Best Ramen in Calgary: 9 Ramen Restaurants You’ll Love

Where to Find the Best Ramen in Calgary?

If you’re like me, you crave a bowl of noodle soup often and are constantly searching for new and exceptional ramen restaurants around town.

For those who have been to Vancouver or Toronto, you’ll know that our local ramen scene has fewer options than those larger cities. However, many exceptional new restaurants have emerged over the past handful of years, providing more options and alternatives to your usual Vietnamese noodle soup spot.

Like pho, most ramen restaurants in Calgary have their signature broths and tastes. We’ve visited as many as possible to make this list possible! So, without further ado, here is Calgaryism’s list of the top 10 ramen restaurants!

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Kinton Ramen

 

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• Multiple Locations
• kintonramen.com

Our Favourites

• Monthly special ramen (bowls change frequently)
• Pork/Chicken Shoyu
• Spicy Jalapeno Ramen (Beef/Pork/Chicken)
• Hot Karaage
• Tokyo Fries

A well-loved restaurant chain that got its start in Toronto back in 2012, Kinton Ramen has quickly made its mark on Calgary’s ramen noodle scene with several convenient locations across the city.

The menu is built around a rotating cast of seasonal and monthly specials alongside reliable staples – the Pork/Chicken Shoyu and the bold Spicy Jalapeño Ramen (available in beef, pork, or chicken) are absolute must-orders. Don’t sleep on the sides either, as the crispy Hot Karaage and delightful Tokyo Fries pair perfectly with any bowl.

We love Kinton’s philosophy, rotating monthly ramen specials to keep the menu fresh. Kinton has something worth coming back for every single visit.

Shokunin

 

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• Address – 2016 14th Street SW
• Phone Number – 403-229-3444
• shokuninyyc.ca

Our Favourites 

• Shokunin tori
• Charcoal avocado
• Bison tataki
• Skin on breast yakitori

Despite having just one ramen option, Shokunin makes our list of best Calgary ramen restaurants for several reasons, the first being how crazy delicious this sole bowl is.

The “Shokunin Tori Ramen” features a rich and creamy broth infused with sake kasu, garlic and white miso, yellow chicken thigh chasu, topped with picked black mushrooms, sesame menma and ajitama egg. Add cured miso bacon and wagyu fat chilli oil to make it even more delicious – but a little more expensive too (totally worth it!).

Shokunin’s atmosphere is also worth getting excited about. The gastro bar in Mission blends Asian fusion cuisine with an upscale dining experience, enhanced by its exceptional food and modern ambiance. This best Japanese restaurant in Calgary is an excellent place for a romantic night out.

Located in the 4th Street business improvement area, Shokunin is a great place to grab a bite to eat and explore the nightlife along the Mission and the Beltline streetscapes.

Fuji Ramen & Sushi

 

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• Address – 2016 14th Street SW
• Phone Number – 403-229-3444
• shokuninyyc.ca

Our Favourites

• Black fuji tonkotsu
• Red fuji tonkotsu
• Chili goma
• Tan tan

Located on Macleod Trail just south of Southcentre, Fuji Ramen and Sushi has taken the local foodie scene by storm with its extensive selection of Japanese appetizers, sushi and ramen. It also holds the title for the best rating on Google, with 4.7 out of 5 stars and nearly 1,000 reviews- now that’s impressive!

This family-owned restaurant serves up large ramen bowls with homemade broth and noodles. Cooked to perfection, the chicken and pork chasu melt in your mouth while the rich broth makes every bite as enjoyable as the last.

If you’re in the deep south around Lake Bonavista, you’ll want to stop by this restaurant for some of the best ramen in Calgary! Although on the more expensive side, the culinary experience is well worth it.

Ramen Ichinen

 

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• Address – #349 – 3132 26th Street NE
• Phone Number – 403-454-2646
• ramen-ichinen.com

Our Favourites

• Original tonkotsu
• Tonkotsu red
• Thin egg noodles
• Gyoza (housemade)
• Green tea jugs

Why is Ramen Ichinen one of the best ramen restaurants in Calgary? This Japanese noodle house is more than deserving of this list.

To start, Ichinen has a separate menu for spice with four tiers, each increasing in heat. The top-level spice is made from two of the world’s hottest chilli peppers, so be careful! There are even cute little anime faces exploding with fire for the level-4 spicy description, giving the proper warning to those who dare—we love it!

Ichinen also has a ton of different customizable options. You get 1.5x the amount of noodles for free if you want, a choice of lean shoulder or fatty belly pork cha shu, mixed greens or onion, thick or thin noodles and several different ingredients to add.

This ramen restaurant in Calgary also has unique broths you won’t find anywhere else. They even have a little stand on the table that takes you through the four steps to make their broth in-house.

The original tonkotsu is unbelievable with its delightful sesame taste. Also, the gyoza dumplings are made in-house — you can taste the difference.

