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So glad I came here when I was craving Japanese Ramen! It's not the best ramen I ever had, but I was more than satisfied when I also had a chance to try out their Wakame Salad and Katsu Don too. Seriously one of the best deals I ever had so far. Come here for lunch if you are on a budget, but still craving some traditional Japanese food. It's a lot cheaper and you get to chose one item from each category for 9.90€: Salad: Wakame (Seaweed), Gurkensalat(Cucumber), Spinat, Kimuchi, Sidedish: Takoyaki, Gyoza, or Katsu Don Small bowl of Ramen: Miso, Shoyu, Miso Tantan, or Kuro Mayu. I was a bit disappointed when they didn't have pork meat that day and they substituted chicken instead. However, I was surprisingly content by the size of the small portion of ramen. For me, a normal size bowl is way too much, even for dinner. Also, ramen is already heavy to begin with and you can't take it home because it's best to eat it right when it comes out of the kitchen. I wasn't hungry after I ate and neither was I overly stuffed. It was the perfect amount for anyone with an average appetite. It also wasn't too salty like most ramen is. My favorite part of any Japanese ramen is not the meat, but the egg. This place had a simple soft boiled egg, but it wasn't marinated. The atmosphere of this restaurant is quiet and modern. They have a full bar and a part of their kitchen is open so you can watch the chefs prepare the ramen. Their bathroom is in a small building in the back of their small courtyard, but the short walk is very charming. They are also known for being a "Izakaya(Japanese Pub)," but I didn't get a chance to try out any of their food from the Izakaya section.
I was super excited to eat here and get my ramen fix. I walked in on a Sunday early evening and waited while the hostess checked to see if there was space. The interior was decorated with modern touches and a hint of Asian influence. Four- and two-person tables dotted the front room, bar seating let you scope out the chefs doin' their thang and the back room boasted two community style tables. As a solo travel, I usually present a conundrum to restaurants. Do we seat you alone in a corner because we feel bad for you being all alone or shove you wherever there's room? Daikan thought the latter. I was seated at the community table next to a couple and soon thereafter another couple joined me on my other side. Ahh. Fifth wheeling. As I was led to the table, the hostess told me I only had an hour to eat because they had reservations waiting. That's fine, I can eat fast and be on my way. Not like I'm having a life chat with the empty chair across from me. It took easily 15 minutes before a server came over to me. So much for the get a move on vibe, no one was in a hurry here. I told the waiter I didn't speak German, only English and he ran off to grab someone who spoke English. Few minutes later a new guy appeared to take my order. I had a question about an ingredient in a ramen dish since the menu was in German. The new guy didn't speak German so he ran off to ask someone what the word was. I was cracking up at the absurdity of it. I tried to order a Sapporo, because it was on the menu, but was brought sparkling water. I told the waiter I didn't order water, but Sapporo and he said they didn't have it. Why is it on the menu then fool?! And why didn't you say something when I ordered it and literally pointed at it. Oy vey. I can't do carbonated water as it upsets my stomach and felt like a jerk for sending the already opened bottle of water away. Meh. My ramen and chicken gyoza came out about 15 minutes after I had ordered them. The gyoza were a bit crispy on the exterior and soft and yummy inside. The chicken was spiced well and it came with a dipping sauce. The ramen was just okay. I've had better, but it was warm and filling so it was fine. It could have used more seasoning to amp up the flavor profile. I inhaled my food, paid, and peaced out. If you're looking for so-so Japanese food (or you've never had it before and have nothing to compare it against), give Daikan a try.
