Food is godlike, ambience is godlike, service is great and staff knows that their ramen is top tier Will eat here until I can't no more read more

Honestly this place is very overrated. I was so excited to see what all the hype was about and it was very disappointing. The ramen was okay. I ordered the veggie and my partner had the pork. Come early if you're going to try this spot! Seating is limited and some people waited over an hour. read more

Yokato Yokabai - Veggie ramen - Ramen Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Waitlist is an iPad that you fill in yourself and it texts you when it's your turn. Waitlist said it was 40-60min, but we got a text 20min later that the table was ready. Lots of cool shops nearby to checkout while you wait. Bar stool style eating. Menu is simple and very customizable. Pork broth was 12/10, next time I'm selecting extra broth. Pork shoulder was 10/10 soft/tender. Seaweed was as expected (good). Egg wasn't salty/marinated enough for me. Lotus was 10/10, very crisp. Thin Noodles were good, a little chewy. Overall 100% worth the wait and effort! read more

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The wait is worth it... you can have a drink/food in the attached bar while you wait. Delicious ramen with really great topping options. Vegan friendly. The limited seating in the ramen kitchen side is part of it's charm! Will definitely go again next time I am in Montreal. read more

Yokato Yokabai - Tonkatsu and Vegan ramen, - Ramen Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

I discovered this spot through the Michelin app while visiting Montréal, and it did not disappoint. The restaurant is busy, but for good reason--this is arguably the best ramen I've had, and I live in the Bay Area, where Asian cuisine is top-notch. We started with the octopus. While I would have preferred it grilled rather than fried, it was still flavorful. The salad was a highlight--vibrant, fresh, and perfectly dressed with a soy-based dressing I loved. For the ramen, I appreciated that they offer both veggie and chicken broths; many places only have pork, which can be limiting. The ingredients were fresh, and I especially enjoyed the ginger and hot sauce on the side. Overall, a standout ramen experience that I'd happily return to. read more

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High quality food & atmosphere. Expect to wait 45-60 mins at dinner time for a table of 2, even when the iPad check-in says only 15-30 mins. Also make sure to get a non-expired Ramune. Ours expired 2 years ago and was not carbonated at all. Solid ramen spot. read more

This is an amazing Roman joint. Wait was around 40 min on a Sunday late lunch. Rustic Japanese decor, helpful staff. BUT the reason you go there is for the best Roman I have ever had. That includes multiple places in California, US east coast and Tokyo. Try it out. What a treat. read more

Yokato Yokabai - Ramen Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Small busy ramen shop connected to an izakaya place. Was able to walk in and get seated in a corner on a weeknight. Seating is squishy. Ordered Fried Chicken (karaage) and 2 Bowls of Pork Ramen. Can choose type of noodles (thin/thick), protein (pork or chicken), saltiness level and how much green onion you want on it. I went for regular salt, and extra green onion. They also have sesame seeds, chili oil and pickles as condiments on the table. Surprisingly they do not offer alcoholic drinks. The karaage was tasty, topped with a mushroom sauce. For the ramen, the broth was super flavourful, and I was good with the regular saltiness level (but could see how some might opt for less). Overall was a very satisfying meal. read more

Yokato Yokabai - Pork broth Ramen with Pork (and extra green onions) - Ramen Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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Visited in December on a cold, snowy day -- seated as a group of four. I arrived at 12:40 PM and was told the wait would be 20-25 minutes. The good part: they let us wait upstairs, so we weren't stuck outside in the snow or lining up in the cold. After about 25 minutes, I checked in again -- the host said he hadn't forgotten about us, it was just taking a bit longer than expected, and there were still people waiting outside the building. In the end, the total wait was 35 minutes. Once I was seated, everything moved fast. Table service was quick, the staff was especially accommodating, and overall the wait was totally worth it. I had already reviewed the menu while waiting, so once I ordered drinks, I went right into food. For sides, I went with the karaage fried chicken -- crispy, hearty, and perfect if you like a real substantial bite. I also got the korokke, and if you're a potato lover, these are a win: super comforting and giving a little low-key hash-brown vibe. For my ramen, I ordered the tonkotsu. I chose the "more" level of saltiness and it was perfect for me -- I'm someone who adds salt to most meals, so I loved it (though it can definitely stand on its own). I got the pork belly, which was tender and delicious without being fatty, plus extra green onions and thick noodles -- perfection. I also added an egg and I'd only recommend it if you're feeling like you want to get full. I also tried the chicken-based broth, and it was really delicious as well -- if you're torn between the pork tonkotsu and the chicken, either one will satisfy you. It just depends on which flavor profile you gravitate toward, because both are great. Every table gets water and a selection of toppings -- pickled radish/ginger, sesame seeds, and chili oil. I added the chili oil to my ramen for the extra kick. Overall: would 100% return -- even in a snowstorm. read more

