Food Chronicles

Menbakaichidai Fire Ramen in Kyoto

No Ramen No Life - the motto of Menbakaichidai Fire Ramen. Getting to this point of the bowl gives you an incentive to slurp up all the noodles and drink some broth. If you really enjoyed the experience and want to take it home with you, you can buy souvenir bowls and apparel

All About the Hottest Bowl of Ramen in Kyoto

Menbakaichidai Fire Ramen in Kyoto has gained massive popularity thanks to social media and viral videos of the flaming ramen bowls. Here is a quick guide for those wanting to learn more about the fire ramen experience:

Things to Know About Menbakaichidai Fire Ramen

Menbakachidai Fire Ramen is located outside of the usual tourist areas, just northeast of the Nijo Castle. Once you arrive in front of the ramen shop, line up (and there is usually a line).

While in line, you can review the menu items and read the precautions and procedures to ensure a safe and delicious experience.

Each guest must order their own bowl of ramen. The broth is soy sauce based made of chicken and fish broths and topped with a generous handful of green onions for its distinct flavor. The burning oil is both for show and for a charred taste.

Note that you cannot take photos nor film video while the ramen is burning in front of you. Instead, the staff borrows your camera phone and records you and the fire ramen experience from a safe distance. You can take photos or videos of other guests who are sitting farther from your seat.

Preparing for the Fire Ramen Experience

Every seat has prime views of the open kitchen. You can watch each step of how they assemble the ramen to when they start the flames. You will also see the details of the burns and damage from the flames – like on the charred countertops

The menu comes in multiple languages. You can order the basic ramen bowl, add side dishes, or order a set menu. Every guest must have their own bowl of ramen. For those with allergies, there are ingredients listed on the menu

Before and after ordering, you are required to read through and understand the rules in order to guarantee the safety of yourself and those around you. Don’t worry about photos and videos when your bowl is served – they have your camera phone set up very well and you will have the perfect shot thanks to the staff

Watch clips from my fire ramen experience!

The Ramen at Menbakaichidai Fire Ramen

While the highlight of the meal is the flames in front of your face, the ramen itself is actually worth going to the restaurant. After the flames settle down, the staff tells you to wait a moment for the oil to cool as to not scald your mouth

The ramen is soy sauce based and topped with a generous handful of green onions. The flames impart a delicious charred taste to the brother and onions. You can also order egg to add protein to your bowl, as well as gyoza and fried chicken as side dishes

No Ramen No Life – the motto of Menbakaichidai Fire Ramen. Getting to this point of the bowl gives you an incentive to slurp up all the noodles and drink some broth. If you really enjoyed the experience and want to take it home with you, you can buy souvenir bowls and apparel