たぬきチャ
Located near the Marutamachi Nanahonmatsu intersection, in front of Kyoto Asni and Kyoto Central Library, is the Chinese restaurant "Chinatown House Tenrai". I had known about the existence of this restaurant for over 10 years, as I used to work in the area, but it was my first time visiting it. The exterior of the restaurant looks a bit old, but the red noren curtain stands out. There doesn't seem to be a parking lot. Inside, there are table seats and counter seats, giving off a traditional Chinese restaurant or ramen shop vibe. I was surprised to see two young children, about elementary school age, eating at a table. It turns out they are the family of the restaurant owners - an elderly manager, his daughter, and her children, who help out in the restaurant by washing dishes and assisting. The service is homely and warm. The menu offers a variety of Chinese dishes, but ramen is the main focus. Ramen options include soy sauce soup for 550 yen, as well as white broth for 600 yen, miso for 700 yen, and salt for 650 yen. The price varies depending on whether you add chashu (sliced pork). Set meals range from 700 to 900 yen, offering a good value. On this day, I ordered the Chashu ramen for 700 yen. A slightly larger bowl of ramen was served, with a clear soy sauce broth, a mound of bean sprouts in the center, surrounded by chashu slices, green onions, and bamboo shoots. The soup was light and gentle, not too strong in soy sauce flavor, with a subtle animal-based umami taste. It was a refreshing and easy-to-drink soup that could be enjoyed every day. The noodles seemed to be from Nakane Seimen, cooked to a soft texture. The nostalgic noodles paired well with the simple soup flavor. The chashu slices were lightly seasoned, and while I think a more flavorful chashu would be interesting, these slices allowed the natural flavor of the meat to shine through. The overall light and friendly taste, along with the cozy atmosphere, makes it a welcoming space where you could easily find yourself visiting repeatedly if it were in your neighborhood.