Mensho Takamatsu - Main Shop — Restaurant in Kyoto

I've only had ramen from brands that have made it to Canada - marutama, sansoutei, touhenboku and santouku. The profile of these ramen shops are quite similar as they are all heavy in flavor and thick so not exactly the best for a sensitive stomach - which is why at first I was weary to have ramen at night.

However, this ramen shop showcased it was possible to have light yet flavorful ramen. The soup from what Chinese characters I can guess are chicken, pork and fish based which was a first for me. It wasn't too salty and there was just enough oil at the top to stick the soup to the noodles.

Noodles were chewy and the garnish used Japanese spring greens and some green onion and ginger. These may have helped with my digestion and I'm grateful for that.

They have an English menu and the ramen is 680 yen. They have tsukemen which is the most popular option. All but one are under 1000 yen. They also have marinated chicken and rice that I look forward to trying.

Hopefully first of many little ramen shops I will try.

4/5 because I wish the egg had a little more...

First place I had a meal in Japan and was glad I did! It's a really cozy store near the busier streets and not far from Nishiki Market. You choose your dish and pay with cash at the traditional Japanese machine at the front of the store (you'll need to use google translate with your phone camera) but it's rather simple. There are individual seating available for solo travelers, and I think one of the most local stores you could experience while in the area! I was the only tourist dining in during dinner and knew I had come to the right place for an authentic experience.

The broth was delicious even though I wasn't sure what I was made from (it's not tonkotsu or miso) And the meat was so well cooked.

Staff weren't able to converse in English but nothing a little google translate wouldn't help you with, and they were very helpful and serviced...

The moment I took my first bite, I was moved by the texture of the whole wheat noodles. They had this perfect springiness and a wonderful wheaty flavor that you don't always find.

And the soup? It was just perfect. Rich, savory, and an ideal match for the noodles. The condiments on the table were a fantastic touch, too. They had a jar of seaweed, Kyoto black shichimi, and pepper, all of which elevated the ramen beautifully. The black shichimi, in particular, added a subtle kick and aroma that I absolutely loved.

But what really stood out were the additions of lime and onion. Squeezing the lime over the noodles gave a burst of refreshing acidity, while the crisp onion added a great textural contrast. It was a simple yet brilliant combination that kept every bite exciting.

This bowl of tsukemen was a true delight from start to finish....