Serves meat, vegan options available. Modern style ramen restaurant offering vegetarian and vegan options which are labeled on the menu. Has two vegan ramen: soy ramen and zesty spicy ramen. Gluten-free soybean noodle and konjac noodles are available. Buy a ticket for the dishes you'd like: the vending machine accepts big notes. English spoken. Est. 2018. Relocated from Daizucho 400 2F, Shimogyo Ward. Gets very biusy and queues can be long. Open Mon-Sun 12:00pm-10:00pm. Closed Tue-Wed. Last order 30 minutes before closing.
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Last update on 18 Dec 2024 by 京都炎神
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Added by falafeldogs on 20 Jul 2018
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400 Reviews
First Review by Mooloobooloo
StuartHiggins
Points +51
Great vegan ramen worth a normal wait time. - Edit
Wait for us was approx 40 minutes, had I known I would have chosen elsewhere but a friend living in Kyoto recommended. However the wait was just about worth it. Although it did taint the overall enjoyment. We got the two different vegan options and both were delicious. Did not feel rushed by staff too to leave once finished which I expected. Staff seemed nice and relaxed. I think it's worth a wait of 30 minutes but anymore I would go elsewhere. Just time it well so you can enjoy the whole thing.
Read morePros: Vegan options easily displayed , Friendly staff, Location is good
Cons: Wait time is large , Lots of tourists however vegan places are rare
Guest
mimbus2000
Points +28
Amazing vegan ramen - Edit
my partner who is an omnivore loved his ramen too. Expect a wait & Accept the bib.
Read morePros: Both options delicious , Good for when with omnivores
Guest
meshedpotato
Points +52
Super tasty ramen - Edit
Only two things bothered me about coming here, and neither are the fault of the restaurant:
Read more1) There wasn't a single Japanese person in the restaurant while we were there, so it felt like a total tourist place.
2) There was a long queue outside and we had to wait for about an hour before getting a table.
That being said, the ramen was extremely tasty and the service was fast, friendly and attentive. The price was also completely fine for what you got.
I don't know if this was a one-off thing, but the evening we were there, whenever a guest left, the entire staff synchronously shouted "Arigato Gozaimasu" (Thank you very much) from every corner of the restaurant. Adorable.
Pros: tasty, central
Cons: long wait for table
Guest
SaraStrickler
Points +136
Great ramen, expect a wait - Edit
We waited on line for about 40 minutes, but it was worth the wait. Two vegan options on the menu, both were good. We sat at the bar watching them cook which was fun. The service was fast and kind. We preferred this style of ramen to another popular vegan ramen place nearby, and would recommend it and visit again on another trip to Kyoto.
Read moreGuest
Marianne1211
Points +45
Delicious Ramen - Edit
2 vegan ramen options on the menu and the one I had was very tasty. We went around 6pm and queued for less than 30 minutes and it was definitely worth it. Will go back!
Read moreGuest
Cabeto
Points +380
Creamy Ramen - Edit
The vegan ramen is so creamy !!! We had the spicy ramen at it was delicious. Great price, queued for 20 min (arrived at 6pm), staff is very friendly and service is quick. Only downside, vegan doesn’t have any protein or a lot of vegetables.
Read moreGuest
Esor
Points +555
90 minute wait for good ramen - Edit
Principally, I don't think a restaurant is at fault if you choose to wait for 1.5h outside in the rain to try their food. That's your choice. However, it can't help but taint the experience. The ramen was lovely, but no food could be worth that wait to me and I wouldn't do it again. We came around 8 pm, so maybe if you come right as they open, the queue would be shorter. But as any place in japan, the restaurant is tiny and does not offer many seats.
Read moreGuest
vegan.baddie
Points +885
really good. Expect a wait. - Edit
This is a great spot. The vegan ramen is very delicious but not my fave in kyoto or in other parts of Japan. Anyway it’s great and it’s a fun spot. Sake was also delicious (and strong lol). Maybe slightly a tad gimmicky? In that they offered us aprons for our meal which I declined. Staff was super fun and pleasant and it was a cute experience overall! We waited an hour/ 1:15 to get in and got in line around 8:45. They stop seating around 10 and we just squeezed in. I would say the wait was worth it, also bc there aren’t a lot of spots to eat vegan at in kyoto that are open later. Get here early! I got the spicier ramen and I love my spicy food spicy as hell and usually am disappointed when I order spicy bc it’s usually not spicy at all—iykyk—but this had a delightful heat to it.😄
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-05-24
Guest
Hasiii
Points +21
Tasty 🥰 - Edit
Very tasty Ramen but it took us about 60 min to get in.
