Wontonmen no Mangetsu Kyoto Ramen Alley Branch

In Kyoto Ramen Alley, where renowned ramen shops from all over the country gather, there is one shop with a slightly unique atmosphere. It is the Kyoto Ramen Alley Branch of Mangetsu, a wonton noodle shop headquartered in Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture. While the other shops tend to be ramen shops created with a younger crowd in mind, this place gives off a vibe of the good old days… After all, these days, you don’t really get many chances to eat wonton noodles, do you? Intrigued by this, I decided to visit the shop one evening…

Voted Japan’s Best in the 2023 Japan Regional Ramen Poll… Here’s a Look at Wontonmen no Mangetsu Kyoto Ramen Alley Branch

To begin with, ramen shops in Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture aren’t exactly well-known, are they? So, let’s start by briefly introducing Wontonmen no Mangetsu. Founded in 1960, this long-established ramen shop boasts a history of over 60 years. It’s said that the origins of ramen in Sakata City date back to the Taisho era, when a Chinese immigrant opened a shop called “Shina Soba-ya.” Following that tradition, the local style—featuring wonton on top of classic, authentic Chinese-style noodles—remains the mainstream choice to this day. Among these “Sakata Ramen” shops, the one I’m introducing today—Wontonmen no Mangetsu—boasts top-tier popularity. Until this shop opened, its name wasn’t very well-known in the Kansai region, but it won first place in the 2023 Japan Local Ramen General Election, so there’s no doubt about its quality.

Now, the Kyoto Ramen Alley Branch—the third location following the flagship Mitaka store—opened on June 19, 2024. The interior space is likely more spacious than other shops in Kyoto Ramen Alley; a quick visual count revealed a total of 29 seats, including three counter seats. There’s enough space to bring in large luggage, such as suitcases, so I think it’s easy to use whether you’ve just arrived in Kyoto or are about to leave. The shop is located right next to the elevator, so it’s definitely convenient for a meal on the go. I think this shop is really lucky to have secured such a prime spot within Kyoto Ramen Alley.

The ultimate luxury chashu ramen… Wontonmen no Mangetsu Kyoto Ramen Alley Branch’s exclusive menu item: Jinhua Pork Chashu Wontonmen—so how did it actually taste?

This time at Wontonmen no Mangetsu Kyoto Ramen Alley Branch, I ordered the Jinhua Pork Chashu Wontonmen (2,500 yen including tax), which is the restaurant’s top-of-the-line and branch-exclusive menu item. After waiting a little over 10 minutes from the time I ordered, the ramen was brought to my table, and this is what it looked like…

The bowl is completely covered with generous toppings, so much so that the noodles are completely hidden. The toppings themselves—chashu, seasoned egg, menma, and chopped green onions—are fairly standard, but the Jinhua pork chashu clearly stands out from other types of chashu.

I’ll save that chashu for later and start with the soup… The soy sauce-based broth, made from a blend of dried sardines, roasted flying fish, kelp, chicken, and vegetables, has a very clean, refreshing flavor with a subtle hint of the roasted flying fish’s savory aroma. Come to think of it, I remembered that the soup at Chūka Soba Konpirasou—a super-famous shop in Tsuruoka City, right next to Sakata, that’s only open in winter—tasted just like this… It really feels like a classic, light-style Chinese noodle soup, but it definitely holds its own even in the Reiwa era.

The noodles paired with this are slightly wavy, medium-thin noodles with a higher water content. The waves help the noodles soak up the soup thoroughly, and when you bite into them, the perfect firmness and chewy texture come together. It goes down smoothly, and afterward, the nutty aroma of the bonito broth gently lingers… I don’t think I’ve ever experienced this flavor at any of the ramen shops I’ve visited in Kyoto.

Now then, let’s move on to the main topping: the Jinhua pork chashu. Made from an ultra-rare breed of pork native to Zhejiang Province, China—often called the “phantom pig”—the firmness of the meat is in a league of its own compared to other chashu. The meat’s flavor is incredibly rich and concentrated, like high-quality ham. With a total of six slices included, chashu lovers are guaranteed a moment of pure bliss.

And then there’s the other main topping: the wonton… Inside the large wrapper is a small amount of black pepper-flavored ground meat, but honestly, I thought, “I don’t need the ground meat!” No, I don’t mean that in a bad way. The wrapper is incredibly smooth; the moment you put it in your mouth, you feel that silky smoothness, and then it just slides right down the throat and into the stomach. That fleeting yet exquisite smoothness really makes you think, “No wonder this is a famous wonton noodle shop!” and I seriously thought, “I could just keep eating these wrappers by themselves…”

Other menu items at Wontonmen no Mangetsu Kyoto Ramen Alley Branch (prices include tax)

Salted Pork Rice Bowl: 380 yenThis is the store-exclusive menu item at Wontonmen no Mangetsu Kyoto Ramen Alley Branch: the Jinhua Pork Chashu Wonton Noodles. It’s one of the richest ramen dishes I’ve ever had—ranking among the top one or two—and it really put me in a great mood. That said, if you asked me whether it’s worth paying nearly 1,000 yen extra just to enjoy the Jinhua pork chashu, I’m not sure I could answer that right away… The quality of the wontons is so high that, to be honest, you can enjoy it plenty even without the chashu. The regular-sized Wonton Noodles cost less than half the price, so when you consider the total value, the standard Wonton Noodles might actually give you a higher level of satisfaction.

Other menu items at Wontonmen no Mangetsu Kyoto Ramen Alley Branch (prices include tax)

• Soy Sauce Wonton Noodles with Extra Chashu and Soft-Boiled Egg: 1,580 yen
• Chashu Noodles: 1,290 yen
• Stamina Wonton Noodles: 1,100 yen
• Salt Wonton Noodles: 1,000 yen
• Soy Sauce Wonton Noodles: 980 yen
• Chashu Rice Bowl: 380 yen
• Salted Pork Rice Bowl: 380 yen

Takeout Chinese noodles are also available… Access to Wontonmen no Mangetsu Kyoto Ramen Alley Branch is a 4-minute walk from the nearest station, JR Kyoto Station.

At Wontonmen no Mangetsu Kyoto Ramen Alley Branch, they also sell Chinese noodles for takeout…

This set includes two servings of the ramen that was voted Japan’s best local ramen, and the price is 900 yen (tax included). It’s a great deal, though I’m guessing the wontons probably aren’t included… Still, since you can enjoy a flavor you won’t find anywhere else in Kyoto right at home, I highly recommend giving it a try if you’re interested. Oh, and of course, you can use the Kyoto Ramen Alley app, so if you plan on visiting often, don’t forget to install it on your smartphone.

Now, here are the shop details…

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