Yokato Yokabai est une destination de choix pour d'authentiques ramens tonkotsu de style Hakata. Reconnu pour son bouillon d'os de porc riche et crémeux mijoté pendant des heures et préparé entièrement sans GMS, ce restaurant chaleureux offre un véritable goût du Japon. Avec ses nouilles faites maison, ses bols personnalisables et ses à-côtés savoureux comme le fameux poulet karaage, il propose une expérience traditionnelle d'une qualité exceptionnelle.
Dans l'ensemble, Yokato Yokabai Ramen est fréquemment salué pour ses bouillons riches et profundamente aromatiques et ses nouilles bien travaillées, beaucoup de gourmands le qualifiant du meilleur ramen à Montréal et notant des notes authentiques de style Hakata que l'on peut personnaliser; l'ambiance est chaleureuse et conviviale mais souvent animée et bruyante, l'espace étant parfois étroit et les files d'attente longues, facilitées par un système de SMS pour avertir quand la table est prête; les accompagnements comme karaage et edamame reçoivent de bons échos, tandis que certains trouvent les prix élevés ou les bols pas toujours assez chauds et considèrent parfois l'expérience surévaluée selon le moment, la table et le plat.
The ramen here is really good - rich, flavourful, & honestly tastes just like the bowls I've had in Japan. The service is friendly & attentive, & the waiters are knowledgeable about the menu & happy to explain the different sakés & wines. Overall, a great spot for authentic ramen in Montreal.
7 mai 2026
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Came at 5h30pm, ate at 8h45pm. Waited more than 3 hours just for the food being meh. (Broth too salty, noodles undercook, meat hard to chew or mostly fat). Their ramen are not consistent, my friends bowl had more meat while I had more cabbage. Honestly, overhyped & overprice for ramen. How was it considers Michelin star?
It being listed in the Michelin Guide set my expectations quite high. On my first visit, the wait time was 75 minutes, so I decided to come back the next day. This time, I arrived before opening, but the queueing system & entry process were quite confusing. There was no clear guidance for customers on where to wait. The ramen shop signage said to enter through the izakaya next door, which was very confusing. The staff didn't seem to manage or inform the queue, even though the door was open (it probably should have been closed if they weren't ready to receive customers).
When they finally opened, people rushed in-whoever stood closest to the door got in first, with no real order. Once inside, I was surprised to see that the izakaya & ramen shop were actually connected. Seating was bar-style (no backrests), & if you had a lot of belongings, there wasn't really anywhere to put them-you'd be better off coming light.
I ordered the chicken broth ramen. The soup itself was rich, flavorful, & clearly chicken-forward. However, the chashu pork was too lean for my taste, making it a bit tough & hard to eat. The noodles & broth didn't come together as well as I'd hoped. Toppings were minimal (like green onions & seaweed), & you had to pay extra if you wanted more. At the bottom of the bowl, there was some orange peel, which added a refreshing note if the chicken fat became too rich.
If I come back next time, I'd probably try the chicken topping instead.
Excellent ramen spot that consistently delivers both quality & atmosphere. Yokato Yokabai has a really authentic feel from the moment you walk in, with a cozy & lively setting that adds to the overall experience. The ramen itself is outstanding, rich, flavorful broth, perfectly cooked noodles, & well-prepared toppings that all come together really well. You can tell a lot of care goes into each bowl. The menu offers a good variety, so there's something for everyone whether you like something lighter or more rich & hearty. Service is efficient & friendly, even when it gets busy, which it often does for good reason. Overall, a must-visit if you're craving high-quality ramen in Montreal.
Went at 6:30 on a Tuesday & there was no wait for a table for 3. Food was delicious & fun to choose different options. We got the edemame & spicy karage which were great additions to three bowls of ramen. Ultimately a great time with friends.
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.
5 févr. 2026
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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.
We visited on Saturday afternoon, it was fully packed & we had to wait ~30 mins to be seated.
I ordered mocktails, spicy fried chicken, fried potatoes, chicken ramem bowl & vegan ramel bowl
Food was reallyyyy good especially their mocktails are a must try!!
We waited about 45 minutes & their system said 0-15 minute wait time. It was well worth the wait as it had to have been the best bowl of ramen I've had in Montreal.
Adam truly made our experience at Yokato Yokabai Ramen! From the moment we arrived, he was kind, respectful, & genuinely welcoming. The type of service that immediately makes you feel comfortable & taken care of. If it weren't for Adam, the experience honestly wouldn't have been the same, & he is the main reason we're even taking the time to write this review. The food was excellent! We ordered two bowls of chicken ramen, edamame, Diet Cokes, & sake, & everything was delicious. Emmanuel was helpful as well, though his energy felt a bit more reserved & not as welcoming, which was slightly disappointing given how respectful we always are as guests. That said, Adam absolutely deserves recognition from management for his professionalism, warmth, & attitude. He represents the restaurant extremely well! We'll definitely remember the service he provided.
3 janv. 2026
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Speaking from my experience:
My family & I have been craving ramen this morning, we looked online & saw that this restaurant was recommended by many & not to mention their Michelin status. Today was cold & windy, of course we expect something warm & delicious to fill our stomach. We walked about 5km just to get there (not a problem). When we arrive, we were super tired, hungry & cold: expecting to get the best food experience. We waited there for a couple of minutes: no waiter came to assist. We didn't notice the little tablet which you have to use to reserve for ( our fault). We reserved, waiting time was 3h 30 + minutes. That's insane, since we saw much table available. It's fine though, we didn't come all the way for nothing. We settle down in another store waiting.
