Good evening (￣Д￣)ﾉプヒプヒ♬ Tonight, I went to Menya Sei in Ichijoji, Kyoto. This ramen shop stands out in the competitive Ichijoji area, known for its thick and tender chashu. I arrived at 9 pm on a weekday and parked my bike in front of the shop. The entrance had glass windows, and the inside was transparent and inviting. I sat at the wooden counter and looked at the menu. They had a new item, Chicken Salt Ramen for 900 yen, with a rare chashu option. I usually avoid salt ramen when I want something hearty, but now, as a gourmet chubby middle-aged man (๑╹ω╹๑), I appreciate the delicate flavor of salt ramen. Menya Sei doesn't serve regular salt ramen, right? So, I decided on the Chicken Salt Ramen with rice and two pieces of Chicken Nanban for an additional 200 yen. The staff worked diligently to prepare the ramen, and soon it arrived: Chicken Salt Ramen Night Set (with rice, Chicken Nanban x2) for 1100 yen. First came the Chicken Salt Ramen, followed by rice and Chicken Nanban. Look at that clear soup! It had beautiful aromatic oil floating on top, a large rare chashu, white negi, and even rare bamboo shoots. The clear soup was delicious, with a well-balanced umami and saltiness from the chicken broth (maybe with clam broth and sweeteners too?). After sipping the soup, a lingering citrusy (probably sudachi) flavor remained in my mouth. The whole experience felt like enjoying a delicious soup dish at a high-end restaurant. The whole wheat noodles were thick and firm, which surprised me, but they paired well with the rich soup. The chashu had a hint of black pepper when chewed, and the bitterness of the white negi complemented it. The meaty chashu juices blended perfectly with the soup, and the crunchy bamboo shoots added a nice texture. Next, I devoured the sweet and savory Chicken Nanban with plenty of tartar sauce. The crispy and juicy Nanban, coated in sauce, was a delight, and I couldn't help but eat it with the rice. Before I knew it, I had finished every last bit. Menya Sei, you've truly delivered an outstanding salt ramen that can rival the classic thick chashu ramen! Whether it's the exquisite Chicken Salt Ramen or the thick chashu, both are highly recommended. This is a delightful dilemma! To those hesitating after reading this review – yes, you! – I dedicate this to Antonio Inoki: "What happens when you eat two bowls? Don't doubt, for there is no path without doubt. Eat two, and you shall understand!" Thank you! Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye~ (￣Д￣)ﾉ Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye~ (￣Д￣)ﾉ

I parked my car at a nearby coin parking and arrived at the restaurant around 9:30 PM. Even at this time, the restaurant was bustling. I sat at a vacant counter seat and looked at the menu. I decided to try the "Esora" mixed noodles (1,000 yen), which I had never eaten before. You can choose the amount of noodles from regular (150g) to extra-large (300g). I chose regular noodles and asked for thickly sliced chashu. The bowl was topped with chashu, chopped onions, menma, chopped green onions, seaweed, and pickled mustard greens. The noodles were firm and chewy with whole wheat, and they were coated with a rich sesame paste mixed with a soy sauce base from Kyoto and the umami of clams. Mixing in ingredients like pickled mustard greens, onions, green onions, and seaweed added depth to the flavor. The chashu was made of thickly sliced pork belly that was tender, fatty, and flavorful. The dish had a delicious mix of sesame flavor and the essence of clam broth typical of Menya Sei.

I had tried ramen before, but I had never tried maze-soba, so I came to eat it. It is a bit more expensive than ramen, but the taste and presentation were both great! I ordered the regular size, but it seemed like you could also get a larger size for free.

There is a coin parking nearby. You can manage to park a bicycle in front of the shop. Upon entering, you will be seated at a designated table and given a menu along with a glass of water. You inform the staff of your order from the menu and then wait. When ordering, you can choose the thickness of the chashu (thick/thin + seasoned egg) and the amount of noodles (regular - 150g/large - 225g/special - 300g). The interior has an open kitchen with a cafe-style concrete finish. On this day, they were playing a live performance similar to Summer Sonic. Yuki-san is great, but the atmosphere is also charming. There are table seats at the back, which I didn't expect from an eel shop. However, sitting at the counter and watching the thick, delicious-looking chashu being sliced in front of you is one of the charms here. I had the Gift ramen with thin chashu and seasoned egg for ¥880. The soup is surprisingly flavorful with a strong clam taste. The first time I tried it, it was truly eye-opening. I remember thinking, "This is delicious!" and enjoying it without feeling the need to write about it on Tabelog (laughs). As you settle in, you notice the presence of oysters and clams. The mild soy sauce base supports the dish without being overpowering. The noodles are homemade and medium-thick straight noodles with a firm texture, unique and fresh due to the whole wheat, and they mix well with the soup. The chashu, even when thin, is flavorful and tender. The meat is light but delicious until the last bite. The bamboo shoots are subtle but perfect for cleansing the palate. The white radish and green onions also play their roles well. The seasoned egg is decent but nothing extraordinary. The soup is so good that you might even finish it if there were 1.5 times more of it (laughs). Although I usually write reviews on Tabelog, I vividly remember just enjoying the meal without thinking about it.

