards young students.

The company's secret tori paitan soup
The company's secret tori paitan soup
If not stirred carefully, the thick soup will burn.
If not stirred carefully, the thick soup will burn.

The shop is a six-minute walk from Ichijoji Station on the Eizan Railway. If you don't want to transfer at Kyoto Station, you can take the Karasuma Line to Matsugasaki Station. From here, it's a 15-minute walk.

Another shop in the area is a bookstore called Keibunsha Ichijoji. This bookstore was the only one in Japan to make it onto the British magazine, The Guardian's 2010 ranking of "The World's 10 Best Bookshops". Because it has many unique shops, this is an area perfect for a stroll.

Countermeasures against Covid-19
Disinfection, sterilization, and cleaning of shop and facilities / Sanitizer installed / Ventilation measures in place / Staff wear masks, gargle, and wash hands regularly / Limited capacity / Reservation only with restricted admission.

  • Menya Gokkei
    麺屋 極鶏®︎
    • Address 29-7, Ichijoji Nishitojikawaracho, Kyoto Shi Sakyo Ku, Kyoto Fu 606-8123
    • Nearest Station Access: A five-minute walk from Eizan Railway's Ichijoji Station
    • Phone Number 075-711-3133
    • Hours: 11:30 a.m.~10:00 p.m. *Service will end once the soup is sold out
      Closed: Monday as well as some irregular holidays

2. Menya Inoichi Hanare: An addictive, hearty tsukemen bowl with thinly shaved bonito flakes.

The shop's quaint, traditional Japanese appearance fits right in with the city of Kyoto.
The shop's quaint, traditional Japanese appearance fits right in with the city of Kyoto.
The shop is very spacious. Easy to use even with a baby carriage, it's also a hit with families.
The shop is very spacious. Easy to use even with a baby carriage, it's also a hit with families.

Menya Inoichi Hanare is the second shop of the famous Menya Inoichi. Differing from the original shop that mainly serves ramen, this shop centers around serving three standard tsukemen along with limited-edition tsukemen dishes.

For three consecutive years, from 2019 to 2021, the shop has been highly rated and consequently chosen for a Bib Gourmand in the Michelin Guide for Kyoto and Osaka.

Another spectacular aspect of this shop is that it can be accessed easily from Kyoto Municipal Subway's Shijo Station as well as Karasuma Station on the Hankyu Kyoto Main Line.

From the broth to the toppings, you can experience traditional Japanese elements with this tsukemen.

Japanese Black beef tsukesoba with burdock and shimeji mushrooms (Black soy sauce-based), (1,400 yen including tax)
Japanese Black beef tsukesoba with burdock and shimeji mushrooms (Black soy sauce-based), (1,400 yen including tax)

The broth used for tsukemen and ramen is made 100% from seafood. This shop boasts blending several different types of seafood flakes, including bonito and mackerel flakes, and carefully boiling them while monitoring the temperature to make a flavorful soup.

This is used to serve tsukesoba, a dish where buckwheat noodles called soba are served separately with a soup. The luxurious dish of Japanese Black beef tsukesoba (black soy sauce-based) incorporates burdock, shimeji mushroom, as well as top-quality marbled Japanese Black beef.

The melt-in-your-mouth Japanese Black beef is boiled thoroughly in the shop's original sweet and spicy soup. This dish is reminiscent of sukiyaki, a traditional Japanese beef and vegetable hotpot in sweet soy sauce. You can also enjoy the texture with the many ingredients, including burdock and shimeji mushrooms!

The shop's original noodles are made from whole wheat flour in a quern stone. Although they're chewy, the noodles aren't overly thick, making them very easy to eat. This is a highly satisfying dish where you can even enjoy just the noodles or the soup on their own.

When adding some Yuzu citrus to this dish, it becomes more refined through the fruit's slightly sweet and refreshing fragrance.

