I didn't have many opportunities to visit the Hankyu Kyoto Line between Takatsuki and Saiin, but on this day, I visited the Rakusai-guchi Station. They have a commercial facility called TauT under the elevated tracks, with a stylish townscape. I came to visit the branch of the famous restaurant "Takei" on this day. The exterior is elegant and reminiscent of the main store. I was looking forward to trying the summer limited edition "Sesame Soy Sauce Cold Noodles (Taste Change Quartet)". I wonder what kind of quartet it is! I entered the restaurant and quickly ordered the limited edition from the ticket vending machine. The kitchen, which is spacious and clean, had one full-time staff member working. The orders seemed to be split about half and half between the limited edition and the regular menu. After waiting for a few minutes, the tray was served like a set meal, with a clear bowl of noodles, separate dishes of char siu, sesame paste, and two types of flavored oils. The base noodles had a clear, refreshing look with a soup that was clear and refreshing. It was a different atmosphere from the usual "Takei". Under the sesame paste, there were shiso leaves, and on top, there was miso. The char siu consisted of two types, chicken breast and pork loin. The two flavored oils were red chili oil and black sesame oil, basic spicy condiments written in kanji as "辣油" and "麻油". First, I tried the base soup... "Wow!" The broth was rich and delicious! Although this dish is meant for changing flavors, I couldn't help but keep slurping it up. The noodles were medium-thin straight noodles. They had a rich wheat aroma, a smooth texture to slurp up, and a chewy elasticity. The clams had a crisp, fresh texture and a refreshing aroma, which was a really nice accent. It had a cool feeling. The ample chopped green onions provided a crunchy texture along with the soup. Then the time came. I entered the second stage of the quartet, adding the sesame paste on top of the noodles. Thanks to the shiso leaves, the transition was smooth (laughs). I enjoyed the gradual change in flavor as the paste dissolved into the soup. "Wow!" It became richer with a perfect balance of sweetness. I can't go back to the pure soup I had before. It's like a life experience. The image of the noodles also changed significantly. It's strange, isn't it? This elasticity is perfect for responding to the rich soup. The chicken breast char siu had a moist texture and a mild, delicate taste that matched well with the rich sesame paste. The pork loin char siu went head-to-head with the rich soup! It had a concentrated umami flavor that didn't lose to the soup. As I reached the middle, I entered the third stage of the quartet, adding the chili oil. Is one full circle enough? Ah, yes, one circle is just right. It added a nice spicy kick without disturbing the rich broth. And finally, the fourth stage of the quartet, I added the glossy black sesame oil in the same way as the chili oil. Hmm, this fragrant aroma and unique flavor, it was another change from before. This playful transformation was really interesting. It's hard to believe that the first bowl I took a picture of and the last bowl I took a picture of are the same. The elegant broth transformed beautifully into a tantan-style broth. It was a luxurious masterpiece that the famous restaurant confidently served as a limited edition, combining different flavors into one bowl with a playful twist. It was a perfect entertainment for a summer memory. ★★★★★★★★★★ I'm exploring noodles in Kansai. "But I still love noodles."

I went to Takei Ramen before shopping at Aeon Mall, as I felt like having ramen after a long time. I arrived early, but the restaurant was almost full with only seats at the counter available. There was a ticket machine near the entrance, but with customers lining up behind, I quickly chose the standard tsukemen without much time to look at the menu. The Tsukemen Small (980 yen) had a rich soup that was incredibly satisfying. The soup had a strong flavor of bonito flakes and was very delicious. I enjoyed about half of the noodles with soup. After satisfying my hunger with the tsukemen, I will now head to Aeon for shopping.

I ordered the Special Tsukemen Large for 1350 yen. The rich seafood soup was delicious. The noodles were thick. The chashu included a large pork chashu, roast pork, and chicken chashu. The flavored egg was also delicious. I would like to visit again if I have the chance. It's a bit disappointing that there is no parking lot.

I went after a long time. It was a very hot day. It was 12 o'clock, but it wasn't crowded. I was glad I didn't have to wait outside. I had the tsukemen with flavored egg. It used to be under 1000 yen before, but now it's 1140 yen... it has gone up quite a bit. The portion size here is sufficient even without waiting in line. It was 400g. It was served quickly. The salty seafood-based dipping sauce was amazing. The noodles were firm and satisfying to eat. I got really full. I love this tsukemen.

After drinking, I made a little detour on the way home and had ramen to finish off the day. Even though I was already full from drinking too much, I managed to eat this! I didn't order it myself, but the neighboring fried chicken looked delicious too... haha Next time, I'll come for lunch instead of after drinking!

