Ore no Ramen Appareya

"Ore-no-Ramen Appareya" is an incredibly popular ramen shop, representative of Kyoto, nestled in the mountains about 40 minutes by car south of central Kyoto, along National Route 307 in Nashima, Joyo City, Kyoto Prefecture. It's a perennial top-ranked shop on Kyoto's Tabelog and has been selected for Ramen WEST Hyakumeiten (百名店 - Top 100 Shops) for 23-25 consecutive years. Despite its suburban location more than 3km from the nearest station, many enthusiasts flock here from outside Kyoto by car, bus, or bicycle, truly making it worthy of being called "Ramen no Seichi" (ラーメンの聖地 - Sacred Place for Ramen). The signature "Kokumaro Shio Ramen" (こくまろ塩ラーメン - mellow salt ramen) for 1000 yen features a salt soup blending tonkotsu (豚骨 - pork bone) and gyokai (魚介 - seafood) broths. Its delicate yet profound flavor, meticulously balanced between salt, pork bone, and seafood, fascinates enthusiasts with its perfection, allowing every last drop to be savored. The "Nigoritoro Shio Ramen" (濁とろ塩ラーメン - cloudy, thick salt ramen) for 1450 yen (with chashu) is a frothy, creamy salt tonkotsu espuma (foam) finished with a hand mixer, offering a more robust flavor with an added punch from fish powder. Appareya is also said to be "the first shop in Japan to froth soup," making it the origin of the "awa-kei ramen" (泡系ラーメン - foamy ramen) style that is now widespread, particularly in Kyoto. The homemade, extremely thick, flat, wavy noodles boast a chewy texture and an excellent ability to entangle with the soup due to their waves, reminiscent of high-quality fresh pasta. The "Pastrami-style Rare Chashu" (チャーシュー - roasted pork slices), scattered with whole peppercorns, is thinly sliced and arranged like flower petals, allowing the direct umami and aroma of the meat to shine through. Toppings like "Zaimoku Menma" (材木メンマ - thick bamboo shoots) with hidden cuts, soft-boiled ajitama (味玉 - seasoned egg), and chopped green onions are all meticulously considered, and the shop is acclaimed for "ramen as a comprehensive art form," with attention even to the bowl's color and arrangement. However, the true star is the "Super Tsukemen" (スーパーつけ麺 - Super Dipping Noodles), limited to 20 servings (200g medium for 1200 yen~). This super popular menu item sells out right after opening, with many customers queuing 30 minutes or more before the shop even opens, specifically for this dish. Noodles can be upsized to a large portion for free. Regulars also enjoy an "Ajitsuke Meshi" (味付け飯 - seasoned rice) side dish for 150 yen, dipping it into the leftover soup to enjoy it ojiya-style (おじや - rice porridge-style). The shop operates for lunch only (11:30-14:00), with regular holidays on the 4th Saturday, Sundays, and national holidays. As temporary closures or non-regular holiday closures are frequent, it's advisable to check their official blog or X (Twitter) for the latest business status before visiting.