Last summer we visited the main branch of Gion Soy Milk Ramen Uno Yokiko in Kyoto and enjoyed the soy milk ramens on offer there (read more here). Since then, they’ve opened up a second branch, Uno Ramen – Sanjo, which happened to be close to a museum we visited in Kyoto, so we decided to stop there for lunch before an afternoon of temple sightseeing. The menu is basically the same, and it’s also all vegan, so it’s a convenient spot for a good meal.

Dr HH and I got the dandan soy milk ramen and enjoyed it. The broth is creamy and well seasoned. The chilli oil also helps bring a bit more flavour to the broth. There’s a variety of toppings (too many for me) and some are definitely superior to others. The tofu triangle is good, the soy mince adds a nice bit of flavour, and the gyoza are a nice treat. Some of the vegetables are a bit less exciting.

Mother HH was ready for a break from ramen and got a curry rice. This had a couple of soy meat balls and an okara croquette. She enjoyed the croquette and the sweet, spicy curry sauce, that Japanese classic, and found it a hearty and filling portion.

Dr HH and I also ordered a couple of the okara croquettes as a side dish. The okara provided a nice creamy filling with some bite to it, all three of us enjoyed this.

While we were all satisfied with the mains, the desserts were less successful at our table. I had the strawberry cake, and found the sponge very different from European sponge, and a bit inferior. The sponge layers were very thin too, so it was almost entirely cream – though the cream and strawberries were the best and most flavoursome part, so that was probably for the best.

Dr HH got the chocolate cake and had a similar critique – well-flavoured, but an unpleasant texture from the sponge. Nevertheless, we left feeling full and satisfied.

This restaurant has mostly Japanese-style seating. You have to take your shoes off at the door (there are little lockers). There are a few seats at the bar, a few tables where you have to sit right on the floor, and a few low tables where there is space for your feet to drop down below regular floor level. This type is quite comfortable once you’re in, but a bit tricky getting in and out, so it’s something to bear in mind. It’s also worth noting that there is no English sign outside the restaurant, so both our group and the one that arrived after us had to check with the staff to make sure we were in the right place and that it was indeed an all-vegan restaurant.