9 Delicious and Famous Ramen Restaurants in Kyoto Discover Oishii Japan -SAVOR JAPAN -Japanese Restaurant Guide-

Update-date: Oct 21 2024

Author: SAVOR JAPAN

Categories: Ramen Kyoto

9 Delicious and Famous Ramen Restaurants in Kyoto

Kyoto, a tourist destination well known across the world, is filled with many unique attractions such as historical buildings and its local cuisine. It is also known by the locals as a battlefield for ramen supremacy! This article highlights 9 ramen shops to look out for in Kyoto.

See full listings of Ramen restaurants found in and around Kyoto.

1. Gion Shirakawa Ramen

In Kyoto, a city where tradition and gourmet cuisine coexist, Gion Shirakawa serves unique ramen in the retro-styled Kyoto Furukawacho Shopping Arcade. The chef, trained at a renowned Hokkaido restaurant, crafts popular miso ramen with a sharp, refreshing Kyoto-developed flavor. The restaurant, with foreign-language menus and English support, is accessible for both locals and international guests. It embodies the owner and staff's dedication to pleasing the diverse clientele visiting Kyoto.

Gion Shirakawa Ramen

Open: [Tuesday-Sunday, National Holidays, Day Before National Holidays] Lunch 11:00 am - 4:00 pm (L.O. 3:30 pm) / Dinner 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm (L.O. 9:30 pm)
Closed: Monday
Average price: [Dinner] 1,000 JPY
Access: 5-minute walk from Higashiyama Station on Kyoto Municipal Subway
Address: 567-26, Kitagumi, Inari-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
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2. Kyoto Senmaru Shakariki Murasaki (Kyoto)

1. Kyoto Senmaru Shakariki Murasaki (Kyoto)

Since its first opening in 2004, this ramen and tsukemen (dipping noodles) restaurant have garnered so much popularity in Kyoto that it has since opened in Kyoto Tower. Their light, refined soy sauce soup is made using broth extracted from boiling locally produced ingredients, such as dried sagoshi (young Spanish mackerel) from Wakasa Bay and chicken bones, for a long period of time. Taste this soup in the [Raku] (1,080 JPY), where you get to choose up to 4 toppings. The [Tsukesoba] (900 JPY) is another one of their beloved dishes. They also offer alcoholic drinks at affordable prices, as well as items that are usually reserved as toppings for noodles, such as bamboo shoots or roast pork slices.

Kyoto Senmaru Shakariki murasaki

Open: 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Closed: None
Average price: -
Access: 2 minutes walk from the central exit of JR Kyoto Station, in Kyoto Tower
Address: 721-1, Higashishio-Koji Cho, Karasuma Dori Shichijo Sagaru, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto (Map)
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3. Menkiya Kawaramachi Branch (Kawaramachi)

2. Menkiya Kawaramachi Branch (Kawaramachi)

5 minutes from Kawaramachi Station sits Menkiya Kawaramachi Branch, an eatery that offers tonkotsu (pork bone) and soy sauce-based ramen made using select ingredients from Kyoto. The concept here is "ramen that can be enjoyed every single day," and they aim to create ramen that you can't get bored of. Their [Roast Pork Noodles] (820 JPY) simply overflows with slices of roasted Kyoto pork and has deep umami (Japanese savory taste) that matches the noodles perfectly. You can also select the level of spiciness out of 5 scales for their [Spicy Noodles] (800 JPY), making it a dish that anyone can enjoy! They also serve Uji matcha, procured from a supplier that has been selling matcha for around 120 years, after your meal for free. It's an amazing way to taste the flavors of Kyoto!

Menkiya Kawaramachi Branch

Open: 11:00 am - 12:00 am (L.O. 11:30 pm)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 1,500 JPY / [Lunch] 900 JPY
Access: 5-minute walk from [Kawaramachi Station] on the Hankyu Railway Kyoto Line
Address: 595-11, Uradera-cho, Shinkyogoku Higashi-iru, Takoyakushi-dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto

4. Ramen Iccho (Nishi-Maizuru)

Ramen Iccho is famous for its rich tonkotsu soup. Their [Tonkotsu Ramen] (700 JPY) has a thick white soup with irresistible umami and is so popular that they even sell it as take away. They use plenty of Kyoto ingredients, such as the local brand pork Bihada for their roasted pork slices or Kujo negi (spring onions). The medium-thin noodles are made from domestically grown wheat and water from Fushimi, Kyoto, and match the soup very nicely. For another 380 JPY, with any ramen, you can also get rice and a single side dish like karaage (deep-fried items) or croquette to go with the ramen, which makes for a very filling meal. Passionate words dedicated to describing the owner's feelings towards making ramen can also be found on the walls of this exotic place.

Ramen Iccho

Open: [Weekdays, Saturday] Opening hours 11:00 - 01:00 / [Sunday, Holidays] Opening hours 11:00 - 00:00
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 980 JPY / [Lunch] 980 JPY
Access: From the Maizuru exit of the Maizuru-Wakasa expressway take Route 27 north. At the "Ote" intersection take the turn for Miyazu and it is on your right.
Address: 82 Hiranoya , Maizuru, Kyoto Map

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5. Akakage (Nishi-Muko)

This place is easily recognizable for its log cabin roof. The owner has put his experience and research into creating an addictively tasty soup. The most popular menu item is the [Akakage Ramen] (700 JPY). Chicken bones, pork bones, and various types of vegetables are cooked to a potage and used in the soup with a reduced amount of salt. The result is a creamy yet light soup that anyone would want to drink up! With ingredients such as medium-thick noodles that go down smooth and roast pork slices that you can have thick and thin, the ingredients are all chosen to match the rich soup perfectly. Extremely hungry patrons can eat their fill here with dishes like the [Chicken Nanban Set] (950 JPY), consisting of chicken with a very hearty tartar sauce served with Chinese-style soba noodles. This cozy restaurant has plenty of chairs and tables and is perfectly suitable for a nice meal, whether you want to visit with the family or by yourself.

