Alongside Banff's stunning scenery, endless activities, cute streets and shops, there's also food to try. There's food everywhere and even in a small town in the middle of the beautiful Rocky Mountains, I'll be damn if I can't find good food. Chaya is the perfect place to hop in and take a quick break before your next big adventure. Which is what Joe and I did for lunch on our May long weekend. Our next big adventure was actually a nap, but whatever. We needed a meal after our morning hike! Chaya is located on the far (south) end of Banff Avenue, the main street of the small town. They're open a little later than most shops on the weekend (11:30am) so going for a morning hike or bike ride is a great idea before stopping into town for lunch. Be forewarned: it's a small shop. I mean, five or so tables, packing in 12 or so people. We came right at opening and it wasn't long before the space was full and people were asking how long will it be for a table of four. Not happening friends, not happening. The restaurant is ideal for small (!) families or if you're there with just one other. I don't believe they do reservations but I didn't see any signs stating otherwise. You can try! The order counter is located in the back, just step right up and order. If you can find a seat, they'll bring your order out. Condiments and water is self serve. The menu is simple: noodle soups, rice bowls, and curries. I don't know why I haven't taken the leap over to Japanese curries yet. It's not that far of a leap but when given the choice, I'll always take a bowl of noodle soup. Maybe next time! Joe ordered the miso ramen, a flavorful miso broth with ramen noodles (not handmade), beansprouts, ground pork, and green onion. Normally any ramen bowl without an order of soft-boiled egg is a shake-my-head kind of bowl, but Chaya somehow changed my mind a few years back. It's not bad without the egg. It's the broth that does it, the depth of the flavor that makes you smile. It by no means compares to ramen in Vancouver or Calgary, but it sure beats the selection in my hometown of Edmonton. I'll take it! It's delivered piping hot to your table too. I couldn't bring myself to order a bowl of ramen, knowing that later on in our trip another ramen shop was making an appearance. So I ordered the kakiage udon, a tempura fried mixed vegetable and shrimp topping a bed of udon in a clear broth. Oh man, this hit the spot. Serious. And so much steam was coming up from the bowl that it was near impossible to take a clear picture without having to wait for it to cool down. I'm sorry, even I don't let that happen. I'm a foodie first. Photo-taker second. Nobody will ever believe that but it's true. A few years ago I remember eating ramen at Chaya and thinking that I needed to try the udon on my next visit. I actually enjoyed my udon better than Joe's ramen and the bowl looked considerably fuller as well. I couldn't finish my meal! But that's always a good sign. The udon was perfectly cooked, nice and chewy with a little bite. Most places always rush and seem to undercook the large strands. The tempura mixture was crunchy and fried with the day's fresh batch of oil so I was pleased. Eat it fast though or it became a soggy, yet tasty, bite. We also ordered a side of seaweed salad (unphotographed). It was meh, nothing outstanding. Stick to the noodles! Check out Chaya next time you're up in the area. Great for a quick stop, meals come out fast. It's cheap and delicious, I really don't know what else you're looking for in Banff! read more

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Don't let the three star review dissuade you, this is a great little Japanese place that serves perfectly average (but at least authentic) Japanese food. We tried beef- and katsu-don, which were a godsend when we were getting tired of all the overabundance of pub food in the area. While the food was not "the best katsu-don outside of Japan" (as another yelper stated), it was extremely satisfying, even heavenly to get decent "cheap asian food" when we were really craving it. Price is reasonable given it is right in the busiest area on downtown Banff. And, it's tiny (in true Japanese fashion)... Not suitable for parties of greater than four! read more

I am from Japan, and I have lived all over the U.S., including Chicago, San Francisco, and the east coast. The katsu-don at Chaya in Banff is the best I've had outside Japan! I went there three times in the two days I was in town. read more

