I finally made it to Akutagawa-san's place, which I wanted to visit for a long time. I arrived just before the evening opening hours and had to wait a bit before entering. I bought a meal ticket before lining up. The ramen was just as I expected - a ton of salt but delicious! Definitely a great side dish for rice. I wish I had tried the "Happiness Bowl" but I couldn't. The location is perfect for college students, right?

I was researching restaurants near the Tohoshoka University and came across "Akuta River," which caught my attention. Just two weeks ago, I had tried "Budo-ka" in Waseda, so I was looking for something similar. The restaurant has an interesting layout where you can enter and exit from anywhere, although there isn't much space behind the counter seats. The staff were efficient and friendly. I waited in line for about four people on a Sunday around 11 am. I ordered ramen and rice, but the rice was all-you-can-eat and came with pickled cucumbers. The staff were lively and mischievous, similar to the atmosphere at Budo-ka. The ramen is a type of "home-style" ramen, not too heavy but easy to eat. The unique thing about this place is that they have a sign explaining how to eat the ramen as a side dish - by adding garlic to the soup, putting doubanjiang on the rice, rolling it up with seaweed, and eating it. I personally love restaurants that confidently guide you on how to enjoy their food, and following their instructions, I had a delicious and satisfying meal.

A ramen shop with addictive ramen that you'll want to eat regularly! Akutagawa's ramen not only has great flavor, but the seaweed soaked in the broth is also delicious to eat with rice or with soup and rice mixed with doubanjiang. This place is a must-visit, and I recommend ordering rice as well! My friend got scolded by his wife for secretly eating ramen here. It's a place you'll want to visit even if you have to keep it a secret!

I often have work in the neighborhood, and I had the image of Doshisha University students creating long lines on weekdays, so I had been avoiding visiting. However, I finally made my first visit on a Saturday at this time of year! The food was very delicious and I was very satisfied. After being seated, I saw a poster showing how to pour soup over white rice, but unfortunately I had already placed my order at the ticket machine outside! I definitely want to try that way of eating next time!

One of the representative family ramen restaurants in Kyoto is Menya Akutagawa, located in front of Doshisha University. There are several affiliated shops, and recently they have also opened a branch in Shinsaibashi, Osaka. The owner's name is Mr. Akutagawa, which is easy to remember. I have passed by the shop many times, but there is always a long line of students, so I have been avoiding it. Therefore, I visited the shop alone near closing time, but to my surprise, it was completely full... The popularity of the shop is still amazing as always. The opening hours are from 11:00 to 22:00 continuously. [Order] - Ramen (Regular size - ¥830) I asked for everything to be normal, such as the firmness of the noodles. The appearance is orthodox, and there is garlic and doubanjiang on the table. The soup has a pork umami flavor with a mild taste that is easy to drink. The noodles are medium thickness and short, and the smoky chashu was delicious. This time, I didn't order the rice that usually comes with family ramen, but they offer free refills for 50 yen, which is a nice service for hungry students. Next time, I want to order the chashu rice bowl set and eat heartily. Instagram @moritapan7 There is also a video.

The restaurant was open and full, so I had to wait until the second round to be seated. It's a classic family-style ramen place. The all-you-can-eat rice option is great for students because it's cheap. I imagine it gets even busier during lunchtime. I finished my meal and left.

I visited "Menya Akutagawa" in Karasuma in the morning. I ordered the Chashu Ramen because I had heard that the Chashu was delicious from a famous ramen YouTuber. The Chashu was indeed smoky and thick, providing a satisfying bite. It was a delicious home-style ramen. Thank you for the meal!

In front of Tohoshia University, even though it was a day off, students were already lining up. I was able to enjoy the rich flavor I was expecting and the ability to change the taste was excellent. I was hungry, so I finished it in no time. It's quite small, so it might be difficult for those who are not ramen lovers to enter, but ramen enthusiasts will definitely be satisfied.

In Kyoto, there is a rare house-style ramen. I visited around 4 pm and there were about 3 groups lined up. It was a somewhat odd time, but there were always some customers lined up without a break, indicating its popularity. I ordered the chashu rice bowl set, but I think the white rice allowed me to enjoy the essence of house-style ramen more.

While driving on Karasuma Street, I discovered a restaurant with a long line, so I decided to visit just before opening time on another day. However, there were already a few people in line, and it quickly became full when it opened. I managed to barely get a seat, as the restaurant only has 8 counter seats. I ordered the ramen (regular size) shown in the photo. I'm not sure about the details of the ramen, but the soy sauce-based soup was rich and delicious. It's a taste not commonly found in Kyoto. It's understandable why there's always a line. The system is to buy a meal ticket from the vending machine in front of the shop. You can choose the firmness of the noodles, the richness of the flavor, and the amount of oil, and there are garlic, doubanjiang, vinegar, and other seasonings on the table. The staff's energy is exceptional. After the meal, they fried the ramen bowl on the counter and wiped the counter with a cloth. I would like to try other menu items, but it's tough to wait in line.

