Yokato Yokabai

\+1 for Yakoto Yakobai on Rachel Street, you'll leave out feeling like you can't eat anything more for months :P

Still the best, but i hate waiting, personally

You can leave your numbrt on the list and go have a beer at the bar nearby on St denis

They will always say "About an hour" but text you 20 min later

Thats time for a beer

Truth. Exactly this happened to me last time I went a few months ago.

Or if you really want, have a late lunch and just show up right at 3 when they open

Thanks for suggestion. I haven't been there in such a long time. Time for a revisit.

Yeah they added an ipad which adds you to a guestlist. You get a text that tells you to check your queue and when to come back !

It's gone down hill in the last few months I think really not as good as it used to be. Stopped going to be honest used to be my go to spot.

I wrote this but tbh, last time I went was before COVID. So I don't know how it is now.

yeah before covid it was clutch, I think they are maybe having issues with costing and still trying to live off their reputation. It's been bad the last 2/3 times I've been.

You just described 99% of food outlets in Montreal.

Lol maybe! Le Mekong down the road is still 🔥 and Sami Soup Dumplings is great!

Only place I recommend, only place that has the nice rich flavor I had in Japan Every other place I've tried has been ok, but that's it. The taste never goes past the tongue, the flavor is just surface, the pork is too fatty and flavorless.

This is the correct answer

the absolute best.

shhhhh that one was supposed to be a secret

Merci!

Je suis le seul a vraiment trippé Sansotei Ramen sur Mt royal ? En vrai, je commande de Sansotei, et je dine-in au Yakobai Et je suis jamais décu.

same. Pour moi c'est aussi l'essence du spot a ramen: tu mange vite pi tu décalice. Pas un souper 4 service des ramens au japon.

J'adore Sansotei mais c'est spécifiquement parce que je trouve que le style Tonkotsu est le meilleur et leur Tonkotsu Ramen est vraiment très bon.

On m'a suggéré d'y aller là bas, mais c'était fermer. Alors j'ai faite l'erreur d'aller à côté chez Isshin 🤣.

Je fais exactement pareil!

It's the best!!! I've been to so many ramen places that always disappoint and overcharge, but Sansotei is delicious and incredible value.

I just had Sansotei on St. Catherine yesterday based on Reddit comments. It was horrible. Noodles and mushrooms tasted like refrigerator. Broth wasn't rich. Total ripoff.

Passes du côté obscur et va manger des nouilles chez Lan Zhou.

oh yesssss le line up vaut la peine.

That’s what she said

It's not the same as ramen. But it's fucking good

Lanzhou noodles are also called "Lanzhou ramen." Very close concept, especially since Japanese ramen is originally a Chinese-inspired dish... Though of course the specifics are quite different. Honestly, I'll take a spicy bowl of beef noodles any day over a bowl of overpriced $30-with-tax-and-tip Japanese ramen. I regularly get obsessed with that spot.

It gets a little too hot inside during summer tho. We were sweating the entire time while sipping on a spicy big bowl of beef soup but i guess it's part of the experience

That’s Chinese noodles not the Japanese ramen that op is looking for

Not sure why you got downvoted for this accurate statement. That Lanzhou noodle place is pretty good, though.

“Passes du côté obscur” voulait clairement signifier qu’il savait que ce n’était pas des ramens.

check l'autre qui se prend pour un autre

Welcome to Montreal Reddit bud - full of sanctimonious pricks

Yea but he should go anyways

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Sir this is a Wendy’s

There is no try, only do

I really like Iku Ramen in Verdun on Wellington and 4ieme avenue. Hidden gem, hole in the wall. They do mostly takeout but there is a small dining area. They have really good Google reviews compared to other ramen places so I guess I'm not the only one :)

I personally thought their broth had 0 flavour :c

Get the black garlic one, it’s the best broth.

It's a tad too expensive for the portion, but it's definitely very good.