This place has been my most favorite Ramen place till date. Still yet to find a place that matches this in my city. This is a small cozy place. We entered this place just around 11:30 am and after that there was quite a rush to get seated here. It was definitely freezing cold outside( we visited during Christmas) and this ramen was soothing for the weather. I ordered the Vegetable Ramen. It had the perfect amount of vegetables, soup and noodles. I can go on but it was delicious and I would definitely go back here the next time I visit Banff (rather make a trip just to eat here). read more

Fail. It's more like a 3 Star but I give it one so the ratings will be more accurate. We drove 900 km to try it and see for ourselves. I am sorry to say even though the Restaraunt and service were good. The Ramen was not .. The noodle was starchy sticky and mushy all at once the miso was not miso at all. The flavour Was missing from every ingredient . I don't like Wok Box for every same reason I don't like Chaya " It is not well prepared and neutral " read more

Stopped by for a late lunch on a Friday afternoon and we didn't have to wait for a table. Bonus! I ordered the tan tan ramen, hubby had the pork ramen and we split an order of gyozas to start. First of all, they took the cold cooked gyozas from the fridge and presumably microwaved them. Not a good start to the meal. The gyozas were tasty enough but did not have the crisp pan fried texture. Instead, they were soggy. Then the ramen arrived piping hot. The tan tan ramen had ground pork, one piece of broccoli and some bamboo shoots. While the spicy and peanuty broth was quite good, I was hoping for more "stuff" in my ramen such as some more greens or half a boiled egg. Hubby's ramen had slices of pork and bean sprouts. The broth was tasty as well but he loved the tan tan broth and the serving of ramen wasn't big enough for me and he started eating mine. In all, I enjoyed Chaya and it definitely hit the spot on a chilly winter day. read more

My friends and I were craving ramen, which isn't easy to come by in Banff. But we came across this little place and was excited because the ramen looked delicious! The restaurant is tiny, it maybe seats 12 people, but we lucked out and got there before the lunch rush and was able to get a table right away. We all ordered the Tan-Tan Ramen: a sesame and peanut based broth....it was sooooooo goooood. I highly recommend Chaya and would even say its worth a wait for a table if you can't get in right away. read more

Chaya - Tan-tan ramen - Ramen Near Me - Banff, Alberta

Was there few years ago. Food quality and service are declining. Disappointed!!! 5 of us were there few weeks ago. We ordered different type of ramens. Taste was ok, but no Japanese pork slice, just ground pork, no egg. Waitress was rude. We are not slow eaters. But when we were almost done, one of the waitress told us please hurry, people are waiting. Then she start to collect the dishes from some of us who finished the noodle soup. She did that in an unprofessional manner and splashed some soup on some us without apologize. Will not go back again. read more

The food came out very fast. The was still hot when the meal was done. Some people may complain of service, but you get what you paid for. What do you expect you go to an asian restaurant, you get an asian service. 很好吃的東西！ read more

It is a small place but with the great service that you may need to coming back with the number ticket when they were full. Both the ramen and chicken ton are great. And I found it with surprising that they had the rice ball to take away for a quick meal when you had a late trip in Banff. read more

The Tan Tan Ramen broth was really special and delicious, and the noodles were great! We asked for extra veg and they happily obliged. We had Kimchi as an appetizer and it's great if u enjoy spicy!! read more

Chaya - Ramen Near Me - Banff, Alberta

We went for dinner on a weeknight, we order miso ramen and one other kind of ramen. The portion was small , with no Japanese traditional pork slices, just a little bit of ground meat, no eggs or vegetables toppings. The taste was just ok. I would not recommend read more

Banff has a fair number of Japanese restaurants, likely due to the number of Japanese tourists who come here. Chaya is a decently priced noodle joint - they have soups with ramen, soba, and udon noodles, plus a number of donburi (rice) options. Most dishes cater to meat eaters, but there are a few options for vegetarians. I opted for the Curry Udon. The noodles were abundant springy and fresh, the broth was full of Japanese Curry flavour (fine, there was probably lots of salt), and I enjoyed the flavour of the thin slices of beef included. I just wish there were also more vegetables included in that individual dish to make for a well rounded meal. However, you could always opt for a not-terribly-appetizing-looking pre-made salad in that Chaya stores in its refrigerator. The restaurant itself is narrow and only has about 10 tables. If you suffer from claustrophobia, I recommend taking your food out. read more