While driving, I went to Kyoto. I really like the taste of Akuta Kawahouse-style ramen at the ramen shop right in front of Doshisha University. #House-style ramen #Kyoto #Akuta Kawahouse #Ramen shop Akuta Kawahouse #Slurping record #Slurping diary #Noodle activity #Drive #Spring in Kyoto

First Generation Menya Akuta River Tabelog Rating: 3.52 (as of posting date) "Tamaramen (large serving) (1050 yen)" and "Char Siu Don (200 yen)" - Opened in 2016, this is a ramen shop specializing in "家系ラーメン" (Iekei Ramen) - The owner, Mr. Akutagawa, is a former employee of the famous "Musashikoya Nakano Honten" Iekei Ramen shop - They have expanded their business to Mongolia, mainly around universities - Easy access by subway or bus - A unique taste in their soup compared to Kanto-style Iekei Ramen - Great value for money! - Rice is available for an additional 50 yen with free refills - Now is a good time to visit as the university is on break! Review and Thoughts: Congratulations on the 7th anniversary, Menya Akuta River! This ramen shop is loved by Kyoto university students and is well-known among them. They use noodles from Sakai Seimen, which is said to only supply to authentic Iekei Ramen shops. The noodles are chewy and have a strong wheat flavor. The soy sauce flavor in their ramen is lighter compared to Kanto-style Iekei Ramen, with a richer taste. The service is excellent, making it welcoming even for first-time ramen eaters. It's a ramen that can be enjoyed by a wide range of people, so be sure to give it a try! Thank you for the meal. [Business Hours] 11:00-20:00

Roots of Menya Akuta River! In the evening, as snowflakes started to fall sporadically in Kyoto city, I visited Menya Akuta River located on Imadegawa Street. The restaurant had 8 counter seats and a cozy atmosphere with a waitlist of 7 people ahead of me. As customers finished their meals, new ones quickly took their place, creating a lively atmosphere. I noticed a plate from Sakai Seimen displayed on the wall. The ramen I tried today felt closest to a Kanto-style ramen compared to others I've had. However, similar to Murasakura, the noodles here were on the normal side rather than firm. Some may find the chewy texture delicious, but personally, I prefer slightly firmer noodles, so that was a slight downside for me. By the time I finished my meal, there was a new waitlist forming with 8 to 10 people, showing the deep-rooted ramen culture in the area. Thank you for the meal!

There is a perception that there are very few Kyushu-style ramen restaurants in Kyoto. This may not be entirely accurate, but one reason could be that Kyushu-style ramen in Kyoto does not strictly follow the formula of "○○ya". I love Kyushu-style ramen. When I say this, I often get misunderstood and asked, "Do you like tonkotsu (rich pork bone) shoyu? Do you like nori? Spinach?" And I always answer, "No, it's actually the opposite" (＠_＠;). I still occasionally feel confused about how to eat nori, and if given a choice, I prefer the shio (salt-based) broth in Kyushu-style ramen. I also like spinach, so I don't have any particular comments on that (・_・). The reasons I love Kyushu-style ramen are threefold: the soup has a rich flavor from a combination of pork bones and chicken bones, with a strong vegetable-like aroma; the generous amount of aromatic oil is very satisfying; and I prefer thick, curly noodles. In simple terms, the richness of the ingredients is always reflected in the richness of the flavor, with Kyushu-style ramen standing at the pinnacle of richness. Interesting point: The restaurant is so small that once people are seated, it becomes impossible to pass behind them. Therefore, all the glass windows can serve as both entrances and exits. Special mention: The chashu was incredibly delicious!! I would like to come back tomorrow to eat the chashu ramen. It is cooked at a low temperature to achieve a tender texture, with a fresh umami flavor from being seared, somewhat reminiscent of the taste and texture of seared sushi. Drawback: The rice is too moist, making it clump together even when mixed with the soup, which is not an ideal texture. However, since I don't usually add rice to my ramen, it doesn't really matter to me. Overall, this restaurant offers interesting and very cost-effective Kyushu-style ramen. It's definitely worth a visit.