I've been craving a hearty tsukemen for a while now, and whenever that happens, Takai-san's place is the one I go to! No matter when I go, the taste is always reliably delicious! The addictive flavor that makes me want to come back regularly. I will continue to visit for a long time! Thank you for always providing such a great meal!

Last night, I had a sudden craving for noodles after watching a TV show. We visited a rare elevated noodle shop in Kyoto with my family on a Saturday afternoon. It was our fourth visit. We arrived before noon, so there was no line and we were able to get a table. I ordered the regular tsukemen for 1030 yen, while the kids had fried rice. I really love noodles with a thick and chewy texture. The rich seafood dipping sauce with a hint of refreshing yuzu peel was delicious. Surprisingly, the fried rice was also tasty. We left feeling satisfied. On our way out, there was already a line of about 10 people waiting. We'll definitely come back again.

I visited this restaurant for the first time. It is located right next to Hankyu Rakusai-guchi Station, which is very convenient. I had the special tsukemen with flavored egg, fried rice, and fried chicken set. I have been to the main store a few times, and this place was also delicious. I look forward to visiting again.

I had the opportunity to revisit this ramen restaurant after a long time at night. It has been about 3 years since my last visit. I entered the restaurant around 9:00 PM and there were many customers both in front and behind me. They had a special mixed ramen available only at night, but since I haven't had their default tsukemen in a while, I decided to purchase the ticket for it. After a short wait, the tsukemen in the photo was served. The thick noodles had a slightly brownish color and a slightly rough surface, providing a satisfying chewy texture. The dipping sauce seemed to have less oil at first glance, but it had a thick consistency with a rich tonkotsu and seafood flavor with a hint of yuzu. The noodles and sauce mixed together very well, but the sauce ran out quickly due to its high viscosity. The dish included one slice of chashu on top of the noodles and some cut chashu inside the dipping sauce, along with menma, green onions, and other toppings. I felt that the default tsukemen, which I had after a long time, was delicious as always. However, the dipping sauce ran out by the time I finished eating, so I didn't have any extra for soup refills.

The ramen at Takei in Umeda was delicious, so today we went to the Rakunishi branch. Hmm, the menu is different. The tsukemen is the same, but the ramen is salt ramen! Well, we decided to try the salt ramen and our usual tsukemen, fried rice, and chicken set for two people. It was quite a generous portion! The tsukemen was delicious as always! The salt ramen had clams and thin noodles. It was light, so for someone like me who prefers tonkotsu and pork back fat, it was quite unsatisfying. The soup was delicious! Just be aware that there is no restroom!

(Taken from a blog post) Today, I visited a tsukemen (dipping noodles) restaurant near Hankyu's Rakusai-guchi Station. Noodle Shop Takei This popular tsukemen shop, originally from Joyo City, has a branch called "Noodle Shop Takei" at Rakusai-guchi. The store has a clean and modern glass exterior. They use a ticket vending machine system, offering their signature tsukemen as well as a limited-time menu item called "Light Salt Ramen." Although I initially planned to have tsukemen, this time I decided to try their ramen. The interior of the store has counter seats and tables, giving off a spacious vibe. Light Salt Ramen This ramen features a salt broth made with clam broth and includes clams with shells. It also comes with yuzu pepper for flavor variation. I started by tasting the soup, which had a rich clam broth flavor. The noodles were made with whole wheat flour, giving them a smooth and slippery texture. They were easy to slurp. When eaten with the green onions, it added a nice crunchy texture. It was quite rare to have clams in ramen, and it was evident that a lot of effort went into this dish. I then added the yuzu pepper for a refreshing flavor change. The addition of yuzu brought a refreshing twist to the dish. Overall, I enjoyed this ramen with clams, which was lighter compared to Takei's tsukemen, but still flavorful and delicious.

Takesui, a famous restaurant in Kyoto, has a branch at the Rakusai-guchi entrance of TauT, a wonderful commercial facility. Takesui is also located at Umeda Station on the Hankyu line, offering a great choice! I ordered the special dipping ramen for ¥1350, and it was delicious. Although the noodles may have been slightly less firm compared to the main branch, the richness of the soup and the concentration of flavors were top-notch. If they put more emphasis on the special chashu, it could easily compete with the top 100 ramen shops. The main branch is still the best, but it's rare to find a Takesui branch without a long line. The commercial facility is also lovely, so be sure to check it out!

