Ramen Tsurumusha

Ramen-Tsurumusha Saiin, a renowned tori-paitan (chicken broth) ramen shop, is located on Sai-dori, a 6-minute walk from Saiin Station on the Hankyu Kyoto Line in Saiin, Kyoto. Opened in 2012, this established eatery has been selected as one of Ramen West's Top 100 Restaurants for three consecutive years (2023-2025), offering safe and delicious ramen made without chemical seasonings and with carefully selected ingredients. The shop's name, "Tsurumusha," comes from the owner's desire for children to "tsuru-tsuru musha-musha" (slurp and gobble) their food. Signature dishes include tori-paitan "Ramen" and "Japanese-style Ramen" (Wafu Ramen), Tsukemen, Chashu Ramen, and seasonal specials like White Miso Ramen, Shogoin Ramen, Cold Tsukemen, and Kiln-Baked Chashu Ramen (available Tuesdays and Saturdays nights only). The soup is a double broth, combining a creamy tori-paitan made primarily with Omi local chicken, chicken bones, pork bones, vegetables, and scallops, with a seafood dashi. It offers a deep umami and lingering aftertaste despite being free of chemical seasonings. The homemade flat, medium-thick, hand-kneaded noodles are a blend of Kyoto and Hokkaido wheat, meticulously hand-kneaded and curled one by one daily, with slight adjustments for temperature and humidity. Toppings are lavish, featuring moist and tender rare lean chashu, extra-thick ripe menma (sweetly seasoned), green onions, white leek strips, chili threads, and a soft-boiled egg from Kyoto Nantan's red eggs. Table condiments include black pepper, ichimi togarashi (Japanese chili powder), and nori tsukudani (seaweed paste), with dissolving the nori tsukudani into the soup being a popular way to change the flavor. The service of offering tea instead of plain water is also a nice touch, and the clean interior makes it welcoming for solo female diners and families alike.