Nikkei Ramen-ya 565 England Ave Courtenay, BC V9N 2N2 (250) 897-4700 Open 7 days a week from 11.30am - 8pm except for Friday & Saturday (closes at 9pm) Street parking available around the restaurant It began on a sunny October day in 2016. Inspired by the shops of Vancouver, LA, and Tokyo, and driven by their love of noodles, Greg and Erin Masuda served the first bowl of authentic, scratch-made ramen that Vancouver Island had ever seen. Six years and 40 flavours later, Nikkei Ramen-ya still bustles; if you can't make it to our shop in Downtown Courtenay, you can now find our ramen at your local Vancouver Island grocer. From silky Tonkotsu to vegan-friendly options and crisp karaage chicken, we've got something for every craving. Gluten-free options are available Our review- We met a friend for dinner, we went early at about 4.30pm, it wasn't crowded yet. Ordered our ramen on an electronic kiosk menu board... By the electronic menu board, there are table # stand. Chose a number & put the number that you chose onto your order as identification. Then place the number stand on your table. The noodles were very good, nice soup broth... we enjoyed the noodles very much, we also added a side dish of green beans, dressing on the beans was like the Japanese spinach (Gomae). Beans was crunchy & with that dressing, it was yummy. Overall a very good experience, do check it out if you are in downtown Courtney. You will not be disappointed ! Place was clean with decent seats Come after lunch or before dinner, the place was crowded during dinner time. read more

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Ramen is a great comfort food from Japan. It fixed my craving when I had a long work day on this business trip. The ramen was great, except that it's pricier than what it's worth. That's the reason for a 3-star. Food-wise it's a 3.5 star. When I first stepped inside the restaurant, there was a sign asking wait to be seated. I noticed someone was standing in front of the kiosk. The other one was not occupied. Before someone came to greet me, the person behind me went straight to the kiosk. I soon realized that people just order from the Kiosk and seat themselves. Kind of confusing right from the beginning. The ordering process on the kiosk was quite user friendly. It accepts credit card. I don't remember if they accept interac. It will ask for your first name for food delivery purpose. You need to provide your email if you want the receipt. At the end, you will see your order number and your name on the screen. After that, a staff (technically he was not a waiter or server) came to tell me that I can sit anywhere I want. Then he went back to the kitchen behind the bar. I ordered Hokkaido Miso ramen with Ajitama (seasoned soft boiled egg). The egg was an addition. It doesn't come with the ramen. The portion was normal which is quite standard from most ramen places in Metro Vancouver. I did not order any side dishes. After tax, it was close to $30. The kiosk didn't ask for tips. I supposed you could give tips by cash after the meal. During the whole dining session, you can ask for assistance as I saw what other customers did. Otherwise, you will not be approached by any server. The flavour of the ramen was ordinary. The texture of the ramen was great. I appreciated the egg and the chashu. The piece of butter was a bit too rich for my liking. The butter could be removed before it was completely melted in the soup. Overall, it's a nice comfy bowl of ramen. I sat by the bar. There were 3 young chefs cooking constantly. The place was not too busy on a Friday evening. Free parking on the street was easy. read more

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We came here for the reviews but we are pretty disappointed. Ramen was cold and the pork tasted spoiled. The tea that was almost $8 tasted worst than free tea (that we usually get when we go for Ramen). The only good thing was the Karagee but 4 pieces for $12 ??? Place was clean but service non existence, didn't even offer water. We are from Vancouver and we go for Ramen at least every other week so we know that is not authentic Ramen. read more

Had to wait over 45 mins for a bowl of ramen, not to mention their one bowl of ramen is $21.99 to $24....... No ramen should be a 45 min wait. If you're in a rush would def not recommend.. read more