Today was the 4th time we've eaten at Chaya! delicious as usual. It's a tight seating area but who cares when it makes no difference to the experience and the oh so good food! I alternate between the BBQ Pork Ramen and Katsu Curry (Breaded Pork with rice and enough curry sauce to smother every grain of rice and pork) yumm! If you go there before 6 or 7, you won't have to wait that long. I've driven to Banff just to eat here from Calgary. it's worth it; eating a simple delicious meal you can't get in Calgary in the heart of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Eat here, you'll thank me later haha! Btw, my girlfriend is Japanese and adores this place! read more

Chaya - Katsu Curry!!!!! - Ramen Near Me - Banff, Alberta

I wish I could speak more highly of this small family-run Japanese eatery in the heart of downtown Banff. It's cute, it's local, it's homestyle Japanese. But maybe I've been spoiled by the quality of ramen in SF and NYC, and only found this place to be okay. First, it's tiny and you have to order at the front counter, which means that you have people hovering around and squeezing by tables throughout the night. Best for parties of two, and even then I wouldn't go there for a nice quiet night out. We got there at 8 and weren't able to get a table because they were promised to those who arrived earlier in the night, so we opted to take-out and eat by the Bow River, which was an idea I strongly recommend that any Banff visitor does. Why sit inside a crowded, over-priced restaurant full of tourists when you can hang with the locals by the riverside enjoying stunning mountain views. The food at Chaya also didn't impress. Ramen noodles were too thick and overcooked so a bit mushy; and the meat that accompanied it was barely perceptible in the broth. Broth was salty but not overly flavorful. I would stick to the rice dishes as their rice was spot on - slightly sweet, with perfectly chewy yet fluffy short grains. The beef sukiyaki tasted fine - but their sauce wasn't anything unique - more simple homestyle Japanese. And their tempura was well battered, but again, nothing special. But when enjoyed outside with the fresh mountain air and stunning views after a full day of hiking, the food served its purpose. Find more reviews about places around Banff and Jasper on my blog here: http://www.vcinthekitchen.com/exploring-alberta/ read more

cold day with hot Ramen. The miso soup warms you up. All the dishes are about 1 person size. Around 10 bucks depending on what you wants. Get extra if you are a big man. The meat would double.... no outside food, no smokes. read more

Chaya - chicken udon, beef on rice don - Ramen Near Me - Banff, Alberta

Getting a seat here can be really difficult because it's super small, but they try to accommodate you as much as possible. Got the tan tan and the wonton ramen. Both were good, but not necessarily spectacular. Appreciated the kind of simple state of the restaurant, although it would be great if they had a couple extra spice/sauce bottles to go around so you don't have to fight other customers for them. read more

My first time here was in 2017 and it was wonderful. I returned again wanting ramen and it's ridiculous how they selectively cater to clients. I went 3x and there were open tables, but I was told that they were "reserved". Learn how to treat your customers better!!! read more

This was our first time having ramen at a restaurant rather than at home from a cheap store-bought package boiled in a pot. With this, I wasn't quite sure what "great" authentic ramen is supposed to taste like. I got the miso ramen. It had a nice subtle soothing flavor and the noodles had nice chew. My husband got the spicy tan tan ramen and was a bit disappointed that it wasn't as spicy as he wanted it to be. It had great bold flavor though, and I ended up wanting more of his with a slightly peanuts taste. The couple sitting next to us ordered japanese curry with rice. The smell that emanated from their side made us wish we had ordered some of that too. The place is really tiny and all the tables are rather squished together so it feels like you're rubbing elbows with strangers. But other than that, the food was really tasty. read more