"Akutagawa" near Doshisha University, Imadegawa Campus, is my favorite restaurant that I have been to 5 or 6 times but have not reviewed before. Every time I visit Kyoto in recent years, I always make sure to stop by here. The restaurant has about 8 counter seats, so it's common to see a line outside. You need to purchase a meal ticket from the ticket machine outside first, and only 1000 yen bills are accepted (you can ask the staff for change). The ramen is based on the "iekei" style, but the soup is adjusted to be more soy sauce-flavored, making it easier for people in the Kansai region to enjoy. The soup goes really well with rice, so you definitely have to order extra rice (laughs). And the rice is all-you-can-eat. The ramen in the photo is a medium size with extra seaweed, and as with the "iekei" style, you can choose the firmness of the noodles, the richness of the flavor, and the amount of fat. I heard that they recently introduced a chashu rice bowl, so I want to try that next time. I didn't give it a perfect 5.0 rating because it's so popular that you almost always have to wait in line, whether it's in the middle of summer or the dead of winter (laughs)."

Undoubtedly the top ramen restaurant in Kansai. Located right in front of Doshisha University, students have been lining up since before it opened. The chashu rice bowl and ramen are student-friendly, and the taste is exceptional. The ramen has an addictive flavor with a perfect combination of soup, noodles, and vegetables.

Last Sunday, I walked to this shop only to find it closed. But during a business trip, I visited again for lunch. I bought a ticket for Char siu ramen for 1050 yen (ramen 750 yen, nori 50 yen) from the ticket machine and lined up at the back of the line. After I lined up, the line got even longer, so I must have come relatively early. There were only 8 counter seats. The staff came to ask for my preference, so I asked for firm noodles and waited. It didn't take long before my bowl arrived on the counter. The soup was really good, similar to Nakagawa, with a rich chicken oil flavor. The balance was just right, with a slight sweetness, maybe from reducing the soy sauce a bit due to the Kansai region's preference. The soup was of high quality. The noodles were cooked well, not too soft. The char siu had a slightly strong flavor but was cooked perfectly. The spinach was definitely included, and the nori was of good quality, with 8 large pieces. Overall, it was a high-level bowl of ramen. If the slight sweetness in the soup was not there, it would have been perfect, but even with that, it was still quite good. Kyoto is the best!

Tonkotsu Shoyu Ramen 850 yen Extra seaweed 50 yen Extra 5 pieces of rice 50 yen Free refill When it comes to Kyoto-style ramen, Purple Store and Akutagawa are the ones to mention! I have visited the shops in Demachiyanagi and the smoked pork bone ramen shop before, both of which are delicious. However, I had not visited this shop before, so I decided to check it out. Yesterday, there was a Kyoto special on a TV show, and my wife and I felt like eating bracken rice cakes, so we headed to Kameya Hirosaka, but unfortunately they were sold out. The influence of TV is amazing! But our main goal was to visit Akutagawa, so we headed there directly. It was a weekday just before 1 pm, and I read in reviews that there is usually a line, but today there was no line outside. I parked my bike at a nearby supermarket and walked to the shop. There was a ticket machine near the entrance where I purchased ramen, seaweed, and rice. We were seated at the counter right away. The staff were all cheerful and welcoming. In about 5 minutes, our ramen arrived. I ordered it with extra chicken fat, and it was delicious! The soup had a perfect balance of rich pork bone broth and soy sauce, reminding me of the many bowls of Kyoto-style ramen I had in Yokohama. The short noodles from Sakai Seimen were truly delicious, reaffirming my belief that Sakai Seimen is the best choice for Kyoto-style ramen. The rice had plenty of chili bean paste and fatty parts of the soup, which I used to make seaweed rolls. I added sesame and garlic to the soup for extra flavor. I finished it quickly, savoring every bite. It was so delicious! I now understand why this place is so popular. As I left, there was already a line of about 10 people, with groups of university students continuously arriving. I will definitely find time to visit again. Thank you for the meal!

I am from Yokohama. When I was young, I used to eat without much thought, but a video from Endo Hiroshi's family on YouTube left an impression on me about the power of chicken oil in their house-style ramen. Then, on another day while watching Mokumeshi, I saw that there was also delicious house-style ramen in Kyoto. I had been wanting to go, and today, after finishing work at 2 pm nearby, I finally visited for a late lunch! When I took a sip of the soup, it was rich and mellow, with a unique blend of soy sauce, pork bone, and chicken oil that made me want to take another sip. The thick noodles paired perfectly, and the cabbage side dish was crunchy and excellent! I want to go back again! The shop made me want to visit again. Although I haven't been to the main branch because there is always a line, I personally found it tastier than Sugita-ya, Senya, and Kan2-ya. I now have a strong desire to visit the main branch and Endo Hiroshi's family again!