The ramen is home made and very fresh. I ate the vegan which include a delicious tofu and then I added chicken and extra pickled shiitake. My friend had the chicken. The sun dried tomatoes and pea shoots add a splash of color and taste. We also had the gyoza! The ambiance is just like a ramen shop in Japan. The cooks work a galley kitchen. This place was packed when we arrived. The only thing I would say is that Yelp showed they were closed. Definitely not. The service was spectacular. You sign in on a touch screen and place your order! It's clean and the staff definitely hustles to make things happen. Highly recommend! read more

Nice little ramen spot in the main street. Small but nice ambiance. There is no table service, but a 15% gratuity is added to the bill. Overall, good quality food at a reasonable price read more

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Read about the hype before visiting Courtenay, BC. This tiny restaurant has patio seating and a few tall chairs at the window for seating. The first thing we noticed was the wonderful aroma! You walk in and order and pay first. Sit down and wait for your name/order to be called. We brought our tot son. We shared the Shoyu and the Tonkatsu and both were piping hot and fresh. The soup was so delicious that we drank it all our son loved the noodles and surprisingly the mushrooms. The cha siu that it came with was extremely tender and soft. This bowl wasn't sickly heavy or over salted (Vancouver, did you hear this?) so we were pleasantly full but not gross full. We highly recommend coming to Nikkei. It's a quick bite, but a delicious one at that. read more

Nikkei Ramen-ya - Shoyu Ramen (with added pickled shiitake mushroom). - Ramen Near Me - Courtenay, British Columbia

What a joke $16 CAD for a 12oz beer with a 15% 'Living Wage Top Up?' Two bowls of ramen $35 USD with the 'Living Wage Top Up.' read more

"When ingredients cost pennies" That's a laugh Dominic! You obviously have short arms and long pockets. Do you have no clue about restaurant overhead? Your review is insulting and should be ignored by all. My family LOVE ramen and have tried many of the best all around Vancouver, Seattle and try it most everywhere we travel. We all love Nikkei and think it is an excellent addition to the restaurant roster in the CV. The ramen here is fantastic. The fact that it is all from scratch tells you that they are very dedicated to the flavour, texture and all around experience of their ramen. Last week we were on our way up Island and made the detour off the Island Highway to come in for Nikkei. If you haven't tried it, go. If you have, keep going. Let's make sure this little gem of a restaurant stays open and thrives. read more

When ingredients cost pennies, as they do with basic ramen noodles and broth, as a cook you'd better pull something pretty fantastic out of the bag if you're barging more than ten bucks, and unfortunately these guys don't. Food is not bad but not in any way remarkable. Staff were friendly and ambience good. Customers have to order on a screen in the corner of the restaurant so these guys also aren't paying for servers, so average ramen should be way cheaper unless you're throwing in a bunch of meat, veggies etc. I paid a few bucks extra for shrimp and for about three or four tiny ones. Pretty expensive for a mouthful of Things could easily be improved in a big way. Not in any way upset or disappointed. Just, well, meh... Update: dropped to one star purely on the basis of the owner's reply, which demonstrates he has no idea whatsoever of how to take feedback. In response to your questions, yes, I have been to a great many ramen houses in a range of different countries and yours is most categorically missing the mark by a long way. But it sounds like you've got things totally nailed in your own mind, whatever a customer has to say, so just keep on doing what you're doing, continue to 'categorically reject' reviews you don't like and I'm sure you'll be a big success read more

A little unconventional way of ordering (you order on a tablet at the end of the kitchen, essentially), but I loved the idea. Food service was good. Went during dinner rush and waited about 10 minutes, which is pretty fast. The food we got was delicious. A solid 10/10. Never been to an authentic ramen place but this is the best you can get. The store is small, but cozy. In the summer months, they have a deck that you can sit on. Be prepared, (at the time of this review) they charge a 9% living wage tip up fee, which I agree with as this goes towards the cooks themselves. read more

