Best Ramen in Kyoto: 9 Shops Worth Trying
Quick answer: Kyoto’s most convenient ramen stops are right at Kyoto Station — Honke Daiichi Asahi Honten and the 8-shop Kyoto Ramen Koji food court. For the city’s own “kotteri” style, visit Tenkaippin’s original Ichijoji shop. Menbaka (flame-cooked, English menu, vegan option) and Ippudo Shijo Karasuma (international chain, cards accepted) are the easiest choices for visitors with no Japanese.
Kyoto is not usually thought of as a ramen city the way Hakata or Sapporo are, but it has its own distinct scene — including Tenkaippin, the “kotteri” (thick, glossy) chicken-broth style that started here in 1971. This guide covers seven shops: three well-established options already covered in our editorial archive, plus four newly added restaurant profiles with full visitor details (English menu, payment methods, access, and more).
Ramen Shops in This Guide
A Kyoto Station-area institution since 1938, serving a rich tonkotsu-shoyu broth; see our full ordering guide.
An 8-shop ramen food court on the 10th floor of Kyoto Station Building, gathering regional ramen styles from across Japan under one roof.
An affordable black sesame ramen shop near Yasaka Shrine in Gion.
The original "kotteri" thick chicken-broth ramen, served at this Ichijoji shop since 1971.
Flame-cooked shoyu ramen near Nijo Castle, with a confirmed English menu, English-speaking staff, and vegan/vegetarian options.
A clean, lighter tonkotsu ramen shop steps from Kawaramachi Station; cash only.
The internationally known Hakata tonkotsu chain, right at the Shijo-Karasuma intersection; cards and IC cards accepted.
- BUDGET
- ¥1,000–3,000
Best for: Solo-booth tonkotsu ramen with a fully customizable order form, near Shinkyogoku.
- BUDGET
- ¥1,000–3,000
- STYLE
- Ichijoji Row
Best for: Dense tori-paitan ramen on Ichijoji's concentrated ramen row, north of central Kyoto.
None of the write-ups above are based on a personal visit; details are drawn from each restaurant’s own official listings/websites and Google’s public place data, and left blank where information could not be verified. If a specific dietary need (vegetarian, vegan, or halal) is essential to your visit, please confirm directly with the shop before ordering. For a fully vegan ramen option in Kyoto, see our separate guide to Vegan Ramen UZU Kyoto.
Frequently Asked Questions
A. Kyoto doesn’t have one single defining style the way Hakata (tonkotsu) or Sapporo (miso) do, but the city is the birthplace of Tenkaippin’s “kotteri” (thick, glossy, chicken-based) broth, first served at its Ichijoji shop in 1971.
A. Yes. Kyoto Ramen Koji, an 8-shop food court on the 10th floor of Kyoto Station Building, and Honke Daiichi Asahi Honten nearby are both within a few minutes’ walk of the station.
A. Menbaka Fire Ramen near Nijo Castle offers vegetarian and vegan ramen alongside its signature flame-cooked shoyu bowl. Kyoto also has a fully vegan ramen restaurant, Vegan Ramen UZU Kyoto. Availability at the other shops on this list has not been confirmed — check with the shop directly.
A. Most are walk-in only, which is standard for ramen in Japan. Menbaka is a notable exception — its set/course menu can be reserved online in advance, though the regular a-la-carte menu remains walk-in only.
A. Ippudo Shijo Karasuma is a safe choice — it is part of an internationally recognized chain with locations worldwide, in a central, easy-to-find location that accepts credit cards.
