Yokato Yokabai Ramen — Restaurant in Montreal

I RARELY leave negative reviews but this time I don’t think I have a choice.

Came here for brunch and at the beginning it’s start off good— the waitress is greet us, bring us our table, and give us the book menu. She even told us about the closet where we can hang our jacket. But right after that, things go downhill.

The book menu she gave us is drink menu only, not the food menu. We become confused on how to order etc since she doesn’t even say a word on how to order. Apparently there is a sort of ticket form you need to fill out to order. My husband notice the ticket form in the table so we start to fill it. This is already a bad sign for me as they not even bother to explain to us while we never been here before. Are they just assuming that we are regular? Well, news flash: NOT everybody already coming to your place before so some people don’t know your system on how to order the food. We couldn’t even ask because the waiters not really around to help.

After filling the form, we still don’t know how to place the order as the waiters is not even looking at us. My husband try to wave to one of the waiters and he just gives him a hand gesture to wait. So we wait. But after a while, still nobody coming to take our order. So I calling another waiter who passed by our table and he just gesturing me to go to cashier where the waitress who brings us to our table earlier standing there. So I was thinking that, oh okay so we need to place the order in the counter. But when I approaching her, she give me annoyed look and saying “I will come”. Without smile and sour face. I try to explain to her I need to walk to the counter bring the tickets to order because the male waitress gesturing me to her but she just repeating the “I will come” word. To be honest this moment is literally turned down for me.

The ramen broth is so-so, nothing special. Teriyaki chicken topping is too sweet in my opinion. The only good thing about the ramen is the noodles, it’s tastes fresh and probably hand pulled. The chicken karaage is also good. Our bill comes up $80.48 in total and my husband gives $10 tip which in my opinion is not deserving since the service is not even decent. It’s also overpriced since their ramen not even better than Ramen Isshin in Sainte-Catherine or Ikkousha in Toronto which much cheaper with MUCH BETTER service as well.

If they want to keep their business, they better give training or re-training their waitress again on how serve customers better. Or they could hire more waiters since I only see 3 of them. Maybe that’s the reason why the service is horrible. I love ramen so much that I like to try different ramen restaurants but this place is ruining it. Won’t...

I visited Yokato Yokabai for the first time on a chilly, rainy Saturday afternoon with a friend, and it turned out to be a cozy, unforgettable experience. The restaurant’s vibe immediately set a welcoming tone—its intimate setting, with warm lighting and beautiful Japanese wall murals complemented by wooden accents, made it feel like stepping into a little slice of Japan. Since it was early and 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) and Instagram (@Foxyappetite)!

In depth review:

To start, we shared the pork gyoza with a peanut sauce, which had a perfect balance of flavors—crispy and 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 and chicken teriyaki as my protein. My friend went for the tonkotsu, which featured a rich pork broth with tender slices of pork and thin noodles. Both dishes were exceptional, with each bite bursting with flavor. The broth was so comforting, rich without being overwhelming, and 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 and a yuzu panna cotta dessert for just $25, which felt like an amazing value. The panna cotta was smooth and subtly tangy, a perfect way to end the meal.

Though the space was a bit tight, it added to the charm, and it was clear this is a place where people come together to enjoy great food and 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...

Homemade noodles soaking up the flavors of the scalding tonkotsu broth; spicy red miso paste unrolling it’s umami taste all up in your mouth; pickled soft boiled egg, a little sweet, perfectly cooked, just the right temperature; the chicken thights, exquisitely juicy and pickled to their rightful tastefulness. Every detail meticulously thought of and executed. But the sum of all parts is greater than the whole, making this bowl of ramen one of the greatest I had in my life. I am amazed at how easy and fast I can slurp up that bowl. Cue : “and i’ve been to japan” cliché.

That’s what I should’ve written 3 years ago when I first went there. If you thought this was a love letter, it is’nt. It’s a heartbreak story, about a guy that discovered a hidden gem, just to see it ruined by greed. Or incompetent management. Or just bad luck. Unfortunately indeed, the restaurant is a victim of it’s own popularity. The consistency went through the door (on the way out) as the critics went through the door (on the way in). As soon as it was elected as one the best ramen in Montreal and the line-ups got crazy, the broth wasn’t that hot all the time. The miso paste that is the base of umami in the bowl strangely tasted bland... and not spicy. The chicken, so tender and flavourful years ago, sometimes is dry and dull. They don’t put as much broth in your bowl depending on the time of the day you go eat there, either — ok, it’s just silly little things, and Yokato’s still a nice place to take friends to, and dates, and family, and even going alone, to crush a bowl as loudly as possible, making the most indecent sounds, but then again, the sum of all parts IS greater than the whole, and my appreciation for the place got tainted with the thought that the restaurant was poorly managed regarding it’s newfound visibility, and that it’s soul was lost amongst the praising critics and unending line-ups.

I still go regularly, for lack of a better option, and because sometimes... just sometimes... you can still get that perfect tonkotsu broth, teriyaki chicken, 1/2 egg, 5 nori, 2x kara miso, extra bamboo shoots, extra green onios, extra saltiness, super hot and tasty ramen that I so desperately...