Ippudo Kyoto Porta Branch

The Upper House election held on July 20, 2025. Contrary to common misconception, elections do not end with voting. What happens after voting? It’s called “election discounts.” For foodies, elections mean taking your voting certificate to participating restaurants and enjoying delicious food at discounted prices until you’re full.

So, on the night of July 20, 2025, I stopped by Ippudo, located inside Kyoto Porta, which is directly connected to JR Kyoto Station, on my way home from work. Ippudo has stores across the country, so it’s a great place to take advantage of the election discount…  

As expected of a restaurant directly connected to Kyoto Station, there are many inbound tourists, creating a slightly unusual atmosphere… Ippudo Kyoto Porta Branch is a restaurant like this… 

Ippudo Kyoto Porta Branch is located in the east area of Kyoto Porta, an underground shopping mall directly connected to Kyoto Station. This area is home to famous restaurants such as Kyō no Curry Udon Mimiko, a renowned curry udon restaurant, and a branch of Hokkyokusei, a restaurant famous for its original omelet rice. As walking toward the restaurant from Kyoto Station, I could see a huge crowd from the distance. When I arrived at around 8:30 PM, there was already a line of about 10 people waiting outside the Ippudo. What was unexpected was that all the customers in the line were foreign tourists, some of whom were carrying large suitcases.

However, other stores also had many inbound tourists, and I couldn’t help but think, “This is truly a store connected to Kyoto Station.” This Ippudo Kyoto Porta Branch also has English signage, and more than half of the 45 seats inside (including three counter seats) were occupied by foreigners… It had a slightly unusual atmosphere, like being in a foreign country even though it’s a Japanese ramen shop. I have no intention of denying the presence of foreigners, but I hope that politicians will do their jobs properly so that Japanese people can enjoy ramen with more confidence…  

I was getting a discount at Ippudo Kyoto Porta Branch, so I thought, “I should order something expensive in return…” and ordered one of the highest-grade menu item, the Barimori Akamaru.

This time, I ordered one of the highest-grade menu item at Ippudo Kyoto Porta Branch, the Barimori Akamaru (price: 1,720 yen including tax). Since I was getting a discount from the store, I thought, “I should order something expensive in return…” but after placing the order, I found out that the Barimori Karaka was actually more expensive, and I regretted it a little…

After waiting about five minutes, the Barimori Akamaru was brought to my table. Compared to the Kiwami Shiromaru Motoaji I had at Ippudo Daimyo Head Shop last year, the soft-boiled egg had increased from half an egg to one whole egg, and the seaweed and chashu had also been increased, giving it a more luxurious feel.

Let’s start with the soup… The smooth, mildly garlicky pork bone soup is as delicious as ever. Of course, there is no pork bone odor, making it a Hakata pork bone ramen that anyone from small children to adults can enjoy… However, the spicy miso in this soup is quite spicy. The spiciness slowly spreads throughout the body, and by the time I finish eating, my whole body feels like it’s on fire from the chili peppers. Don’t underestimate Ippudo. Even those who love spicy food will be satisfied with this level of spiciness.

On the other hand, the noodles are the straight, thin noodles characteristic of Hakata tonkotsu ramen. This time, the noodles were cooked to a standard texture, but personally, I found the chewy texture and crisp bite to be just right.

The generous toppings include two slices each of roast and belly char siu, one soft-boiled egg, five sheets of roasted seaweed, wood ear mushrooms, and chopped green onions. The quality of the chashu is as always, with both the roast and belly cuts being thick yet melt-in-the-mouth tender. Especially the belly chashu, which disappears in my mouth in an instant.

As for the election discount perk, you can choose either one extra noodle serving or one soft-boiled egg for free. Since the soft-boiled egg was already included, I opted for the extra noodle serving and asked them to cook it extra firm for comparison. Extra firm noodles have become a trend synonymous with Hakata tonkotsu ramen, but personally, I prefer them cooked normally.

I was thoroughly satisfied with the Barimori Akamaru at Ippudo Kyoto Porta Branch and left the restaurant. Although prices have increased overall compared to last year, I actually thought the previous prices were too low, so I have no complaints. Even after the price increase, the standard menu item, Shiromaru Motoaji, is still under 1,000 yen, so I still think Ippudo is great… For now, if you want to eat Hakata tonkotsu ramen in Kyoto, I would definitely recommend Ippudo.  

Other menu items at Ippudo Kyoto Porta Branch (prices include tax)

• Barimori Karaka 1,790 yen
• Chashu Akamaru 1,480 yen
• Kiwami Shiromaru Motoaji 1,390 yen
• Karaka Noodles 1,150 yen
• Akamaru Simple 990 yen
• Shiromaru Motoaji 950 yen
• Noodles refill 150 yen

You can also purchase ramen as a souvenir… Ippudo Kyoto Porta Branch is located a 3-minute walk from JR Kyoto Station, the nearest station.

At Ippudo Kyoto Porta Branch, you can purchase ramen as a souvenir at the store…

Under the cash register counter, you will find four types of souvenirs: Akamaru and Shiromaru ramens, rooibos tea, which is also used as a substitute for cold water at the store, and hot bean sprout sauce for making spicy bean sprouts, which is available as a free topping. With all four items, you can enjoy ramen at home with the same atmosphere as at Ippudo. Despite being fresh noodles, the shelf life is 90 days (including the manufacturing date), so it might be a good idea to stock them at home for when you get hungry.

Here are the store details…

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