Honke Daiichi Asahi Tenma Branch

On October 31, 2025, Honke Daiichi Asahi, one of Kyoto’s most popular ramen shops, opened a new branch in Tenjinbashisuji Rokuchome. Given its location in Tenroku, one of Osaka’s fiercest ramen battlegrounds, the new Honke Daiichi Asahi Tenma Branch was already generating huge buzz even before opening… “I figured it’d be absolutely packed right after opening…” so I decided to wait and see, timing my visit carefully.

But just the other day, around 4 PM, I happened to pass by Tenroku and saw the shop’s electronic sign lit up. That’s right—this shop actually operates continuously without an idle time. And luckily, there was no line at the door at that moment. “I can’t miss this chance!” I decided to go in immediately. Now then…

Honke Daiichi Asahi Tenma Branch has opened at the former site of Strike Ken, which relocated recently… Here’s what this shop is like…

Honke Daiichi Asahi Tenma Branch has started operations at the former site of the legendary Tenroku shop Strike Ken, which relocated in June 2025. It’s right by the subway station and faces a major street, making it incredibly visible. I was really lucky this time, but if a direct Honke Daiichi Asahi branch opened here, you know there’d be lines. In fact, there were signs outside managing the queue…

There’s a ticket machine outside where you buy a meal ticket before entering. The basic interior layout resembles Strike Ken’s previous shop, but the number of seats has significantly increased to 24, including 8 counter seats, within the compact space. Consequently, the seating feels cramped; at the counter seat I was guided to, my shoulder and elbow easily bumped into the customer next to me. The table seats were also more compact than standard size. While the increased seating capacity likely reduces wait times, it also means you can’t help but notice the person next to you while eating your ramen.

Does Kyoto’s flavor translate to Osaka? How did the chashu ramen at Honke Daiichi Asahi Tenma Branch actually taste?

So, let me introduce the chashu ramen (price: ¥1,180 including tax) I ordered that day at Honke Daiichi Asahi Tenma Branch. About 5 minutes after ordering, the chashu ramen arrived before me looking like this…

The bowl is a bit on the small side, but the soup is poured right up to the very edge, giving it plenty of volume. The chashu pork is topped so it covers the entire surface of the bowl, creating a visual that’s sure to satisfy any meat lover.

So, first, to reduce the soup poured right to the brim, I scooped some up with my spoon and into my mouth… The flavor of the soup that day was, personally, spot on. A pork-based clear broth with a nice sharp soy sauce flavor and a hint of sweetness… Lately, at the Honke Daiichi Asahi Takabashi Head Shop, I’ve often thought “The soup has gotten a bit thin…” so this was a long-awaited “Yes!” moment. And even towards the end, the soup didn’t get watery. On this particular day, I’d even say the soup surpassed the main store’s.

The noodles, meanwhile, are the familiar medium-thin straight noodles from Kondo Seimen, a staple in Kyoto ramen. They’re low-hydration noodles with a dense, packed-with-wheat feel, offering a solid bite despite their medium-thin gauge (incidentally, you can customize the noodle firmness, but I ordered them regular this time). True to a direct-operated shop, both the soup and noodles deliver the authentic Kyoto flavor. This means visitors from Kyoto can enjoy it with confidence.

Now, the main topping—the chashu pork—had a total of 15 slices when I counted them. It’s pure joy for meat lovers, but even the regular ramen here comes with a quantity comparable to chashu ramen at other shops, so the regular ramen is perfectly fine if you’re not craving that much meat. It’s not the trendy melt-in-your-mouth chashu, but rather the old-school style that lets you really feel the meat texture. Though thinly sliced, each piece feels densely packed with meat, so eating 15 slices will definitely leave you satisfied.

So, I thoroughly enjoyed the chashu ramen at Honke Daiichi Asahi Tenma Branch and left the shop. Since it doesn’t seem like the direct-operated branch changes the recipe from the main store, I think it’s a place where people wanting to enjoy the original Honke Daiichi Asahi flavor can feel confident visiting. Now, will the taste of this famous Kyoto shop be accepted in Osaka? We’ll have to keep an eye on future developments.

Honke Daiichi Asahi Tenma Branch Other Menu Items (Prices Include Tax)

• Special Ramen (Large) 1230 yen
• Menma Ramen 1130 yen
• Ramen 980 yen
• Student Discount Ramen (High School Students and Younger Only) 830 yen
• Grilled Chashu Rice Bowl (Large) 740 yen
• Hashigiri Meat Rice Bowl (Large) 590 yen
• Gyoza 350 yen

Order fresh ramen sets online… Access to Honke Daiichi Asahi Tenma Branch is a 1-minute walk from the nearest station, Osaka Metro Sakaisuji Line (Hankyu Railway) Tenjinbashisuji Rokuchome Station.

Honke Daiichi Asahi currently offers mail-order sales of fresh ramen sets. Sets range from 4 to 12 servings, with the 4-serving set priced at ¥5,260 including shipping and tax. Not just noodles and soup, but also chashu pork and chopped green onions are included, allowing you to enjoy the authentic taste of the restaurant right at home. Note that the shelf life is short, only 3 days from the shipping date. However, if you can manage that, enjoying Honke Daiichi Asahi ramen at home is definitely a viable option.

Now, here are the shop details…

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