MOON and BACK Ramen Bar Kyoto

Before you go

A modern ramen bar reinterpreting traditional Japanese ramen culture, focused on wagyu ramen, vegan ramen and gluten-free ramen, plus sushi & sashimi, dumplings and a sweet cafe menu. Owner-chef Tatsuya Fukuda (born in Osaka, 1988) studied industrial design, trained at a Japanese restaurant, then worked in Australia — becoming head chef of a fine-dining restaurant in front of the Sydney Opera House at 28 — and launched restaurants in Sydney, the Gold Coast and Brisbane. The brand now runs six stores (four in Kyoto, one in Kobe, one in Sydney); Madonna has visited and enjoyed the vegan ramen (per the official site). Phone: 075-744-0080.

• Wagyu, vegan and gluten-free ramen
• Bilingual official site aimed at international visitors
• Chef with fine-dining head-chef experience in Sydney
• 10:00 AM–10:30 PM, open 7 days a week

Getting there

585 Takamiya-cho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto 604-8056. Nearest stations: Hankyu Karasuma Station / Subway Karasuma Line Shijo Station (the official site gives no walking minutes).

Booking

The Kyoto store accepts online reservations via TableCheck (linked from the official site).

Crowds

Open 7 days a week with long hours; avoid peak meal times for a more relaxed visit.

Good for

Gluten-intolerant or wheat-allergic visitors, vegans, and international tourists who want ramen with an English menu.

How it differs

For ramen that accommodates dietary restrictions in Kyoto, its selling point is gluten-free ramen — the official site quotes wheat-avoiding guests saying it was 'the first ramen I've ever had in my life' — plus vegan ramen. Compared with traditional ramen shops, it targets international visitors with a bilingual Japanese/English site and menu. The same brand runs Nishiki Market Alley (12:00–23:00) near Nishiki Market.

Sources MOON and BACK official site (Japanese/English)