Try this dish by lifting up a big portion of the noodles and toppings together.
Try this dish by lifting up a big portion of the noodles and toppings together.
Thinly marbled slices of Japanese Black beef are used.
Thinly marbled slices of Japanese Black beef are used.
Kyoto mochibuta pork tsukesoba with grated daikon radish (White soy sauce-based), (1,200 yen including tax)
Kyoto mochibuta pork tsukesoba with grated daikon radish (White soy sauce-based), (1,200 yen including tax)

Tsukesoba with a white soy sauce-based clear fish broth is another popular dish. The pork belly fat melts as its boiled into the soup. This fills this dish with a refined umami flavor. You can enjoy this refreshing bowl with roughly grated daikon radish, green onion, and the slightly sour Japanese citrus, sudachi.

Along with the finishing touch of adding bonito flakes, this dish can be enjoyed by eating the noodles together with ingredients in the soup.

The young shop manager shows off his skills.
The young shop manager shows off his skills.

The shop manager is Mr. Riku Aizawa. He shared, "All the dishes we serve have a lot of ingredients. We would like it if you had the noodles and ingredients in the soup together."

Thin and light bonito flakes elevate the flavor.
Thin and light bonito flakes elevate the flavor.

The shop's bonito flakes, which are shaved to a thin 0.01mm, are a top-quality product from Ibusuki in Kagoshima Prefecture. The umami-packed honkarebushi, a type of fermented, dried bonito flake, is used. Once shaved, you are enveloped by the light aroma of bonito. Mr. Aizawa added, "Please enjoy these delicate thin flakes that melt in your mouth."

In addition to there being an English menu, the staff can speak basic Chinese and English.

Countermeasures against Covid-19
Disinfection, sterilization, and cleaning of shop and facilities / Sanitizer installed / Disinfected after each guest leaves / Ventilation measures in place / Staff wear masks, gargle, wash hands regularly, and monitor body temperature / Limited capacity/increased space between seats

  • Menya Inoichi Hanare
    麺屋 猪一 離れ
    • Address 463, Senshojicho, Kyoto Shi Shimogyo Ku, Kyoto Fu 600-8076
    • Nearest Station Access: A six-minute walk from Shijo Station on the Karasuma Line, Kyoto Municipal Subway.
    • Phone Number 075-285-1059
    • Hours: 11:00 a.m. until last orders at 2:30 p.m., 6:00 p.m. until last orders at 10:00 p.m., Sunday hours: 11:00 a.m. until last orders at 2:30 p.m., 6:00 p.m. until last orders at 9:00 p.m.
      Closed: Open daily

3. Nishiki Seaburanokami: Must-try Iekei ramen in Kyoto

The traditional Japanese atmosphere of this shop is eye-catching with its latticework and white shop curtain.
The traditional Japanese atmosphere of this shop is eye-catching with its latticework and white shop curtain.
The interior has a clean feel. Centering around counter seating, there is also table seating available.
The interior has a clean feel. Centering around counter seating, there is also table seating available.

This is the third ramen shop of the Seaburanokami chain. This chain is famous for serving ramen that adds pork back fat as a topping. Here, a naturally popular dish is the pork back fat ramen.

This dish boils pork back fat for three to four hours as a way to draw out its sweetness. In addition, the tonkotsu soy sauce ramen originally from Yokohama called <@Iekei|i@ > ramen is another extremely popular choice.

The easy access of this shop, being a five-minute walk from Karasuma Station on the Hankyu Railway, is also an attractive aspect.

Ginger soy sauce soba with pork back fat, (900 yen including tax)
Ginger soy sauce soba with pork back fat, (900 yen including tax)

Firstly, we tried the ginger soy sauce soba with pork back fat, a dish that has been served since the shop's opening. The immediate and strong taste of ginger in the first bite will have you hooked. This isn't surprising since ginger flavoring oil in addition to grated ginger is used in this dish.

The soup is filled with varying umami flavors drawn out from a chicken, pork thigh and shin bones otherwise known as genkotsu, as well as vegetables. This results in a light but flavorfully rich soup. The blend of two soy sauces from Wakayama and Kyoto are also distinct flavors that add to this dish.

