Ramen Taka Calgary — Restaurant in Calgary

Very mid for what the overall review score would suggest. 2/5 wouldn't recommend when there are objectively superior options within a 5 minute walk.

I sat at the bar and ordered a beer and bowl of their Asahikawa ramen (their signature clear pork broth ramen with typical ramen toppings).

The first thing I noticed is the beer I ordered came out fast and cold. However, I waited nearly a half hour to be served my food. While the kitchen was in a rush it didn't seem like anyone else who was already seated was being served either so I am not sure what to think about it.

Once I had received the food, I tried the broth and noodles. Not the worst I've had at a ramen place but the clear pork broth tasted a bit like Lipton chicken noodle soup to me, certainly not very rich or porky. The noodles were a bit pasty and got stuck in my teeth, a sign they've been overcooked.

I then noticed that the two slices of cha shu were only 1/16th of an inch thick and virtually flavorless. Compare this to another ramen shop a few blocks away and very similarly priced, and the cha shu is 1/4in thick, flavourful, and as tender as could be. 4x the chashu and it's better.

I then noticed bamboo shoots were as thick as my thumb and impossible to bite through cleanly. Probably taken straight from the can and thrown in the soup.

The egg was not the best I've had, not the worst. A little overcooked.

Lots of families with babies or children were...

The restaurant had a spacious interior, but I found the seating to be a bit uncomfortable. The service was friendly, which was a plus. However, when it came to the prices, I did feel that they were a bit high as the quality of the food didn't quite measure up to what I was paying.

We ordered some fried chicken as an appetizer to share and unfortunately, it didn't taste good. The flavor was bland and the chicken itself was dry. It did not leave a good impression for us.

Moving on to the ramen, I found it to be disappointing as well. The broth lacked depth of flavor and the chashu (braised pork) was not traditional and lacked flavor. The ingredients didn't stand out in quality, and the portion size was decent but not overly generous. I've had better ramen at other spots in Calgary.

All in all, I didn't have a terrible experience at Ramen Taka, but it also wasn't a particularly outstanding one. The restaurant didn't leave a lasting impression on me. I found the prices to be a bit steep for the quality offered, and the overall taste and presentation of the food did not meet my expectations. If you're looking for a good ramen in Calgary, I would recommend checking out some...

We visited Ramen Taka during lunch on a Sunday, one of the first decent weather days of 2024, so there was plenty of people out strolling but the restaurant was still pretty quiet. We were greeted by friendly staff and immediately seated at a table for two, and water glasses and menus were delivered right away. The menu is fairly concise, with pictures and English descriptions for everything. I had the black garlic ramen while my daughter had the fried chicken on rice, and we shared agadashi tofu for a starter. The food quality is terrific, and the prices are decent. Though the portion size might be a bit on the small size compared to some other places, it was enough to be filling. My daughter declared the portion size "just right".

The service was very good, efficient and friendly.

The atmosphere is non-existent. Not bad, mind you, just un-inspired, not exciting or even interesting.

Worth noting they do have a giant bowl challenge: 30 minutes to finish and some other rules if you're into that kind of thing.

Washrooms were very clean, as were tables, bowls and cutlery, though the walls near the tables were a little grubby and could use a wipe.

Definitely worth a...