Read moreGuest
saaj2000
Points +33
Okay ramen, definitely not worth the queue nor up to the hype - Edit
Kyoto Engine ramen had the longest queue we had to wait in for ramen in Japan. It didn't live up to the hype from reviews online, falling short of the other vegan ramen we ate whilst in Japan.
Read morePros: More space than usual inside
Cons: Expensive for ramen, Not great noodles
Guest
GwenDiagram
Points +44
Lovely staff but ramen just ok - Edit
I feel like a heathen saying this, especially with the other reviews but I thought this ramen was just ok. There wasn't anything stand out about it - I've had far better vegan ramen in Japan and far better vegan ramen at home! If you do want to try it, definitely go early because apparently it's a nightmare. Engine Ramen feels like ramen for tourists.
Read morePros: Staff were so friendly! , No line if you go early (17:30)
Cons: Ramen is just ok
Guest
ASierra
Points +698
Lovely ramen - Edit
We came to visit this place after reading some of the reviews from previous customers. The place does not disappoint. Amazing ramen, ask for extra spicy if you like a bit of chilli. The staff were so welcoming and the cook were just fantastic - one of whom is vegan and lovely guy to chat to. A must visit. Be aware there may be a bit of a queue and wait (20mins for us, which is nothing when you are in holidays)
Read morePros: Flavour and taste, Amazing staff and atmosphere , Location
Cons: No vegan starters
Guest
Haydenizard
Points +64
Great creamy broth - Edit
After queuing for 40mn my sister and I got the chance to try the famous ramen from kyoto engine. I grabbed the kyoto beaning ramen. The food arrived very fast and omg the broth was delicious. Every taste was well balanced. It’s a very good ramen. The only problem for me was the loud music in the small restaurant. Except from this the dry sake was yum as well !!!!
Read morePros: 2 vegan options, Great taste
Cons: Loud music , Long queu
Guest
ErinCarlisle
Points +40
Yuuuummmmm - Edit
Loved everything about this place. The vibe was great, the staff were friendly, service was great, and the food - the FOOD ! So delicious.
Read moreTwo clearly marked vegan options. I had the zesty/spicy ramen. So flavourful and delicious. My only very minor critique is that it could have had some more veg added into it, but that's neither here nor there. I will absolutely be going back to try the other ramen before we leave!
Also - note that it is a small restaurant so you may have to line up outside. We were lucky that we could get straight in. Bring an umbrella in case it is raining!
Edited to add: Went back there 2 nights later and got the other vegan ramen (not the "zesty") and oh my LORD it was INCREDIBLE
Updated from previous review on 2023-05-07
Guest
JosieGodley
Points +44
The best vegan ramen - Edit
We waited in the rain for half an hour and it was so worth it. The server was super friendly. We asked for Saki but said that we didn’t know much about it so he gave us a little tasting session. There were 2 choices of vegan ramen. I chose the spicy version. It was everything I wanted it to be, creamy and spicy (not too spicy). We’ll be visiting again before we leave.
Read morePros: Friendly service, Great atmosphere , Amazing food
Cons: May have to wait outside to be seated
Guest
Nattata
Points +365
It's okay - Edit
Honestly, the only reason I would go here is if you want ramen and need to cater to both vegans and omnis. It's good ramen but nothing mind blowing, I found better options in Kyoto. The staff all speak English, most are foreigners themselves. A long line forms very quickly because this place caters to foreign tourists.
Read morePros: English support, Can accommodate both vegans and omnis
Cons: Line, No reason to go if no picky omnis in party
Guest
swiken
Points +77
Delish! - Edit
Wow, what a great ramen! I tried the soybean ramen. The noodles are egg free and the broth was so flavorful. I arrived 30 mins past opening time and only had to wait 15 mins to get a seat. So, I do recommend getting there early if you don’t want to wait long. You get to sit right in front of the “kitchen” which makes it a really cool experience.
Read moreGuest
pandrub
Points +32
Tasty Ramen - Edit
Tasty vegan ramen. We got there at 5:15 PM and fortunately did not have to wait at all. English menu with clearly labeled vegan options, and most of the staff speaks English as well. Highly recommend.