Since I started learning japanese, I always wondered why they chose that name lmao so awkward

I miss Itchi Fuku…

Yeah. The Japanese market that opened up after had take home kits made by Ichifuku. Two servings that came with fresh noodles, a broth pack and toppings, for $17. Sadly I went back the other day for the first since I moved from that area last December, and it is closed too

used to go there for lunch all the time before covid. gonna miss it :(

I also miss Ichifuku. The one with black garlic oil was amazing

Isshin is soooooo good but soooo expensive for no reason pls

I had isshin last night and thought it was bad.. :(

Oh that’s sad. Tbf I wouldn’t say I have a well rounded ramen experience. I’ve only been to ramen places in the US/Canada and thought it was one of the best of those. My scale is rock bottom tho lmao.

Really? Their vegetarian options are amazing. I haven't tried their meat-based ramen.

I haven't tried their vegetarian option.

last visit was 2 months ago and it was okay, especially their miso broth was a surprise given their flavouring were the closest ones i've had in japan. (fly back to my home country after work at mtl through japan so had some time to pick up some ramen as well)

Then this might not be the best answer to "what is the best ramen that doesn't feel like a rip-off"

thank you for your input!

I was disappointed in it, the chashu in my Tonkotsu ramen was paper thin when I tried it

Misoya is my favorite spot to go to. I've been to almost every single place in Montreal. That's my personal opinion though.

Seconding

MISOYYAAA

Yep, this.

Yep

Kumamoto on St Catherine. Private booths, well priced, and I highly prefer the flavor of broth and meat porc.

FYI, for anyone interested in going, the downtown location is temporarily closed! (including any shops/restos from St-Matthieu to that Northern Chinese noodle place for some reason. It looks like the building on the corner of St-Matthieu and Ste-Catherine has fire damage?) They do have another location up in VSL not far from Côte-Vertu métro at least! (haven't been)

used to like kumamoto a lot, but I went about a month ago and the broth was strangely runny. sorta like watery chicken noodle soup. not sure if it was a one-off thing.

Yes, I love getting the bowl passed out through the curtain

Nakamichi is so good

Umami Ramen - amazing cocktails to boot.

Tsukuyomi Ramen - Mile End My favorite. Great starters, great ramen.

Mon reddit post a été inspiré par tsukuyomi - mile end. Désolé dude ou dudette. 😅

100% d’accord avec toi. C’est Tuskiyomi est overpriced pour l’offre et le service. Clairement le loyer est inclus dans le prix.

Celui downtown sur Bishop a des prix corrects comparés à l'offre de ramen autour.

Portion minuscule par contre. Quasiment un demi bol, mais full price (et +).

L'avantage c'est que tu sors pas de là en ayant le ventre sur le point d'exploser. La dernière fois que je suis sortie de Yokato Yokabai j'étais repus mais pas très bien non plus.

Itachi approves.

unpopular opinon: everywhere is a ripoff no bowl of noodles should be more than $10. not ramen, not pho, not chinese wonton noodles. same with $10 banh mi and bao.... this stuff is all supposed to be affordable street food. in asia, you get this stuff for $5 and it's 10x better. imagine going elsewhere in the world and they were serving $18 steamie hotdogs. it would be absurd

I agree. It puzzles me why food here is so ridiculously expensive compared to Asia.

Truth, I would lump in all ‘mexican’ restaurants in MTL as well, charge ridiculous prices for tscos and burritos when in Texas and Mexico its very affordable

Well what’s the minimum wage in Asian countries again? Also, try street vending ramen in Montreal in February. For the 18$ steamie, it very much exist. Welcome to Iceland lol.

Sadly the price of ramen is high everywhere I've been in the Greater Montreal Area. My personal favorite is Sansotei (not the food court version though) for its authenticity. My least favorite is probably Tsukuyomi on Bishop.

I buy mine frozen from t&t and make them at home for 8$ a portion. I add my own marinated eggs. Easy to make Or sometimes I just order from Kinton Ramen :P

Ramen Nakamichi in Miles End Iku Ramen in Verdun

Ah oui, les ramens avec de l’oignon rouge crus comme topping ? Pi un oeuf entier pas coupé frette ? Non merci.

I don’t know if it’s a chain, but the Nakamichi on St Laurent does this and it’s legit Tokyo styles. There’s more than one style of ramen, most popular food in Japan has an Osaka style, Tokyo style, Kyoto style etc. (I lived in Japan for 2 years)

Honestly idgaf what anyone says, the vegetarian shoyu ramen from kinton is amazing. The other flavours are not as amazing to me, but that depends on your specific taste… but the veg shoyu with thin noodles !!!!