Yokato Yokabai - Ramen Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

My ramen was amazing, I ordered the pork ramen with chicken broth and the broth was incredible and the pork very tender. My gluten free friend felt very accommodated as our server was well aware of the gluten allergy and made sure she had options as well. definitely would recommend! read more

Yokato Yokabai - Pork shoulder ramen with chicken broth - Ramen Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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Overall 3.5 stars. The first time we came here was for dinner on a Friday night, and long story short, we ended up going somewhere else. There was a small throng of people already lined up in the confined space just a few steps from the tiny side entrance, and we discovered that if we put our name down on the waitlist, we might not be called until 77 minutes (!?!). In my book no ramen is worth waiting that long for, so we left and went somewhere else. Since then we've been here once for lunch service and managed to get a table. I personally had such high hopes for their ramen, but the experience was hit and miss. Firstly, here's what worked: their soft boiled egg was spot on, and the 'pen and paper' ordering was easy enough to figure out and pretty efficient. I also thought the condiments, especially picked ginger and yellow relish, were a nice touch, although I could to without them. I wouldn't mind having esame seeds again, though. Here's what didn't worked: pork shoulder definitely didn't work nearly well as pork belly, and if only for that reason, I would get a different topping if we went back. The tonkotsu broth surprisingly didn't have the depth of flavour that I expected, plus they certainly didn't serve enough of it. Is that why they charge extra for extra broth? The chicken broth...was exactly what we had expected and was nice to try. Overall, I wish the 'basic' ramen came work many more toppings that it does, so that you don't have to spend extra $$ for simple toppings like a whole egg and bamboo shoots that I get without extra charge at several other ramen shops I've been to. Service was quick and drama free. I hope they continue to improve and stay busy. read more

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Entrance is tucked away on a side street so don't walk too fast or you'll miss it. The exit however is situated on a main road and has their outdoor patio attached at the street level. Service was prompt and pleasant. The spot was recommended by my Airbnb host so I figured it's where the locals flock for authentic Ramen. Unfortunately, I was not a fan. The inside was so dark I had to use my phone to see the options. Ordered the octopus fritters as a side and the amount of dough used to mask the pea size portion of octopus was hilarious. The vegetable Ramen was simply "ok". Really lacked flavor no matter how much I added to it. I took a few bites and requested a takeaway sack just to grab dinner elsewhere. For $36CAD I was sorely disappointed. ~Christy read more

I've just had the best chicken-based stock ever for ramen. My palate generally leans towards lighter flavors, in addition to not really loving the taste of pork, so this was already a tempting choice, even though I've been disappointed before with bland broths and was wary. But I'm so glad I tried it--I nearly drank every last drop. If you love chicken noodle soup, you'll love this too. There's just the right amount of creaminess added for an amazing ramen bowl, and I loved the use of yuzu to enhance the flavors. My partner described it as clean (and not as rich as the tonkatsu), whereas my mom thought both broths tasted the same. Obviously your taste is also subjective. I would also highly recommend the takoyaki. From the chewiness to the sauces, each bite brought me back to fond memories in Japan. The charshu-don, which is also served first, is good but I think could use less mayo. Overall this is a very satisfying meal and worth waiting for, especially with an easy waitlist system where they text you when your table is ready, and menus in both English & French. read more

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My favourite ramen place of all time! The pork shoulder is almost melt in your mouth good. The only downside is that it's super busy, so I'd recommend going earlier to get a place to sit. They do have a digital wait list too so it's okay to walk around. You order with a piece of paper, and it's a bit like building your own ramen - you choose the soup base, the saltiness, the noodle thickness, and the toppings. read more

Yokato Yokabai - Ramen Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

If you go anywhere in Montréal let it be Yokato Yokabai! Top notch ramen and moody lighting makes for the perfect date night spot. The ramen is worth the wait. You're given a card to fill out and customize your ramen order making it easy to communicate exactly what you want in your bowl. My only regret was not going back to Yokato Yokabai a second time before leaving the city! read more

