Limited time offer: Spicy ramen for 990 yen (tax included). I'm sorry, but I forgot the official name... I chose the spiciest level of spiciness because I was in the mood for something spicy. The ramen arrived! I remembered that ramen at Ichiran usually comes with toppings like chashu, but this ramen was just the noodles. A bit disappointing. And the spiciness was no joke! It might satisfy even the most hardcore spicy food lovers. But it wasn't just spicy, it was also delicious. By the middle of the meal, I was sweating profusely and my tears were flowing. I finished it while thinking, "Eating ramen alone in the night, crying like a thirty-something woman. Are you okay?" It was delicious!

When I was a student, I used to often eat here as a way to finish off a night of drinking. I decided to go back after a long time, but I was shocked. The soup was thin, the flavor was weak. Is my taste off? Is this the result of expanding the chain too much? Goodbye, Ichiran...

As I was walking along Shijo Street, I remembered that "Ippudo" had reopened in Shijo Karasuma, so I decided to go check it out. It was less crowded than before, probably because it's located underground. I ordered the "Akamaru Shinaji" with firm noodles and also got the mentaiko rice. They now have a self-service station for toppings like takana, pickled ginger, and spicy bean sprouts, which was a nice addition. The ramen that arrived had the classic appearance of Hakata tonkotsu ramen, with the added bonus of wood ear mushrooms. The soup was perfectly rich and just right. I added the toppings and they made it even more delicious. The chashu was tasty and everything was well-balanced. The mentaiko rice was good, but I slightly regretted not ordering an extra serving of noodles instead. Next time, I'll try the extra noodles.

Today I was working at Shijo Karasuma again, and work was so busy that I was feeling a bit dizzy. I decided to grab a quick meal nearby at Ichiran Shijo Karasuma, a rare underground location for Ichiran. I bought a ticket for the Akamaru ramen and rice, and also got some self-service red ginger, pickled mustard greens, and spicy bean sprouts. After waiting for about 5 minutes, my meal arrived! It was my first time trying the Akamaru ramen, and I found the spicy broth to be delicious. I also ordered the noodles to be firm, which was a new experience for me, but I enjoyed the texture. I was a bit surprised by the small amount of white rice served with the meal, it seemed like a child's portion! I customized my ramen with the pickled mustard greens and spicy bean sprouts to my liking, which is the Ichiran style. I was quite surprised to see many people ordering extra noodles, so I might give that a try next time. Overall, it was a satisfying meal at Ichiran Shijo Karasuma. #Ichiran Shijo Karasuma #Ramen lunch #Cozy lunch spot #Gourmet #Gourmetgram #Looking to connect with foodies #Want to connect with ramen lovers #Great deal on ramen rice #Ramen Instagram #Looking to connect with ramen lovers #Instagrammable tonkotsu ramen #Spicy bean sprouts are delicious #Photo-worthy ramen #Love ramen set meals #Kyoto City #Shijo Karasuma Gourmet #Shijo Station #Izakaya #Kyoto Prefecture Gourmet #Delicious pickled mustard greens #Japan #Kyoto #Gourmet #Japanese food #Ichiran #Satisfying lunch option.

I visited Ichiran in Shijo Kawaramachi. As many of you may know, it is a famous ramen shop representing Kyushu. They have a system where you purchase food tickets from a vending machine. They serve complimentary Rooibos tea, and you can refill it yourself after the first cup. I ordered the Tamago Akatama Shinaji (tax included 1030 yen). You can choose the firmness of the noodles from 5 levels. I chose mine to be firm. The Akatama Shinaji has aromatic oil and spicy miso, giving it a nice spicy kick. The spicy miso melts as you eat, allowing you to enjoy the changing flavors. The ultra-thin noodles typical of Kyushu ramen are slurp-worthy. It was a nostalgic and heartwarming experience to have it again after a long time.

Kyoto is a famous Tonkotsu ramen shop located across from Shijo Daimaru. The shop is underground, so the entrance can be easily overlooked due to the steep stairs. During lunchtime, I waited in line for a bit and purchased a ticket for the classic Tonkotsu ramen (firm) from the vending machine, requesting no wood ear mushrooms verbally. Priced at 820 yen, it was reasonably affordable, and the soup was deliciously sweet. The noodles were cooked just right, and the two slices of chashu (round and square) were quite filling. Since it seems popular among office workers, it might be best to avoid going after 12 pm.

Today, a ramen shop called "Ippudo" opened, which had previously closed a few years ago in a nearby location and reopened in a new spot. I purchased a ticket for the "Special White Maru" ramen (1,180 yen) at the ticket machine located downstairs and sat at the counter seat to wait for my bowl. The bowl came with seaweed, chashu pork, flavored egg, wood ear mushrooms, and chopped green onions. The soup was a smooth and light tonkotsu broth with a mild saltiness. The thin noodles I ordered were firm and had a good bite, but they softened quickly, so I had to eat them fast. The chashu pork consisted of three slices of pork belly rolled up, and the flavored egg had a slightly runny yolk and a not too strong taste. I enjoyed the condiments like pickled ginger, spicy bean sprouts, and spicy mustard greens, initially eating them as appetizers but eventually mixing them into my bowl for extra flavor. I felt that the ramen had a lighter and more subtle taste compared to the Ippudo ramen I had tried before, which may be due to a change in my taste preferences.

Visited around 7 pm on November 19, 2022. The location is a bit hard to find even for those living in Kyoto, but if you walk on the sidewalk of Shijo Street south from Karasuma, you'll find it easily. It's an underground shop with a large sign. Purchased a meal ticket from the ticket machine. Had the red circle ramen. When it was served, the noodles were a bit soft probably due to the slow operation as it was the opening day. I think this will improve, so it's not a big issue. Other flavors were consistent and satisfying.

I went to Ichiran for the first time in a while, but it seems like it was tastier in the past.

The food is amazing.