[Rich Pork Bone Flavored Tsukemen - 1140 yen] A classic tsukemen with a strong and refreshing taste, infused with the aroma of yuzu! The dish is well-balanced, with each component of high quality, making it a satisfying meal! I ordered the tsukemen. Surprisingly, I had never tried Takei's ramen before. The green onions, chashu, and thick bamboo shoots paired perfectly with the rich and thick soup, coating the thick noodles for a satisfying bite. The sweet dipping sauce was also delicious! The thick noodles had a chewy texture, providing a good bite. The chashu was well-seasoned and of high quality. The addition of yuzu peel brought a refreshing aroma, lightening up the richness of the dish. I decided to try reheating the tsukemen. It took quite some time, more than 5 minutes. It would have been better if they had announced this in advance. I started to wonder what was taking so long. Finally, the reheated tsukemen arrived, and it was still delicious! Reheating the tsukemen is worth it if you have the time. It made me realize how silly it was to eat it cold and be satisfied. However, I wish the wait time was a bit shorter. The restaurant is conveniently located near the station, but it may be a bit of a walk as there are not many parking spaces nearby. Next time, I'll try the light salt ramen! Grazie!!

Located in Kawashima Rokunotsubocho, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto City, at the corner of TauT Hankyu Rakusai-guchi along the elevated tracks near Hankyu Kyoto Line Rakusai-guchi Station, is the main store of "Takei," a restaurant group selected as one of the top 100 ramen shops in the West in 2021 by Tabelog. They only accept cash payments at the ticket vending machine, and the prices for their tsukemen have been slightly raised to 980 yen for a small size and 1,030 yen for a regular size. During my visit for a snack, I ordered the small size tsukemen for 980 yen. The restaurant has three 4-seater tables along the wall, one 2-seater table, and a counter with 10 seats. The small size tsukemen comes with 200g of noodles. The dipping soup is a rich pork and seafood broth that offers a deep and rich umami flavor. The homemade noodles made with carefully selected wheat have a smooth and chewy texture that pairs excellently with the soup, resulting in a delicious combination. The chashu pork is flavorful, tender, and has a strong meaty texture.

Here, Kyoto Menya Takei! A famous shop known for its tsukemen, which can also be found in convenience stores. It offers the standard image of thick noodles with a pork bone and fish powder broth. Even the small size is 200g, while the regular size is 400g. Due to its high quality, it tends to attract a lot of customers.

Hankyu Rakusaiguchi is just a few minutes' walk from the shop, and there is space in front of the shop. There are a few chairs for waiting customers. It's worth noting that there is no restroom inside the shop (there is one in the adjacent Taut). The shop is quite popular, and even at opening time, seats fill up quickly. When you enter, you purchase your order at the ticket machine on the right and then hand it over at the counter if you are alone, or you are guided to a table if you are with multiple people. It's recommended to decide on your order in advance if you are not comfortable with this system. There are paper napkins, toppings, and chopsticks on the tables. The shop is clean, although there were some minor concerns. They are quick to accommodate customers with strollers, which is reassuring. When ordering tsukemen, it takes about 10 minutes, and reheating is also possible. I ordered the Special Light Salt Ramen (¥1,100) with a half-char siu and fried chicken set (¥430). The presentation immediately caught my eye with clams, char siu with a burnt surface, and a seasoned egg. The soup is made from clam broth in a light salt soup base. It's not too salty, so you can enjoy it with the noodles and toppings until the end. The flavor slowly spreads with the clam broth, providing a satisfying taste. The noodles are thin and straight with a wavy texture, offering a chewy texture that pairs well with the soup. Eating the noodles with green onions is delicious. The clear noodles reminded me of something I had seen before. The toppings include char siu, seared chicken, white onions, mitsuba, clams, and a seasoned egg. The char siu is light and may be divisive, but I found it to pair well with the soup. The seasoned egg was delicious, and the seared chicken added a touch of luxury when combined with the soup. Although yuzu pepper was offered as an option, I tried it once for a change but found the original flavor too good to alter. Overall, I felt that ordering the special ramen was the right choice. The fried rice was slightly oily but light and fluffy, with egg, green onions, and char siu mixed in. The fried chicken had a flavorful coating and was shaped like a ball, making the seasoning more prominent than the chicken flavor. The combination of the light ramen and the hearty fried rice and fried chicken was excellent. I enjoyed both the fried rice and the fried chicken, but the ramen was so delicious that I couldn't remember much about the set. The staff were friendly, the food was delicious, and I felt like I made the right choice having ramen for lunch. If you're looking for a lunch spot in Aeon Mall Katsuragawa, the winter limited edition oyster fry sandwich at Hayashi Bakery (within a 10-minute walk) or the eggs from Nishida Poultry Farm (within a 5-minute walk) would be great souvenirs.

Today, I went to "Takei" located at the west gate of Kyoto. This is my second visit to this restaurant, and among all the seafood tsukemen I've tried so far, this one is at the top in terms of taste. The soup has a rich seafood flavor with a hint of sweetness. I'm not sure where the sweetness comes from, but the balance with the seafood flavor is perfect. The noodles have a nice chewy texture and go well with the soup. I hope they open a branch in Shiga someday. By the way, the photo is of a regular size (400g), which was filling enough. I don't know when, but I will definitely come back here again.