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Back for the first time in over three years and I am not impressed and will probably never return (owner reading this is probably like: lol bye but whatever) - had to share my thoughts so maybe you can save your dollar too. After sitting down, we waited 45-50 min for our food - almost a full hour. The seating was not comfortable and made me nervous when I saw the people sitting beside us not have their food yet either - and they were already sitting when we put our names on the waitlist to get sat! After 40 min, we asked the server if we can just get our order to go if it was already made or have it cancelled and he said "it'll be out in 2-3 seconds" exact words - and pointed to behind the counter. 5 more min go by, it's hot, loud and we're feeling a bit lightheaded from hunger - we were ready to walk out. But it finally came! The food was not as I remembered it - the previously creamy and flavourful broth now tasted "white-washed" if that was a way to put it. Honestly kind of 'campbell mushroom canned soup' vibes. The noodles were ok. Sustenance, I guess. The chicken I ordered with it wasn't anything special. Also I noticed the menu slightly changed and now everything is an additional charge. Want thick noodles? Now an extra dollar. Want the whole egg? (Yes, they only give you half when most ramen shops provide the full one) That will be another dollar please! Extra nori? Corn? DOLLAR. TWO DOLLARS. The list goes on. We didn't add any extra items to ours and our 2 ramens alone cost almost $50. To say the least, I've had better instant ramen. We also noticed the assembly line for the kitchen was badly broken - they had staff but at times some would be standing doing nothing, or waiting for the previous person to finish their task before they can do theirs? it was very inefficient. Most of the ramen shops I frequent in Markham & Toronto have less chefs but the ramen is out in 5-10 min - which is what it should be... ramen is supposed to be "fast food" in Japan. Everything is already made, you just need to cook the noodles quickly and then assemble the rest. So what is happening here? We would've really appreciated the staff letting us know of the long wait, or when we asked how much longer it would've taken, not to say "2-3 seconds" Doesn't matter anyway, I won't go again nor will the staff or owner care but for the rest of my Yelp readers... money, time and calories aren't easy to earn.. don't spend them here. read more

I'm not sure if this was the best ramen I ever ate, but if not, it's real close. Came here late on a weekday to avoid the rush but still ended up having to wait 15 minutes or so. Sat at the counter and ordered the chicken teriyaki ramen while my wife had the veggie ramen with tofu. Both of our ramens were excellent. Perfect for a cold night but honestly, I would have enjoyed this in mid summer in south Florida. The place is very small so it doesn't take much for them to go on a wait. But service is friendly and efficient. I'd come often if I lived in Montreal. read more

Yokato Yokabai - Chicken teriyaki ramen. Excellent. - Ramen Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Drop in right before they close for the afternoon to avoid any line. There is friendly service and exceptional ramen. The spice really comes from what you add to your bowl, but the flavor base is wonderful. Highly, highly recommended. read more

Best Japanese ramen restaurant up North of Canada in the city of Montreal. The noodles and soup could rival most Japanese ramen dining establishments coming from an American tourist who's been to Tokyo Japan and have tried numerous ramen places in the United States. If I'm in Montreal Quebec Canada and want a bowl of ramen...this will be go-to dining place read more

Yokato Yokabai - Their one and only recommended TOP RAMEN of the restaurant. I will try other dishes next time! - Ramen Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Very quaint little place with excellent ramen. No alcohol served but it was worth the trip.

If you even in Montreal, you got to try this! There are two side of the restaurant. One is bar with all the options including ramen and bbq. I believe that side you can make a reservation without worrying about waiting on the line or their waitlist. The other side which mainly focus on only ramen, you will have to go through their waitlist. The waitlist is not that bad at the beginning of the dining hour. As it get late, the wait time can be up to 2 to 3 hours depending on the time. Good time to go is around 5 to 6pm, anything after that things get really crazy. The space on the ramen side is extremely small. It can sit around 15 people or so. The ramen definitely was good. I watched them make the ramen from the beginning to reaching me. Every step was so simple and that made it so delicious. Definitely be back again. read more

Yokato Yokabai - Ramen Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Stopped here after Saturday Quali while in town for the Canadian GP. With Vog on the team in Montreal I wanted to keep the team going after surprise Qualifying tickets right on the checkered flag straight. This is one half of two businesses under one roof - this just ramen, and the other side more of a sit down restaurant. Here it's smaller, more Japanese style seating and very close quarters as a heads up. Upon entry, there was a line to put names down for the waitlist, and it being a Yelp place - I quickly did it on the app rather than wait in line to use their iPad. We waited outside where there is convenient bench seating for those waiting. With only about 6 different "tables," they do a good job of keeping people moving to get everyone in. We were sat across from the kitchen in a three man high top bench table - and quickly ordered via their fillout cards. Though French is heavily used, the order cards have a French side and English side. I ordered rice pork chasu, as well as octopus fritters (which I thought the chasu was the kind of ramen and didn't know I got two - then again I was starving so I'm glad. For ramen I get the pork tonkotsu adding corn, extra noodles and a full egg. The pork chasu and fritters came out first with a spoon - and I can say this dish may have been top 3 in 2022 for me! All the flavors from the rice, to the pork, to the sauce on top and ginger etc was so good. Everything meshed well - mixed well and was full of flavor levels so balanced. Man. Our ramen came out quickly after as well - and folks - from the miso broth (thanks to the explanation from Vog), the noodles, egg, onions and succulent slices of pork - wow. I don't know how else to put it but this is a MUST HAVE while in Montreal. Period. We skipped dessert and headed out to head towards subway - but this was incredible and easily our best meal while in town. read more