Nikkei Ramen-ya - Ramen Near Me - Courtenay, British Columbia

I've travelled and eaten lots of bowls of ramen. So this praise does not come easy. The egg was top 5 in my life Noodles made fresh everyday This place would give every ramen spot in Vancouver a run for their money In Courtney BC no less, simply awesome. If you like ramen and are in the area. HIT this place up Not the cheapest, but excellent read more

Nikkei Ramen-ya - Ramen Near Me - Courtenay, British Columbia

Top ramen spot in the Comox Valley, made from scratch (including the noodles) this place is a must try

My family and I were craving for Ramen and this was fhe nearest at where we at that time. They have a small space but with big smiles with all the staff..i love that they dont have too much servings.. Just the right size of bowl and you can get a noodle refill, make sure to leave some broth. It was a nice experience and my kids loved everything we ordered. read more

Nikkei Ramen-ya - One of the ramens that we ordered. Shoyu. With chili oil on the side. Great!!! Recommended! - Ramen Near Me - Courtenay, British Columbia

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People who like the Ramen here have likely never left the stale Suburbs of the CV Valley or tasted REAL Ramen, in a much nicer Atmosphere, served by Professional and Friendly Staff! The Owners are Smug, Prejudiced and downright Rude to Cultured Individuals that are hungry for Authentic Healthy Options and who don't want Toxic, GMO, Chemicals in their Soup! Really let down by their Horrible Attitude and Limited Selections, not to mention the Backward Seating/Ordering Options. "Disappointed" is putting it Lightly. Left an Awful Taste in my Mouth. DO NOT Recommend. read more

It's okay. We found the broth to be a bit bland and the toppings scarce. But we're spoiled because we're originally from Vancouver and Victoria, where Ramen restaurants are plentiful and very good, indeed. Still, if you're craving a warm bowl of Ramen, this is your best choice in Courtenay. read more

Probably the best ramen on the island. Definitely comparable to the best of Vancouver. The specials were interesting and the flavours worked really well. Lemon ramen was refreshing and the "Japanese pasta" style was exactly that. Protip: the poker chip is for a second helping of ramen noodles. Even though it's "self serve", the staff were friendly and willing to help out. read more

Decent ramen for Courtenay. Portions are smaller than what I'm used to in Vancouver but overall impressed with the ramen being all the way out in Courtenay. Definitely would recommend giving it a try for people who enjoy ramen. read more

Nikkei Ramen-ya - the outside of a restaurant - Ramen Near Me - Courtenay, British Columbia

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Really good ramen! Lots of nice add ons and the house hot sauce is great. Enough room to sit, communal tables and a commitment to offering a living wage for staff. *applause* My favorite place to eat in the valley. read more

Really good ramen. I was looking for some Asian comfort food and this place did not disappoint. Broth and noodle quality is on point. The noodles had an excellent chew to it. The broth was full of flavour and seasoned just right. Would definitely come back if I'm ever in this neck of the woods again. read more

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I got one of the vegan ramen options. It was quite delicious and flavorful. What I loved the most was the fact that all the sauces, spices, and noodles were handmade in-house and that the employees receive a living wage. Big respect. Also, you get a poker chip for a free ramen top up on the big bowls. Yes! read more

Nikkei Ramen-ya - The vegan ramen bowl. - Ramen Near Me - Courtenay, British Columbia

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Good food but pricey for noodles. They have a nice variety and give a second helping of noodles if desired

Straight up no nonsense fill your belly joint. Food comes out quick, perfect for a lunch break. Love it. The portions are very generous because they always give you a refill of noodles! Anyone complaining that it's not enough is crazy. Friendly staff who know regulars' names is a good sign. This chef works hard and it shows. Delicious broth, great quality shrimp (not salad shrimp discount junk) noodles are excellent not soggy at all. Quaint little cozy spot with a comfortable bar to watch the action. If you havent been here you MUST try it. read more

Delicious ramen. I had the Ebi, and it was delightful. Service was excellent, plenty of COVID-19 precautions. Would definitely return.