Daikan was a welcome reprieve from the fried, sugary, creamy, meat-filled Christmas market food in Cologne (some of which was perfectly delicious). We walked away from Daikan feeling comfortably satiated, having tried a good sampling of their dishes: sushi, ramen, gyoza, chicken wings, and the chocolate-filled gyoza dessert. Located in the Belgian quarter, this is a highly coveted spot that should be reserved at least a few days in advance. Unless you have a large enough group, you sit with other diners at large solid wooden tables, and if you're lucky you can see the chefs working hard behind the counter from where you sit. We sat in the front room, between the window and the chefs, which I appreciated in part because it was well lit, unlike the room at the back. Another reason to avoid the back dining room: clients have to walk through it to get to the restrooms, located outside across a stone-filled courtyard. With each opening and shutting of the door, diners in the back room were subjected to a cold gust of wind. We ordered the soy-based ramen with mushrooms, which surprisingly arrived before the sushi. It came in a starter-sized bowl with a perfect egg and the most delectably chewy noodles. Since it wasn't the only dish we were ordering (and since Daikan is an Izakaya bar), we weren't disappointed by its size. We downed it pretty quickly, slurping up every last drop. Then came the crispy chicken gyoza, which was good but could have had some more flavor. The gyoza sauce was surprisingly sweet and sticky, not vinegary, which didn't help with the flavor issue. I ended up dipping the crispy dumplings into my wasabi-laced soy sauce instead. After that, the four of us split two crispy rolls: one vegetarian filled with eggplant, and the other with avocado and mango. The outside crunch was divine, the textures inside the rolls superb. We also split a raw salmon roll with spicy creamy sauce drizzled on top (the best type of roll!) and a cooked salmon roll without sauce but with raw tuna on top (not as great--I'm not actually sure why one would eat cooked salmon in sushi form). Then came the chicken wings in a spicy barbecue sauce spiked with sesame seeds. You don't need dipping sauce for these--they were fantastic on their own. Everything goes down well with a chilled glass of white. I'm not sure which one we ordered since my friend ordered in German and took our waitress's suggestion, but it was a fine accompaniment. The boys ordered Japanese beer. Oh and dessert--fried gyoza wrappers filled with chocolate. It wasn't amazing, but then again I'm not a sucker for the sweet stuff. I kept snacking on salted edamame while the others polished off this dish.
Fantastic ramen! Nice surprise. Trendy place with shared tables or bar seating. Limited selection of chicken based broth (shio, miso, shoyu, etc) ramen for €10.50, but really good! My benchmark is based on Japanese ramen chains available in the US. Excellent broth, I had the shoyu, noodles properly cooked. Chicken charshu was not really warm, must've been an off-day, but the taste was excellent (grilled taste without being bitter, still juicy meat, unlike the over cooked/dry meat one often gets). The only odd thing was rucola leaves as garnish, which doesn't go well at all (!). But if you feel that 5 leaves of salad can ruin your experience then you need to re-check your priorities lol. Still an easy 5 stars for me. Kölsch beer is €2.50 a pop. Super fast refills at the bar was awesome. Pretty decent selection of fried food too. Already looking forward to my next visit!
4 years ago
Shio ramen, basil cocktail, and matcha/taro Icecream we're all 10/10 amazing. Service is a little slow. read more
Authentic Japanese, real solid ramen. The spicy chicken ramen really hit the spot, savory broth and perfectly cooked noodles. I was surprised how thick and umami the broth tasted. The takoyaki were also delicious, only wish they came with 6 and not 4. The chicken wings, another home run. The gyoza were a bit on the soggy side, perhaps maybe another 30 seconds in the pan would've made them perfect. Also try the various fruit teas, not too sweet and perfect to wash down the hot noodles with. read more
FOOD & DRINKS The menu is compact and has some Japanese classics to choose from. I asked for a recommendation and picked a Miso TanTan Ramen and a Katsu Bao. The beef ribs also catched my interest but I couldn't resist to try out the Ramen and with that there was no stomach room left for the ribs. Plus my last beef rips experience (not in this restaurant) wasn't that great. The ramen really looked and tasted authentic! They hit the flavours and the ramen egg was done well. Maybe a tad too salty but it was marinated and cooked properly which I can't even say for some Japanese run ramen restaurants in Germany. The Katsu Bao reminded me of China meets Japan meets Vietnam meets Korea. The Bao (China) fluffy and slightly sweet, the Katsu (Japan) crispy, the sweet sour