あるぱかーん
The 40th stop on my journey to visit all the Direct Jiro ramen shops is Kyoto Jiro. Only Sendai, Sapporo, Aizu Wakamatsu, and Niigata are left to go, all of which are quite far away. It's a bit of a challenge, but I can't wait to conquer all the shops. Today, despite being worried about the Gion Festival, the area around Ichijoji Station and Demachiyanagi felt like a normal day. At 11:05, there were 4 people waiting ahead of me. The shop is right in front of Ichijoji Station with a white sign, which is different from the usual yellow Direct Jiro signs. The shop entrance is in a narrow alley next to the exit. Inside, it can accommodate up to 6 people waiting, but it was quite cramped. While waiting, you can purchase your meal ticket. Today, there were many first-timers at Direct Jiro, probably due to it being the last day of a 3-day weekend. The shop had a quiet atmosphere with two male staff members, but it didn't feel very clean due to the tight space. The operation was a bit slow, and people ate slowly, so the turnover was also slow. It took about 35 minutes to be seated. Today, I played it safe and ordered a small ramen for 950 yen. The default price is quite high. There were Kyoto-style Kujo green onions and rare pork rice toppings available. Water is self-serve with ladles and tissues provided. Condiments include soy sauce, chili peppers, pepper, and chili oil. I was seated at 11:41 and served at 11:50. The small ramen I ordered had mostly bean sprouts, which were slightly crunchy and not seasoned, but the pork fat made them edible as they were. The pork fat had a hint of pork backfat, adding a subtle flavor that paired well with the vegetables. It was a very easy-to-eat pork fat salad. The amount of vegetables was a bit on the low side. The soup had a slight emulsification, with a strong pork broth flavor and a well-balanced seasoning. The sweetness was mild, and the acidity was quite noticeable, but the strong pork flavor created a good balance. The noodles were flat and slightly thin, with a soft and chewy texture. The acidity in the seasoning soaked in well, making the noodles easy to slurp up. The portion felt like around 280g before cooking. For those accustomed to Direct Jiro, it might feel slightly lacking. There were two large pieces of pork, thick and slightly chewy but also soft and easy to eat. They were slightly salty, but the pork flavor was enjoyable. There was a generous amount of garlic, adding spiciness and aroma that paired well with the noodles. With condiments like chili oil, there was a variety of flavors to enjoy without getting bored. Overall, the portion was not that large, so I finished it quickly and left feeling satisfied. It was above average in taste, but not addictive enough to make me want to come back specifically for it. Also, it's a bit pricey for a Direct Jiro shop. Thank you for the meal!