Best Ramen Places in Vancouver by Ramen Experts
Courtesy of Unsplashed
Summer is over and autumn is right around the corner. Warm yourself with a fresh bowl of ramen from the places loved by local Vancouverites. We’ve searched and taste tested over 50 ramen restaurants. From authentic Tokyo style ramens to Asain fusion ramens, here are top (in no order) ramen places in Vancouver. Handsdown
Kintaro
788 Denman St, Vancouver
Spicy Garlic Ramen Special - Photo by Altman Kwong
Ramen lovers and tourists from all around the world love this 20 year old iconic restaurant in Westend. Their menu covers basic choices like shoyu, shio, and miso and have specialty options like cheese and cold ramen. Like other restaurants, you’re able to customize the richness of your soup and the fattiness of your cha-shu pork. If you’re new to the ramen scene in Vancouver, this is a highly recommended place to visit for a budget-friendly bowl of ramen.
Click here to check out their menu. Follow their Instagram for more updates.
Benkei Ramen
545 W Broadway, VancouverImagine a warm bowl of delicious ramen quickly served to you at a price that wants you to make room for seconds. Dining in this compact, neighbourhood house style restaurant gives out the old school Tokyo experience. Benkei offers a standard Tokyo style Ramen along with a variety of asian fusion signature ramen like their Tan-Tan Noodles, Vegan Red Ramen, and their signature Curry Ramen.
Click here to check out their menu. Follow their Instagram and Facebook for more updates.
Ramen Gojiro
501 Dunsmuir St, Vancouver
Basic Bakamori Raman
The waitress warned me that is going to be served this much.
Are you up for a challenge? Don’t be intimidated by their over-the-bowl 300g ramen Bakamori Ramen filled with several pieces of Tonkatsu, and a mountain of fresh handmade noodles and beansprout. This wildly popular ramen in Japan comes with a spicy version if you want to try out their secret ingredient sauce packing a well-blend of sweet and spicy.
Click here to check out their menu. Follow their Instagram and Facebook for more updates.
Taishoken Ramen
With over 100 locations in Japan, the legendary Taishoken has opened up its main location at downtown in 2017. Their Tonkotsu broth is a great balance between aromatic and flavourful and has become the main attraction among Vancouver locals. Special selections such as their Tomato Cheese and Veggie Ramen will offer a different taste to those who are exploring an unique option.
Recommendation : Taishoken Summer Special Tsukemen
Click here to check out their menu. Follow their Instagram and Facebook for more updates.
Yah-Ya-Ya Ramen
8388 Capstan Way #1423, Richmond
Summer Special Tsukemen - Photo by Altman Kwong
Next up in our entry delivers an authentic Yokohama style ramen experience. The ramen consists of thick noodles and a stock that’s a mix of creamy konkotsu broth and soy sauce giving that umami-intensive soup. The toppings include chashu pork, chopped seaweed, leeks and spinach to balance out the strong flavour.
Click here to check out their menu. Follow their Instagram and Facebook for more updates.
Ramen Tsukiya
Black Garlic Ramen - Photo by Altman Kwong
Not knowing this underrated ramen paradise is a crime. Formerly known as “Motomachi Shokudo”, this restaurant located at Westend crafts one of the best handmade noodles for more than a decade. The quality of their noodles has been mentioned countlessly in Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards making Ramen Tsukiya the staple of the Vancouver ramen scene.
The critically acclaimed noodles are complimented with a deep rich tonkotsu broth simmered for 9 hours to extract the umami and savoury flavour. Ramen Tsukiya features a selection of rich simmered tonkotsu broth mixed specialties such as the Bamboo Charcoal Dark Miso, Miso and their staff recommended Tonkotsu Ramen Shoyu.
Awards
Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards Runner-up 2015 - Silver
Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards Runner-up 2014 - Silver
Click here to check out their menu. Follow their Instagram for more updates.
The Ramen Butcher
Black Garlic Ramen - Photo by Altman Kwong
Go to Google reviews and search up “Ramen Butcher”. Those reviews don’t lie. You’re greeted with an beautiful presentation - golden brown cha-shu, delicately poached onsen egg, roasted garlic oil, onions, and shredded ginger. Ramen Butcher offers a list of unique style of ramen like Coconut Curry Ramen, Vegetarian Ramen, Butcher Shoyu Ramen and Yuzu Shio Ramen. They also have vegan-friendly varieties such as their Spicy Chestnut Miso Ramen and Spicy Sesame Tantan Tsukemen.