Goro & Gun

 

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• Address – #245 – 225 7th Avenue SW
• Phone Number – 403-968-6679
• goroandgun.ca

Our Favourites

• Tonkotsu
• Mazemen
• Seared yellow tail roll
• Chinook tuna/albacore tuna sashimi
• Ramen burgers

Goro + Gun may just be one of the best ramen restaurants in Calgary’s downtown core. Established in 2014, it has endured as a testament to its success as a go-to spot for Japanese cuisine.

Since then, Goro + Gun has made a lasting impression with its cool Japanese décor and noodle soups, considered among Calgary’s best ramen.

Other Japanese cuisine favourites such as bento, teppanyaki, sushi, and sashimi make the restaurant the perfect place to head for lunch in the city centre, even if you’re not in the mood for a good bowl of ramen.

Are you in for a drink? Try one of several different kinds of sake on Goro + Gun’s extensive drink menu, including Nikka whiskeys and beers, all sourced from the land of the rising sun.

Shiki Menya Ramen

 

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• Address – 827 1st Avenue NE
• Phone Number – 403-454-2722
• shikimenya.ca

Our Favourites

• Tonkotsu black
• Chilli goma
• Feature ramen
• O.G. char siu tacos
• House-made gyoza

Named one of the best new Calgary restaurants in 2015, Shiki Menya comes from the family that owns the already well-known and well-liked Shikiji restaurant.

Japanese egg noodle soup is the star of the menu at this top ramen restaurant in Calgary, where you’ll find a vast selection of traditional favourites mixed in with new types.

Shiki Menya’s chilli goma and black tonkotsu should be on your list to try; we think these bowls are two of the best individual ramen bowls in the city, hands down.

A limited number of bowls and house-made noodles are served each day, so it’s best to follow Shiki Menya’s social media accounts so you don’t waste your time. Also, call them to check if they’re open, as they may be sold out for the day!

Shimizu Kitchen

 

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• Address – 1918 37th Street SW
• Phone – 403-455-3380
• shimizukitchenyyc

Our Favourites

• Miso
• Chili goma
• Tantamen

With a 4.7 out of 5 rating on Google and more than 700 reviews, Shimizu Kitchen has earned its spot on our list of the best Calgary ramen. Located on the corner of 17th Avenue and 37th Street SW in the community of Killarney/Glengarry, this small yet inviting restaurant features a unique Japanese-themed ambiance, a stunning cherry blossom tree, and modern finishes.

One of our favourite bowls is the peanut-based tantamen ramen, made with spicy peanut butter paste, pork belly chasu, boiled egg, and stir-fry mixed vegetables. For around $16, Shimizu offers one of the most affordable ramen bowls in Calgary.

Don’t miss Shimizu Kitchen — they have put a lot of time and money into renovating their restaurant space over the years, and it has turned out to be something really special in Calgary’s ramen restaurant scene!

Ramen Arashi

 

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• Multiple Locations
• ramenarashi.ca

Our Favourites

• Black arashi tan tan
• Devil’s arashi
• Premium edamame

Ramen Arashi has taken Albertans by storm with its mouth-watering Japanese noodle soups. We originally tried this outstanding restaurant in Canmore years back; since, it has franchised to Calgary’s Kensington District where it has out-competed the likes of Menyatai and Ikemen (both now closed).

Spice lovers will indulge in the devil’s arashi ramen — one of the spiciest ramen noodles we’ve ever had. Choose from spice levels 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 for this authentic miso tonkotsu (pork bone broth) and original spicy miso base soup. But be forewarned that levels 3 to 5 are insanely spicy.

We also love the unique black arashi tan tan noodle soup loaded with pork belly, egg, spinach, seaweed, and bamboo shoots. The broth is scrumptious and makes you want to slurp up every last drop.

Overall, we absolutely love Arashi and would say it is one of the top ramen restaurants in Calgary — even among the best establishments on this list.

JINYA Ramen Bar

 

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• Address – #180, 1800 4th Street SW
• Phone Number – 587-356-0721
• jinya-ramenbar.com

Our Favourites

• Tonkotsu black
• Cha cha cha
• Wonton chicken
• Pork chasu bowl
• 20+ toppings

JINYA Ramen Bar is a chain restaurant on our list of the best ramen in Calgary that doesn’t disappoint you in terms of the quality of food it serves. Originating in Los Angeles several years ago, it is most definitely not the least experienced in the game.

With several locations across the United States and in other major Canadian cities, you can count on its extensive ramen menu, which includes a huge selection of complimentary appetizers, rice bowls, and even mini tacos, for an all-inclusive dining experience.

We were impressed by the countless topping add-ons available to customize your selection. With over 20 to choose from, you’ll never have a ramen bowl quite like the last when at JINYA in Mission.

I Love Ramen!

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