Focusing on the umami flavors rather than the texture, pork back fat is boiled for hours to create a rich and deep taste.
Focusing on the umami flavors rather than the texture, pork back fat is boiled for hours to create a rich and deep taste.
You can't stop eating these delicious, slightly thick and curly noodles.
You can't stop eating these delicious, slightly thick and curly noodles.
Iekei ramen, (800 yen including tax): Ramen that's been promoted from a limited-edition dish to one on the standard menu.
Iekei ramen, (800 yen including tax): Ramen that's been promoted from a limited-edition dish to one on the standard menu.

Next, we tried the shop's signature dish, Iekei ramen. Although the umami flavor and aroma of the pork bone broth is significant, there isn't any unpleasant odor. There's no doubt that you'll finish this bowl in no time.

What's more, the short and flat noodles go perfectly with the soup. The toppings of roasted pork shoulder, boiled spinach, and seaweed are the finishing touches needed to make a standard Iekei ramen.

Initially serving pork back fat ramen, this shop turned Iekei ramen into their specialty.

The shop's manager, Mr. Nakano
The shop's manager, Mr. Nakano

"The reaction to Iekei ramen was pretty incredible," says the shop's manager, Mr. Takamasa Nakano. The shop started with their main dish being the famous Tsubame-Sanjo Ramen, a type of ramen with a soy sauce base, thick noodles, and a layer of pork back fat from Tsubame-Sanjo in Niigata Prefecture.

Once they added Iekei ramen to their limited-edition menu, it became a great hit. Since there aren't many shops serving the same kind of ramen in the city, it became extremely popular and part of the standard menu. "As of now, we are an Iekei ramen shop," Mr. Nakano told us while chuckling.

If the shop becomes popular among foreign tourists again, it plans on making an English, Chinese, and Korean menu.

Countermeasures against Covid-19
Disinfection, sterilization, and cleaning of shop and facilities / Sanitizer installed / Ventilation measures in place / Plastic partitions installed / Staff wear masks, gargle, wash hands regularly, and monitor body temperature / Limited capacity/increased space between seats

  • Nishiki Seaburanokami
    錦 セアブラノ神
    • Address 270, Tenjinyamacho, Kyoto Shi Nakagyo Ku, Kyoto Fu 604-8221
    • Nearest Station Access: A five-minute walk from Karasuma Station on the Hankyu Railway
    • Phone Number 075-746-3332
    • Hours: 11:30 a.m. until last orders at 3:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m. until last orders at 9:00 p.m.
      Closed: January 1st

4. Wajouryomen Sugari: Highly acclaimed tsukemen with very plump pieces of offal

The shop was originally a private home.
The shop was originally a private home.
The interior is warm with its earthen walls and counter made out of wood. It has a good reputation for having an atmosphere that women can also enjoy.
The interior is warm with its earthen walls and counter made out of wood. It has a good reputation for having an atmosphere that women can also enjoy.

Wajouryomen Sugari is the second shop of the famous tsukemen shop Menya Takakura Nijo. It can be easily accessed from both Shijo Station on the Kyoto Municipal Subway and Karasuma Station on the Hankyu Railway.

The three dishes of ramen, tsukemen, and curry tsukemen all come with an option to add toppings such as offal, Japanese Black beef, and roasted pork.

There are also two options for the shop's original noodles, original or yuzu citrus. The shop is said to be extremely popular, having had continuous lines formed in front of it for over ten years. Most of the people who make it here order the offal tsukemen. More specifically, the offal used is either beef intestine or pork tripe called motsu.

Motsu tsukemen. (950 yen including tax): The shop's most popular dish.
Motsu tsukemen. (950 yen including tax): The shop's most popular dish.

Straight away, we decided to try the motsu tsukemen. The soup is a mix of a seafood broth and tori paitan broth. Tori paitan is a rich and creamy, slow-cooked chicken broth.

The seafood broth is mainly made out of bonito along with some other ingredients which include flying fish and sea cabbage. Kyoto-born Chidori vinegar is incorporated into the rich soup, creating a mild flavor that's slightly acidic.

The slight sweetness and acidity will keep you coming back for more.
The slight sweetness and acidity will keep you coming back for more.

Aspire to make motsu hotpot! Each ingredient used is carefully thought out.

