Kairikiya: Exploring Kyoto’s Famous "Seabura-Chaccha" Ramen Culture🍜

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For lunch today, I had a bowl of ramen from Kairikiya!

​Kairikiya is a popular chain famous for its Kyoto-style Seabura Shoyu (back-fat soy sauce) ramen.
​When people think of Kyoto ramen, there are generally three main styles:

1.​The ultra-thick, heavy soup style (like Tenkaippin)

2.​The clear, refreshing pork-shoyu style (like Daiichi Asahi)

3.​The Seabura-Chaccha style, which found its roots in a legendary shop called Masutani.
​Kairikiya’s roots trace back to that Masutani lineage.

​So, what does "Seabura-Chaccha" mean? Seabura means pork back-fat, and Chaccha is the onomatopoeia for the sound made when shaking a strainer to tap the fat directly into the bowl. This method infuses the savory chicken-broth-and-soy-sauce soup with the natural sweetness of the back-fat, making it incredibly delicious!

​While staying true to its roots, Kairikiya has evolved its own unique menu. The bowl I ordered today is a rich, deeper version of their standard shoyu ramen, packed with even more umami.

​They also offer miso ramen and various limited-time seasonal flavors. Thanks to its affordable prices and great variety, it’s a highly reliable go-to shop for an ordinary Japanese guy like me.

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