Hakata Ikkosha Kyoto Ramen Alley Branch

One evening, while wandering through Kyoto Ramen Alley on the 10th floor of Isetan, directly connected to JR Kyoto Station, for the first time in ages, I found myself drawn to the menu at Hakata Ikkosha Kyoto Ramen Alley Branch and decided to go in on the spot. The intriguing menu item was…

Like most shops around here, you just can’t avoid the lines… So, on a weekday around 7 PM, how long is the line and how much of a wait at Hakata Ikokosha Kyoto Ramen Alley Branch?

The electronic signboard listed two options: “Hakata Pork Steak Ramen” and “Kyoto Special (Kyoto Exclusive)”. Both were new menu items compared to my previous visit to the Hakata Ikkosha Sohonten. Since the Kyoto Special is only available in Kyoto, I hesitated for a few minutes before deciding to order it this time.

First, I bought a meal ticket from the vending machine outside, handed it to the staff, then joined the end of the line. Like every ramen shop in Kyoto Ramen Alley, Hakata Ikkosha Kyoto Ramen Alley Branch had a solid queue. Queues really are unavoidable. When I visited around 7 PM on a weekday, there were about 11-12 people ahead of me. The customer turnover was very fast, and I was seated about 10 minutes after joining the line. The interior space is compact. A quick visual count showed a total of 20 seats: 14 counter seats and one table seat for six. There isn’t enough space to bring in large luggage, so it might be a bit inconvenient for travelers on the move…

Once you order it, there’s no turning back… How did the limited menu item at Hakata Ikkosha Kyoto Ramen Alley Branch, the Kyoto Special, actually taste?

So, let me introduce the Kyoto Special (price: ¥1,600 including tax), the store-exclusive menu item I ordered that day at Hakata Ikkosha Kyoto Ramen Alley Branch. After sitting down and waiting just under 5 minutes, the Kyoto Special appeared before me looking like this…

The surface of the tonkotsu broth is absolutely covered in red chili peppers—so much that it’s turned completely crimson. Off the top of my head, the only other ramen I can recall ordering that was this red was the Akadaku at Menya Gokkei in Ichijoji…

But seriously, why is this chili-covered ramen called the “Kyoto Special”? Just as I took a sip of the broth wondering that, it hit me: “Ah, right!” Traditional Kyoto ramen like Chūka Soba Masutani or Ramen Sugichiyo features the “back fat chacha” style—pork bone broth with chili peppers. So this “Kyoto Special” is inspired by that back fat chacha pork bone ramen? Makes perfect sense.

Now, the crucial taste… it’s spicy, all right. It’s not your average spiciness. But just like that heat, the mellow yet rich umami of the pork bone broth comes rushing in. Unlike the special foam-style pork bone ramen I had before at Hakata Ikkosha Sohonten, this soup doesn’t have foam on top, and I hardly noticed any pork bone odor (though maybe the chili heat just masks it…). But the umami is just as strong. This is spicy, but I’m hooked…

The noodles, meanwhile, are the familiar straight, thin noodles common in Hakata tonkotsu ramen. I requested them cooked “regular” this time, yet they still had a firm bite with a slight core, offering that satisfying crunch when you bite through them.

The toppings are quite luxurious: five large slices of thinly-cut pork loin chashu, a soft-boiled egg, bean sprouts, chopped green onions, and shredded chashu. The lavishness of the toppings truly lives up to the menu name “Kyoto Special.” The large chashu slices had a finish reminiscent of roast beef, offering a meaty richness while remaining lean and light. However, these slices were also generously coated in chili flakes, raising the difficulty level for putting them in your mouth…

So, the Kyoto Special, an exclusive menu item at Hakata Ikkosha Kyoto Ramen Alley Branch, was as visually intimidating as it was fiery hot. Yet, I got hooked on the soup’s umami and ended up drinking every last drop. This is the kind of thing that makes your stomach go haywire the next day. I knew it would, but I just couldn’t help myself… That said, for those who enjoy spicy food, this ramen is definitely worth trying at least once. If you get the chance, give it a shot.

Hakata Ikkosha Kyoto Ramen Alley Branch Other Menu Items (Prices include tax)

• Hakata Pork Belly Steak Ramen: ¥2,800
• Flavored Egg & Onion Chashu Ramen: ¥1,550
• Flavored Egg Chashu Ramen: ¥1,350
• Flavored Egg Black Ramen: ¥1,250
• Flavored Egg Ramen: ¥1,050
• Ramen: ¥850

Kyoto Ramen Alley’s smartphone app is available… Access to Hakata Ikkosha Kyoto Ramen Alley Branch is a 4-minute walk from JR Kyoto Station, the nearest station.

At Hakata Ikkosha Kyoto Ramen Alley Branch, you can use Kyoto Ramen Alley’s smartphone app…

Setting up this app seems to let you get a ¥1,000 meal voucher after eating 8 bowls of ramen. For ramen lovers, 8 bowls isn’t too high a hurdle, right? If you often stop by Kyoto Station, installing this app is definitely worth it.

Now, here are the shop details…

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