Best and most authentic kitsune udon I have had in North America since going to Osaka! Highly recommend! Whole staff is from Japan which should tell you right away it's going to be great! read more

Solid ramen for when you tire of bar & grills and AAA Alberta beef. If you go right at opening (11:30), you should have no problem getting a seat, even on the weekend. But after being seated around then, I saw the restaurant quickly fill up and the host start to turn away larger groups, telling them to come back later. They seem to have some sort of hold system where folks can come back within a certain time frame for their table (but it didn't seem super structured). The menu itself consisted primarily of ramen dishes and donburi (rice dishes), and the cold case featured seaweed salad and sushi. I got the Tan Tan ramen, which seemed to be a mix of dan dan mien and ramen, with a spicy, peanut-y broth. The noodles were solid and the broth tasty. At around $11 per bowl, the prices were definitely standard Banff-level. But it was worth it for the refreshing change of cuisine during the long weekend. read more

Chaya was the first ever meal I had in Banff when I first moved out to the mountains. It is a tiny tiny little ramen house that serves delicious noodle and rice bowls located right beside McDonalds on main street. We ordered the katsudon rice bowl and the the ramen noodles with dumplings and we both shared the gyoza. Both had great flavours and were cheap to boot! The pork on the katsudon wasn't dry and there were nice chunks of sweet onion mixed in with the rice and egg. It looks like a small bowl but you get a whole lotta rice. I had a few sips of the ramen noodle soup and I could tell the broth was nicely flavoured. Very clear and not too salty. The gyoza was okay. It was already cooked and held in the cold displace case when we ordered it. You order over the counter and wait for the server to bring over your food. There is a water station where you can help yourself to water and extra sauces like siracha and soy sauce. It is a very, very small and narrow place but a great place to grab a quick lunch! read more

We are here early so that we don't need to wait for table (group of 9) and we are very happy with the quality of food and the friendly staff. A must go for Japanese Food in Banff read more

Chaya - Ramen Near Me - Banff, Alberta

Tan-Tan ramen was delicious and very flavorful. BBQ Pork Ramen was also pretty good. Rolls were pre-packaged and just "meh". The place is small so come early! Service is good - servers are all nice, you get your own water and utensils. Nothing fancy, but satisfying on a cold day! read more

I ordered the chicken udon and it honestly wasn't great. They give you an okay amount of noodles but they give you virtually no toppings. There were a few pieces of chicken but no other toppings. read more

I had the tan-tan ramen which was tasty but not worth $13 as it's basically broth and noodles (with a very small amount of ground pork). The description says "broccoli" but there was literally one little piece of broccoli. You certainly are not paying for the ambience as it's a dive. The gyoza are pre-cooked so when you order them they take the plate of cooked gyoza out of the fridge and microwave it. I watched them do it so it felt like eating leftovers. If you're really craving ramen then it will do the trick, but keep your expectations low. read more

This place is Quaint and the food is great. If you are around here, you have to try their Pork Curry Katusu. Be warned, this place only takes CASH!!! read more

Good Japanese food. Very tasty chicken teriyaki bowl, and chicken udon soup was the kids fav. Mochi for desert, but it seemed like they took it out from a trader joes box?!?! read more

Delicious and authentic. Tan Tan ramen is our favorite. Spicy, mouthwatering broth. Hard to get a table, always a wait. Worth it.

