I visited this shop around 7:00 pm, and there were many foreign tourists inside, with few Japanese customers. I ordered the "Special Ramen" (800 yen) at the counter. The shop seems to specialize in oil soba, but I chose ramen instead. The bowl came with chashu, menma, chopped green onions, naruto, and plenty of back fat floating in the soup. The soup is a light, savory blend of chicken, pork, and bonito flakes, with a hint of bonito aroma. The noodles are thin straight noodles made with whole wheat flour and plenty of water, giving them a firm texture with a subtle wheat flavor. The chashu is made from pork belly, not too fatty, and pairs well with the soup. Adding a little spicy miso for flavor variation completely changes the taste, which may be divisive among customers. Despite chicken being the main ingredient, the ramen had a light, subtly savory taste with a strong dashi flavor.

[Date] February 28, 2023 (Tuesday) 12:22 PM [Food Score] [Waiting Time] None [Service] Excellent [Would Visit Again] Yes [Payment Method] Cash [Turnover] Moderate [Dish: New Original Oil Ramen] [Noodles] Standard curly noodles [Toppings] 2 slices of pork, chopped green onions, chopped seaweed, menma, naruto, fish powder [Sauce] Special soy sauce flavor [Service Time] 5 minutes The chopped seaweed and fish powder did a great job of balancing the flavor, making it not too oily and very tasty. The noodles were chewy and mixed well with the sauce. The char siu was not very fragrant despite being grilled. There were plenty of options for flavor variations, which was delicious. [Egg Over Rice] [Service Time] 5 minutes Just a regular Tamago Kake Gohan (egg over rice). It wasn't anything special, with no special eggs or rice. I tried mixing it with the leftover oil ramen, but it was just okay. The additional 300 yen didn't feel worth it, so the value for money is quite poor. Total: New Original Oil Ramen 800 yen Egg Over Rice 300 yen

Located a 13-minute walk from Kiyomizu-Gojo Station, this oil soba restaurant near Kiyomizu Temple received a rating of 3.38 in September 2022. While a bit far from the station, it offers reasonable prices compared to other tourist spots. The interior is clean, possibly due to being newly opened. The original oil soba looks ordinary at first but the noodles are chewy and have a good bounce to them. The flavor is not too strong, appealing to a wide range of ages. What stands out are the condiments on the table, such as sesame chili oil, lemon Tabasco, and black shichimi pepper. Personally, I enjoyed the lemon Tabasco. The combination of refreshing and spicy is quite unique, isn't it? It was quiet during our visit, perhaps because it was a weekday, but the food was delicious. If you find yourself near Kiyomizu Temple, be sure to give it a try (even though it may not be the typical Kyoto style)!

I visited this restaurant when I went to Kyoto! It is located in the Kiyomizu-dori area of Kyoto. It was during lunchtime but a bit late, so there were no other customers. It's a ramen restaurant, but it looks cute and welcoming for women. The restaurant is themed with cats, in reference to its name Nekomata, and as a cat lover, I found it very soothing (laughs). I ordered the original oil-mixed ramen (800 yen). I don't have much experience with oil ramen, so I can't compare, but it was delicious. The flavor was just right, not too strong or too light. The fish powder added a nice taste. It was a very hot day, so having a soupless noodle dish was much appreciated (laughs). There were chili oil, vinegar, lemon, etc. on the table for flavor customization, which was a nice touch. They also provided recommendations for combinations, which I thought was kind. Despite being in a touristy area, the prices were reasonable, which was a pleasant surprise. Kyoto is generally not known for good value, so when the prices are normal, it feels like a good deal! The service from the waitress was also good. Thank you for the meal!

The popular mixed noodle specialty shop had a long line. I waited outside for about 25 minutes before entering. There were two female staff members managing the place. Orders were placed and paid for in advance. I ordered the original mixed noodles and shrimp mixed noodles. The original mixed noodles had a classic taste, but it was quite light. The oil was rich, but it lacked a punch. The shrimp noodles had a flavor of dried shrimp and oil, but it felt like it needed a bit more of an accent. Personally, I felt a bit unsatisfied with both dishes.

