Introduction
“The day starts with morning ramen (laugh)”
This sign caught my attention. So I tried morning ramen for the first time in my life! The place is “Jarinko Ramen” in Kyoto. Why is this shop so popular at 6 AM? I went to find out the secret.
What is Morning Ramen? This Culture Was New to Me
To be honest, I never eat noodles in the morning. For breakfast, I eat bread or rice. If I eat noodles, maybe udon, soba, or cold noodles. I never wanted to eat ramen in the morning.
But recently, more ramen shops in Kyoto open early in the morning. What is this trend? I was very curious about this.
Easy Access! Very Close to Kintetsu Jujo Station
“Jarinko Ramen” is very close to Kintetsu Jujo Station. Even at 6 AM, some customers come by taxi. When I walked past the shop, I saw many people going inside.
When I saw this, I thought “Morning ramen really has demand!”
Amazing Crowd! Almost Full at 6 AM
I was surprised when I went inside. At 6 AM, the shop was almost full! There were about 8 customers including me. All were men. I talked to a man next to me. He said “Last week at the same time, the shop was completely full. No one could enter.”
In the afternoon, the soup runs out and the shop closes. If you really want to eat here, I recommend going early.
Menu: Good Selection for Morning Satisfaction
Basic Menu
- Ramen: 800 yen
- Side dishes
- Alcohol (some people drink in the morning!)
Set Menus
- Set A, Set B, Set C
- Jarinko Set (everything included) ← I ordered this one
I wanted to enjoy the full morning ramen experience. So I chose the “Jarinko Set”.
Food Review: Gentle Taste That Feels Good in the Morning
Ramen (Pork Bone Soy Sauce) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The soup felt very good in my body in the morning! It is pork bone and soy sauce base. But it is not too heavy. It is light but still satisfying.
The noodles were cooked just right. Some people say “This is real Kyoto ramen.” Other people say “This is too light for Kyoto ramen.” I think this is about personal taste. For morning eating, this level was perfect.
Fried Rice ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The fried rice had big pieces of pork. It had strong soy sauce flavor and was a bit salty. The balance with the light ramen was excellent. I think this combination was planned well.
Gyoza (Dumplings) ⭐⭐⭐
The gyoza had strong garlic taste. The skin texture was normal. But for eating in the morning, this level was probably just right.
Fried Chicken ⭐⭐⭐
This was light fried chicken using breast meat. It reminded me of fried chicken from Lawson convenience store. (I used to work at Lawson, so it brought back memories.) The coating was a bit stronger, and it seemed healthy for breakfast.
Staff Care Was Very Nice
There were male and female staff members. They gave very good service. They said “Thank you” with good feeling. This made the food taste even better.
The shop opens at 6 AM. But staff members come at 3:30 AM to prepare. I don’t know if this is morning or night time! But they work hard early for customers.
Who Eats Morning Ramen?
I watched the customers. Some people finish night work. But most people are going to work in the morning. They eat good food in the morning to have energy for the day.
I Researched Morning Ramen History
I researched morning ramen culture. People say it started in Shizuoka Prefecture (there are different opinions). People who work with tea started working very early. They ate ramen for breakfast.
From Shizuoka, it spread to Akita, Fukuoka, and all over Japan. In Kyoto, the famous old shop “Daiichi Asahi” near Kyoto Station also opens at 6 AM. Morning ramen culture is growing in Kyoto.
Honest Opinion: Too Much Food – My Day Ended!
The shop sign says “The day starts with morning ramen.” But for me, after eating this, my day was finished! (laugh)
The amount was very big. I went home and slept immediately. I did not eat lunch. At night, my stomach was still full. I planned morning activity, but it became sleeping activity.
Shop Information
Jarinko Ramen
- Business hours: 6 AM to around noon
- Access: Very close to Kintetsu Jujo Station
- Popular menu: Jarinko Set
- Note: Sometimes closes when soup runs out
Summary: Morning Ramen Culture is Deeper Than I Thought
My first morning ramen experience was much better than I expected. The ramen was light but had good taste. It felt gentle in my body in the morning.
Having ramen as breakfast choice (not just bread or rice) was a new discovery. Especially for people who do physical work or start work very early, this might be perfect breakfast for energy.
Kyoto morning ramen culture seems very deep. Next time, I want to visit other shops too.
If you have a chance, please try morning ramen. I think you will find a new way to spend your morning!
Note: Business hours and prices may change. Please check latest information before visiting.