Tenkaippin is perhaps the largest ramen chain in Japan, and funny enough, their specialty is chicken broth ramen instead of pork!
For those who don’t eat pork for religious reasons (e.g. Muslims, Jews, etc.) or simply have a dislike for it, Tenkaippin is a godsend. They also offer chicken and vegetable ingredients so you don’t have to settle on the standard chashu pork slices that typically come with ramen dishes.
Rich Kotteri Chicken Broth
I’m no ramen connoisseur, but the kotteri or “rich” chicken broth served at Tenkaippin is the best I’ve ever had.
The soup is so thick that it borderlines the texture of yogurt or pudding, and the flavor is so potent that just one sip invigorates the entire body.
You can enjoy a standard kotteri ramen for just 920 yen (6 USD), an absolute bargain!
Great Toppings & Customizations!
There are plenty of toppings, side dishes, and customizations available at Tenkaippin.
You can add boiled eggs for that extra protein or even up the broth to kotteri max which incorporates an even thicker broth with added garlic flavoring.
In addition, delicious side dishes like gyoza, karaage (fried chicken), and rice.
English Menu
Even in the most remote parts of Kyoto, I was astounded to see English menus available at Tenkaippin which the staff did not hesitate to provide.
They provide descriptions of terms like kotteri and have recommendations to make it easy to order for non-Japanese speakers.
That being said, I couldn’t help but notice the English menu leaves out a lot of details like kotteri max customizations and topping information, so I’d recommend using Google Lens to translate the Japanese menu for a more in-depth menu.
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