pickeled carrot and fresh cilantro (Vietnam) and finally the Kimchi (Korea) for a sour spicy note. The homemade ice tea was good too. SERVICE A bunch of cool and friendly guys were rockin this place during my visit. I was the first one to arrive for lunch and expected the service to be fast. No complaints. ATMOSPHERE Industrial and modern look. A dark color theme with some Japanese pictures on the wall and an open kitchen. I like it. RATING So why just four stars? First I wanted to give full five stars but I the last star to me is something personal. The restaurant needs to scream amazing to me and unfortunately it didn't. Everything was really good. The ramen was even better than some Japanese run places I have been to. The problem to me is not the food. It is the flair. The restaurant and its menu wants to sell their customers Japan. The food is there but I just don't get the Japanese vibes and this has nothing to do that none of them was Japanese. You can sell the Japanese feel without being Japanese. It starts with the decoration. While they had some elements they were kinda lost. This restaurant could be anything really. The atmosphere didn't emit Japanese vibes of an Izakaya either. I still can recommend this place and will come back to test more. read more
8 years ago
Great sushi, Ramen and poke! Love the hip interior and friendly service. Definitely try their Miso Eggplant and the Dragon Roll!! @comeflywithmel read more
9 years ago
So glad I came here when I was craving Japanese Ramen! It's not the best ramen I ever had, but I was more than satisfied when I also had a chance to try out their Wakame Salad and Katsu Don too. Seriously one of the best deals I ever had so far. Come here for lunch if you are on a budget, but still craving some traditional Japanese food. It's a lot cheaper and you get to chose one item from each category for 9.90€: Salad: Wakame (Seaweed), Gurkensalat(Cucumber), Spinat, Kimuchi, Sidedish: Takoyaki, Gyoza, or Katsu Don Small bowl of Ramen: Miso, Shoyu, Miso Tantan, or Kuro Mayu. I was a bit disappointed when they didn't have pork meat that day and they substituted chicken instead. However, I was surprisingly content by the size of the small portion of ramen. For me, a normal size bowl is way too much, even for dinner. Also, ramen is already heavy to begin with and you can't take it home because it's best to eat it right when it comes out of the kitchen. I wasn't hungry after I ate and neither was I overly stuffed. It was the perfect amount for anyone with an average appetite. It also wasn't too salty like most ramen is. My favorite part of any Japanese ramen is not the meat, but the egg. This place had a simple soft boiled egg, but it wasn't marinated. The atmosphere of this restaurant is quiet and modern. They have a full bar and a part of their kitchen is open so you can watch the chefs prepare the ramen. Their bathroom is in a small building in the back of their small courtyard, but the short walk is very charming. They are also known for being a "Izakaya(Japanese Pub)," but I didn't get a chance to try out any of their food from the Izakaya section. read more
7 years ago
I was super excited to eat here and get my ramen fix. I walked in on a Sunday early evening and waited while the hostess checked to see if there was space. The interior was decorated with modern touches and a hint of Asian influence. Four- and two-person tables dotted the front room, bar seating let you scope out the chefs doin' their thang and the back room boasted two community style tables. As a solo travel, I usually present a conundrum to restaurants. Do we seat you alone in a corner because we feel bad for you being all alone or shove you wherever there's room? Daikan thought the latter. I was seated at the community table next to a couple and soon thereafter another couple joined me on my other side. Ahh. Fifth wheeling. As I was led to the table, the hostess told me I only had an hour to eat because they had reservations waiting. That's fine, I can eat fast and be on my way. Not like I'm having a life chat with the empty chair across from me. It took easily 15 minutes before a server came over to me. So much for the get a move on vibe, no one was in a hurry here. I told the waiter I didn't speak German, only English and he ran off to grab someone who spoke English. Few minutes later a new guy appeared to take my order. I had a question about an ingredient in a ramen dish since the menu was in German. The new guy didn't speak German so he ran off to ask someone what the word was. I was cracking up at the absurdity of it. I tried to order a Sapporo, because it was on the menu, but was brought sparkling water. I told the waiter I didn't order water, but Sapporo and he said they didn't have it. Why is it on the menu then fool?! And why didn't you say something when I ordered it and literally pointed at it. Oy vey. I can't do carbonated water as it upsets my stomach and felt like a jerk for sending the already opened bottle of water away. Meh. My ramen and chicken gyoza came out about 15 minutes after I had ordered them. The gyoza were a bit crispy on the exterior and soft and yummy inside. The chicken was spiced well and it came with a dipping sauce. The ramen was just okay. I've had better, but it was warm and filling so it was fine. It could have used more seasoning to amp up the flavor profile. I inhaled my food, paid, and peaced out. If you're looking for so-so Japanese food (or you've never had it before and have nothing to compare it against), give Daikan a try. read more
