India Rosa Plateau
1241 Avenue Mont Royal E
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Amenities, services & more
Yokato Yokabai Ramen was featured in the article(s) below.
Reviews for Yokato Yokabai Ramen
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Display Allramen(458) broth(100) pork(58) chicken(56) noodle(50) bouillon(32) tonkotsu(28) soup(27) recommend(26) japan(23) karaage(23) busy(23)
I went to Yokato Yokabai Ramen on a cold, rainy Saturday afternoon with a friend. One of those grey days where you just want warmth, something comforting, & a place that lets you linger.
The space is intimate & cozy, with warm lighting, wooden accents, & Japanese murals lining the walls. It feels lived-in in the best way. Like a spot people return to often. When we arrived, only the ramen bar was open, so we waited about 40 minutes for a seat. Normally that might feel long, but the weather made it feel right. When we were finally seated, it was directly in front of the chefs, which instantly made the wait worth it. Watching the bowls come together was its own quiet kind of entertainment.
Once seated, things moved smoothly.
We started by sharing the pork gyoza with peanut sauce. Crispy, savory, with just enough sweetness to round everything out. A solid opener.
Then came the ramen.
I ordered the torikotsu, a chicken-based broth with thin noodles & chicken teriyaki. Comforting, rich without being heavy, & really well balanced. My friend went for the tonkotsu, with its deeper pork broth, tender slices of pork, & the same delicate noodles. Both bowls were deeply satisfying. The kind of food that warms you from the inside out & makes the rain outside feel intentional.
One small thing to note. There was a water jug on the table, but the menu didn't list drinks & we weren't offered anything else, so we weren't sure if additional beverages were available unless requested. Not a dealbreaker, just something to know going in.
We ended up opting for a special that included ramen & a yuzu panna cotta for $25, which felt like great value. The panna cotta was smooth, lightly tangy, & refreshing. A gentle ending rather than something overly sweet.
The space itself is a bit tight, & it can get loud when it's full, but that closeness adds to the charm. It feels like a place where people gather for comfort, not spectacle.
Yokato Yokabai is the kind of spot you crave on a cold day. Cozy, unfussy, & focused on doing ramen really well. I'll definitely be back, ideally at a quieter time when more of the space is open, but the food alone makes it worth returning to.
You can enjoy authentic & simple tonkotsu ramen. It has a very rich taste & a taste that makes you feel Japan. The amount is not large, so it is small for men, but it is just the right amount for women. & for the Japanese, you'll scream, because $30 for a bowl of ramen (including tips) is crazy. This is because in Japan, you can eat ramen with this taste for $7 or $9 I wouldn't recommend it to Japanese tourists, but I would recommend it to people from other countries.
Excellent tonkotsu ramen. The broth is rich, creamy, & full of depth without being heavy
Will definitely be back.
Rich, creamy tonkotsu with melt-in-your-mouth pork & a generous portion. The tempura & octopus sides were super crispy & delicious too. Plus, they have an open bar with plenty of cocktails. Totally worthy of its Michelin star-just be ready for a long wait during peak hours. Can't wait to come back & try the chicken broth!
Ma 2e fois à Yokato & toujours aussi bon que je m'en souvenais! Le bouillon du Tonkotsu est excellent, goûteux, gras (du bon sens du terme). Les oeufs marinés méritent d'en avoir en extra 👌. Top 3 ramen for sure!!
La soupe était tout simplement excellente ! Le délicieux bouillon Tonkotsu débordais de saveurs, les nouilles parfaitement cuites & les portions généreuses. Environ 1heure d'attente qui en a vraiment value la peine. Une superbe expérience, je vais certainement y retourner !
This is clearly the best ramen restaurant in Montreal. I absolutely insist on visiting whenever I have the chance. This is the absolute jewel of the Plateau, consistently delivering delicious ramen every time. The tonkotsu broth is a must. The portions are incredibly generous & leave you full & satisfied. We are so blessed to have Yokato Yokabai. 3 Michelin starts from me.
Best ramen hands down in all of Québec. Nothing comes close to them. Recommend trying both their pork broth (tonkotsu) & chicken broth (torikotsu)! Service by Kathy is always great.
I visited Yokato Yokabai for the first time on a chilly, rainy Saturday afternoon with a friend, & it turned out to be a cozy, unforgettable experience. The restaurant's vibe immediately set a welcoming tone-its intimate setting, with warm lighting & beautiful Japanese wall murals complemented by wooden accents, made it feel like stepping into a little slice of Japan. Since it was early & only the ramen bar was open, we had to wait about 40 minutes for a seat, but it was well worth it. We were seated right in front of the chefs, which was a treat as we watched them skillfully prepare the ramen.
Stay tuned for my video review on TikTok (@Foxy.appetite) & Instagram (@Foxyappetite)!
In depth review:
To start, we shared the pork gyoza with a peanut sauce, which had a perfect balance of flavors-crispy & savory with a little sweetness from the sauce. But the real star of the meal was the ramen. I opted for the torikotsu, which is a chicken broth ramen with thin noodles & chicken teriyaki as my protein. My friend went for the tonkotsu, which featured a rich pork broth with tender slices of pork & thin noodles. Both dishes were exceptional, with each bite bursting with flavor. The broth was so comforting, rich without being overwhelming, & the noodles were perfectly cooked.
