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 largement considéré comme l'une des meilleures adresses de ramen à Montréal, avec des bouillons riches et profonds comme le tonkotsu et le torikotsu, des nouilles bien cuites et des garnitures généreuses, et des options végétariennes appréciées. Les côtés tels que le karaage et les takoyaki reviennent souvent en mémoire, et l'ambiance cosy et typiquement japonaise renforce le plaisir de la dégustation. Le service est généralement apprécié pour son accueil et son efficacité, mais les avis divergent: les temps d'attente peuvent être longs, les espaces sont parfois bruyants et les tables peu confortables, surtout lors des périodes de grande affluence. Le rapport qualité-prix est aussi discuté: certains trouvent le bol trop cher pour ce qui est servi, d'autres estiment que la qualité du bouillon et des ingrédients justifie le coût et que l'expérience vaut le détour. Enfin, l'endroit attire les habitués qui reviennent pour la richesse des saveurs et la personnalisation possible du bol, tout en acceptant l'affluence et les débats autour du statut Michelin.
You can walk in & get ramen, but you might have to queue & wait for about an hour. Alternatively, you can pre-book a time slot for the Izakaya menu (Japanese tapas. KEEP IN MIND: no ramen option!). We didn't want to wait, so we went with the tapas option, & we definitely didn't regret it! We ordered seven dishes (you can see them in the attached photos) & one pint of Asahi beer. It came to around $150, which we thought was quite reasonable. The tapas were amazing, full of real umami flavor! The staff was super friendly & helpful. I think we were served by Zakary, thank you so much!
I had the sukiyaki special ramen for lunch & my boyfriend had the classic tonkatsu. We could not recommend it more. This spot is the only one in the city where I have ever experienced an atmosphere akin to an authentic Japanese ramenya. Totally deserves its Michelin mention !
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.
I've been here many times before, but I've been compelled to leave a review this time as it does deserve it. After being introduced to authentic delicious Japanese restaurants in Vancouver area with local friends who kept saying its as close as you can get to Japan. In November that couple came to visit Montreal & Yokato Yokabai was on my list of restaurants to share with them. They were pleasantly surprised as I was again. we had reservations but we still needed to wait for our table to be ready, to be expected on a busy Saturday night. Thanks again to the staff for a great experience!
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.
Always was & still one of the best ramen spots in town if not the best. On par with what I ate in Japan. Only downside is.. it's always busy & they don't take reservations. Drinks were nothing extraordinary. Would stick to the basics : ramen
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.
Been to Japan & this ramen is seriously up there. The tonkatsu ramen is so good & refreshing summer special is also very nice. The ambiance & service is also 10/10. Highly highly recommend
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.
I recently visited Yokato Yokabai Ramen & was really impressed. The ramen was rich, flavorful, & incredibly satisfying. You can tell they take pride in their broth - it's creamy & full of depth, just like real Hakata-style ramen should be.
The atmosphere is cozy & casual, perfect for a comforting meal, especially on a cold day. The staff were friendly & efficient, & the service was quick without feeling rushed.
If you're a ramen lover or just looking for a warm, authentic Japanese meal in Toronto, Yokato Yokabai is definitely worth a visit. I'll be back for sure!
I got dinner here around 6. There wasn't any wait so I was seated immediately. The atmosphere is cool, pretty dark & a nice Japanese vibe. The staff was very friendly too. I got chicken Raman with chicken broth with thin noodles & a whole egg. The portion sizes were very generous. There was a lot more meat than I expected & lots of noodles. It all tasted good. It wasn't gorme but I was more than satisfied. I paid about $21 (+$1 for another half an egg) so I think it was good value for the amount of food I got.