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It was a cold night in Montreal which made me crave some ramen and the internet said this was the best place around. I stopped by on what was supposed to be an "off" time (7:00pm) and still ended up waiting about 30 minutes as a single diner. The entrance way and waiting area are are very small spaces and can hold about 4-5 people, who are standing, at a time. You put your name in the Yelp waitlist on the iPad at the front and wait for a text. Being noticed or spoken to by the wait staff of a host is pretty much impossible as they were all very busy but rest assured, once you get that text, they show right up. At first I though the place was rather small, due to the wait but upon being taken back, there seemed to be the small main room of Yokato and then three larger backrooms which connected to their sister restaurant/bar (Ichigo Ichie Izakaya) which was quite the delightful surprise. I took a seat at the bar and started looking over all three menus. I ended up going with a giant bowl of ramen with all the fixings, plus extras, two cocktails (the Tokyo Sour and the Akuma), and the Spicy Karaage. The karaage was incredibly flavorful, super crispy, and while I wouldn't say it was spicy, it had enough spice to it. The Tokyo Sour was very delicious as well as beautiful with it's colorful contrasting layers. The Akuma left a bit to be desired by maybe that's because I am not used to the flavor of shiso leaves. The ramen came out and was already large but after I added my extra noodles and broth became absolutely massive. I made sure to add plenty of chili sesame paste and dug right in. I nearly didn't finish it all but definitely did not want to waste a single drop. The broth, even though it was just a traditional pork broth) was somehow creamy, something I've never really had before. The creaminess stuck to the noodles and made every bite so decadent. The atmosphere was lively yet reserved, the staff were young yet seasoned and professional, and though the food was a bit pricey, it was definitely top notch. Yokato Yokabai checked all of the boxes and has easily earned it's spot in the top 5 ramen spots I've ever been to and that includes Japan! read more

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The ramen was rich and hearty and authentic. The servers were friendly! We loved our cocktails as well. This is a busy and popular restaurant, and I highly recommend them! Delicious! read more

Yokato Yokabai - Pork ramen - Ramen Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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It a good restaurant; however, it tastes pretty similar to other ramen restaurants with significantly higher price. I can tell the difference, and indeed, this restaurant's ramen and broth was slightly better, but the other restaurant's price was 18 and here it was 23. Waiters were not polite, moreover, rude. There is absolutely no service, so don't expect much from the waiters. read more

The perfect ramen spot on a cold day. The broth was extremely flavourful, the noodles were perfect, and the chicken was juicy. The service is great, and the restaurant itself has a unique atmosphere that makes it very comfortable. read more

Yokato Yokabai - Ramen (Gomami Broth, thick noodles, chicken) - Ramen Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

This place is actually one of my favorite ramen places outside of California now. Their tonkotsu broth is to die for!! Their noodles are good and their pork is pretty good as well. Make sure you select less salty when your order. Usually, ramen is too salty for me but Yokato Yokabai's less salty ramen hits the sweet spot for saltiness. I nearly drank all of the broth. So flavorful and creamy! The only problem I noticed with their ramen was that my egg was slightly overcooked. The yolk was completely set on the edges, which gave me a bad first impression. The broth did make up for it, so they still get a 5 in my books. read more

Yokato Yokabai - Tonkotsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Vegetarian ramen can be hit or miss but this was delicious! I chose the gomami (vegan soy broth) and it was perfectly rich and creamy without being too salty, it really brought the whole bowl together. The vegetables included one thick piece of lotus root, green beans, corn, green onions, and two types of mushrooms. I found the assortment to be different than what I'm normally used to, and the green beans a bit crunchy. I got the thick noodles expecting something like udon but they were more like bouncy ramen noodles. The egg was cooked perfectly and the tofu was well seasoned. I also added the spicy miso paste and it did a good job of adding a kick. They were running a special that let you get a custom ramen plus a dessert for a fixed price so I went with that option. The black sesame shaved ice cream was light and not too sweet and paired well with the little mochis. The ramen is under Ichigo Ichie and the wait times can be long so highly recommend putting your name down. read more

