Recommended bowl: Kyoto red

Old school neighborhood spot, open since 1947. Kind of grimy and outdated, but frequented nonetheless by a steady stream of regular customers. The ramen follows the Kyoto-style basics — chicken and pork soup, topped with pork fat. But Tanpopo’s signature is a chili powder (paprika, perhaps?) dusting of the entire bowl. It looks like a red hot mess but goes down surprisingly smooth. For total Kyoto-style opt for a side of fried rice to go with your noods. Authentic and original. Less