The is the shop manager, Mr. Ryo Kajiya.
The is the shop manager, Mr. Ryo Kajiya.

Mr. Ryo Kajiya, the shop's manager, told us, "I wanted to make something as close to motsu hotpot as possible, so I'm very particular about the toppings I use."

Sure enough, the standard ingredients for this ramen of cabbage and chives seasoned with lemon and soy sauce remind you of a motsu hotpot.

Previously, green onions and garlic shoots were also used as toppings, but in order to make it even more like a motsu hotpot, the manager has currently made some changes.

Fresh motsu that doesn't shrivel up even when cooked.
Fresh motsu that doesn't shrivel up even when cooked.

The overwhelmingly popular motsu used is from a part of the small intestine called the hoso. A characteristic of this motsu is that it is plump and fatty. The taste of whole soybean soy sauce combined with the umami flavor that seeps out from the fat is just spectacular.

The shop boasts flavorful, homemade noodles that have a chewy texture.
The shop boasts flavorful, homemade noodles that have a chewy texture.

The two types of the shop's original noodles, original and yuzu, are very carefully prepared. Because the shop wants to keep the flavor from the flour, it doesn't use lye water which usually has a distinctive taste. "We've continued to make improvements to everything, little by little.", shares Mr. Kajiya.

Motsu Soba (900 yen including tax)
Motsu Soba (900 yen including tax)

Countermeasures against Covid-19
Staff wear masks, gargle, and wash hands regularly

  • Wajouryomen Sugari
    和醸良麺 すがり
    • Address 471-1 Kannondōchō, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto 604-8222
    • Nearest Station Access: A five-minute walk from Karasuma Station on the Hankyu Railway
    • Hours: 11:30 a.m.~3:00 p.m. (last orders are at 2:00 p.m.), 6:00 p.m. until the last orders at 9:30 p.m., Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays: 11:30 a.m.~4:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m.~10:00 p.m. *Service will end when all items have sold out.

      Closed: Open daily

5. Vegan Ramen UZU KYOTO: So delicious, everyone will love it!

The entryway is beyond the narrow corridor.
The entryway is beyond the narrow corridor.
For first time in the world, teamLab has produced the artwork, space, and logo.
For first time in the world, teamLab has produced the artwork, space, and logo.

Vegan Ramen UZU KYOTO is a vegan ramen specialty shop where not only can you enjoy ramen but also the artwork and space itself. The dishes abstain entirely from using any meat, fish, or other animal products.

However, there is a depth to the flavor, receiving many reviews with people saying it's the best ramen they've ever had.

Plus, it's been gaining popularity since it has collaborated with teamLab, a company that produces digital content by using the latest technology.

Normally, the artwork projected onto the wall could not be seen at the price you pay for a bowl of ramen. The wondrous image seems to change the direction it moves in depending on the angle you view it from. Enjoy this experience in a quiet space along with a bowl of ramen.

Vegan Ramen with Overwhelming Umami Flavor: The carefully extracted soup stock is a knockout!

Vegan Soy Sauce Ramen (1,200 yen excluding tax)
Vegan Soy Sauce Ramen (1,200 yen excluding tax)

The signature dish at this shop is the vegan soy sauce ramen. The soup consists of soaking sea cabbage and shitake mushrooms for over 36 hours to completely extract the umami flavor.

In addition to this soup, eight other types of vegetables are added to the bowl. Because the umami flavor is so strong, you won't realize it's vegan unless you're told.

The slowly extracted umami flavors in the soup create a ramen with depth.
The slowly extracted umami flavors in the soup create a ramen with depth.
Vegan Spicy Miso Ramen, (1,200 yen excluding tax)
Vegan Spicy Miso Ramen, (1,200 yen excluding tax)

The slightly hot ramen that uses spicy miso is also popular. This dish adds onions as a topping.

Mr. Kataoka has produced approximately 40 restaurants.
Mr. Kataoka has produced approximately 40 restaurants.

"I want the dining experience at this space to be a part of an installation.", says the owner, Mr. Ryo Kataoka. He has constructed the restaurant in a way so that you can experience beautiful aesthetics along with beautiful food.