Akakage

Open: Lunch 11:30 am - 3:30 pm, Dinner 5:30 pm - 11:00 pm (closes 10:00 pm on Sundays)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 750 JPY / [Lunch] 750 JPY
Address: 8-3, Minami Yodoi, Kamiueno-cho, Muko-shi, Kyoto

6. Rairaitei Kawaramachi Sanjo Branch (Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae)

Rairaitei is a restaurant chain that spans across the entire country. Their aim is to please their fans with their Kyoto-style ramen based on soy sauce and chicken broth. Even though you can see plenty of fat floating on top of its rich soup, it actually tastes incredibly light and refreshing. They also offer many different types of ramen, including [Ramen] (670 JPY), [Negi Ramen] (907 JPY), and [Sweet and Salty Ramen] (853 JPY). Customize your ramen in a variety of ways, such as picking the hardness of the noodles, how strong the soy sauce flavor should be, and whether you want lean or fatty roast pork slices. They have an extensive menu, and even offer small dishes or dim sum items that go well with alcohol, making it a popular destination for families on the weekends. With such excellent service, why not spend some time here finding your perfect bowl of ramen?

Rairaitei Kawaramachi Sanjo Branch

Open: 11:00 am - 12:00 am
Closed: Tuesday *Closed on Wednesday instead if Tuesday coincides with a national holiday
Average price: 800 JPY
Address: 1F, Bunmeido Kyoto Bldg., 37, Daikoku-cho, Kawara-machi Higashi-iru, Sanjo-dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto

7. Shinpukusaikan Tenjingawa Branch (Uzumasa Tenjingawa)

Shinpukusaikan Tenjingawa Branch has over 70 years of history in Kyoto, and their specialty is none other than their dark-colored soup. Their specialty [Chinese-style Soba] (650 JPY) is an addictive dish with plenty of spring onions and roast pork slices. Voluminous set meals are also available for 900 JPY, and you can choose to have the [Chinese-style Soba] with a small bowl of fried rice, a small [Chinese-style Soba] with dumplings and rice, and so on. Both the soy sauce fried rice and dumplings that come in these set meals are popular choices on their own. They even serve a boiled egg for free every day but Sunday and any national holidays. There are cushions on the floor, so even kids can sit and enjoy themselves while they eat. Beloved by the locals, this place has earned plenty of repeat customers over the years.

Shinpukusaikan Tenjingawa Branch

Open: [Monday, Tuesday, Thursday - Sunday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] 11:00 am - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:40 pm)
*Set meals are served until 2:00 pm on Sundays and national holidays.
Closed: Wednesday
Average price: [Dinner] 750 JPY / [Lunch] 750 JPY
Address: 33, Umezu Minamihiro-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
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8. Wajoryomen Sugari (Karasuma)

Wajoryomen Sugari is the third branch opened by the tsukemen specialty restaurant, Takakura Nijo. If you do visit this place, the one dish that everyone must try is the [Motsu Soba] (850 JPY, comes with an egg). Inside the soup, you'll find grilled small intestines taken from a local cow, which is rare since only 4 kg can be obtained from a single cow. In order to really bring out the best of the offal, the chefs here developed a soup that used both chicken and dried fish. The specially selected egg used acts as a contrasting element, and if you break the yolk, the yellow goodness will flow out and mix with the noodles so that diners may enjoy the changing flavors. They also offer curry tsukemen and motsu soba made with ramen noodles, so come and try out this hidden gem!

Wajoryomen Sugari

Open: [Weekdays, Saturday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] Lunch 11:30 am - 3:00 pm, Dinner 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Closed: Sunday
Address: 471-1, Kannondo-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
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9. Menraku (Higashi-Maizuru)

Menraku puts in the extra effort for their ramen, fried rice, and dumplings. They prepare their tonkotsu soup from early in the morning, adding soy sauce, miso, and salt as a base. The resulting soup, full of the taste of soy sauce, goes into their [Special Ramen] (580 JPY). They have set menus that are more than satisfactory in both the price and serving size: there's the [Fried Rice Set] (880 JPY) where the [Special Ramen] is served with half a serve of their popular, fragrant fried rice, as well as the [Dumpling Set] (880 JPY) in which you can enjoy the same ramen with their collagen-filled dumplings. As long as you settle the difference in price between the set menu and the a la carte menu, you can turn any dish into a set meal with the ramen! They also stay open until 3:00 am, so it is a perfect place to get a snack after a night out drinking. Whether you are alone or with a family and kids, this is a great place to visit!

Menraku

Open: 11:00 am - 3:00 am (L.O. 2:45 am)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: 800 JPY
Address: 441-2, Hama, Maizuru-shi, Kyoto Map
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Kyoto, one of Japan's biggest tourist spots, is a place where you can enjoy Japan's history along with one of the country's soul foods, ramen. How about finding the perfect bowl of ramen while exploring this wonderous city?

Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.