Great news! Around 30 minutes in, we got the text! Yay! We hurried & arrived. They quickly assigned us to our seat. We ordered, everything went perfectly. The atmosphere was nice, there wasn't heating nor air conditioner: no one had any problem, even though most of the people still kept their coat on for extra heat. Personally I was pretty cold & very excited for my ramen to come. When it arrived the first thing I did was to put my hands on the hottest part of the bowl. Weirdly it was warm but more on the cold side. Maybe it's a sign that the bowl was made to last! I took a bite: the food was exactly like the bowl, warm but more on the cold side, I asked around to see if it's just a me problem. Seems like it wasn't.
I finished my bowl, disappointed. & tell me why the egg was so bland. Is this Asian food? The food wasn't worth the hype, especially not with the compliment'just like Japan'. Im not picky at all, but the food was really disappointing: it wasn't special compared to other ramens. I would prefer Sensotei ramen for better flavor & packaged homemade ramen for its warmth.
Overall, the experience was upsetting & I wouldn't come back. Also not to mention, I put more green onion, but the amount was just like regular ramen stores.
disappointing experience with an average bowl of ramen.
I was very enthusiastic about eating here, as the reviews were mostly positive & the place specializes in ramen. The staff was super friendly & attentive, & the atmosphere was cozy-it almost made you feel like you were in an authentic Japanese izakaya.
I ordered ramen with pork broth, thick noodles, pork shoulder, & egg. However, the broth was somewhat bland, the noodles were thinner than expected, & both the pork & egg were cold-like straight-out-of-the-fridge cold-which didn't help the overall taste. The portion also didn't feel filling enough, as I ended up with way more broth than noodles.
The ramen was pretty much on the same level as some decent instant noodles: nothing special & definitely not worth twenty dollars. The restaurant itself isn't terrible, but I expected more from it.
I felt that the flavor was lacking. For context, I grabbed the'Vegetarian broth w vegetables since I'm a vegetarian. I've had better vegetarian ramen bowls throughout the city, this bowl just seemed weak. I was expecting so much more from a michelin star recommended ramen house, however it was mediocre at best. The best part of the actual food was the consistency & texture of the noodles.
Pretty unique atmosphere & experience. The authenticity of the restaurant & quality of the food are something to be appreciated for anyone who enjoys a good bowl of ramen. Prices are very reasonable & the control you have over your order does not compromise on the overall integrity of the dish you get. That said, I've definitely had better ramen at the many places you'll find a few streets away-the noodles & chicken were pretty stale, & the sesame broth lacked depth & felt powdery. Couldn't finish it because the taste just wasn't it, which never happens. Better food & a little interior rearranging (it's very cramped, snug but bordering on uncomfortable) would knock this place out of the park.
12 août 2025
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This restaurant reminds me so much of being in Japan which is amazing. From the interior decor to the countertop seatings, everything felt so real. The service was also friendly & welcoming but it is definitely not as'perfect' as in Japan. The food itself was great. The thick soup has great flavours & complements the noodles so well. The pork slices were thick & soft & the eggs was bursting in flavours as well. Everything tasted delicious & each element kept adding on to the bowl. Such a simple yet amazing bowl of noodles. I do think that I would have preferred the noodles to be a bit thicker but it was still pretty good. I especially enjoyed the flavours of the karaage. The little sauce/topping on top had this slight sour flavour & it paired so well with the fried chicken. The biggest difference from eating this here & 8n Japan is probably the price. One bowl of ramen here is around 21$ but the portion is pretty good & there are a lot of customizing options which is always a plus for me.
We had dinner here at 5pm on a Friday. No line to get in & was promptly seated. The restaurant was small & my husband & I were put in a seat facing the wall which was fine. The restaurant was dark & hot. Hot because they are literally cooking the food with fire right in front of you! Which is awesome. I hate when ramen comes out warm/hot. This came out extremely hot which is perfect.
I ordered the sesame broth with normal salt & chicken teriyaki. The broth was nice & creamy. They put HUGE pieces of chicken in the soup. I was actually shocked. It was all very filling. If you aren't absolutely starving or aren't the type of person to have a big appetite, you can share one bowl with two people. $22 for that much food was great.
The service was great & the food came out quick. Clean big washrooms as well.
I'm so sad this ramen has gone quite downhill from since I first started going years ago. the pork used to be fatty & tender but now flat & dry, the kara miso wasn't as complex as I remembered, broth pretty mid, & they somehow made the shiitake flavourless. I used to drink all the broth at the end but I barely wanted to finish the bowl this time. we also had the spicy karaage & it was very one note.
also what's up with the far corner table?? the two person bench is ridiculous & uncomfortable to manoeuvre. the service wasn't spectacular either; I filled out my form, went to the washroom, came back & the server still hadn't took it. I went up to the cash to put our orders in.
this was my favourite ramen out of any spot in montreal/toronto/vancouver at one point but now I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
Best Ramen in the city. Wish it were a little hotter (temperature), but great food & vibes.
Update: took friends here tonight. All the ramen dishes were luke warm. Really a problem. Food was a long time coming. Great servers & vibes but not sure I am willing to risk another cold bowl of ramen.
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.
