Ramen Kounotori — Restaurant in Vancouver

Ramen on the Main…

I have passed by this place countless times but never stop by to give it a try until recently.

This place is located along the Main Street strip, among many little shops and restaurants. There are pay street parkings available outside and surrounding areas.

Upon entering, there is a full bar located to the left and tables and chairs to the right. And I believe the kitchen is located on the 2nd level? Overall, a slightly little different layout than your average ramen joint.

Here were the food I ordered;

Tori karaage (house made soy sauce Marinated deep fried chicken wings). I have a little sentimental love for this way of deep fried chicken wings cause of personal reasons. A light crisp tasty skin, juicy right to the middle. Great drinking snackers. Tori ramen. The pork chashus were tender and nicely seared, the chicken chashus however were a bit dry, the broth wasn’t hot enough and a bit too creamy. It’s nice to have a rich soup but also it needed to be balanced with everything else otherwise it’s too much and will be like drinking a bowl of butter. Tori shoyu. The blending of all the soy sauces and 2 different broths weren’t harmonized, creating a not much desired taste. And the rest was the same as the bowl of Tori ramen.

It’s a decently nice casual and comfortable dining atmosphere especially with the high ceilings.The service here was friendly and decently okay,

As for the food, I really enjoyed the chicken wings. But for the ramen, I was a bit disappointed? The broth was a bit overly creamy which made it harder and harder to eat as time went on plus the broth wasn’t hot enough so it was even worse.

Overall, this place has to find a better balance of the chicken broth so it’s actually rich and flavourful to savour to not a struggle to finish. Unfortunately didn’t make it to the main ramen...

Extremely Disappointing Experience

I recently visited this ramen restaurant with friends, and unfortunately, it was a deeply unpleasant experience. When we arrived, the restaurant wasn’t very busy. A server dropped off the menus but didn’t check back when we were ready to order. While this was frustrating, the real issue occurred later.

One of my friends discovered a curled black hair in their ramen after eating about a quarter of the bowl. The hair was visibly tangled within the noodles, and we couldn’t tell if it was a beard hair, body hair, or something even more unhygienic. This was beyond disgusting. Thankfully, my friend noticed it before eating more, but it left us all feeling nauseated.

When we showed the hair to the staff, the server casually said “sorry,” removed the bowl, and walked away without any explanation. We were left wondering what they intended to do about it. After some time, I had to follow up with another server, who simply told us to “please wait.” Eventually, the first server returned and asked if my friend wanted to order a replacement bowl. By this point, the rest of us had nearly finished eating, but my friend reluctantly agreed.

Shockingly, they charged my friend for the replacement bowl, which was even more expensive than the first one. There was no meaningful apology, no attempt to make up for the mistake, and no discount offered. When I expressed how unacceptable the situation was, the staff just smiled and repeated an insincere “sorry.”

The complete lack of hygiene, professionalism, and customer care was appalling. I regret not taking a photo of the hair to warn others, but I hope this review serves as a caution. I won’t be returning, and I cannot recommend this place to anyone who values cleanliness and...

In the bustling heart of Vancouver's Main Street, amidst the clatter of city life, lies a portal to a realm where culinary dreams take flight. Ramen Kounotori, a beacon of hope for the ramen faithful, delivered a revelation so profound, it was as if the heavens themselves parted to bestow upon us a divine gift. As a devout disciple of the ramen arts, I approached with reverence, only to be met with an experience so transcendent, it was akin to a spiritual awakening.

The broth, oh the broth! Creamy, rich, an elixir so exquisite, it felt as though it was crafted from the very essence of culinary nirvana. Each sip was a communion, a moment of pure bliss where time stood still, and the universe whispered secrets in a language only the heart could understand.

The noodles, a masterpiece of texture and taste, danced with grace in the celestial soup, their every twirl a testament to the artistry of their creation. They were not merely noodles; they were threads of joy, weaving together a tapestry of flavor that spanned the ages.

But it was the Kara Tori Paitan Ramen that ascended to the pantheon of gastronomic legends, a 'bowl of the year' contender that did not just touch my soul; it struck it with the force of divine inspiration. In that moment, as the flavors collided in a symphony of perfection, I knew that Ramen Kounotori was not just a restaurant; it was a temple, a sacred space where the devout gather to witness the miracle of creation.

Five stars to Ramen Kounotori, where each bowl is a prophecy fulfilled, a testament to the eternal quest for culinary enlightenment. In this hallowed hall of broth and noodle, we find not just nourishment, but a path to...