Read moreGuest
SophiePark
Points +48
Unreal ramen - Edit
Had no idea what to expect but waited 1.5 hours for a delish ramen, would totally do it again
Read morePros: Good vegan options, Really nice vibe , Delish food
Cons: V long queue
Guest
yuvalevy
Points +81
A must go in Kyoto - Edit
If you are staying in Kyoto, you must visit Engine Ramen at least one (we went 3 time!). They have 5 total options in the menu, 2 of them are vegan. For me, this was the best ramen in Japan. I took the spicy one, it was amazing! I do recommend to ask for extra noodles ( 100 yen) and corn if you are very hungry. They also have 3 kinds of sake there. We tasted all, they were great.
Read moreImportant to note - they have long lines, we waited there 1.5-2 hours... arrive before 18:00 and you will wait 30 minutes tops.
Pros: Great vegan ramen , Nice vibe, Great sake (ask to taste)
Cons: Expensive, Long line to wait
Guest
chelspea
Points +262
Get there when it opens. - Edit
We arrived at 4:50 PM, and by then about 20 people were lined up outside. We waited exactly 1 hour to be seated at 5:50 PM. I wouldn’t wait longer than that, honestly, but it is good ramen. Very creamy and filling. We had 1 bowl of each vegan option (zesty and beans), plus 1 beer and 1 glass of sake, all for $30 USD. If you sit at the bar you can watch them make the ramen right in front of you, which was pretty neat. It does have the feel of an English speaking vegan tourist trap, though, so I would not come here for an authentic Japanese atmosphere.
Read moreGuest
jesse.morris3
Points +19
Not worth the wait - Edit
Exceptionally long wait for very boring food. It can be difficult to find decent vegan/veg food while traveling in Japan so my commendations to Kyoto Engine for trying. However, the food is entirely forgettable, overpriced, and bland. Not recommended at all. I have had boxed veg ramens better than this.
Read morePros: Vegan options, Decent atmosphere
Cons: Long wait, Unfriendly staff , Bland food
Guest
KatherineWinter
Points +1578
Zesty yummy - Edit
Important: You can order to go and don’t need to wait in the line.
Read moreThe line was out the door; we waited for about 45 mins. I saw some people on happy cow say that they waited for two hours. It was delicious! It was 45 minutes good, but don't wait two hours. They played good American music. The servers were very friendly. The drink menu was limited to tea, soda, water, beer, and sake. It is nice to have a vegan ramen place available. I got the zesty vegan, and that was good. I saw a review that said it was too spicy, but I beg to differ. However, I like spicy food.
Edit: I came back another time and ordered the bean. In my opinion, the zesty is better than the bean. The bean is interesting in a good way, but the favor of the zesty is more of what I prefer in a creamy ramen.
Updated from previous review on 2023-04-03
Pros: Only two vegan options
Cons: Long line
Guest
vaishnavipatti
Points +20
Wonderful ramen - Edit
Got the spicy zesty vegan ramen. The broth was great, one of the best I’ve had. The toppings could be better. Next time, I’d ask for corn add on.
Read moreTo beat the wait, i went right after opening. 4:30-5 and you should be in within 30 minutes. Any later than that and you’ll be stuck with at least 1 hour of wait.
Pros: Very flavourful broth
Cons: Toppings could be better, Wait can be long
Guest
BeckyKilminster
Points +167
Yum - Edit
Really good! I just wish their was tofu or veggies? Kind of lacking some protein. 2 hour wait time but luckily I enjoyed
Read moreGuest
tolovetolive
Points +697
Great ramen but huge queues - Edit
The food at Tokyo Engine Ramen was great, with two of their five menu offerings vegan options (gluten-free options also available). Both ramen were filling and tasty.
Read moreThis place is small (20 seats inside) and super popular with queuing a standard - we queued outside for more than 90 minutes to get in. This seems fairly typical for an evening.
Pros: Two vegan offerings of their five options, Nice atmosphere , Good service
Cons: Very popular - we queued for 90 minutes outside
Guest
chenha
Points +23
Very tasty vegan ramen! - Edit
I really liked the vegetarian ramen, it was the best ramen I ate.
Read morePros: There were 2 vegan options, one of them spicy., Very very tasty ramen!
Cons: Long waiting time
Guest
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