Vegan Ramen Uzu Kyoto

Tokyo-based art collective teamLab is well-known all over the world, with exhibitions from Shanghai to Singapore. Their exhibitions feature psychedelic, breathtaking visuals that take advantage of multimedia to immerse visitors in a storm of sound and color. So visitors to the Michelin Bib Gourmand-awarded Vegan Ramen Uzu Kyoto, which teamLab designed the interior for, should expect a similar treat for the senses. The tables are featureless, highly polished slabs of black stone. Massive mirrors are strategically placed to make it seem as though guests are eating in a multidimensional space, seeing reflections of themselves stretch out into infinity. Trails of dark ink slather themselves on the walls and ceiling, as though being by a huge, invisible calligrapher’s brush. Of course, a meal at Uzu Kyoto is foremost a dining experience, and the ramen certainly matches up to the impressive visuals. Impeccably plated, as is to be expected from a teamLab production, the vegan ramen makes use of every single part of the ingredient, as part of Uzu Kyoto’s zero-waste philosophy. The menu offerings range from familiar fare like miso and shoyu-based noodle soups, to more esoteric bowls like Sichuan pepper tsukemen (dipping ramen) and eight types of mountain herbs in an oat milk broth.