Must-visit highly-rated ramen shop in Kyoto: Menyuya’s delicious crab ramen

Text & photos byKavanagh

Menyuya is a ramen shop that opened in April 2014, and it has received high ratings on Tablog since its opening. For the past few months, it has consistently ranked among the top ten ramen shops in Kyoto on Tablog (as of December 14, 2014, it was ranked seventh). Menyuya is located on Senbon-dori, near the intersection with Senbon Imadegawa, and is very close to where I live in Kyoto’s Nishijin area. That’s why I had long wanted to check it out—what unique charm does this newly opened ramen shop have that allows it to carve out a place for itself in Kyoto’s fiercely competitive ramen scene?

Menyuya is tucked away in a small alley on Senbon-dori, right next to a LAWSON. After you see the LAWSON, just turn right and you’ll find Menyuya immediately. The shop isn’t big and there are only about 6–7 seats available.

On the MENU, the two star items are “Kani Shio Soba” (crab salt ramen) and “Kani Shio Tsukemen” (crab salt dipping ramen).

There were three types of noodles to choose from, and we went with the first option: Mochi Mochi noodles, made simply with wheat flour, salt, and water.

After ordering, we waited about five minutes before my “Kani Shio Soba” (crab salt ramen) was served. The toppings were simple: char siu pork, bean sprouts, and bamboo shoots. The most eye-catching element of the bowl was the generous heap of crab meat on top.

First, I took a sip of the broth. It looked oily, but it didn’t taste greasy at all. As soon as it entered my mouth, I was hit with a rich, delicious crab flavor. I’ve eaten a lot of ramen, but this was my first time trying a shellfish-based broth. Surprisingly, the crab soup paired really well with the noodles. Next, I tried the bamboo shoots—they were tender and delicious. The char siu slices were thin, but decent enough. As for the noodles we chose—Mochi Mochi—they’re thin noodles that paired wonderfully with the light yet flavorful broth.

My friend ordered the “Kani Shio Tsukemen” (crab salt dipping ramen), which had the same noodles, char siu, toppings, and broth as the regular ramen, but I personally prefer tsukemen with a richer dipping sauce. After trying a bite, I felt that the crab broth was a bit too light for my taste as a dipping sauce—I personally prefer the “Kani Shio Soba” (crab salt ramen) where you dip the noodles directly into the soup.

Summary: Menyuya’s crab salt ramen is delicious. The broth is truly rich with crab flavor—savory and absolutely tasty.

Basic Info for “Menyuya”:
Business Hours: Weekdays: 11:30–14:00 (last order), 18:00–21:00 (last order)
Sundays/Holidays: 11:30–14:00 (last order), 18:00–20:30 (last order)
Closed on Wednesdays
Access: Take the Kyoto City Bus to “Senbon Nakamise” and walk 2 minutes.
Address: 682 Kitaiseidenkoucho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto
 

Kavanagh @ Kyoto – Living Freely.