Gion Soy Milk Ramen Uno Yukiko UNO RAMEN

Gion Soy Milk Ramen Uno Yukiko UNO RAMEN. I first learned about this ramen shop when a branch opened in Kyoto Ramen Alley. My first impression was, “This place definitely seems to be targeting foreign tourists…” But since it has a location in Kyoto Ramen Alley, it’s essentially a representative of Kyoto’s ramen scene… I was naturally curious about what kind of ramen they served, so I decided to start by visiting the main shop in Gion. So, what was it actually like when I went there…

Virtually Integrated with an Airbnb Property for Foreigners… Gion Soy Milk Ramen Uno Yukiko UNO RAMEN: Here’s What This Restaurant Is Like…

Gion Soy Milk Ramen Uno Yukiko UNO RAMEN has been open since October Reiwa 4, located a short distance south on Yamato-oji Street after turning off Shijo Street. The shop’s location is unique: it’s on the first floor of a building used as an Airbnb. The entrance area serves as a guesthouse-style common space, with the ramen shop located just beyond it, and a coin-operated laundromat further back. There’s even an elevator inside the shop that connects to the Airbnb. Although the shop itself is an independent business separate from the Airbnb, it gives the impression of being virtually integrated with it. This further reinforces the idea that the shop is primarily targeting foreign visitors.

Inside Gion Soy Milk Ramen Uno Yukiko UNO RAMEN, there are 8 counter seats and 3 two-person tables, for a total of 14 seats. Naturally, every customer there when I visited was a foreigner. Not only that, but all the staff were foreigners as well. That said, this doesn’t mean Japanese customers are neglected. The menu is clearly labeled in Japanese, and the staff speak Japanese fluently, so even if you don’t speak English, you can enjoy your meal here with peace of mind…

It’s not really just soy milk ramen… Gion Soy Milk Ramen Uno Yukiko UNO RAMEN’s standard ramen and soy milk ramen “Hana”—so how did it actually taste when I tried it?

Now, let me introduce the standard soy milk ramen “Hana” (price: 2,100 yen, tax included) that I ordered that day at Gion Soy Milk Ramen Uno Yukiko UNO RAMEN. About 10 minutes after placing my order via mobile, the ramen was brought to my table, and this is what it looked like…

It was topped with more vegetables than I’d ever seen before, and as the menu name “Hana” suggests, it had a visual appeal that was, in a sense, artistic. Now, this is the first standard ramen I’ve ever had that costs over 2,000 yen in all my ramen-tasting adventures—I wonder what it tastes like?

So, first, I scooped up a spoonful of soup and took a sip… While the keyword “soy milk” makes quite an impression, the soup actually has a light overall flavor, including the soy milk notes. Apparently, the broth is made from vegetable stock, and the kaeshi (seasoning sauce) uses gluten-free soy sauce. This lightness is something you probably couldn’t achieve at all if you were using animal-based broth. That said, it’s nothing like a bland flavor. I think you could probably slurp down as much of this soup as you want without it weighing heavily on your stomach at all.

On the other hand, I was quite surprised by the noodles. Curry powder is actually kneaded right into the dough. Every time you slurp up a mouthful, the curry spices hit your mouth and nose with a real kick… Even though it’s called “Soy Milk Ramen,” at its core, it’s actually curry ramen. The noodles are medium-thick, straight, and angular. Their surface is slightly powdery, and while they don’t have the chewy texture of gluten-containing noodles, they still have a satisfying chew to them. “Kneading curry powder into the noodles”—I’d never even imagined that idea before…

Now, let’s talk about the vegetable toppings. Since this restaurant prides itself on being gluten-free and vegan, there’s no meat—which is a bit of a bummer for meat-eaters. However, the soy-based meat substitute is quite well-made, and the gyoza are packed with garlic, so I didn’t feel like anything was missing in terms of flavor impact. I think even meat-lovers would thoroughly enjoy this.

Given the nature of this ramen, it makes perfect sense that the seasoning includes cumin and curry spices. While the combination of soy milk ramen with cumin and curry spices might initially make you go, “Huh?” and feel a bit off, once you actually try it, their presence actually feels quite natural. So, Gion Soy Milk Ramen Uno Yukiko UNO RAMEN’s standard menu item—the “Hana” soy milk ramen—definitely justifies its price tag of over 2,000 yen, and I’d recommend that noodle lovers give it a try at least once. That said, paying over 2,000 yen for a standard bowl of ramen is still a bit of a stretch for us Japanese, and to be honest, it feels like a dish that belongs in a slightly different category from ramen…

Fill out the survey and get a little souvenir… Gion Soy Milk Ramen Uno Yukiko UNO RAMEN is a short walk from the nearest station, Gion-Shijo Station on the Keihan Electric Railway.

At Gion Soy Milk Ramen Uno Yukiko UNO RAMEN, they’re currently running a short online survey…

If you fill out this survey and show it to a staff member, you’ll receive a little souvenir. On this visit, I received a bag of hojicha tea, which made me feel a little happier. The survey is in English, which can be a bit of a challenge for Japanese people… But if that doesn’t bother you, why not give it a try while you’re waiting for your food?

Now, here are the restaurant details…

P.S. If you’re looking for delicious ramen in Kyoto, be sure to check out this article as well…

Come to think of it, there are other vegan ramen shops in Kyoto, aren’t there…