Mr. Kataoka shared his feelings on not only the ramen but also on the space itself. "By dining in an artistic space, we are able to awaken a special sensibility that only exists in humans. This sensibility is one that allows us to appreciate beautiful aesthetics as well as beautiful food. I also hope that by getting to experience vegan culture, it will act as an opportunity for people to think about sustainability, nature conservation, as well as health problems. Because of this wish, I would especially like it if people who aren't vegan would try this new experience of dining and delicious tastes."

There is an English menu available. Also, all staff are able to communicate in English.

At the shop's noodle-making factory, noodles are made into two different kinds of thickness. Organic whole wheat flour is sent in from the shop's contracted farms. The shop boasts their noodles having a chewy texture.
At the shop's noodle-making factory, noodles are made into two different kinds of thickness. Organic whole wheat flour is sent in from the shop's contracted farms. The shop boasts their noodles having a chewy texture.

Countermeasures against Covid-19
Disinfection, sterilization, and cleaning of shop and facilities / Sanitizer installed / Disinfected after each guest leaves / Ventilation measures in place / Staff wear masks, gargle, wash hands regularly, and monitor body temperature / Limited capacity/increased space between seats

  • Vegan Ramen UZU KYOTO
    Vegan Ramen UZU KYOTO
    • Address 146 Umenokichō, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-0905 604-0905
    • Nearest Station Access: A six-minute walk from the Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Station on the Tozai Subway Line.
    • Phone Number 080-7603-6106
    • Hours: 11:30 a.m.~2:30 p.m. (last orders at 2:00 p.m.), 6:00 p.m.~10:00 p.m. (last orders at 9:00 p.m.)
      Closed: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays

6. Kyoto Gion Ramen Muraji: A ramen shop that makes it easy for solo female diners to stop by

This shop is like a hideout in-between Kyoto's Machiya townhouses. Its curtain and paper-shaded lamp are markers of the location.
This shop is like a hideout in-between Kyoto's Machiya townhouses. Its curtain and paper-shaded lamp are markers of the location.
Female customers who stop by the shop on their own have rated it highly due to the refined traditional Japanese space.
Female customers who stop by the shop on their own have rated it highly due to the refined traditional Japanese space.

Kyoto Gion Ramen Muraji, run by a female manager, is situated in one of the back alleyways of Kyoto. This shop is only a five-minute walk from Gion-Shijo Station on the Keihan Electric Railway. It's effortless to stop by as a tourist because it is close to areas filled with Kyoto's charm. This includes Kawaramachi and Gion Shirakawa.

Because of the very meticulous way the soup is made and the dishes are plated, the shop took two years of preparation until they were ready to open. You can find traditional crafts throughout the relaxing space.

"I wanted this to be the kind of shop you want to come home to,” said Ms. Kyoko Muraji, the shop's owner.
"I wanted this to be the kind of shop you want to come home to,” said Ms. Kyoko Muraji, the shop's owner.

Enjoy the cozy taste of the tori paitan soup.

Tori Paitan Ramen (830 yen excluding tax): An exquisite dish representative of Kyoto filled with refined flavors.
Tori Paitan Ramen (830 yen excluding tax): An exquisite dish representative of Kyoto filled with refined flavors.

Tori paitan ramen creates a rich but not overbearing, refined soup. The taste is highly acclaimed due to the cozy feeling you get after trying it. This is due to the umami from the soup, made from carefully selected, domestic chicken carcass, wrapping around the straight noodles.

In addition to this, the shop offers black ramen with a soy sauce base, a visually fun ramen topped with a lemon slice called lemon ramen, and Muraji's tsukemen in which copious amounts of seafood flavor wrap around the chewy noodles.

Aromatic deep-fried tofu and sake lee ramen: Muraji's tori paitan and Sasaki brewery's sake lees have given birth to this dish only available during the fall.
Aromatic deep-fried tofu and sake lee ramen: Muraji's tori paitan and Sasaki brewery's sake lees have given birth to this dish only available during the fall.

The aromatic, deep-fried tofu and sake lee ramen is a dish only served in the fall. This seasonally-limited taste is very popular.