I love this little restaurant. Always deliver with good food, good service. I only come for their shrimp ramen noodle, and always happy with it. My family loved their chicken ramen! read more

Nikkei Ramen-ya - Ramen noodle - Ramen Near Me - Courtenay, British Columbia

This place is convenient n quick ... luv it ... was out here for the synergy dance competition n it was quick n great ! Oishii!!! Gochisousamadeshita!!! read more

Still delicious even during COVID! The shoyu is my favourite! Strong, flavourful broth, great toppings; it's cozy and warm and the best thing for a rainy day. Absolutely delicious! read more

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We are huge fans of Nikkei Ramen-ya! Fresh ingredients, most made from scratch, amazing flavors, locally owned and they pay a living wage. Highly recommend eating here. read more

When I need to come to courtenay be it to shop or visit my granny, we always go for Ramen here! Kids love it, they had special chop sticks for them. I normally don't get the refile for noodles because the bowl is huge. I will take it home and have it for later. Holds up awesome. FRESH ingredients, from the noodles, to seafood, to the amazing LOCAL veggies. There is a reason your paying for amazing food. Even the pork is locally sourced. Go ahead and call me a bleeding heart liberal, I think people should only HAVE to work one job to live their life and Nikkei Ramen-ya makes that possible. Thank you for bringing Ramen to courtenay. If you all want to complain about the price and size go buy yourself a package of Mr.Noodles, you don't know what your talking about. read more

Everything is delicious, homemade and done with care and love. Seriously a must go. Gyoza are very good ! I go there every time Im in town read more

Benches are comfy, but please order the spicy option. Your taste buds will thank you, compared to the baseline bowl.

Its yummy but damn... 20$ for a bowl of ramen seems excessive no? Would love to be able to spend 10$ or less and get lunch there.

Excited to try but disappointed. I found it laking flavour and just incredibly rich. Not much in the bowl other than noodles and broth. Very little meat. I did enjoy the addition of the egg though. Goyza was ok just a little too much raw garlic flavour that overpowered the rest of the ingredients. Very pricey for what you get. Just under $60 for soup and goyza for 2..... read more

I had the Tonkotsu Ramen and Gyoza. It was very tasteful. One thing I would do differently is pay for more ingredients. For free you get more noodles but I felt the base serving size was not enough. More pork belly would be nice. The premise was clean but the amount of seating is limited. When it's cold and raining having a bowl of ramen is the perfect meal. I will come back again. read more

Nikkei Ramen-ya - Ramen Near Me - Courtenay, British Columbia

Amazing meal! We went for a quick dinner figuring we would grab take out if it was looking busy. Arrive at 6pm on a Saturday night and was shocked to find the place empty. We were even more shocked that the place wasn't packed after tasting our meal. We had two bowls of ramen and goyza to share. Everything was fresh and perfectly cooked. We couldn't have asked for a better more satisfying meal. Get the marinated egg add on, it's worth it. read more

We had lunch here, I'll start by saying it cost $30 for 2, no drinks. I had the Aka (#2) with an egg on top. Mom had Kuro (#3). It was delicious! Fresh ingredients and great service. The portions are big but if that doesn't fill you up, you can get fresh extra noodles for free. They even do take out! read more

Great food never disappointed would highly recommend this place if you're looking for ramen read more

Nikkei Ramen-ya - Ramen Near Me - Courtenay, British Columbia

Best ramen ever! Love the extra serving of noodles policy Pho broth is delicious. I also like the self order console. Service is always friendly no matter how busy they are. A beloved local go to for lunch. Mmm read more

Awesome location and cool vibe in the restaurant. Had an ebi and would recommend getting the gyoza also. Both were very good. Definitely come back again read more

I'm a ramen guy, been to many ramen places in Vancouver and Japan and I love this place. Visited during a business trip and found this gem! Will definitely come back again if I am in town. read more