Seventh-generation Menya Akutagawa

I visited the seventh-generation Menya Akutagawa, located along Kawaramachi-dori between Shijo-dori and Sanjo-dori. Starting with the first-generation Menya Akutagawa in 2016, it’s amazing how the seventh generation opened in less than ten years. Before this shop appeared, Iekei ramen felt like a niche category in Kyoto, but now it’s firmly established as a ramen choice.

However, while Akutagawa Ramen shops have mostly opened near universities before, this seventh-generation location opened in Shijo Kawaramachi, Kyoto’s premier entertainment district. So, what was this shop like, born from such a new challenge…?

The interior is quite spacious and laid-back… That’s the kind of place 7th Generation Menya Akutagawa is.

I visited 7th Generation Menya Akutagawa around 6:30 PM on a weekday. There was no line outside, but through the large front glass window, I could see 5 or 6 customers ahead of me lined up at the ticket machine. I joined that line and bought my meal ticket. After entering, I was seated after about a 5-minute wait.

Now, the 7th Generation Menya Akutagawa features a long, U-shaped counter extending deep into the back. A quick visual count suggested about 30 seats. Even so, the space felt quite spacious, allowing you to enjoy your ramen in a relaxed atmosphere. Paper aprons and hair ties are always available, showing perfect consideration for female customers. The location is great too… no wonder it’s so popular.

What kind of ramen is “Akutagawa × Premium Ingredients”? I ordered the top-tier menu item “The Chef’s Whim” at 7th Generation Menya Akutagawa

Now, let me introduce the “The Chef’s Whim” I ordered at 7th Generation Menya Akutagawa—the restaurant’s highest-grade menu item, available only weekdays after 5 PM. You can choose from three noodle portion sizes: Regular (160g), Medium (240g), or Large (320g). Like the Original Menya Akutagawa, you can also customize the noodle firmness, broth richness, and oil amount in three levels. For this order, I went with the regular portion and kept all customizations at their standard settings…

After about a 15-minute wait, the Chef’s Whim (Regular) arrived before me. It was quite busy, so it took a bit longer than usual to be served. Even so, the rare chashu around the bowl, made with premium ingredients, and the brilliant red yolk of the boiled egg shining in the center are truly impressive. Even the regular size costs 1980 yen, so it needs impact not just in taste but also in appearance…

Alright, let’s dive right in with the soup… It’s a rich pork bone broth with a light, velvety texture on the tongue, but it lacks the sweetness often found in typical Iekei ramen. Also, the soy sauce edge feels a bit stronger somehow. In that respect, it reminds me more of the soup from Yoshimuraya, the Yokohama Iekei headquarters. The soup that day was a bit on the stronger side flavor-wise, but it was never unpleasant. Even while thinking “This is a bit intense…”, I ended up drinking every last drop.

The noodles, on the other hand, are the characteristic short, flat, medium-thick noodles typical of Iekei ramen. I initially thought they might be from Sakai Seimen, but apparently they’re homemade. They’re slightly thinner than the Sakai Seimen noodles I’ve had at other Iekei ramen shops, and feel a bit lighter when picked up with chopsticks. The surface is smooth and slippery, making them easy to slurp, and they were cooked to a relatively soft, chewy texture.

Now, the main topping: five slices of rare chashu pork. It appears to use Kyoto’s premium brand pork, Kyotanba Kogen Pork. The surface glistens, making it easy to imagine at a glance that this is chashu packed with juices. It didn’t disappoint those visual expectations – it was a moist, juicy chashu bursting with rich, savory flavor. It’s good eaten as is, but I highly recommend dipping it thoroughly in the soup before popping it in the mouth; the umami flavor intensifies dramatically.

The boiled egg also appears to be made from Kyoto-produced eggs of the “Noko” variety, and true to its name, the yolk has a reddish hue. It’s perfectly seasoned with the broth, which blends with the soft, runny yolk to coat your tongue with a rich, lingering umami. You couldn’t possibly say this is ‘bad’ even if your mouth split open. The menu name “The Chef’s Whim” is absolutely no exaggeration.

（卓上には漬物、ニンニク、豆板醤、醤油、酢が置いてありました）

This is the top-tier menu item at 7th Generation Menya Akutagawa: The Chef’s Whim. Aside from the broth being slightly thicker than usual, I find absolutely nothing to fault in this bowl. It does come at a price, but in an era where ordering a regular chashu ramen easily exceeds 1500 yen… I think 2000 yen for ramen using premium ingredients is perfectly reasonable. However, this Chef’s Whim seems to be that you can only order it after 5 PM on weekdays. So, make time for a weekday evening or night and come taste the result of “Akutagawa × Premium Ingredients” for yourself.

Seventh Generation Menya Akutagawa Other Menu Items (Prices Include Tax)

• Special Ramen (Regular) 1350 yen
• Chashu Ramen (Regular) 1350 yen
• Seventh Generation Ramen (Regular) 1250 yen
• Flavored Egg Ramen (Regular) 1150 yen
• Ramen (Regular) 1050 yen

The obi system offering discounts to regulars is still going strong! Access to the 7th Generation Menya Akutagawa is a 4-minute walk from the nearest station, Hankyu Kyoto Line’s Kyoto Kawaramachi Station.

At this 7th Generation Menya Akutagawa, there’s a “obi system” offering discounts to regular customers. This is a familiar loyalty program for Akutagawa chain stores. Once you become a regular enough for the staff to recognize your face, they’ll offer you special perks. Though the shop has been open less than two years, someone has already reached the top rank of “Shihan-dai” (Master Apprentice). If you frequently eat ramen around Shijo Kawaramachi, why not challenge yourself with this Obi System?

Now, here are the shop details…

It’s a 7-minute walk from Kyoto City Hall Station on the Kyoto Municipal Subway Tozai Line.

P.S. If you are looking for delicious ramens in Kyoto, please stop by this article below…