In the lineage of all mankind's noodle dishes, it seems like the second branch of Uzumaru's Yuuko. This group has finally expanded to Mecca in Ichijoji, which is hilarious. I chose the most popular gift, and as for the taste, the soup with clam broth has a strong flavor, combined with a slightly sweet soy sauce, it's delicious. The whole wheat texture of the medium-thick straight noodles somehow intertwines perfectly with the soup. I really like this kind of flavor, and there's no disappointment in any of the choices. The menu descriptions are too playful, haha. I don't eat much, so I opted for a lighter portion of chashu and a boiled egg, but surprisingly, it came in a large size like a light croquette, haha. By the way, I recently learned that between curly noodles and straight noodles, the straight noodles surprisingly cling more to the soup. The reason is that with straight noodles, when you pick them up with chopsticks, they form a bundle that the soup clings to, whereas with curly noodles, there's space between the noodles for the soup to flow down. Well, curly noodles have their own charm; they have a delicious texture, and when the soup is very rich, they don't cling too much, so it's good to switch between the two!

Visited with my family of three for some soy sauce ramen. My daughter, who prefers light seafood flavors, had the "Gift" soy sauce ramen featuring oysters, clams, and shijimi. My brother-in-law and I went for the rich soy sauce ramen "Symbol" with a side of pork dumplings. Despite its rich appearance, the taste was surprisingly light and delicious. We opted for the toppings of "thinly sliced chashu + seasoned egg," which were pleasantly substantial. The interior was also stylish.

Visited the popular "Menya Sei" in Ichijoji, a fierce ramen battleground. Being the second store of the Menya Yuukou group, expectations were high. The menu includes clam, bonito soy sauce, rich soy sauce, and mixed noodles. Knowing that the clam and soy sauce options are delicious at this chain, I decided to order the mixed noodles this time. It comes with a special sauce based on soy sauce that captures the umami of clams. I chose the EsoRa 300g with extra thick pork for 1,000 yen. You can choose between extra thick or thin pork with added boiled egg, just like everyone else in the noodle world. The mixed noodles come in 150g, 225g, and 300g portions, all priced the same. The 300g portion was impressively voluminous, packed full of noodles. Now, about the sauce, it was delicious! The thick, savory sauce combined the umami of seafood with the fragrance of soy sauce, creating a smooth sauce without any sharp edges, served piping hot. The noodles were homemade whole wheat noodles, chewy with a nice texture and aroma, very delicious. The chashu was the same as everyone else in the noodle world, extremely tasty with a melt-in-your-mouth thick slice. It was truly a delicious experience that justified its popularity. Visited just before 11:05 am on a Sunday and was able to get a seat immediately.

I searched for a ramen shop in Ichijoji that I haven't been to besides tsukemen. It's a refreshing fish-based soup ramen that all humans love noodles. I chose the large-sized chashu as a topping. I didn't choose the boiled egg because it seems to be thin. The chashu was as big as a pencil case. My companion added white rice and gyoza from the lunch menu. They were playing a DVD of Mr.Children, but I appreciated that the volume was not too loud like in some other shops. The deliciousness of the clear soup is the best part. If you like light flavors, be sure to try it.

I visited Menya Seikiyo in Ichijoji before noon on a weekday, and the restaurant was almost full. This time, I ordered a gift. The light soup with scallop broth matched the noodles perfectly and was incredibly delicious. I wonder if the reason why there were many female customers is because the menu items were named after songs by Mr. Children, and their music was playing on the monitors in the restaurant. In any case, this stylish restaurant with delicious ramen is a place where female customers can feel comfortable dining. Thank you for the meal.

Following the gift, I also tried the shiru (strong soy sauce). The aftertaste of the soy sauce was fragrant, and various flavors came rushing in afterwards like a kaleidoscope... And the thickness of the chashu was extraordinary! Dipping it in the fragrant soy sauce and taking a bite... Mmm, heavenly ⭐︎ And all of this for around 800 yen?! It's so reasonable that it almost makes me worry if they can keep going (lol).

Order details: Gift menu (880 yen). The transparent soup was beautiful and had an elegant, sweet and delicious taste. The restaurant often has temporary closures on days other than regular holidays, so I haven't had many opportunities to visit. Luckily, they were open on the day I went, and I was really glad.

