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.
Honestly horrible restaurant. We only waited 15 minutes to get seated which was great (we arrived at 9pm), but as we were walking we noticed that there were plenty of open seats already… so we waited for no reason.
Paid $88 per person.
The tuna hamachi from Ichigo Ichie was soooo good, the elderflower drink was amazing as well. The karagee was good but needed more sauce.
Now onto the ramen, we got the pork & vegetarian & they were both SO BAD. For a place that's'Michelin' it barely had any flavor, the vegetarian one genuinely tasted like water. Really genuinely so disappointing because we read such amazing reviews.
Amazing Ramen! Very tasty! Everyone loved the ramen soups , we also ordered the pork sidedish which was good, but less unanimous. Atmosphere was very cosy & interesting … we felt like the time spent there in that space, we were transported in different world than Montreal… Line Up is quite busy, but the SMS-based waitlist approach is pretty useful & works well!
15 mars 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.
They changed the pork, where before it was baked then torched to perfection, karaage was improved upon with the addition of a vinager garlic scallion sauce, & soup extra thick.
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.
18 janv. 2026
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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!
Karaage was good, pork broth was good but not crazy. To be honest the restaurant is overhyped. Service is mid & restaurant is cold as hell because of how close the entrance door is to the small dining room, which makes the seating cramped too.
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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A rich broth that isn't overpowering or overly fattening with tasteful cuts of pork shoulder. The noodles weren't anything amazing, but their agreeable length added to the experience. The takoyaki & karaage were great.
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.
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.
26 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.
Ramen was tasteless. Nothing like a good ramen should be rich & full of umami. Pork look old & dry. If you get the chicken instead you would get big pieces of chicken thighs that they call teriyaki chicken but looks more like steamed chicken. Chicken garage was good nothing out of this world. They should make better ramens
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.
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.
The best ramen I've ever had the pleasure of trying. I often have a hard time finishing my meal in one sitting especially when dining out, but had no such difficulty here. Every element from the broth to the noodles to the pork & toppings was absolutely delicious & amazingly flavorful. It takes a lot for me to want to write a review for a restaurant but this one was absolutely worth it. A must try in Montréal!
