京都アピール強いけど…【祇園らぁ〜めん京 祇園本店】へ行ってきた

The name “Gion Ramen Miyako” really screams “Kyoto,” and to be honest, it felt a little off to me personally. But that has absolutely nothing to do with the taste of the ramen. After all, this place is a “representative of Kyoto” ramen shop that even has a branch in Kyoto Ramen Alley. Curious to see what kind of ramen a shop representing Kyoto would serve, I recently visited Gion Ramen Miyako Gion Main Store. So, what was the shop actually like…?

Once a favorite spot for Yoshimoto comedians… Here’s what Gion Ramen Miyako Gion Main Store is like…

Gion Ramen Miyako Gion Main Store is located a short walk north of the West Gate of Yasaka Shrine. Situated along Higashioji Street, it’s highly visible and incredibly convenient, especially for tourists. Although it’s no longer there, it seems Yoshimoto comedians used to frequent the place back when Yoshimoto Gion Kagetsu was in operation. Right by the entrance, there were many autographed cards from comedians on display.

The interior has a simple, traditional Japanese atmosphere, reminiscent of a neighborhood soba shop, with a total of 26 seats, including 10 at the counter. Since I visited in the evening, it wasn’t crowded with noisy tourists, so I was able to enjoy a peaceful meal. At the same time, the staff moved with such efficiency that it was actually quite a pleasure to watch. I’ve never had a bad experience at a place where the staff is so efficient, so just based on that, I was confident that the ramen I was about to eat wouldn’t be “bad.”

The Truth About “Gion Paitan”… How Did I Find Gion Ramen Miyako Gion Main Store’s Signature Dish, the “Miyako Ramen,” When I Actually Tried It?

So, let me introduce the restaurant’s signature dish, the “Miyako Ramen,” which I ordered that day at Gion Ramen Miyako Gion Main Store. After placing my order, I waited just 3–4 minutes—the ramen arrived surprisingly quickly, but…

This is what the Miyako Ramen looked like when it was brought to my table. The cloudy white broth is topped with pork back fat. The restaurant calls this broth “Gion Paitan,” but is it actually a traditional Kyoto-style “back fat chacha” broth?

However, my personal impression is that while Kyoto’s backfat-based “chacha” style typically uses pork bone as the main base, the soup here is primarily chicken-based. In that sense, it gives a different flavor impression compared to the backfat-based “chacha” styles at other shops. If you took away the backfat, it might be closer to the chicken white soup at Tentenyu Ichijoji Main Store? But it’s lighter than Tentenyu’s soup, and even with the backfat, the overall flavor remains light and refreshing.

The noodles paired with this are straight, thin noodles made with low-water content, dubbed “low-temperature aged thin noodles.” They’re cooked to a firm texture, but rather than focusing on a crisp bite, they’re designed to let the unique chewy texture of aged noodles shine through. Since they’re thin, they’re easy to slurp and go down smoothly. Plus, they’re quite substantial, so even though they’re thin, they don’t leave you feeling unsatisfied.

As for the toppings, there are two thin slices of chashu and a boiled egg cut in half. Even though this is the standard ramen, I felt it was quite luxurious… The chashu has a good balance of fat and lean meat, and it’s thoroughly coated in the soup, making it full of umami. The boiled egg was also well-seasoned, with the broth flavor soaking deep into the center, giving it a great taste.

So, just like that, I polished off the “Miyako Ramen” at Gion Ramen Miyako Gion Main Store in just a few minutes and left the restaurant. I was surprised that the flavor was lighter than I’d imagined, but the portion size was generous, the toppings were luxurious for a standard order, and overall, I was very satisfied after the meal. At 890 yen (tax included), it’s definitely a great deal. I think this is a highly recommended spot, especially if you’re looking for an affordable meal in Gion.す。

Other Menu Items at Gion Ramen Miyako Gion Main Store (Prices include tax)

• Meat Special: 1,500 yen
• Extra-Rich, Creamy, and Deliciously Melt-in-Your-Mouth Chashu Ramen: 1,350 yen
• Deliciously Melt-in-Your-Mouth Chashu Ramen: 1,250 yen
• God-Level Chinese Soba: 990 yen
• Saikyo Miso Ramen: 950 yen
• Chicken Salt Ramen: 950 yen
• Red Ramen: 950 yen

Great value lunch sets available at lunchtime… Gion Ramen Miyako Gion Main Store is an 8-minute walk from the nearest station, Keihan Railway’s Gion-Shijō Station.

At Gion Ramen Miyako Gion Main Store, they offer great value lunch sets until 3:00 PM. There are five options to choose from…

• Wagyu Mini Sirloin Steak Rice Bowl Lunch: +1,800 yen
• Greedy Lunch (3 pan-fried gyoza, 2 pieces of fried chicken, rice) +500 yen
• Pan-Fried Gyoza Lunch (4 pan-fried gyoza, rice) +400 yen
• Fried Chicken Lunch (3 pieces of fried chicken, rice) +400 yen
• Luxury Mini Fried Rice Lunch +400 yen

It’s great that no matter which ramen you order, you can enjoy these sides at a great value for an additional fee. By the way, it seems they use rice from the famous rice restaurant “Hachidaime Gihey,” located diagonally across from the shop. Given that, your only option is to make sure you have plenty of room in your stomach when you visit for lunch, right? 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…