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Craving ramen? We’ve got a list of the best ramen in Kyoto for you!
Ramen is the Japanese people’s soul food. It’s a quintessential wheat noodle dish that became popular as it is after the 1950s. Ramen has arguably become the face of Japanese cuisine now.
Made with hand-made wheat noodles and served with a broth, ramen comes in different flavors, usually soy sauce and miso. Toppings may include a thin slab of pork belly, nori or dried seaweed, bamboo shoots, and scallions. Almost every region in Japan has its own variation of ramen. In Kyoto, you’ll find the most innovative ones that are worth trying. Here's our list of the best ramen in Kyoto:
1. Muginoyoake
Muginoyoake’s selection of ramen is deeply rooted in the owner-chef’s family. He started his love for ramen as a child when his grandmother would cook it for him. Later on, he intentionally studied wheat while working at a flour-milling company and eventually became an expert. Muginoyoake, which translates to ‘a new dawn for wheat,’ is a culmination of his purposeful love for the dish, Muginoyoake’s house favorite, the ‘ramen with scallops and Japanese pepper,’ is one of the best ramen in Kyoto.
Price: From 1,000 yen
Location: 12-5 Nishishichijo Kakegoshicho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto
Open: Lunch 11:30 a.m., Dinner 6:00 p.m.
Closed: Monday
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2. Kobushi Ramen
Don’t get us wrong if we say Kobushi Ramen’s menu is comprised of various ramen and soba that came out of trial and error. The outcome is pretty spectacular, though, thanks to the owner-chef who is always on the lookout for ingredients that are native to Kyoto. The house specialty, ‘Kyoto duck and drink nodoguro soba,’ is made from locally sourced duck and a soup that’s prepared with a dashi of duck bones and tai heads, with dashi of venison bones. If you like a lighter flavor, the ‘rausu kombu kake soba’ can’t be perfect.
Price: From 1,000 yen
Location: 1-16 Sujaku Shokaicho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto
Open: Lunch 11:30 a.m., Dinner 6:00 p.m.
Closed: Wednesday
Phone: +81 75-351-3608
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3. Kamodashi Chukasoba Roku
At Kamodashi Chukasoba Roku, Japanese culinary techniques are blended flawlessly with Chinese cooking. The owner-chef was always in search of ways to add a new twist to his cooking until he stumbled upon kamodashi soup made with duck. You can either go for the ‘kamo chintanmen,’ which is a simple ramen with umami soup, or the ‘kamo paitanmen,’ which has a more rich flavor that’s served with white stock soup. It’s definitely one of the best ramen in Kyoto!
Price: From 1,000 yen
Location: 2F, Good Nature Station, 318-6 Inaricho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto
Open: Lunch 11 a.m., Dinner 6:00 p.m.
Phone: +81 75-748-1192
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4. Mendokoro Janomeya
Mendokoro Janomeya boasts three signature flavors: white broth, soy sauce, and dried sardines. The soups are made with dashi that comes from chicken bones and whole chickens, which are all raised locally. A mixture of a few soy sauces is added to give more depth to the flavor, while the sweet smell of the wheat is fairly apparent using thin noodles. Did we mention Mendokoro Janomeya’s atmosphere brings you back to the aristocratic culture of old Kyoto?
Price: From 1,000 yen
Location: 2F, Harenohi Kayukoji, 565-23 Nakanocho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto
Open: Lunch 11:30 a.m., Dinner 6:00 p.m.
Phone: +81 75-231-2772
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5. Vegan Ramen Uzu
If you’re looking for the best ramen in Kyoto that’s vegan and vegetarian-friendly, Vegan Ramen Uzu is the place. The owner-chef, Ryo Kataoka, is a champion of vegan food and so it makes sense for him to bank on what he believes in through Japan’s soul food, ramen. The dashi is made from kombu, shiitake, and a bunch of vegetables. Exemplary in both flavor and ambiance, Vegan Ramen Uzu is the leader of a new generation of ramen.
Price: From 1,300 yen
Location: 146 Umenokicho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto
Open: Lunch 11:30 a.m., Dinner 6:00 p.m.
Closed: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
Phone: +81 80-7603-6106
Also Read: 5 Best Places to Eat in Kyoto
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