There was a water jug on our table, but the menu didn't mention any drinks, so we weren't sure if we needed to ask specifically for something else. We weren't offered any additional beverages, which left us wondering if this was the usual practice.
To top it off, there was a special deal-ramen & a yuzu panna cotta dessert for just $25, which felt like an amazing value. The panna cotta was smooth & subtly tangy, a perfect way to end the meal.
Though the space was a bit tight, it added to the charm, & it was clear this is a place where people come together to enjoy great food & a relaxed atmosphere.
In the end, Yokato Yokabai is a hidden gem in Montreal's Plateau neighborhood. Whether you're craving a bowl of ramen on a cold day or just looking for a cozy spot to unwind, this place delivers authentic, comforting Japanese food at an excellent price. I'll definitely be back, but during a less busy traffic time when all the rooms are open.
Bonne place de ramen. J'aime l'ambiance. Le bouillon (tonkotsu) est quand même très gras.
Definitely one of the best (if not the best) Ramen in Montreal, their Tonkotsu broth is so addictive I highly recommend taking the thick noodles, they are really incredible in taste & texture I would eat there everyday if I could 🤩
Very solid ramen spot that lives up to the ratings, but is definitely on the more expensive side. Got the tonkotsu ramen, regular saltiness, with chashu topping. Broth is thick, rich, meaty, not too salty or oily. I had thin noodles while my partner got thick. Thick is definitely the way to go but costs extra, which I find kind of annoying since I don't remember any other ramen shop that does the same. I've read some other reviews that mention the broth being a bit lukewarm, which I agree with, but it was still delicious regardless. Came on a weeknight ~8pm & had to wait 40min, but this the same with any other popular restaurant in the area anyway.
Le meilleur Ramen à Montreal. Bouillon Tonkotsu, avec porc, oignon vert & oeuf. Vraiment fabuleux. Le seul hic, c'est que on est assis serrés & qu'on doit souvent attendre en ligne, & qu'ils ne prennent pas les réservations. Mais ça se comprend parce que c'est le meilleur Ramen à Montréal. :)
love the outdoor seating & the staff are very friendly & accommodating. i was hoping for chewier noodles for the thick ramen noodles. the broth is good (on the lighter side in terms of umami richness, regular salt level is fine) so the noodles are what could elevate this bowl of tonkotsu ramen 🍜 came right at opening on Saturday & didnt have a wait; however many people had the same idea & arrive just after opening.
Now we are really greedy. A big Japanese lunch, one ramen down; we are going for the next ramen hit. If you were not looking on the map app, you will probably miss the entrance. YYR has a discreet entrance, but actually joins on to the other side where they can have some bar food & drinks. But we are here for the ramen - apparently the richest tonkotsu broth in town. Well, it was. The noodles were also nice & al dente, that allow the soup to grip on to. So it justifies the slurping! The host was a really nice Chinese guy who explained the way to order. Had a chat about the way of life in Canada too. Lovely friendly atmosphere. After all, the whole point of travelling is to meet & learn from the locals. Right? If you like your tonkotsu broth thicker than the average, then this is the place for you (& me)!
Now we are really greedy. A big Japanese lunch, one ramen down; we are going for the next ramen hit. If you were not looking on the map app, you will probably miss the entrance. YYR has a discreet entrance, but actually joins on to the other side where they can have some bar food & drinks. But we are here for the ramen - apparently the richest tonkotsu broth in town. Well, it was. The noodles were also nice & al dente, that allow the soup to grip on to. So it justifies the slurping! The host was a really nice Chinese guy who explained the way to order. Had a chat about the way of life in Canada too. Lovely friendly atmosphere. After all, the whole point of travelling is to meet & learn from the locals. Right? If you like your tonkotsu broth thicker than the average, then this is the place for you (& me)!
It's unfortunate how good the photo of this ramen looks because I found it very average otherwise, while being very overpriced. I paid 31$ after tax & tips. You get a free choice of protein, 1/2 of an egg, chopped scallions, 1 nori & bamboo shoots. Anything else is going to cost a +2$ more. The noodles are okay, & I suspect they just use pre-made ones. I got the Tonkotsu broth & it didn't taste like much. Even got spicy miso (which costed 2$) added to it, but couldn't really taste any spiciness nor any relevant notes of miso. Service is fast which is a plus, but they're kind of tip hungry which is a bit weird & demanding to me.
Went there for dinner on a Tuesday night. It was fairly busy, but I was seated quickly. I had the Tonkotsu ramen, which was exquisitely rich, a little thick even. Compared to other Tonkotsu I've had before, this one is definitely more complex in flavor, & it really lingers on the palate. The noodles were great, but definitely not enough, I'm definitely ordering an extra serving next time, or some gyozas to go with the ramen. It did however come with two massive cuts of very flavorful pork shoulder to make up for it. Not a fan of the counter seat (the serving counter overhangs the table area so when you lean in, your head can bump the counter), will go to a table seat next time.