Menya Yuko Kawaramachi

Once upon a time in Shijo Kiyamachi, there was a ramen shop called Yatai Yuko, named after its stall, which served ramen with clam broth—a rarity in Kyoto at the time. It was a branch of Menya Yuko, opened in Kyoto by a craftsman who trained at Jinrui Mina Menrui, one of Osaka’s most famous ramen shops known for its long lines. It was quite popular, but sadly, it closed less than a year after opening, and I remember being disappointed.

Then, some time later, on September 23, 2021, a new shop, Menya Yuko Kawaramachi, opened for business. It was a relocation of the former Yatai Yuko, situated south of the Shijo Kawaramachi intersection, next to GOOD NATURE STATION. The other day, when I happened to pass by the shop, I was drawn in by the seasonal limited menu listed on the signboard outside…

The izakaya menu has been discontinued, focusing more on soy sauce ramen… Menya Yuko Kawaramachi is a restaurant like this…

Before talking about that seasonal menu, let me briefly introduce Menya Yuko Kawaramachi. Compared to the Yatai Yuko days, the new shop is quite compact. There are 11 seats total: 7 counter seats along the kitchen counter and 4 more counter seats along the back wall. Honestly, when customers sit in both rows, it feels a bit cramped. The BGM is, of course, Mr.Children. Unlike their training spot in Osaka, they haven’t gone so far as to play live videos on a big display. But as a shop following the “Jinrui Mina Menrui Lovers” philosophy, Mr.Children is absolutely essential!

Anyway, since moving and reopening, they’ve made major changes to the menu from the previous Yatai Yuko. Before, besides ramen, they offered beer and a few snack-type items. At the new shop, those izakaya-style menu items have been completely eliminated, resulting in a ramen-only menu. There are three base ramen types: clam broth ramen, soy sauce ramen, and Kyoto BLACK. You customize your order by choosing your base ramen and the amount of toppings. It’s quietly satisfying that the price stays the same even if you change the base ramen. The new shop feels like it’s shed the izakaya vibe of the old place and focused more on soy sauce ramen. Honestly, the old shop’s menu felt a bit half-baked, so personally, I prefer this new direction.

Menya Yuko Kawaramachi Ramen Menu (Prices include tax)

• Super Special Ramen: ¥1,500
• Special Ramen: ¥1,300
• Super Standard Ramen: ¥1,080
• Standard Ramen: ¥930

It was quite different from what I imagined… Menya Yuko’s Kawaramachi summer-limited menu: Chilled Shellfish Ramen. How was it?

Now then, let me introduce the seasonal limited menu that caught my eye on the signboard at Menya Yuko Kawaramachi that day. That menu is…

Summer version of clam broth ramen: Chilled Clam Ramen (Price: ¥1,200 tax included). Just imagining that ice-cold clam broth soup makes you feel it sliding right down your throat, doesn’t it? But you know what? What actually arrived was quite different from what I’d imagined. And that’s because…

This is something you absolutely can’t tell from a picture, but when I received the ramen bowl across the counter, I noticed it was warm. You know how some places warm the bowls when making hot ramen? It felt like they did that for this cold ramen. For hot ramen, it’d be a welcome service, but warm bowls for cold ramen? I was like, what’s up with that? Was this intentional, or did the staff just accidentally use a warmed bowl? Which is it?

With that lingering unease in my heart, I took a sip of the soup… and sure enough, it wasn’t cold. Intuitively, the soup felt about body temperature. The fact that it was this warm meant it wasn’t just a mistake with the bowl; they must have deliberately served it this way. The sign outside said “Ice-cold,” though… That part was a major disappointment. Still, the soup itself wasn’t bad at all. It was a clear broth using light soy sauce, and the shellfish broth flavor came through nicely…

On the other hand, the noodles served with this dish were medium-thick, round noodles with a smooth surface and incredibly firm bite. They must have been rinsed in cold water beforehand. The firmness felt slightly different in quality compared to the warm noodles. They slid down the throat pleasantly, and after swallowing, the aroma of clam broth lingered softly… This sensation never gets old, no matter how many times I experience it.

The main chashu topping consisted of two fairly large slices, thinly cut. It was the type packed with meaty umami, reminiscent of ham. Opening the mouth wide and popping a whole slice in delivers the satisfyingly meaty texture you’d expect.

That’s how I finished off Menya Yuko Kawaramachi‘s seasonal special, the Chilled Shellfish Ramen, and left the shop. Aside from the soup temperature, it was truly impressive—which made that one flaw all the more regrettable… Still, I also realized that ordering their regular hot ramen menu is a sure bet. They stay open late, so next time I might come for their shellfish broth ramen as a late-night finish after drinks…

In stark contrast to shellfish broth ramen, there’s also a rich, store-exclusive menu… Access to Menya Yuko Kawaramachi: 2 minutes on foot from the nearest station, Hankyu Kyoto Line’s Kyoto Kawaramachi Station.

At Menya Yuko Kawaramachi, alongside their light and refined clam broth ramen, they also offer a rich, store-exclusive menu item: the Carbonara Ramen. Just seeing the name makes you imagine the flavor, doesn’t it? Carbonara-flavored ramen… I’ve never seen that before. At ¥1,530 tax included (¥1,830 for the topping-heavy version), it’s on the pricier side for ramen, but when you’re in the mood for something different, splurging a little to try it might be 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…