Vancouver’s food scene offers a great range of culinary diversity and in particular it is an awesome city for an abundance of Japanese food like ramen. In downtown there are a tonne of delicious options all with unique flavours and experiences, so we had to try as many as we could to share with you our 5 best ramen restaurants in downtown Vancouver.
1. Ramen Danbo
Located right in the heart of downtown on Robson St, Ramen Danbo tops our list. Originally from Fukuoka, Danbo has become a staple when you think of ramen in Vancouver, with locations in downtown, Kitsilano and Kerrisdale. They specialize in tonkotsu ramen which is a pork bone broth and allow you to customize the richness and thickness of your broth, spiciness and firmness of your noodles – perfect for those like me who enjoy super soft noodles!
But with there always being a queue is it worth the hype? I’ve always been a skeptic but once I tried it I can understand why. The broth is delicious, a rich tonkotsu flavour that is well balanced especially as you’re able to customize to your liking. Portion size is reasonable, coming with 2 pieces of chashu pork which would cost $12.45 for the regular Classic Ramen. Toppings are available like soft-boiled egg and nori (seaweed) for additional charges. Service is impeccable with the food coming out very quickly. If you’re in the queue, they’ll hand out the menu and customization form so that once you’re seated, they start preparing your order immediately.
Don’t want to wait in the line? We’ve had Danbo both in-store and by delivery which were both enjoyable hence why they’re rated as our best ramen in downtown Vancouver.
Address: 1333 Robson St, Vancouver, BC V6E 1C6
2. JINYA Ramen Bar
JINYA Ramen Bar sets itself apart as a more premium restaurant for ramen with a modern aesthetic and an emphasis on high quality ingredients and rich broths. We tried the JINYA Tonkotsu Black ($21) known for its savoury, garlic flavours and the Jinya Chicken Ramen ($20), a creamy chicken broth ramen. Served with thin noodles and 2 pieces of chashu, both ramens were very enjoyable and not too salty. If I had to pick a favourite of the 2, I’d pick the chicken ramen as you’ll be able to find tonkotsu ramen just as good elsewhere. If you’re closer to the middle of downtown and Granville St, JINYA is an excellent option for delicious ramen and other Japanese small plates, it also holds well as a takeout and delivery option.
Address: 541 Robson St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2B7
3. Tonkotsu Ramen Tsukiya
One of the first ramen restaurants we visited once we arrived in Vancouver, Tonkotsu Ramen Tsukiya is easily interchangeable with second place. Specializing in home-made tonkotsu ramen and chewy noodles, their pork bone broth is one of the best ever with a rich and smoky flavour, in particular I enjoyed the Shoyu Ramen ($14.80). Their chashu pork is also one to rave about with a delicious charred flavour profile that is very unique to counterparts nearby. If they had the option for softer or thinner noodles, that would make Tsukiya more competitive for top spot on this list, but that’s purely personal preference!
If you’re closer to the West End and Stanley Park this is the perfect option for a lunch feed after a walk or bike ride around the Seawall.
Address: 1690 Robson St, Vancouver, BC V6G 1C7
4. Hokkaido Ramen Santouka
Also located on Robson St, Hokkaido Santouka Ramen is another staple known for its creamy white tonkotsu broth. With Shoyu, Shio and Miso options, their ramen has a rich, creamy broth but it’s not quite as flavourful as the ones above and their noodles are enjoyable at about medium firmness, not extra chewy nor soft. Portion sizes are on the smaller side so keep that in mind in case you need an appetizer. Many years ago this place had a queue when I first visited but with more ramen restaurants appearing nearby, you’re likely to be seated right away. Overall a solid choice if you’re in downtown and have finished your shopping or activities for the day.
Address: 740 Denman St, Vancouver, BC V6G 2L5
5. Horin Ramen
Horin Ramen brings Hakata-style ramen to Vancouver, incorporating chili peppers in tonkotsu broth which originated from Fukuoka. Also serving thin noodles, Horin offers some customization on noodle firmness and spiciness to go with their pork broth ramen. Their range is not as diverse as the others on this list, focusing on tonkotsu with variations in toppings but that lets them focus on making the one broth delicious. I enjoyed Horin for its broth and quick service but it wasn’t as much of a stand out compared to others. If you visit during peak times, they’ll often have a queue but it does move quickly. A great option if you’re shopping in the heart of Robson St and looking for a convenient location.
Address: 1226 Robson St, Vancouver, BC V6E 1C1
Honourable Mentions
Other ramen restaurants located in downtown that we’ve tried but didn’t make the top 5 include:
- Menya ITTO – 1479 Robson St, Vancouver, BC V6G 1C1
- Maruchachi Ra-men – 780 Bidwell St, Vancouver, BC V6G 2J6
- Kintaro Ramen – 788 Denman St, Vancouver, BC V6G 1C9
Got a recommendation for us that we may have missed? Let us know in the comments below.
*All photos taken by us with a Samsung Galaxy S21 & Pixel 5.
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