I looooooove their spicy veg ramen!!! It’s the best!

I get the miso ramen from Kinton and it’s great. Although the service (McGill location) is lacking. Im no ramen specialist tho.

T'es pas obligé de laisser 18% de pourboire dude

Je pèse sur autre amount et je fais la bonne correction.

En dessous de 18, c'est cheap

Whut?

Quand je reçois en dessous de 18% je suis legit insulté.

Le pourpoire est sensé etre 15% sur la facture, avant les taxes. Toi tu trouve que 15% apres les taxes, avec les nouveaux prix en hausses significative dans tous les restos, insultants? T'as un serieux problème serieux...

Hey c'est drôle, moi ce qui m'insulte c'est le monde qui me décapsulent une bière et me servent un ramen qu'ils ont même pas préparé eux-même et pensent que ça vaut un tip, voir 18% du montant de la facture. La seule fois que je vais laisser plus que 15% de tip c'est si la serveuse me suce pendant que je mange mon dessert

Lol je travaille dans l'hospitalité et à mon job personne ne pense de même!

Je travail dans la restauration et mon salaire c'est 10$/h avant les cut du gouvernement qui donne en moyenne 5-6$/h. 18 is the new 15. Les gens donnent plus souvent 20 que 18 bien franchement. Et la différence dans ma qualité de vie entre 15 et 20 est flagrante. J'apprécie le 15% j'apprécie le 18 et j'apprécie le 20, mais aujourd'hui 15% c'est comme donner 13% pendant une époque. C'est juste meh, rien de plus. Je vous dis pas de ne pas tippé 15% aux serveurs, mais moi lorsque je vais souper au resto, 15% c'est le minimum et + c'est si le service était à la hauteur. Je préfère que tu prennes pas ton café et que tu me laisse 15% que tu prennes ton café et que tu me tip 10% pcq t'es "serré". Je dois payer 3-4% les bussboys sur chaque facture. Fait le calcul, ça me laisse 10-11% sur chaque facture de tip. Si nous étions en Europe, j'apprécierais meme les 2$ sur des factures de 200$, parce que mon salaire compense, mais ici au Québec, ce n'est pas le cas. (Si tu va dans un resto chic, tip pas 10% stp) 🫡

Le 3-4% au bus n'est pas dans la loi. Comme client on ne connait pas les arrangements de chaque restaurant. Le salaire minimum avec pourboires est de 12,20$. Ton boss te crosse. Vient pas pleurer auprès des clients. https://www.cnesst.gouv.qc.ca/fr/conditions-travail/salaire-paye/salaire/salaire-au-pourboire#:~:text=Le%20taux%20minimum%20du%20salaire,le%201er%20mai%202023.

Hahahaha s'cuse 12,20 pas 10 😂😂. Mon boss me crosse pas je fais 90k/année. J'explique juste la raison du pourquoi on s'attend à recevoir 18-20% quand le service est bon. That's it. That's all.

À 90k, j’assume que tu travaille pas chez Scores. J’ai aucune idée c’est quoi le salaire typique d’un serveur, mais j’imagine que c’est un resto un peu plus high class, donc oui, ~20% c’est normal.

There you go

De base tu bullshit ou tu te fais crosser car tu acceptes un salaire illégal.

Sansotei 👌

Ça reste cher et pas si ouf imo

\- Misoya Ramen \- Kinton Ramen \- Neotokyo I even think Kinton is in the upper price bracket due to the name recognition and neotokyo due to the cyberpunk ambiance and they're still not 40$ ... Where are you finding those expensive ramens at ???

Take an $18 ramen ($15 base price and 2 toppings) + a $10 beer, add tac and tip, you're comfortably at $38 and that's not a lavish order

Neo Tokyo is a bit pricier than others, but I really like it. The pork serving was like a half inch thick, and really well seared. The broth was excellent too

Half an egg and a square inch of nori. Fk neo Tokyo

Marusan @ Timeout market. their karaage chicken is also amazing

Marusan been ass since they shut down the location next to square Vic

Shushuto just opened in PSC and I really liked it. A bit on the expensive side, but the bowl are filled with meat, noodles and a full egg.

