If you read my post on ramen from 2017, you know that I like ramen a lot. What I didn't expect was how much other Victorians also like slurping up a bowl of tonkotsu broth. Even now, two and a half years later, my post on the best ramen in Victoria, is still one of my most read every month. So with that in mind, I thought that it would make sense to update that list and check back with some of the ones that I visited last time. In the last two years we have had a couple of places leave, but a few more have also arrived on the scene. I am the first to admit that our ramen scene is not anywhere close to that of Vancouver, but it is getting better all the time. Hopefully this will inspire you to head out and find that steamy bowl of noodles.

As I said in 2017, I am not trying to create a ranked list, nor am I saying that any place not on this list doesn’t have good ramen, it just means I haven’t been there. In fact, if there is a great place not on this list than I want to know about it.

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Kuma Noodle Japan

Kuma Noodle is the original ramen place in Victoria. It was the first place I went in Victoria where there was a similar atmosphere to what you expect in other big cities. I never went there religiously and that was likely due to its location somewhat outside of the core of Victoria, at Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X Road. When you visit here, I would say that it still has the most authentic feel to it. I have been a couple of times since my last post and one of the challenges with it is that it may have gotten a little too busy. The wait for the soup can sometimes be very long. Also for my taste the noodles remain a little too cooked, but judging by how busy it is, I would say that it must be perfect for a lot of people. The flavoured eggs are always delicious and well cooked. If you are out near the university and looking for somewhere to eat and you can get in the door. Kuma remains a great option for ramen.

Bao

When I wrote my last article, Bao was one of the newest places, it may be now one of the older ones. Keeping in mind if you go here, that ramen is just one of the options to eat, it is always what I get. Pretty much every day you will find a ramen special, it seems to me that my favourite remains the Pork Belly Ramen, but I have had some interesting other options as well including Tan Tan Men. I had never tried this variety of ramen before and was surprised to find it contained peanuts. The broth here remains hearty and thick and is still a little saltier than some other options that are available. I would also say that the noodles remain some of the best you can get in the city in a bowl. Bao is still at the higher end of the price spectrum, but it doesn’t seem to be dissuading any customers as it is always busy. This eatery is on Fisgard Street, just across from the CRD headquarters. The flavoured eggs are also really good.

Menbow Ramen Bar

When Menbow opened up three years ago I was so excited to see a dedicated ramen place. I was even more excited when I tried it and the ramen was really good. Luckily in the last few years this has not changed. Menbow sits right in the middle of the International Food Market of Victoria along Blanshard Street. Each time I have gone I would say that the broth and noodles have been cooked just how I like them. They have quite a few options on the menu, but I seem to be always going back to the Spicy Miso Ramen. The soup has a very generous amount toppings including a perfectly cooked egg and will generally arrive fairly quickly, so it works well for lunch. If you have a ramen craving you are not going to be upset visiting Menbow.

Ox King Noodles

I know a lot of ramen sticklers will say that Ox King is not really a ramen place, and that is true but it does have a great ramen on the menu and if you are wanting some noodles and a great broth to slurp, than you are not going to go wrong by visiting Ox King. For many years Ox King was in the carriageway at the Hudson Public Market but in the last few months they have moved to the other side of downtown in the recently completed Jukebox building on View Street just east of Vancouver. While the new location is not large by any measure, it is still likely twice as big as their old location. I went there just the other day and the soup remains delicious. I had the Spicy Pork Ramen, while the flavoured eggs are always disappointingly hard boiled, the noodles and broth are excellent. You also generally get a very large amount of meat in your bowl. One of the things that was great about their old location was the staff and the speed of the food arriving and it seems like both of those things remain in their new location. This place is definitely worth your time.

Park’s Kitchen

As I said we have had some new places join the scene over the last few years. Like Ox King, Park’s Kitchen is not a traditional Japanese ramen experience. The food here is predominantly Korean; they even have the latest K-Pop music videos playing on a large screen. Having seen online that they had a decent selection of ramen, I thought I would give it a try at lunch recently. I was happy to see a large amount of international students eating here while I visited, but the ramen that I tried, the Spicy Pork Ramen was only okay. The broth was quite nice, with a pungent but pleasant spicy kimchi taste. What I didn’t care for was the noodle which was a thicker noodle than your traditional ramen noodle and made with rice. Still, they have nine ramen dishes on their menu which puts them above almost any place in town for choice, so there may be a real game changer in there. If you have found one let me know and I will head back and try it. This little restaurant is located in Trounce Alley just next to the Tapa Bar.

Nubo Japanese Tapas

For the longest time after Nubo opened, I kind of ignored it as some sort of new age place that I would most likely be disappointed by. This is yet another lesson in life that I need to always check my assumptions. While the menu is mostly focused on small Izakaya items, they do have ramen. I went recently with a friend and I had the Hokkaido Miso Ramen. It is simply mind blowing how good it is. The broth is in my opinion, the most elegant in the city. It might not be the thickest but the flavours are so refined. The noodles, both times I have had it have been cooked to perfection and the chashu Pork is impressively presented and flavourful. One of the great things about Nubo is that you can get the full bowl of ramen like I had for $13 or you can get a paired down ramen with a selection of other little items on a lunch platter for $17. Either way you are going to love it. I would say the only thing that is wrong with it is that it is a slightly smaller portion than you will get at some of the other spots in town. Nubo is on Pandora Street just next to John’s Place.

There are other places for ramen in Victoria as well. If you have been to any of these I would be happy to read your review in the comments below:

I Kyu Noodles - 564 Fisgard Street

Gozen - 1005 Langley Street

Bento Sushi - 670 Fort Street

Koto Sushi - 510 Fort Street

I am so happy that the city has the bubblings of a ramen scene and hope that we continue to see more unique and delicious places opening up.