I arrived at the restaurant just before it got dark in the afternoon. The rock and rap music playing in sync with the TV was impressive and seemed to have a good sense of style. I ordered the "Gift" ramen, which had a vague and artistic presentation. When the ramen arrived, it was beautifully presented with a strong aroma of roasted pork and flavored oil, creating a subtle blend of flavors with green onions and white pepper. The noodles were thick and made in-house, with a noticeable whole wheat texture. The balance of whole wheat and possibly tapioca flour made the noodles slightly too firm for my liking. However, the soup was a revelation with its vibrant and light umami flavor that illuminated my senses. The depth and complexity of the flavors surpassed the norm, dancing on my taste buds. The soup, enriched with clam dashi and incorporating flying fish as an ingredient, was expertly crafted. The soy sauce was subtly present, which suited my taste. The aromatic oil added a fascinating touch to the dish. The roasted pork was delicious, though thinly sliced, it had a rich flavor reminiscent of braised pork. The thin slices were for sampling the seasoned egg, which was not particularly noteworthy. Overall, a meticulously prepared dish with layers of flavors that delighted my palate.

In this area, known for fierce ramen competition, it's relatively easy to get in quickly as there are always long lines everywhere. I was looking forward to the chewy curly noodles shown in the photo, but the broth lacked depth of flavor even though I ordered what seemed to be the most appealing option. The soup looked clear and the noodles appeared to be springy, but the only standout was the incredibly delicious chashu pork!

I was the first to arrive 20 minutes before the weekday opening. It seems like there are fewer people lining up here compared to the main store. Maybe it's the location? I knew this place was part of the Yukari group, but I rarely visit Ichijoji Ramen Street... so this was a long-awaited visit. The floor and walls are concrete, with about 7 or 8 counter seats and 3 or 4 tables. They played Mr. Children (live version) music, and the menu is all Mr. Children songs - even the lyrics! It's quite amusing. Surprisingly, they didn't mention anything about the Chicken Salt Ramen, which is a mystery. Even if you're not a huge Mr. Children fan, you'll catch on to the theme. I ordered the "Gift" for 800 yen, choosing thin pork and soft-boiled egg. It apparently comes with clams and flying fish. The Yukari group seems to excel in clam broth. Each store's blend seems subtly different, right? I think this is my first time having flying fish at a Yukari place. It was ready in about 5 minutes. The presentation is typical of Yukari - beautiful. The toppings include bamboo shoots, thin pork, egg, green onions, and some leaves (what were they again?). The noodles are thick, straight, and chewy. The soup... delicious. The first impression is the flying fish, giving it a seafood flavor. And clams, definitely. The base is fish and shellfish, maybe with some meat too? The noodles are the same as the group's standard - chewy and medium-thick. They go well with the soup. Overall, it's subtly portioned, just right for me, but if you want more, maybe you should order some rice dishes? I think they had a pork bowl, but not sure. One thing that bothered me a bit was the staff's perfume. It's best to avoid wearing it in a dining establishment. The atmosphere, with concrete, wood, and Mr. Children (different from Ginza), is spacious and nice here. However, since they don't use meal tickets, I completely forgot to pay on my way out - almost walked out without paying! Quite embarrassing!

Ichijo-ji is a competitive area for ramen, but each place has its own unique charm, making it hard to decide. Since my companion isn't a big fan of ramen, I searched online and found this place that seemed the most simple. The restaurant has a modern café-like atmosphere. My companion ordered the chashu rice mini set, and I got the chashu with gyoza. We both opted for the chashu with a lighter broth and a seasoned soft-boiled egg. The broth was clear with a distinct flavor of clams and flying fish, giving it a rich umami taste. The noodles also had a delicious flavor, reminiscent of fragrant wheat or whole grain. The combination was really tasty. My companion's dish looked rich, but it had a sweet soy sauce flavor that wasn't too salty, a new taste for us. Even my companion, who isn't a fan of ramen, enjoyed it. My companion noticed that there were three types of ramen on the menu - simple, gift, and shirushi. Inside the shop, Mr. Children's music was playing, and it all made sense! I later found out that the owner is a fan of Mr. Children. I immediately sent a picture to my friend who loves Mr. Children. With so many ramen options in Ichijo-ji, I'm excited to try more places. Thank you for the meal!

