Mensho Ichiryūmanbai Teramachi Branch

“Ichiryūmanbai” is an auspicious day in the Japanese calendar meaning “a single grain of rice yields ten thousand times its weight in rice ears.” On this day, crowds line up at lottery booths nationwide. Eating at a ramen shop named after such an auspicious day—surely that would make for a happy day, regardless of the calendar?

With that faint hope in mind, I headed to Mensho Ichiryūmanbai Teramachi Branch for a late-night snack. So, what kind of place was this shop…?

Mensho Ichiryūmanbai Teramachi Branch: A Shop Featuring Chicken Clear Soup Made with Popular Oyama Chicken

Mensho Ichiryūmanbai Teramachi Branch is located on the right side of Teramachi Street, about a minute’s walk south from Shijō Street, directly across from Kyoto Daijingu Shrine. I often walk around this area, and especially in the evening, there’s frequently a line forming outside the shop. On the day I happened to visit around 7:30 PM, there was no line, and I got seated immediately. However, nearly all 26 counter seats inside were occupied. Having just opened in January 2022, the interior is spotlessly clean.

Now, this Men-sho Ichiryūmanbai ramen brand prides itself on its chicken clear soup made with duck and Oyama chicken. Oyama chicken is a branded chicken from Tottori Prefecture. I thought, “I’ve seen this somewhere before…” and checked my past records. It seems it’s also used at popular Kyoto restaurants like Kyomotsunabe Hidetora and Grill Capital Toyotei. Since it’s a chicken chosen by such popular establishments, there’s absolutely no need to doubt its quality. You can definitely expect to enjoy a high-quality chicken clear soup ramen here.

The premium double broth of duck and Oyama chicken… How did Mensho Ichiryūmanbai Teramachi Branch’s special soy sauce ramen actually taste?

So, let me introduce the special soy sauce ramen (price: ¥1,250 including tax) I ordered that day at Mensho Ichiryūmanbai Teramachi Branch. About 5 minutes after placing my order, the ramen arrived looking like this…

A slightly dark broth generously topped with chicken oil, featuring rare chashu pork, a seasoned egg, and bamboo shoot tips for a luxurious visual. It looked remarkably similar to the chicken soba at nearby Mendokoro Janomeya, heightening my expectations for a taste rivaling Michelin-listed restaurants.

Now, let’s dive right in and try the soup… First, the savory aroma of soy sauce hits, followed a moment later by the rich chicken broth gently spreading throughout my mouth. It’s a double broth made with duck and Oyama chicken, but the distinctive duck flavor isn’t noticeable at all. The taste is more pronounced than the chicken soba at Mendokoro Janomeya, so even those who prefer stronger flavors should find it perfectly acceptable. Even towards the end, the saltiness doesn’t become overwhelming, making it a soup you can drink down to the last drop.

The noodles accompanying this are straight, thin noodles containing whole wheat flour. They’re cooked fairly firm, the type you enjoy for their crisp bite. They remind me a bit of the thin noodles used in Hakata tonkotsu ramen. They slide smoothly down the throat, and it’s nice how they carry the chicken flavor back up to the nose.

Now, the main toppings featured two types of chashu: rare pork shoulder chashu and chicken breast chashu. Personally, I’m a fan of having only chicken chashu in chicken soba, not pork. However, this rare pork chashu was an absolute hit for me. The unique juiciness of rare chashu, along with the umami from the lean meat and fat, is a given. But it also has a light, savory aroma that really stimulates the sense of smell. I’d love to order this pork chashu on the side as a beer snack…

Also, three condiments were provided on the table: black pepper, Sichuan pepper, and Chidori vinegar. The Chidori vinegar was perfect for changing up the flavor of this ramen. It added a refined sweetness that mellowed the entire soup. This flavor change with Chidori vinegar is, as far as I recall, something I first experienced at Mensyo Ichiryūmanbai. As I finished my bowl and left the shop, I thought it would be interesting if this Chidori vinegar flavor change idea, originating from Kyoto, spread more widely…

Other Menu Items at Mensho Ichiryūmanbai Teramachi Branch (Prices include tax)

• Special Salt Ramen: ¥1,250
• Flavored Egg Soy Sauce Ramen: ¥1,100
• Rich Seafood Pork Bone Tsukemen: ¥1,050
• Rich Seafood Pork Bone Spicy Tsukemen: ¥1,050
• Rich Seafood Pork Bone Shrimp Tsukemen: ¥1,050

Currently operating at three locations including the Kawaramachi and Gion Branches… Access to Mensho Ichiryūmanbai Teramachi Branch is a 3-minute walk from the nearest station, Hankyu Kyoto Line’s Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station.

This Mensho Ichiryūmanbai currently operates at three locations: the Teramachi Branch introduced here, plus the Kawaramachi and Gion Branches. At any of these branches, you can enjoy ramen featuring a clear chicken broth made with Oyama chicken. Each location also offers exclusive menu items, making it well worth visiting all three. When you’re craving premium chicken clear broth ramen, remember this shop exists.

Now, here are the shop details…

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