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.
Unfortunately, we were disappointed dining here. I got the pork broth ramen which lacked depth & flavour. My friend got the sesame broth ramen with chicken & her sesame broth was extremely thick, to the point where it was difficult to sip & did not feel like a broth at all. Pieces of her chicken were also, unfortunately, raw. Overall the experience was not a positive one :(
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.
26 avr. 2026
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I returned after they received the Michelin star. The menu system is easy to use. The main course (ramen) was slightly cold for me, but the taste was fine. The fried chicken (karaagee) was crispy, but if you eat just the chicken without the sauce, I found it bland. The drinks at the bar were excellent.
I had a great food experience here! There are no reservations so when you arrive you add your name to the list & get a text in about 25 minutes when your table is ready.
I ordered vegetable toppings & added chicken for $4, which was totally worth it. The portion was generous, the flavors were delicious, & the sides especially the pickled radish were excellent.
The only downside was sitting near the door, where it felt a bit cold & cramped. Still, the ramen was amazing & the service was very attentive. Highly recommend!
The place is cute atmosphere is nice!
We had the Karaage Chicken wasn't impressed at all. Had way better ramen in other places Surprised how it got a Michelin Star. Service was good.
6 févr. 2026
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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.
We had pork & sesame broth thick noodles Ramen. Chicken & pork. Sesame broth was too heavy for me. The soup was colder than expected. Spicy chicken entree was good. Rice with pork entree was tasty. The place was packed on Sunday at 2. We waited for 20 minutes for a table. 4 stars overall.
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!!
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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would recommend, worth a try if you are ever in the area. Ramen soups is normally very salty but not in this case, totally drinkable, very savory, better than average for sure.
Karaage was a pleasant surprise, layers of flavor, I rate it higher than the ramen, maybe I just like fried chicken more in general.
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!
Overall, we had a good experience. We ordered a sesame broth ramen with pork, & a pork broth ramen with chicken. The sesame ramen was incredible, but the pork-broth ramen was a bit disappointing (would not order it again). Also, the area where we were seated was very cold since the door with access to the entrance was always open.
Attempt #2 trying to go here worked as the first time on a Friday night was told 1.5 hour wait & you cant make reservations. Second time for a weekend lunch they had implemented a new system which was much better where there is a tablet where you enter your name, number of guests & phone number & you will be texted when to come back when a table is available. Our estimate was 15 min to 45 min but ended up being much closer to 10 minutes.
Yokato was great but hurt by high bar expectations in terms of the Michelin Guide reference. Service was very good, as was the ambiance & food just nothing that blows you away which for better or worse what you expect when you hear the name Michelin name.
After getting the text me & my friend were led to our tables. For lunch you fill in a little sheet with what sides you want, the broth, meats & any extras which I appreciated for the efficiency.
We ordered the Pork broth with Pork & the Chicken Broth with Chicken. Both were very good & savory, & didnt take too live to arrive after ordering. You also get a little caddy with add-ons for the soup which were spicy sesame seeds in oil, regular sesame seeds, pickled radish & pink onions I think.
Overall the service, system & food were all very good, just not mindblowing or novel which is what I kindof expected with any association for the Michelin Guide
7 déc. 2025
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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.
The chicken broth ramen had a deeper umami flavour than the pork which was shocking. The noodles were exceptional. Fried chicken was not as crispy as I had hoped. Overall really tasty with some misses. Friendly staff. Wait was not long at all. 10 min for 3 of us on a Friday evening.
delicious ramen place in Montreal. The ramen soup was full of rich, & thick. The karaake chicken is really good, perfectly crispy & seasoned. I really love the kakigori shaved ice with matcha cream & strawberry sauce, good combination. Its a bit busy, we waited there around 45 mins but not so bad. You can go in & reserve your spot in front of the house & they will text you when the table is ready