5 years ago
7 years ago
Really great food and atmosphere. Friendly staff and quick service. Will be happy to go back! read more
Daikan was a welcome reprieve from the fried, sugary, creamy, meat-filled Christmas market food in Cologne (some of which was perfectly delicious). We walked away from Daikan feeling comfortably satiated, having tried a good sampling of their dishes: sushi, ramen, gyoza, chicken wings, and the chocolate-filled gyoza dessert. Located in the Belgian quarter, this is a highly coveted spot that should be reserved at least a few days in advance. Unless you have a large enough group, you sit with other diners at large solid wooden tables, and if you're lucky you can see the chefs working hard behind the counter from where you sit. We sat in the front room, between the window and the chefs, which I appreciated in part because it was well lit, unlike the room at the back. Another reason to avoid the back dining room: clients have to walk through it to get to the restrooms, located outside across a stone-filled courtyard. With each opening and shutting of the door, diners in the back room were subjected to a cold gust of wind. We ordered the soy-based ramen with mushrooms, which surprisingly arrived before the sushi. It came in a starter-sized bowl with a perfect egg and the most delectably chewy noodles. Since it wasn't the only dish we were ordering (and since Daikan is an Izakaya bar), we weren't disappointed by its size. We downed it pretty quickly, slurping up every last drop. Then came the crispy chicken gyoza, which was good but could have had some more flavor. The gyoza sauce was surprisingly sweet and sticky, not vinegary, which didn't help with the flavor issue. I ended up dipping the crispy dumplings into my wasabi-laced soy sauce instead. After that, the four of us split two crispy rolls: one vegetarian filled with eggplant, and the other with avocado and mango. The outside crunch was divine, the textures inside the rolls superb. We also split a raw salmon roll with spicy creamy sauce drizzled on top (the best type of roll!) and a cooked salmon roll without sauce but with raw tuna on top (not as great--I'm not actually sure why one would eat cooked salmon in sushi form). Then came the chicken wings in a spicy barbecue sauce spiked with sesame seeds. You don't need dipping sauce for these--they were fantastic on their own. Everything goes down well with a chilled glass of white. I'm not sure which one we ordered since my friend ordered in German and took our waitress's suggestion, but it was a fine accompaniment. The boys ordered Japanese beer. Oh and dessert--fried gyoza wrappers filled with chocolate. It wasn't amazing, but then again I'm not a sucker for the sweet stuff. I kept snacking on salted edamame while the others polished off this dish. read more
7 years ago
Very good ramen and sides. No busy during the week but have a reservation if you try to come on the weekends. read more
8 years ago
Im sure the ramen has right asian taste. So exiting to have a bowl of hot meal in chill Autumn&Winter read more
7 years ago
Fantastic ramen! Nice surprise. Trendy place with shared tables or bar seating. Limited selection of chicken based broth (shio, miso, shoyu, etc) ramen for €10.50, but really good! My benchmark is based on Japanese ramen chains available in the US. Excellent broth, I had the shoyu, noodles properly cooked. Chicken charshu was not really warm, must've been an off-day, but the taste was excellent (grilled taste without being bitter, still juicy meat, unlike the over cooked/dry meat one often gets). The only odd thing was rucola leaves as garnish, which doesn't go well at all (!). But if you feel that 5 leaves of salad can ruin your experience then you need to re-check your priorities lol. Still an easy 5 stars for me. Kölsch beer is €2.50 a pop. Super fast refills at the bar was awesome. Pretty decent selection of fried food too. Already looking forward to my next visit! read more
8 years ago
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More info about Daikan
Maastrichter Str. 9
50672 Cologne
Germany
Belgisches Viertel
Directions
0221 30135906
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http://www.daikan.de
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Daikan - ramen - Updated May 2026
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