You can stop by this shop without any worries due to there being a menu in English, Chinese, and Korean along with English-speaking staff. We also recommend you stop by the sister shop called Tsukesoba Muraji. This shop opened in 2020 and can be found inside Nishiki Market.

Countermeasures against Covid-19
Disinfection, sterilization, and cleaning of shop and facilities / Sanitizer installed / Disinfected after each guest leaves / Ventilation measures in place / Coin trays used / Staff wear masks, gargle, wash hands regularly, and monitor body temperature / Limited capacity/increased space between seats

  • Kyoto Gion Ramen Muraji
    麺処むらじ祇園本店
    • Address 373-3 Kiyomotocho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto 605-0084
    • Nearest Station Access: A five-minute walk from Gion-Shiko Station on the Keihan Railway
    • Phone Number 075-744-1144
    • Hours: 11:30 a.m.~3:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m.~10:00 p.m., Saturdays Sundays, Holidays: 11:30 a.m.~10:00 p.m. (last orders are 30-minutes before closing) *Until February 11, 2021: 11:30 a.m. until last orders at 7:00 p.m.
      Closed: Open daily

7. Gion Duck Noodles: Umami from the duck is paired with French culinary techniques to create an original flavor

There are emojis of a duck and a bowl of ramen on the shop's sign.
There are emojis of a duck and a bowl of ramen on the shop's sign.
Refined counter seating options
Refined counter seating options

Gion Duck Noodles is a shop that solely uses emojis to express its name. The head chef comes from a French culinary background and serves ramen that conveys the true deliciousness of duck. The shop uses Kishu duck from Wakayama Prefecture. This superb ingredient has a nice layer of fat as well as fine portions of red meat.

Because the shop brings in a stock of whole duck straight from a duck ranch, the ingredient is abundantly used in the soup in addition to adding roasted duck as a topping.

It is a four-minute walk from Gion-Shijo Station on the Keihan Railway Line. What's more, it's right next to Yasaka Shrine, so you can stop by on your way to or from this tourist attraction.

The umami flavor from the duck, homemade noodles, and Japanese pepper come together harmoniously.

Duck Ramen (regular size), (900 yen excluding tax)
Duck Ramen (regular size), (900 yen excluding tax)

The signature dish of duck ramen boils duck and meat into a superb soup. In order for the noodles to stand up to the quality of the soup, the shop has made flavorful, thin noodles made from German rye as well as domestic whole wheat flour.

Other popular dishes include tsukemen in a tangerine or berry sauce with each regular-sized bowl offered at 1,000 yen (excluding tax) as well as duck rice that's cooked in a duck soup with each small-sized bowl available from 450 yen (excluding tax). There's also a block of braised duck for 3,500 yen (excluding tax) that you can buy as a souvenir.

Countermeasures against Covid-19
Disinfection, sterilization, and cleaning of shop and facilities / Sanitizer installed / Ventilation measures in place / Staff wear masks, gargle, wash hands regularly, and monitor body temperature

  • Gion Duck Noodles
    Gion Duck Noodles
    • Address 329 Gionmachi Kitagawa, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto 605-0073
    • Nearest Station Access: A four-minute walk from Gion-Shijo Station on the Keihan Railway
    • Phone Number 075-708-7261
    • Hours: 11:00 a.m. until last orders at 3:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m. until last orders at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays: 11:00 a.m. until last orders at 3:00 p.m., 5:30 p.m. until last orders at 9:00 p.m.
      Closed: Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays

Kyoto boasts an endless variety of different ramens, ranging from super-rich tori paitan to Japanese-style tsukemen dishes. Ramen shops can be found in areas such as the bustling Kawaramachi District as well as Ichijoji where you can take in the pleasant views from the Eizan Electric Railway. Why not walk around and enjoy some ramen while sightseeing?

*Depending on the situation, there may be some changes regarding business hours, holidays, and service methods. Please check the official site of each restaurant before heading out.

Text by: Efeel

*This information is from the time of this article's publication.
*Prices and options mentioned are subject to change.
*Unless stated otherwise, all prices include tax.

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