Click here to check out their menu. Follow their Instagram and Facebook for more updates.
AKD Kitchen Soup
120-888 Carnarvon St, New Westminster
They are originally from Langley but expanded to New West due to its popular well-balanced flavourful creamy broth paired with their daily handmade noodles. Popular choices such as the Ajitama and Meat Lovers Ramen are always sold out during lunch hours. However, their deep fried gyoza, omelette rice, and curry of the week attracts food bloggers, ramen critics and local tourists to leave overwhelmingly positive reviews praising AKD Kitchen Soup’s classic style ramen.
Click here to check out their menu. Follow their Instagram and Facebook for more updates.
Marutama
Cha-shu Tamago Ramen - Photo by Altman Kwong
First opened its doors in 2013 in Vancouver, this ramen joint pioneered the Tori-Paitan (Creamy Chicken broth) and has consistently won gold in VanMag Restaurant Awards with the same recipes. It builds its soup’s mild yet complex flavour from the feet and abdominal meat of chicken, with added saline punch from aosa seaweed. Pile on some cha-shu and a soft-boiled egg for a deeply satisfying meal that costs a hair over $10. Lunch and dinner lineups grow quick so hurry now and try out Marutama before it’s packed.
Awards
Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards Winner 2019 - Gold
Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards Winner 2018 - Gold
Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards Winner 2015 - Gold
Click here to check out their menu. Follow their Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for more updates.
Ramen Danbo
1333 Robson St, Vancouver
1833 W 4th Ave, Vancouver
Now opened in Vancouver, Danbo brings traditional Fukuoka-style Kyushu Hakata Tonkotsu ramen to Japanese food fans in North America. The aroma of Danb’s signature Tonkotsu broth is unmistakable – a simple but truly delicious umami, always made daily in-house with specially treated water, free from impurities. The long line up is worth the wait because it their ramen does not disappoint.
Awards
The Georgia Straight - Golden Plates: Vancouver’s Best Ramen 2019
Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards Finalist 2019
Click here to check out their menu. Follow their Instagram for more updates.
Hokkaido Santouka Ramen
Spicy Karamiso Ramen with Salman Roe Rice Bowl Combo - Photo by Altman Kwong
Critics of the Vancouver Magazine continuously admire this global ramen chain and the quality of the ramen is worth the praise. Judges and critics applauded this established Japanese chain for its artisonally crafted rich, milky tonkotsu stock, which is carefully slow-cooked for 19 hours bringing out the creamy and savoury taste. Hokkaido Santouka continues to impress with consistent quality and habit-forming house specialties, such as the charcoal-miso ramen and the latter’s pork-cheek ramen, its generous toppings served on the side.
Awards
Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards Winner 2016 - Gold
Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards Winner 2014 - Gold
Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards Winner 2013 - Gold
Click here to check out their menu. Follow their Facebook for more updates.
Kamamarui Ramen & Don
Black Garlic Tonkotsu Ramen - Photo By Altman Kwong
Best ramen in Burnaby. This mom-and-pop shop stays true to the authentic ramen recipes originated in Japan. Their huge portion of chewy noodles added with their carefully sous vide chashu with a slight kick of garlic is a definite value all packed in a bowl. Don’t forget to try their handmade bomb riceballs. You won’t regret it.
Click here to check out their menu. Follow their Instagram for more updates.
Honourable Mentions
Kokoro Tokyo Mazesoba
Zenbu Mazesoba - Photo Taken by Altman Kwong
Not necessarily ramen but by far the best mazesoba we’ve tried in Vancouver. Order their signature Zenbu Mazesoba and you’re greeted with a beautifully assembled dry noodle - spicy minced pork, slow-braised chashu, soft boiled egg, chives, bamboo shoot, seaweed, seaweed flake, minced garlic, grinded saba fish, green onion and a raw egg yolk on top. Mix all of the assorted ingredients to draw out a combination of complex flavours. A free bowl of rice will be given to you to mix in with the leftover sauce from the mazesoba.
Awards
Click here to check out their menu. Follow their Instagram and Facebook for more updates.
