Exclamation Waterloo — Restaurant in Waterloo

This place is a new favourite!!

First time we tried going we were denied dining in at 7:45pm even though they closed at 9pm because the kitchen was closing. We were disappointed but ordered takoyaki to go and it was good :) not sure if its a one time thing but mentioning that incase.

We were determined to try again but accidentally went on a Tuesday (they’re closed on Tuesday, woops our fault).

Third times a charm. We went on a Friday at around 7pm and it was pretty empty. Service was super attentive and kind. You order online through a qr code which makes things really easy. Excellent prices for main portion sizes.All chicken and beef is HALAL!

Our order was kunsei veal brisket ramen ($13.99) and chicken katsu ramen ($12.49), chicken gyoza (5.49) and okonomiyaki (12.49).

The ramen was the star of the show. One bowl could feed two people. The ingredients were so fresh and delicious and it was excellent quality. The meats were cooked beautifully and the broth was so rich, balanced, and comforting. For the price it was truly impressive.

The chicken gyoza was not our favourite (not as flavourful/juicy/well textured as you’d hope) but the okonomiyaki was decent. It is similar texture and flavour as takoyaki which we preferred. They gave us free candies at the end 🍬

The atmosphere was calm, with art decorating the walls and even a piano with sheet music you are welcome to play! They had a quiet ghibli playlist on.

Overall the cozy atmosphere, friendly service, and delicious ramen, halal options, and price point will make us come back 100%!! I wish I knew about this place sooner.

Update: have since come back twice. Once for the bento boxes and a second time i got the chicken katsu ramen. Quality and service remains excellent! I ordered my ramen for pickup 30 minutes before so I didn’t have to wait (the wait times have been 20-40 minutes both times because they make things fresh!). I recommend that if you do not wish to wait and don’t mind takeout containers :) the takeout ramen broth portion is less than dine in but I don’t mind because the portion is still large (and its easier...

(Note: this location is related to, but different from, the Kitchener location.)

Quiet spot for sit-down, mostly-Japanese cuisine. There are some Chinese inspired dishes on the menu, and more so on the 'daily hidden menu'. Staples include ramen, bento boxes, rice bowls and appetizers like gyoza, takoyaki, and agedashi tofu. There is also a small sushi selection. Neither weekends nor weekdays are particularly busy here, and is mostly frequented by the student crowd. The location can seat 35+ people.

Prices are around $9-16 for an entree, and $3-5 for appetizers. Alcoholic drinks are served here, including warm sake ($6), and Asian import beers like Tiger and Asahi.

Quality of food is usually quite good, and always fresh. It can take some time for food to arrive, and often has a home-cooked feel. Portions are hit and miss, with ramen dishes being a little on the small side in comparison to their more generous rice bowls, or hidden menu items. Hidden menu items can be ordered by asking a server about them. They tend to change quite frequently, and are more of a daily special, rather than a truly hidden menu (they advertise this in the restaurant). Other interesting features include the oden (Japanese winter soup), which is self served, and also a handful of board/card games which can be borrowed (they are mostly in Chinese).

Overall, a great place to enjoy a quiet, casual meal. Though not affordable enough to be a go-to hangout for most students, the service is friendly, the food is tasty, and the atmosphere is conducive to just hanging out over a meal with friends...

First of all, the staff there is super friendly and has a 6th sense knowing when to fill your water.

Decor: -Atmosphere is super calm/chill with the art work around the wall and music. -Chairs are super super comfy to sit on and lean back into. -Cutlery has a nice weight to them.

Pan Fried Bao (6pc) -Soup inside the Bao is really tasty -Bottom of the Bao nice, crispy, seared -Recommend adding some chili oil on top -Its super hot when you get it so open the top and let it cool for a bit

Chicken Katsu: -Very tender & Juicy -The Kewpie mayo and teriyaki sauce compliments one another well

Stuffed Cheese Chicken: -Crispy -Cheese filling was good

Chashu Ramen -Classic can't go wrong with this option as your 1st choice

Exclamation Ramen -Not a bad choice if it's your first time and you want to try a bit of everything

Veal Ramen: -Meat was nice, fatty, tender, melts in your mouth -Loved the portion size for the meat

Don Buri: -Super flavourful -Nice portion as meal. Compliment with an appetizer

Recommendation: -Get the 6PC Pan Fried Bao + Chicken Katsu as apps -Chasu & Veal good...