Best Ramen in Vancouver: 11 Top Ramen Spots for 2024
When the weather starts to cool down, we want nothing more than the best ramen in Vancouver. With so many ramen shops, however, it’s hard to narrow it down. If you love warm, rich broth and chewy noodles, you have tons of options. But which one is the best?
We’ll help you find the right spot to satisfy your ramen needs. Keep reading for our top 11 picks for the best ramen in Vancouver!
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Find the Best Ramen in Vancouver
When you’re looking for great food in Vancouver, you’re sure to be overwhelmed with options. Everything looks so tasty, and there are so many hole-in-the-wall eateries that you may never find on your own. If you don’t know where to start, food tours in Vancouver can help. Let an expert local guide lead you around the city to some tasty meals, including the best ramen in Vancouver.
11 Top Ramen Spots in Vancouver
1. Jinya Ramen Bar
Jinya Ramen Bar is a cozy ramen joint that makes rich, homemade broth that’s to die for. The broth is simmered for over 20 hours, which lets the flavours truly develop to give you a luxurious ramen experience that you can’t replicate with ramen packets. It just might be the best ramen in Downtown Vancouver.
The Vibe
Jinya feels like a true fun izakaya (or Japanese bar). While it’s a ramen shop first and foremost, it has a casual party vibe, so it’s a great place to hang out with your friends after a drink or two or before a night out.
What to Order
The Jinya Tonkotsu Black is the best ramen in Vancouver for anyone who loves rich and flavourful pork broth. For vegans, we recommend the creamy vegan ramen that has just enough fat and huge chunks of tofu.
Jinya Ramen Bar | 541 Robson St., Vancouver, BC V6B 2B7 | $$
2. Kintaro Ramen
Kintaro Ramen keeps its online presence small, but its flavours big. It’s been a local favourite for a decade, and customers keep coming back for more of the best ramen in Vancouver.
The Vibe
Kintaro Ramen is unpretentious and relaxed. It’s a great spot to eat alone or to go on a casual date. It feels incredibly classic and simple, but that’s the vibe we like.
What to Order
This might be an unusual one, but we recommend the cheese ramen, even if you only try it once. It has a unique flavour that the other best ramen places in Vancouver haven’t been able to replicate.
Kintaro Ramen | 788 Denman St., Vancouver, BC V6G 2L5 Canada | $
3. The Ramen Butcher
Does The Ramen Butcher make the best ramen in Vancouver? Many happy customers think so. They specialize in Hakata-style tonkotsu ramen, but they also have a variety of other tasty options (including a vegetarian option, curry, gyoza and more).
The Vibe
The Ramen Butcher has an effortlessly cool and hip vibe. It feels like a mix between a hipster craft brewery and a classic ramen shop. We’re into it!
What to Order
The black garlic ramen is a rich and tasty fan favourite you can’t go wrong with if you love a strong garlic flavour. For vegetarians or anyone who loves miso, the spicy chestnut miso ramen could be the best ramen in Vancouver.
The Ramen Butcher | 223 E. Georgia St., Vancouver, BC V6A 2Z9 | $$
4. Ramen Danbo
Ramen Danbo may be one of the best ramen places in Vancouver for Fukuoka-style tonkotsu ramen. They make special Kyushu-style noodles in-house, and it shows. Many of their dishes are affordable, so this could be the top ramen in Vancouver for a lunch break.
The Vibe
This is a classic ramen house that will make you feel like you’re in Japan. It’s super cozy.
What to Order
Most patrons should order the signature tonkotsu pork broth. You can order it one of three ways: standard, rekka or chashu-men. Rekka is spicier, and chashu-men gives you plenty of meat with your order.
Ramen Danbo | Multiple Locations | $
5. Kinton Ramen
Kinton Ramen offers the best ramen in Vancouver if you’re a student. Because of its variety of vegetarian options, it’s also one of the best ramen places in Vancouver for plant-based eaters.
The Vibe
Kinton Ramen feels modern and has a minimalist but stylish interior that caters to students. It’s a cool and casual spot.
What to Order
The chicken spicy jalapeño ramen is a unique take on the dish that you won’t be able to find elsewhere. Vegetarians should try the vegetarian spicy garlic ramen for a perfect flavourful meal.
Kinton Ramen | 6111 University Blvd., #102, Vancouver, BC V6T 0C7 | $$
6. Kokoro Tokyo Mazesoba
Kokoro Tokyo Mazesoba offers the best ramen in Vancouver for people who want something a little different. While they have classic ramen, they specialize in mazesoba, which is brothless ramen.
