Kyoto Toripaitan Jun Main Store

Lately, there seem to be more and more ramen shops serving the frothy kind of chicken white (Toripaitan) soup, don’t you think? I feel like until just a little while ago, thick, viscous chicken white soup was the mainstream—but whether it’s the times or just the rapidly changing tastes of ramen enthusiasts… I found myself curious about a particularly popular shop whose name I’ve been hearing a lot, so I decided to stop by on my way home from work. The shop is Kyoto Toripaitan Jun Main Store, located south of the Kyoto Imperial Palace. So, what was it actually like when I went there…

A company with a strong track record nationwide makes its debut in Kyoto… Here’s a look at Kyoto Toripaitan Jun Main Store…

Kyoto Toripaitan Jun Main Store is a relatively new ramen shop that opened in Marutamachi four years ago, in May of 2022. Backed by “Okyakusama Minasan Okagesama Co., Ltd.”—a company with a proven track record in opening ramen shops—it might, in a sense, be considered part of a ramen chain. Among the shops I’ve visited so far, several popular ramen shops with a solid local reputation—such as Shimada Seimen Shokudo in Osaka and Yoshioka Magurobushi Center—are part of this group. Also, since a significant proportion of the group’s shops specialize in toripaitan ramen, opening a toripaitan shop in Kyoto—their first foray into the city—is likely just a natural progression for this company.

Anyway, I visited the Kyoto Toripaitan Jun Main Store around 6:00 p.m. that day. Perhaps because it was still a bit early for dinner, there was no line outside, so I was able to get a seat right away without any wait. The dining area has a total of 18 seats, including four at the counter. The clean, light-wood interior creates an atmosphere that makes it easy for even a woman dining alone to feel comfortable. They even had hair aprons and hair ties neatly prepared, which gave me the impression that this is a restaurant that pays close attention to detail.

The foam gives it a light texture, but… How did the Toripaitan Soba at Kyoto Toripaitan Jun Main Store actually taste?

So, let me introduce the standard Toripaitan Soba I ordered that day at Kyoto Toripaitan Jun Main Store. After waiting just under five minutes from the time I placed my order, the Toripaitan Soba was brought to my table—and this is what it looked like…

The soup is thoroughly frothy overall, with five types of toppings—including chashu—arranged in the center. The soft-boiled egg yolk, floating like the Japanese flag in this milky-white soup, adds a vibrant splash of color to the otherwise subdued presentation.

Let’s start with the soup… It’s a chicken-pork broth made primarily from Kagoshima chicken with a touch of pork bone added, seasoned with a slightly stronger saltiness. It has a consistency that feels slightly gritty on the tip of the tongue, but it’s not so thick as to be overwhelmingly rich. Thanks to the foam, the animal-based umami comes across as light and airy, without feeling heavy or cloying. On the other hand, the “kaeshi” (seasoning base) is a bit strong, so you’ll gradually start to feel thirsty as you eat.

The noodles paired with this are medium-thick, flat noodles made with a high-water-content dough. While their surface is smooth, the slight wave in their shape—combined with the foam—helps them soak up the soup well. They’re cooked to be slightly soft, with a chewy texture. I think the noodles are well-made, but compared to the richness of the broth, they felt a bit light in terms of substance.

Now, the main topping—the chashu—was thicker than I expected when I picked it up with my chopsticks. The surface is seared, giving it a toasty aroma, and in the mouth, the fat melts into a tender, melting texture. I thought, “I’d love to order an extra serving of this chashu…” but if I upgrade the chicken white soup to the “Special” version, the price goes up by 400 yen, yet the ramen photo shows only one extra slice of chashu… It seems they also increase the portion of the simmered egg, but if it costs an extra 400 yen, I figured I might as well skip it…

Finally, following the shop’s recommendation, I ordered the “Dive Rice” (80 yen, tax included) and added it to the soup. Since it comes with pickled plums along with the rice, it adds a sour note to the soup, but personally, it didn’t quite work for me… And just like that, I finished the Toripaitan soba at Kyoto Toripaitan Jun Main Store in just under 10 minutes and left the restaurant. Overall, it wasn’t quite to my taste, but I think it definitely has the quality to justify its popularity.

Other Menu Items at Kyoto Toripaitan Jun Main Store (Prices include tax)

• Special Chicken Broth Soup: 1,380 yen
• Seafood and Chicken Broth Soup: 1,030 yen
• Shibikara: 1,030 yen
• Yuzu Salt Chicken Broth Soup: 1,000 yen
• Maze Soba: 980 yen

There are also great deals for students… The Kyoto Toripaitan Jun Main Store is a 2-minute walk from Marutamachi Station on the Kyoto Municipal Subway Karasuma Line, the nearest station.

At the Kyoto Toripaitan Jun Main Store, they also offer great deals for students…

If you take advantage of this offer, you can get takana rice, plain rice, or “Dive Rice” for free, and the “Meat Rice” topped with chashu and a raw egg yolk is reduced from 500 yen to 350 yen. There are only two conditions to qualify: 1. Show your student ID, and 2. Post on Instagram or Instagram Stories. Students, you definitely don’t want to miss out on this, right?

Now, here are the details about the restaurant…

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