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The best tonkotsu ramen I've ever had! The broth is very rich, all the ingredients are perfectly combined with each other. Didn't have to stay in line because we came when it was almost closing. I loved the additional tray with spices that you can add to ramen (chili oil, sesame seeds, ginger and marinated pickles). The place was packed! The service was good! It's a darker interior which suits well. Also tried poutine which was very interesting mix of a Canadian staple and Asian flavors. read more

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This ramen is truly top notch! I enjoyed the "build your own" feel of the menu, with multiple noodle, broth, and protein options (plus add-ins!). I had the sesame broth as it came highly recommended, and it didn't disappoint! It's extremely creamy and rich - if you prefer a saltier, thinner broth, then I'd recommend the classic beef broth (which my partner said was perhaps the best they've ever had!). I also recommend dropping the extra $1 for the thick noodles. The service is extremely quick and the servers are friendly. The space is dimly lit and cozy, with plenty of space for smaller groups (there is a party maximum of 4 people). Note that they do not take reservations and the wait can be quite long (1h or more) if you come after 7pm or on weekends. Finally, they do not serve alcohol. I was initially disappointed, as I like to have a Sapporo with ramen - but I can't truly complain as the food was so spectacular! read more

Yokato Yokabai - thin noodles + sesame broth + veggies/tofu - Ramen Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

One of the best ramen places in Montréal. There can be a decent wait time but there is a live waitlist that makes planning easier. The quality of the ingredients is incredible and the balance in flavors is spectacular. The staff is very helpful also. Note that there is an affiliated/attached ramen restaurant that you have to go to if you want alcohol since this one doesn't serve any. The atmosphere is lively and a great time. read more

Yokato Yokabai - Special on the menu - Ramen Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

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Got takeout here for my adoption birthday and it did not disappoint! The meat was perfect and the egg was really good with the broth. The noodles were also amazing, they stuck together a tiny bit so stir before you enjoy! Love that they have an option for extra seaweed and corn. Also got the karaage chicken entree to share and they were delicious. read more

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I suspect this place to be practicing that particularly odious strategy, designed to manufacture a sense of scarcity and exclusivity, whereby they treat you as if you are lucky to get in and if you are not of the target demographic (and maybe even if you are), they gaslight you with poor service. Like a belief you hold onto because to abandon it would be to admit credulity, the sense of inadequacy and guilt that such treatment creates is transformed by a dark alchemy into appreciation of the experience and acceptance of the exorbitant prices as a perverse form of rightfully deserved penance. Or such is the hope. I may be doing them an injustice here, but the service was so obnoxiously bad that it made me think it was deliberate. Now the food. The aversive service may have tainted my experience, but I would need to martial every ounce of generosity I have left to even call it mediocre. The broth was of a hue somewhere west of grave wax and east of dishwater and the bits of food and helminthic noodles bloating in it rounded out the picture (as it were). All that was missing was a gnarled and rusty Brillo. The taste was blandly off-flavored and the texture gloupie, as if some stale mucilage and lignin had leached out of the wooden ladle-spoon it was pseudo-authentically served with. The whole dysphoric experience had me longing for the frugal simplicity of a toxic supermarket ramen kit. And no, I have tasted staggeringly good ramen in my travels. This was not it. Like under-rehydrated shiitakes, they appear to be floating a tad too high on their reputation. Couldn't finish the half of it, but: Nous ne ramenons pas ça read more

Both amazing service and food! Definitely, worth it! Will go again when traveling around the area.

Amazing food best ramen ever . So fresh so yummy u won't be disappointed it's so worth the wait

Cute little place close to our air b n b and our wait for a table went quickly even tho they were pretty busy. The ramen was delicious and the waiter was super nice and attentive to my food allergy. Definitely recommend :) read more

Got the octopus appetizer which was proven to be the best choice I have ever made. Ramen is also great, fun to choose your own combination. Very laid back but trendy and quick once you're seated read more

Yokato Yokabai - This is the vegetable ramen, mushrooms were killer - Ramen Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Amazing ramen. Words cannot express how amazing it is. The place is tiny, and does not take renovations, so I recommend arriving early and getting your name on the waiting list. read more

Yokato Yokabai - Miso ramen with pork / bamboo shoots / lotus and an egg. - Ramen Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Bro what the guck I would wait 2.5 hrs for this food. Amazing. Even if your full get the ice cream it's crazy read more

Ordered fried chicken and takoyaki as appetizer. Nothing too special about them. Tried chicken and tonkotsu soup base, both regular and extra salt, soso. Both thick and thin noodle, on the harder side. However the pork belly is super good, very tender and marinated very well, and extremely flavourful. Hence the 4 star. read more

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