The Vibe
There are several locations, but all of them feel bright and modern without sacrificing the classic ramen shop vibe. You’ll feel right at home while you’re eating the best ramen in Vancouver.
What to Order
If you’re there for the first time, you have to order the mazesoba just for the experience alone. The Tokyo mazesoba is the real deal, so we recommend starting there. You definitely won’t leave hungry.
Kokoro Tokyo Mazesoba | Multiple Locations | $$
7. Marutama Ram-en
The best ramen in Vancouver for people who love poultry may be Marutama Ram-en. Customers love their creamy chicken broth. The restaurant has locations all over, and they came to Vancouver in 2013.
The Vibe
This ramen shop is cozy and intimate, and you’ll feel like you’re really in a popular Tokyo ramen spot.
What to Order
The Kiwami ramen is a must-have if you’re visiting this restaurant for the first time. It contains Marutama’s signature creamy chicken broth and tastes like upgraded chicken noodle soup.
Marutama Ram-en | Multiple Locations | $$
8. Hokkaido Ramen Santouka
Many people claim that Hokkaido Ramen Santouka makes the best ramen in Downtown Vancouver, but is it true? Their ramen is milder in flavour, but that’s not a bad thing.
The Vibe
The owner says that this ramen joint is made for families, and it shows. You’ll feel welcome and at home in Hokkaido Ramen Santouka.
What to Order
The Shio ramen is a warm and comforting bowl of love. It has fatty pork belly and delicious egg noodles that come together to create the best ramen in Vancouver.
Hokkaido Ramen Santouka | Multiple Locations | $$
9. Akedo Showten Ramen + Gyoza
As the name implies, this restaurant doesn’t just offer some of the best ramen in Vancouver. They also specialize in gyoza. Their ramen has classic flavours that you can find in the best ramen shops in Japan. Akedo Showten Ramen + Gyoza has something for everyone.
The Vibe
When you walk in, you won’t understand why it’s so popular. It’s a small shop that looks incredibly basic, but that’s part of its charm. Once you get your ramen, you’ll never want to leave this casual joint.
What to Order
The best ramen in Vancouver isn’t always the fanciest. Order their original ramen for a burst of barbecue chicken flavour. Add some chili oil and an egg to truly make it the top ramen in Vancouver. Trust us.
Akedo Showten Ramen + Gyoza | Multiple Locations | $$
10. Yah Yah Ya Ramen
If you’re looking for a hole-in-the-wall restaurant that still offers some of the best ramen in Vancouver, look no further than Yah Yah Ya Ramen. Their ie-kei ramen will bring you right to Japan (figuratively, of course). The thick noodles are unique in the Vancouver ramen scene. They also offer modifications to all of their ramen bowls so you can suit your own personal taste.
The Vibe
This cozy ramen shop is more than meets the eye. You wouldn’t know that it has the best ramen in the Vancouver area if you were looking at it from the outside, but it will surprise you. The inside is charming, and it’s a great spot for lunch with friends.
What to Order
The shoyu ramen at Yah Yah Ya could be the best ramen in Vancouver for people who love classic flavours. It’s one of the most popular dishes, and newcomers should give it a try. While you’re at it, order some onigiri as a side.
Yah Yah Ya Ramen | Multiple Locations | $$
11. Horin Ramen + Sake
If you’re looking for a more elegant option, Horin Ramen + Sake offers the best ramen in Vancouver for a nice night out as well as a fantastic sake menu. Horin Ramen originated in Japan over 50 years ago, but the restaurant has since made a home in Vancouver. You don’t have to go far for upscale ramen.
The Vibe
Horin Ramen + Sake feels more elegant with its stylish décor, but it’s still casual enough for a quick meal with friends or a casual ramen date. You can tell by the storefront that it offers some of the best ramen in Vancouver. The sleek glass exterior with the sake on full display makes the restaurant look high-end, but not intimidating.
What to Order
The menu at Horin Ramen + Sake is simple. The house special, otherwise known as The One, is a must-have if you’re looking for the best ramen in Vancouver. We also love the kikurage mushroom ramen for something a bit lighter.
Horin Ramen + Sake | 1226 Robson St., Vancouver, BC V6E 1C1 | $$
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There’s no way to pick the true best ramen in Vancouver when there are so many tasty options. All of these ramen shops have something delicious to offer. Why not visit them all?
For even more fun ways to explore Vancouver and beyond, check out other experiences happening on Cozymeal.
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