Tokusei Ramen Daichu Honten

Tokusei Ramen Donaka Honten, an established Kyoto ramen shop, is conveniently located right outside Kintetsu Kyoto Line's Momoyama-Goryomae Station exit, situated under the elevated tracks across the street. This popular local spot, marked by its yellow signboard, stands in the bar district of Fushimi's sake brewery area, boasting a nostalgic Showa-era charm. Its signature Donaka Ramen features a rich, thick soup simmered for 24 hours using two types of pork bones and three types of chicken bones, creating a sludgy consistency that combines the umami of chicken and the richness of pork bone, characteristic of Kyoto ramen. Another attractive feature is the high degree of customization: you can verbally specify the noodle firmness, soup type, flavor intensity, amount of bean sprouts, amount of green onions, whether to include a soft-boiled egg (onsen tamago), and whether to include kimchi. Regulars often succinctly order all items 'zenbu hidari de' (meaning 'all to the left' on a preference scale) for a nuanced preference. The 'Tokunou Ramen' (Ultra-Rich Ramen, 820-860 yen) features an even more reduced, paste-like super-rich soup that clings well to the noodles, offering an incredibly satisfying meal. The noodles are thin and straight, a classic choice for tonkotsu ramen, with their smooth texture and slender profile perfectly complementing the rich soup. For toppings, you can choose from three types of chashu (roast pork): kata (shoulder), bara (pork belly), and rosu (loin). The 'Kata-Bara-Rosu' combination, featuring all three, is a popular choice. Moreover, the generous provision of free extra toppings – bean sprouts, green onions, soft-boiled egg, and kimchi – which can also be adjusted in quantity, is an exceptional service for ramen priced in the 760 yen range. The tables are equipped with pepper, ground sesame, garlic chips, grated garlic, and a special ramen sauce for flavor alteration (ajien). Mixing garlic chips and grated garlic into the thick soup for an ajien is a classic move among local patrons. The side menu is extensive, offering gyoza (380 yen), white rice (190 yen), karaage set meals, chashu-don (roast pork rice bowl), and yakimeshi (fried rice), catering to everything from a 'shime-ramen' (ramen to finish the night) to a casual meal during sightseeing. Open until late at night, it's also a popular stop to conclude a Fushimi sake brewery tour.