Best Japanese Ramen Noodle Restaurants
in Calgary
in CalgaryGo to Vancouver and there’s a good ramen noodle bar on nearly every urban streetscape you’ll see. The same can’t be said for Calgary, however, a city with its fair share of awesome pho restaurants but lacking a selection of authentic Japanese ramen restaurants for quite some time – until recently, that is.
Over the past few years ramen restaurants have started to pop up all over the city, offering a tempting alternative to your usual pho spot on a cold winters’ day or the opportunity to fulfill that innate Asian soup craving many of us Calgarians have.
Like pho, ramen restaurants each have their own signature broths and tastes, so we’ve compiled a list of the best ramen noodle bars in Calgary for you to check out the next time you’re in for a good bowl of hot Japanese egg noodle soup.
Make sure to leave us a comment below and let us know what your favourites are – we will add them to our list of best ramen restaurants in Calgary!
Ramen Ichinen
- Address – #349 – 3132 26th Street NE
- Phone Number – 403-454-2646
Our favourites
- Original Tonkotsu Ramen
- Tonkotsu Red Ramen
- Thin egg noodles
- Gyoza (housemade)
- Green tea jugs
Why we like it
- 10+ different ramen bowls
- lots of extra options: spice level, thin or thick noodles, etc.
- More options: pork shoulder or belly, green onion or mixed green, etc.
The Facts
Why is Ramen Ichinen one of the best, if not the best ramen restaurant in Calgary? Let me explain appropriately; this restaurant is more than deserving of this list…
Ichinen has a separate menu just for spice; there are 4 different tiers, each with increasing spiciness. Also, the spice is made from two of the world’s hottest chili peppers! There’s even cute little anime faces exploding with fire for the level 4 spicy description just to give the proper warning for those who dare. Each level costs $1.00.
Ichinen also has a ton of different customizable options. You get 1.5 the amount of noodles for free if you want, a choice of lean shoulder or fatty belly pork cha shu, mixed greens or onion, thick or thin noodles and several different ingredients to add all for between $1.00 to $3.00 per selection.
This ramen restaurant also has unique broth that you wont find anywhere else in the city. They even have a little stand on the table that takes you through the four steps as to how they make their broth in-house.
The original tonkotsu is unbelievable with its delightful sesame taste. Also, the gyoza dumplings are made in house and you can taste the difference. You also get your own miniature tea jugs when you order tea. So cool!
- See our Ramen Ichinen Calgary Restaurant Review today
Hapa Izakaya
- Address – 816 11th Avenue SW
- Phone Number – 403-452-6737
- Website – hapacalgary.com
Our favourites
- Miso black ramen
- Tan-Tan-Men ramen
- Ishiyaki Tsukemen ramen
- Umi roll
- Dynamite roll
Why we like it
- 10+ different ramen to choose from
- Large selection of alternatives: sushi, sashimi, ishiyaki, tapas
- Happy hour specials – 5:30pm to 8:00pm, under $10.00
The Facts
Originally founded in Vancouver in 2003, Hapa Izakaya has grown a reputation in three major Canadian cities as one of the best Japanese restaurants around. The small restaurant chain has received nearly 40 awards from different media institutions in Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto and has become a go-to spot in Calgary for sushi, ramen and even night life.
Hapa Izakaya’s beltline location has allowed the restaurant to stay open late all days of the week. On weekends, DJ performances and other special events until 2:30am are of the norm.
There’s about a dozen different ramen bowls to choose from at Hapa. We especially like the restaurants take on miso black, a delightfully tasting bowl with pork-based broth which is complimented well by the dark soy and sesame flavours. The tan-tan-men is another one to try; these are two of the best ramen bowls in Calgary for sure!
Goro & Gun
- Address – #245 – 225 7th Avenue SW
- Phone Number – 403-237-5596
- Website – goroandgun.ca
Our favourites
- Tonkotsu ramen
- Mazemen ramen
- Seared yellow tail roll
- Chinook tuna / albacore tuna sashimi
- Ramen burger
Why we like it
- Gluten-free noodle option
- $10.00 ramen happy hour
- Large selection of alternatives: bento, teppanyaki, sushi and sashimi
The Facts
Calgary’s downtown core was blessed with this modernly-fashioned ramen bar back in 2014. Since then, Goro + Gun has made a lasting impression on downtown workers with its cool Japanesque décor and surprisingly well-lit interior, not to mention its delicious ramen bowls.
A large selection of other Japanese cuisine favourites such as bento, teppanyaki, sushi and sashimi make Goro + Gun the perfect place to head for lunch in the city centre even if you’re not feeling like a good bowl of ramen.
In for a drink? Try one of several different kinds of sake’s on Goro + Gun’s extensive drink menu that also includes Nikka whiskeys and beers all sourced from the land of the rising sun.