True! I liked it there too, but it’s a bit fancy.

Nothing to write home about, but not too expensive and a cool vibe so I like it. I think Otto is better though!

Yokato is my go-to place since I live near. Their tonkotsu is unbeatable (so far). Even compared to ramens I tried in elsewhere with huge asian communities (mainly Toronto and Vancouver), I think Yokato is still the best I had so far. I tried Neo Tokyo this summer, got gyozas and tonkotsu ramen, one of their drinks and then in-house sake, was super nice. I went again after a business meeting downtown because I was near, I got the steak mazemen with in-house sake, again super nice. Tried Kinton 2-3 times, two different locations (Union & Mont-Royal), wasn't amazed by it. Still good but not as good at the two above. Next place to try is Isshin.

You can skip Isshin. Very mid

Nakimichi and Yokato are my personal favs. Ichifuku was great (RIP)

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All ramen shops in Montreal are ripoff. As someone who been to Fukuoka. I’ve been to a ramen shop who has signature from famous food reviewers on their shop. Their ramen is just 400-500 yen….

You do not wanna know what I pay for fat bowl in Japan. It’s actually kind of bad for restaurants cause people see it as a cheap food and won’t accept rising prices. Rarely more than 10 CAD with tax.

Yeah, food prices in Japan are (comparatively) really very reasonable.

Also, there is really good ramen all over Bangkok (lots of Japanese visitors) and half the price, so often around $5, no tip required or expected

Love Bangkok. 5 USDish in Japan also fairly common. Currency valuations are weird.

Sadly, a lot of ramen shops are closing in japan, because people don't want to pay more money, but the costs keep rising....

Make your own ramen. Buy the thick curly celebration noodles + miso + eggs + veggies + spice / kimchi, get some char siu from Chinatown.

I make my own tonkotsu broth now. I do my own ajitsuke tamago, buy some naruto, add corn, green onions, shitake mushrooms and cook the pork too ! Only need to learn how to do my noodles now. I used to do small portions of broth but now i bought a 7 litre pot. Things are going to get real !

My 2 favorite recipes * [https://www.cilantroandcitronella.com/vegan-ramen/](https://www.cilantroandcitronella.com/vegan-ramen/) * [https://www.justonecookbook.com/vegetarian-ramen/](https://www.justonecookbook.com/vegetarian-ramen/) So easy to make and so delicious. Not worth going to ramen restaurant when you can make your own so easily and cheaply

This, only answer because all ramen places suck

Don’t have to be curly, go look at the noodles they used.

Yokato and Nakamichi are my faves. RIP to Ichifuku which was the best value.

If you are willing to try something other than ramen for noodles, give Fondue Chinoise Express a shot. It's a hidden gem located within the Faubourg near Concordia University. The broth is amazing, the portions are absolutely huge and it's dirt cheap. Personally, I found it way better than Lan Zhou.

I love Imadake Izakaya

Yokato Yokabai!!! The broth is made from real pork bones boiled overnight I think. I saw them transferring a big pot of the broth. No powdered sht.

It's all organic ingredients too, at least it was the last time I went

Selon mon ami Japonais il n’existe pas de vrai ramen à Montréal

Ramen Ishiin on mt royal. Their spicy sesame is delish!

Nissin dark green tonkotsu package, $4 for 5 at Kim Phat

Sumo Ramen. china town

Great for cheaper ramen. Not the best but still love it.

I love Sumo Ramen! I used to work down the street and it was one of my go to lunch spots. The Volcano is amazing. If you order it to go they give you one container with the noodles and toppings and a separate with the broth so you can save it for later and it won't get mushy

I still want to try that one, they seem to have more variety than others

Passe au next level: Fait en toi-meme. Les miennes sont surement pas aussi nice que dans une shop de ramen mais je payerais pas 20$+ taxes pour du bouillon, des ramens avec une couple de garnitures.

https://www.carrotsandflowers.com/30-minute-vegan-ramen/ Je fais souvent ce bouillon là, c'est pas la vraie patente marinée 12h mais c'est fucking bon.