Good evening, it's Kyon, a ramen-loving college student. I drove to Ichijoji and went to "Menya Sei~kiyo~" along the Kamogawa River to see the cherry blossoms. Is the weekend already coming to an end? This is the second store of "Menya Yuko Group," a ramen shop with the concept of bringing Kyoto to the world. The interior is simple and stylish with a warm Scandinavian feel based on gray wood, and a world map is drawn on the walls. When I visited around 2 p.m., the restaurant was not crowded. I ordered the "Simple" ramen, which is a soy sauce ramen made with bonito, meat, and kelp broth. The other ramen with unique names like "Gift" or "Mark" are all 800 yen, but there is a nice discount of 50 yen off with a student ID for students in junior high school and above, or you can get a free extra serving. You can choose between thick or thin slices of roasted pork; if you choose thin, you get a seasoned boiled egg. The thin slices were over 1 cm thick, and the roasted pork melted in my mouth. It was delightful to see the pork being carefully sliced at the counter just before eating. The ramen itself was incredibly delicious, with a Kyoto-style Japanese broth made from kelp and bonito, combined with sweet soy sauce, creating an exquisite soup. The homemade noodles were medium-thick and straight, with a chewy texture that scooped up the soup from the bottom. There was also a hint of yuzu pepper for a refreshing touch. In addition to the world map, the restaurant had two TVs playing live footage of Mr. Children's concert, indicating the chef's training at the famous "Jinrui Minaramen" in Osaka. Even the menu items were inspired by Mr. Children's lyrics. With its stylish interior, thoughtful concept, and attentive service, this ramen shop was not only delicious but also very cozy. It's a bit far north in Kyoto, but it's worth the trip for a bowl of ramen that makes you want to go the distance. Thank you for the meal.

Ordered the Gift and Simple ramen. The flavors were gentle. I finished every drop of the soup. The chashu and seasoned egg were both tender and very delicious. The chashu was thin but thick (lol) and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Next time, I'll have the Gift again and try the shiru that I didn't have today.

■Visit Date: February 5, 2022■Ordered Items・Gift (thinly sliced roasted pork + seasoned egg) (Me)・Shirushi (thinly sliced roasted pork + seasoned egg) (Wife)・Seared Roasted Pork Bowl (Me)■MEMOVisited on February 5, 2022. This restaurant is located in Ichijoji, Kyoto, a fiercely competitive ramen district. They offer homemade noodles. Part of the restaurant is equipped with a noodle-making facility, allowing you to enjoy delicious noodles. I had the Gift. You can fully enjoy the umami of clam and flying fish broth. It's a blissful bowl of soy sauce-based ramen in Kyoto. The golden-colored soup is delicious. I finished every drop. Furthermore, the straight noodles have excellent flavor and texture, very tasty. The combination of roasted pork, seasoned egg packed with umami, flavorful bamboo shoots, accent of green onions, and fragrant trefoil made for a delightful bowl. My wife had the Shirushi. It was a soy sauce-based bowl, not as rich as it looks, but very delicious. It was a satisfying meal for both of us.■Bloghttps://ay-style.net/

Gift Ramen with Char Siu and Soft-boiled Egg - 850 yen. Elegant and gentle taste...! The interior is clean with a white color scheme, lacking the typical Ichijoji vibe! (Sorry) The char siu was thin but surprisingly thick, yet still easy to cut with chopsticks, tender and melts in your mouth! I finished it in no time. Visited on a weekday at 9 pm, only 2 groups of customers ahead, wait time was about 5-10 minutes after ordering. Zero stress. Had it for lunch, light enough to go back to work without feeling heavy. Good.

I visited the restaurant "Menya Sei" for lunch that day. During my lunch break at work, I planned to go to a popular nearby restaurant, but gave up due to a longer line than I expected. So, I visited this restaurant located a little further away. This area is a famous ramen battleground in Kyoto city, so it was helpful to have many other options even in such situations. This restaurant is a new establishment among them. As it was lunchtime, there was a line, so I waited for about 10 minutes in front of the store before entering. When I stepped inside, the first thing I thought was, "Huh? Haven't I seen this atmosphere somewhere before?" There was no connection to the restaurant's name, and there was no specific explanation, but the atmosphere was exactly like a certain famous restaurant in Osaka (always with a long line). The similarity in the atmosphere was so striking that it seemed like they might be affiliated or have some kind of connection. I ordered the "Gift Char-Grilled Pork Bowl Set for 1,000 yen," and as expected, very delicious ramen and bowl were served! The taste was incredibly delicious, and I was very satisfied! The ramen was truly delicious, but since I couldn't clearly understand the relationship with that famous restaurant, I felt a bit puzzled. It was very lucky to be able to eat this ramen in Kyoto though. Thank you for the meal!

The "Gift (Simmered Egg Topping)" menu, everyone in the restaurant can tell from the background music that they are all ramen lovers. Even though I'm used to this pattern, I keep coming back to this place. The mysterious clam-based broth captivates me from the first bite. Even though I know what kind of noodles they use, it still tastes delicious. I love ramen. It's consistent yet enjoyable. I was amazed by the thickness of the chashu (roasted pork). In Kyoto's Ichijoji area, you can enjoy delicious ramen without having to wait in line. There are so many ramen shops in Kyoto that it's a happy dilemma not knowing where to go next.