"Nekomata" seems to be a shop that specializes in abura soba, located along a main street on the way to Kiyomizu Temple, attracting tourists one after another. Although abura soba is their specialty, they also offer regular shoyu ramen. The noodle portion is free for upsizing, but after eating at "Gessai," I opted for a regular-sized shoyu ramen. The shop is operated by two women. When it comes to Kyoto ramen, famous places like "Masutani" and nationwide chains like "Kairikiya" are known for their image of "light shoyu soup with back fat," and this shoyu ramen at Nekomata is similar. The difference is that the char siu is rolled pork belly and the noodles are medium thickness. Nekomata's shoyu ramen was also delicious and definitely not inferior to other famous ramen shops in Kyoto.

Today, I visited this ramen shop in Kyoto, Nekomata-san (=^x^=) I arrived around 11:20 and was the first customer! I ordered the special soy sauce ramen and some karaage. The food came out in about 5 minutes. The ramen had two large slices of chashu, menma, green onions, and naruto. The noodles were thin and straight, with a slightly slippery texture. The soup had a fish-based soy sauce flavor, a bit on the stronger side. The karaage was a bit lacking in juiciness. The staff were friendly and pleasant. Thank you for the meal! m(__)m

I arrived around 12:00 PM on September 12, 2020, Saturday. The interior of the restaurant had a lovely Kyoto-like atmosphere. I ordered the shrimp-scented salt mixed noodles. It was incredibly delicious, healthy, and had a pasta-like feel. The legend of mixed noodles is the best. I am thoroughly satisfied and feeling very happy. Next time, I would like to try a different type of mixed noodles. Thank you for the meal. I will definitely visit again. I will eat with gratitude for all the ingredients in this world. Calling all delicious foods♪ The more you eat, the more power overflows♪

After eating two bowls of fried rice and dumplings in Maruta-cho, I went for a second meal at "Nekomata" located right in the heart of the tourist area. I visited on September 20th around 12:30 pm. It seems they only accept cash, but they also accept credit card payments. The customers were diverse, including a group of ladies in kimonos, foreign families, and more. I ordered the large size oil noodles for 900 yen. I found out about this place when I was looking for cheap restaurants in Kyoto. Back then, the regular size oil noodles were 600 yen, but now the price has changed to 800 yen. The instructions on how to eat the oil noodles were written in English and Japanese, and I followed them using the sesame oil, lemon sauce, and white wine vinegar provided on the table. The taste was unique and delicious. Thank you for the meal!

In early December 2018, I was looking for a vegetarian-friendly place for lunch and spotted a cute shop called nekomata from the bus window. I got off the bus and visited nekomata for the first time. I had hand-rolled sushi, and they gave me a flyer for their sister store. The atmosphere inside the restaurant was cat-themed, with a few cat decorations. The menu mainly consisted of hearty dishes like oil noodles and fried chicken, but I wasn't in the mood for that. Luckily, they had sushi on the menu. I sat down, had some water, and ordered the hand-rolled sushi for 650 yen. It came with eel, shiitake mushrooms, rolled omelette, and pickled mustard greens. It was cut into four pieces about 2cm thick each and was delicious when paired with tea. It's a great option for a light meal or a snack if you plan to visit other places later. Although it's not a vegetarian restaurant, it's a good choice for cat lovers. The young staff member even gave me a flyer for another cat-themed restaurant called Menya Nagomineko, saying "If you like cats, you should check out our sister store too". I unexpectedly gained more cat-related information. Thank you for the meal, nekomata!

I don't eat oil soba often, but personally I think it's just okay. It has a lot of ingredients, but the impact is weak. I guess people who like light flavors might enjoy it?

I thought it was okay, depending on personal preference.

Oil soba! It's similar to Rokkon in Tokushima and delicious. Toppings like Kyoto leeks, seasoned egg, black seven spice, vinegar, sesame oil, etc., make the flavors change one after another. This place is delicious!

The aroma of shrimp-infused natural salt oil ramen.

It was average. There wasn't anything particularly special about it.