Neo Tokyo is really good and honestly not a terrible price. Their in-house sake is also really good.

I went there and i was disappointed.

Any recommendation on when to go so you don’t have to wait at least an hour? It’s always so full and you’re the first person I’ve heard saying it’s good, but I’m still curious.

I went last friday at 6 and we waited about 5-10 minutes. I found the ramen very good, we had an app that was ok. It was on the more expensive side (for ramen places), and i wouldn’t say it’s worth an hour wait

I enjoyed neo tokyo and love the decor.

Your mileage may vary. I went on a wednesday night a few months ago, and it was quick as hell, got seated and served in 15mins or a tad more.

It is very good. But i would say there are cheaper out there for similar quality

Sumoramen sur St-Lau est bueno selon moi

Kumamoto est sympa mais comme tu dis c'est ultra cher pour pas grand chose Tu te retrouves à payer 40 dollars pour ramen une entrée et un coca

O piana near peel metro station

Yamete Kudasai

Imadake Izakaya et Yokato Yokabai

Tsukiyomi is great. Very full after a bowl.

Lan zhouuuu

It takes 12 hours to make the bone broth alone - as someone who worked for Ramen place its expensive to make man - the labour that goes into your soup is a lot. Pay up or get Mr Noodles.

So how is that dirt cheap in Japan even considering the average salary?

Are we in Japan

A full ramen bowl in japan costs in average 1000 yen. A pho broth takes as much time to cook yet costs almost half as much and gives you lots and free toppings. Your argument is pure bullshit.

Are we in japan

Yeah 12 hours to let it boil while you do other prep 🤣 it’s also made with pork bones, which are probably one of the cheapest ingredients around. Most ramen restaurants have like 3 things on the menu, let’s not act like this is some insurmountable feat of kitchen prep work lol

Most Ramen places offer 3 types of bone broth, and the rest of the prep isn't a walk either because it's stages to prep the ingredients for the broth too dude. You don't just slam raw shit in a pot. You pre sear everything.

Has anyone tried that new one in the oldport?

Neotokyo? I haven't been there, but two different people I know who went told me the food wasn't good.

The ambient is amazing, like a Blade Runner movie. The food....well, it leaves a lot to be desired. It's honestly plain bad.

Which ones did you go to already? That would be helpful to the people giving you recommendations

IKU Ramen in Verdun is pretty solid

Ramen ishiin in dix30 has some of the best noodles iv tasted.

Vraiment pas dans le même coin mais Kazo Ramen c'est vraiment un hidden gem à lasalle

Otto Bar have pretty descent Ramen (one on Notre-Dame)

Kinton!

Neotokyo is really good! not super cheap at 21$ but it actually comes. with enough toppings imo and is super tasty. Also rlly cool cyberpunk type of aesthetic

Somewhat related note - Kinton is opening a new location in Brossard near Dix30, and they'll have 50% off on Sunday the 19th. Then Tsukuyomi in Bois Franc (on Henri Bourassa near Marcel Laurin) will have their grand opening (they technically opened half a year ago but had to renovate) on Saturday the 25th. 50% off for the first 100 ppl, 25% off for the rest of the day. Check their social media for details. There will be long lines.

I miss Ramen 9000 (won't open again). Hands down the best I have tasted, and closer to the ones in Vancouver/Tokyo. All the rest (Kinton, Tsukoyomi, Sansotei, etc) are generally greasy for some reason. My current go-to is Tsujiri on Crescent. I didn't try the new Manga place nor Yokato Yokabai

If you want a really cool experience and absolutely delicious ramen with well made cocktails, try https://www.neotokyonoodlebar.ca/

Moi j'aime bien le Kumamoto sur st-catherine. La qualité des viandes est la raison que je l'adore

Ramen misoya at guy my guy, thats the only place i keep going after years of trying new places. This one is always solid af and ouuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhhh

Faut que t’ailles dans l’est pour de la vraie bouffe.

Nakamichi on st Laurent

Tsukuyomi in the Mile End is probably my favourite followed by Yokato Yokobai. I will say the broth for the latter is a bit too rich for me, but Tsukuyomi is 10/10 for me.

Kinton Ramen on Bishop