Ikemen Ramen Bar
- Address – 217 10th Street NW
- Phone Number – 403-452-2148
Our favourites
- Spicy miso ramen
- Mushroom ramen (vegetarian)
- Mango roll
- Unagi poutine
- Beef tataki
Why we like it
- Thick, lean chasu slices
- Thick, flavourful broths
- Smart selection of complimentary appetizers and sushi
- The best vegan ramen in the city (mushroom)
The Facts
As far as staying true to a traditional Japanese atmosphere goes, the one at Ikemen Ramen Bar is one of the closest you’ll find in Calgary.
Its open space with wood finishings throughout when paired with the long communal wooden tables and basic white paint will almost convince anyone who’s been to a ramen bar in Japan that that’s exactly where they are.
For the solo-diners, there’s six streetside booth seats to for you to peer out and watch the hustle and bustle along 10th Street as you indulge in some of the best ramen in Calgary.
Menyatai Japanese Ramen
- Address – 24 12th Street NW
- Phone Number – 403-263-3666
Our favourites
- Extra BBQ pork ramen
- Spicy tonkotsu ramen
- Curry ramen
- Beef teri udon
- Takoyaki
Why we like it
- Over 10 different ramen options
- Thick, lean chasu slices
- Very reasonably priced
The Facts
This cozy little ramen bar makes a strong impression on its customers not only because of its wide selection of ramen bowls, but also through its unique, distinctly neo-Japanese interior.
Menyatai’s menu offers a decent selection of donburi, udon and complimentary appetizers like edamame, takoyaki and shumai that go hand-in-hand with any bowl of Japanese egg noodle soup they have.
Try spicing up your ramen just the way you like it with a small but essential selection of add-ons like seaweed, egg and pork / chicken chasu. This one is a must try on our list of best ramen noodle bars in Calgary!
Shiki Menya Ramen
- Address – 827 1st Avenue NE
- Phone Number – 403-454-2722
- Website – shikimenya.ca
Our favourites
- Tonkotsu black ramen
- Chili goma ramen
- Feature ramen
- O.G. char siu tacos
- House made gyoza
Why we like it
- Classic & new school ramen
- Gourmet ramen
- Exclusive – limited bowl servings
The Facts
Named one of the best new Calgary restaurants in 2015, Shiki Menya comes from the family who owns the already well-known and well-liked Shikiji.
Japanese egg noodle soup is the star of the menu here where you’ll find a huge selection of traditional favourites mixed in with newly concocted bowls that will leave you smiling ear-to-ear.
A limited number of ramen bowls and house-made noodles are served up each day so its best to give Shiki Menya’s social media accounts a follow so that you’re not left in the dust. Follow them here: @shikimenya.
Also, check their website www.shikimenya.ca for live updates on which ramen bowls are still being offered daily.
JINYA Ramen Bar
- Address – #180, 1800 4th Street SW
- Phone Number – 587-356-0721
- Website – jinya-ramenbar.com
Our favourites
- JINYA tonkotsu black
- Cha cha cha
- Wonton chicken ramen
- Pork chasu bowl
- 20+ toppings
Why we like it
- Thick, delicious broths
- Choice of thick or thin noodles
- Massive selection of ramen
The Facts
JINYA Ramen Bar is the newest restaurant on our list of best ramen in Calgary, but as a chain restaurant originating several years ago in Los Angeles, it most definitely isn’t the least experienced in the game.
With several locations all over the United States and some in other major Canadian cities, you can count on its extensive ramen menu that includes a huge selection of complimentary appetizers, rice bowls and even mini tacos that make for an all-inclusive dining experience.
We were really impressed by the countless topping add-ons available to customize your selection; with over 20 to choose from you’ll never have a ramen bowl quite like the last.
Gagana Ramen
- Address – #101 – 5421 11th Street NE
- Phone Number – 403-452-3826
- Website – http://www.gaganaramen.com/
Our favourites
- Tonkotsu Ramen
- Spicy Miso Ramen
- Housemade noodles
- Traditional broth temperature
- Pressed green tea
Why we like it
- Owned by Gagana Japan
- Wet ramen served lukewarm; easy to eat quickly
- Good sized char siu; no skimping on ingredients
The Facts
Gagana departs from your typical ramen restaurant in Calgary in the sense that this place is actually owned by Gagana Japan, which means their dishes are served like they are often back home at lukewarm temperature instead of hot.
This difference was at first surprising but delightful because you can begin indulging into your bowl right away. There’s no stopping to blow on noodles or cool the inside of your mouth off by huffing and puffing.
Apart from the temperature, the ingredients used were also slightly different. Gagane uses a rich brown coloured bamboo shoot that actually has amazing flavour, is softer to chew and easier to eat as a result. They also include a ton of lightly cooked cabbage which adds a nice texture change from the soft egg noodles and other ingredients.
The broth is rich in flavour with a nice balance of sweet, fish and spice. It compliments Gagana’s housemade egg noodles rather perfectly and combines the rest of the dish ingredients seamlessly into one awesome bown of Japanese ramen.
- See our Gagana Ramen Calgary Restaurant Review today
I Love Ramen!
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