A OK ramen place with OK price. Their ramen is not as tender and chewy as the other ramen place that I tried before. Portion is good, you will be filled up by noodles and some bean spouts. If you are a meat lover you gonna be disappointed. Even tho in general you won't see much meat in ramen places, but here is even worse. Btw, avoid their BBQ pork ramen, the pork is so bad, tasteless, not tender, and using the wrong part of a pig to cook read more

We were worried about the negative reviews but we've been craving ramen! I'm glad we gave this place a chance. It's NOT flavorless, I'm from Downtown LA and this place is still delicious, especially for the middle of the mountains. Give it a chance. I loved the Tan Tan ramen read more

Stumbled across this place looking for noodles. Small restaurant but they are popular. The waiters were nice and accommodating. The food was tasty. We took longer to eat because our two year old eats slow but they didn't make us feel rushed even though they had two groups of four people coming in. They just told the groups to come back in 15 min or so. They happily obliged which makes me think people are willing to wait to eat here. read more

I am so ridiculously glad this place exists, because when you have a hankering for some ramen it is hard to get rid of. It's the sweetest little shop (alright Beaver Tail wins for being smaller I think) in Banff and easy to walk right by without noticing. I have been here twice and the ramen is the second best to Ramen Tatsu-Ya in Austin and ahead of Momofuku Noodle bar in NYC ('what?' you say? Yes). The people are always wonderful and happy to serve you. Highly recommend and can't wait for a nice chilly day as a great excuse to go back. read more

"Go here"!! Great ramen noodle bowls, served quick and fresh and hot. Very well priced. Small, so you should expect a line in the summer. read more

The noodle is too salty. The space is too crowded. The servers are too rude. Overall an unpleasant experience. I don't understand why people would go there in the first place. read more

This place used to be great, but now it's mostly a bowl of broth. There's another Ramen place in town that charges less, and gives you more.

Pros: 1) Cheap 2) Relatively authentic 3) quick service you can get delicious "homemade" grocery store style sushi, but it was made by real japanese people at least. ramen would be 1.5 stars in any major metro area with real ramen, but its 3 stars here because its in banff so its underrated, and 4 stars for being cheap and quick. katsu curry is probably a safer bet. read more

I used to frequent this restaurant every time I visited Banff. However, I don't think I'll be going back to this restaurant anymore. I was at Chaya recently and had a less than optimal experience. Firstly, the girl at the till messed up my order. I specifically asked for meat on the side, and it came IN the soup. Despite this, I didn't complain. My mom tried to eat the meat, but it was WAY too overcooked. It looked like the meat was cooked in the microwave. She ended up giving the meat to our dogs. Secondly, as I was ordering, I was contemplating on whether or not to order the gyozas, but when the girl admitted that they microwaved the pre-cooked dumplings, I decided not to include them in my order. Since customers order at the till and pre-pay before they receive their food, I had already given the girl a tip (I was dining inside the restaurant). My mom wanted some hot water, but when I asked the girl for this, she pointed at the tap and said they "didn't have any hot water, only what came from the tap." Two minutes later, my friend received her pot of HOT tea. My mom wasn't impressed with the overly salty soup and over-cooked meat, so she went next door to grab an ice cream. My friends and I were still working on finishing our dishes, so obviously we were still inside of the restaurant. My mom came in with the ice cream, and the girl told her in an extremely RUDE tone, "no outside food in here!" She barked at us like a dog. We weren't even finished eating our dishes. This girl could have said whatever she needed to say in a much nicer tone, especially since I already gave her a tip. Looking back, I should have demanded my tip back. After this experience, I will not be supporting this restaurant anymore. The food was sub-par and the service was terrible. read more

It's very honest. Not a place to stay and spend time chilling and talking, but to eat and be welcomed with the friendly staff. The food has an authentic Japanese homemade flavour that brought me back to my grandma's food. Simple and fresh ingredients. I'm going there all the time during my stay in Banff. read more

This was the first place we ate while visiting Banff. We were hungry, and a lot of places had 1 hour long waits to get seats. So, my friends and I stopped by here to get some quick food to-go. I got the Tan-Tan Ramen, and it was GOOD. The restaurant seems authentic as it is run by japanese people and you can tell that they care about the food they make. The restaurant itself is very small and can only seat about 12 people. But since my friends and I to-go'd the food, the seating did not matter to us. The food was very good and that was all that mattered to us. I definitely recommend checking this place out, the food is very good! read more