For the past few years, it has become a tradition to go to the Okitsu area to buy bamboo shoots during this season. So, I decided to visit a ramen shop that caught my interest. The shop is called Menya Takei, which has expanded to multiple locations in recent years. I have visited the main shop and the R1 branch several times, and each time I have been deeply satisfied with the taste. Therefore, I had high expectations for the Menya Takei brand during my first visit to this location. The main menu item is definitely the "tsukemen" (dipping noodles). Is the "Light Salt Ramen" unique to this Okitsu branch? The button layout on the ticket machine may cause some confusion for first-time visitors, as the standard menu items are numbered 8, 9, and 13. I ordered the "Ajitama Light Salt Ramen" and "Half Fried Rice" while my companion ordered the "Small Tsukemen". Surprisingly, the Tsukemen was ready and served before the ramen. The noodles were thick homemade noodles, just like the ones at the main shop. My companion explained that the unique texture of the noodles was the reason they were served quickly. The Ajitama Light Salt Ramen arrived after the Tsukemen. The clear broth had a subtle seafood flavor that was delightful. The straight thin noodles were said to be made by Menya Taei. The yuzu pepper served on the side added a different kick to the soup when added in moderation. I also ordered the Half Fried Rice to go with the ramen, which was a bit oily but paired well with the Light Salt Ramen. However, compared to the experience at the main shop in Joyo, this location seemed to lack the essence of Menya Takei. The fact that the Tsukemen was served quickly made it feel like a different experience from what I would have at the main shop in Joyo. It left me wondering why this was the case.

I went to enjoy the cherry blossom trees inside the Katsura Garrison of the Ground Self-Defense Force, and on the way back, I stopped by Takei-san to have ramen. It was Sunday, so there was still a long line as usual. I wanted to try the ramen even if I had to wait in line. This time, I tried the Special Light Salt Ramen (1,110 yen including tax) instead of tsukemen. The soup was amazing (based on personal preference)! It was elegant, but had a deep flavor. I also added yuzu pepper for a different taste, and it was delicious again. I finished every drop of the soup. For those who prefer tsukemen, they might find it too light and lacking a punch. If I had to point out something, it would be that it's a bit pricey. It's not the kind of ramen you can eat regularly.

Located just a 1-minute walk from Hankyu Rakusai-Kuchi Station, this ramen and tsukemen shop is situated in a commercial facility under the elevated train tracks. It is a branch of the famous Menya Takei, and for me, it's the closest one. They specialize in a standardized rich tonkotsu and seafood tsukemen. Menya Takei is known for bringing their tonkotsu and seafood tsukemen, which they mastered in the Kanto region, to the Kansai region, with stores mainly in Kyoto and Osaka. Compared to other affiliated stores, the Rakusai branch seems less crowded. When entering a restaurant, there are times when you can sense if the food will be good or not. For example, if the dishes or trays are dirty, or if the menu looks old and worn out, there is a 60-70% chance that the taste won't be satisfying. However, Menya Takei is one of those places that pleasantly surprises you. Even though the Umeda branch has a high turnover rate and the fixtures may be dirty, the food can still be delicious. The Rakusai branch is the same, with trays not properly wiped down, but when you actually try the tsukemen, it is tasty. In fact, for someone like me, the tonkotsu at the main store is too rich, so I prefer the branch's mass-produced dipping sauce that I can finish without feeling too full. It's a restaurant that makes you feel both the convenience and difficulty of chain store expansion.

I had some errands around this area and on my way back, I felt hungry. I was thinking of having dinner at Aeon, but then I passed by this restaurant and decided to give it a try. I bought a ticket at the entrance. The place had a casual atmosphere, similar to places like Osho. The specialty here seemed to be the tsukemen, so I ordered the most extravagant special tsukemen. They offered different sizes of noodles - small (310g), regular (400g), and large (500g, I think). As a woman, I went for the small size as recommended. Apart from the ramen, they also had fried rice, gyoza, karaage, and drooling chicken. The tsukemen took a bit of time to prepare as they mentioned, so it might not be suitable for those in a hurry. Finally, my special tsukemen arrived! The noodles were firm and had a good chewy texture. The soup was rich and coated the noodles well. It had a strong flavor, but the addition of yuzu made it less heavy. It was exactly the type of flavor I love! The toppings included tender chashu, fatty chashu, grilled chicken, soft-boiled egg, roasted seaweed, and bamboo shoots - a generous serving! The noodles and soup were so flavorful that I was quite satisfied even though I had some toppings left over at the end. I finished by diluting the soup with the seafood broth on the table and enjoyed the rest. I'm looking forward to trying their ramen and fried rice next time!