Marutama Ramen

I picked up my friend on a Friday night and we went down to Robson Street. She gets off work at 9ish so it was close to 945 before we reached the Robson and Denman area. I have to say I don’t come down here very often. It’s basically too far to walk and it’s kind of hassle to drive down here cuz it’s only a 5 min drive. Anyways, I was surprised by how busy it was down there at that time of night. We must have drove around for 20 mins looking for a parking spot.
She wanted to go to one of her favourite ramen places: Marutama Ramen. I’m game. It was nice to know that it wasn’t too busy. I guess Marutama is focused on getting you in and out as quick as possible cuz the chairs were wooden and hard to sit on. Turnover is the name of the game!
Anyways I ordered their house special ramen… The Marutama Tamago Ramen. We also shared some dishes… A white radish dish and pork belly. Overall, a big thumbs up. I like the ramen dish cuz the broth (chicken based broth) was tasty yet light and not overwhelming. The noodles were nice too. Not like the instant noodle ramen you get at some places. The pork belly was really good. It didn’t have the crispy top I like but the meat was very tender. It almost melts in your mouth. Also the pork had a good combination of fat and meat. Too much fat and I’m grossed out. Too little fat and the meat gets a bit cumbersome to eat.
Overall, a big thumbs up for Marutama Ramen! I will be gracing this place with my presence again soon!

Chicken broth ramen. Décor is wooden seats around tables or against the wall. This is my favourite ramen joint in downtown Vancouver. You get better value compared to other ramen joints — the deep fried garlic pieces are to die for — can almost eat half the jar when I’m here. No real cons here, except for that the entire party needs to be present to get a table (no diff then other places). Always order the tamago (egg) ramen. Highly recommended! Enjoy!

Favorite ramen place in Vancouver, we are here at least once a month :) strongly recommended

I’m lucky in that I work near «Ramen Corner» near the Robson/​Denman area, so I have easy access to some of the best ramen in the city. Marutama is one of my favourites because of the yummy chicken broth rather than the pork broth used at most other places. The egg here is also soooooooo good, perfectly marinated with a nice runny yolk that goes really well with the richness of the soup. Don’t think it’s lighter just because it’s chicken! You can order your noodles soft, regular or firm, and I always order firm, as they soften up in the soup. You can also order spicy or mild broth, so I always get spicy. The chashu has ok flavour but they barely give you any! You just get two tiny paper thin pieces of pork. I’m not a big eater, but it still seems a bit skimpy. If you order the chashu plate, you get nice thick slices of aburi pork belly that is so delicious! I wish this came with the ramen.
If you come in the winter, wear a warm jacket because it’s FREEZING in there.

Aagghhhh… So full! Got the spicy charsu and tamago ramen. Thought it was a little steep at $ 14, but there was so much meat and the broth was so flavorful I ate it all. Has tried many ramen joints in Vancouver and this is by far my favorite spot. I think it’s the chicken broth that sets it apart from other places. It’s lighter, but still has that deep, richness you expect in a ramen broth. Something I haven’t had elsewhere. Luckily we were staying at Robson Suites across the street and got in before the rush started. We were seated almost immediately, but by the time we were done, the line was about a dozen deep. Worth the price and wait. The fluffy egg omelet was really good too, but next time I’m getting just the ramen. That alone is enough to keep you full for hours!
Staff is super nice and you don’t feel as rushed as some other places. Here you can enjoy the meal at your pace. Just don’t pace yourself too long, there IS a line of people waiting. :)

My favourite, favouriteeee ramen place! I love the chicken broth base, it just warms my heart when I eat it. Asian soul food? I think so!
The restaurant is quite small, more like a cafeteria setting but it’s still nice. Food comes out reasonably fast and servers are attentive to customer needs! I just love it here!
Be warned though, there is a line almost all the time. Be sure to write your name on the board so you’re not standing outside waiting for nothing haha.
Overall, highly recommended! Also because I don’t get that crash feeling I get from msg-​doused ramen. Get the egg, btw! Also kaedama is cheap, so if you’re hungry… Yay!

Since all the ramen places in West End Vancouver had big line ups and the line up at this place was small so we decided to eat at Marutama Ramen. The broth is just simply creamy and delicious. The noodles that they were making right in front of you in the restaurant had very nice flavour and texture that I was very impressed. I got the one with a boiled egg and the egg was perfectly cooked — nice soft yolks in the inside with lots of flavour. I would definitely go back.

The menu is small, but that’s fine with me, because what’s on it is good!
The ramen with an egg is delicious. The chicken-​based broth is rich but a bit on the bland side, but you won’t mind because it’s crazy delicious once you load up on the crispy garlic (on the table) and spicy paste (ask for it on the side). If you like a lot of spice, you might need to ask for extra paste, but if you just want some great flavor, the small fish they bring will suffice. It’s not just spicy – there’s a ton of complex umami flavor going on in that tiny little dish of red peppery goodness.
You may want to spice it up a bit more than you normally would to warm yourself up… every time someone opens the front door, it gets pretty darn chilly.
The cha-​shu gohan (melt-​in1your-​mouth braised pork on rice, topped with some sort of pickled deliciousness) is tasty, and even better with a bit of the spiced ramen broth spooned over the rice.
When they run out of soup, that’s it… so prepare yourself for the possibility they may have sold out and closed for the day. If you’re not so unlucky as to miss it entirely, at least know that you’ll probably have to wait. Outside. In the cold.

I had never even imagined chicken-​broth for a ramen base! We were looking for a ramen shop that offer a base other than pork, and voila this place popped up on the top of our list!
The broth is definitely thicker than most pork broth I’ve had, but it’s light to taste. You can really taste the chicken flavors, and even see the fats from the chicken in the broth. I don’t know what they season it with, the the broth is a massive WIN. We all went for the spicy broth — not too spicy, just the right amount for us!
They also make their own noodles in house. You can specify how cooked you’d want your noodles to be — I went with al dente because I like my noodles firm, especially when they are handmade!
The service is also nice — seating is plenty. They also provide baskets to place your jackets into. Thank you!
No hot tea in house, only water. True ramen shop? Also, no choices of «toppings» other than chasu, pork steak, egg, and sea lettuce. While they are all amazingly prepped, it would be nice to see more options!
Regardless, a truly pleasant experience, and such a lucky find!

Our friends never fail to bring us to good places to eat. We came here and it was nearly two pm. There was still a small wait for this place. If you come here expecting some good pork base ramen, you will be surprised. This place serves a chicken ramen with a very good broth!
I was anticipating a clear broth but this was a almost a creamy consistency in the broth. This is definitely something that would be hard to replicate at home. You may as well spend the 10 –18 dollars for the bowl of ramen :)
There are options of either having an egg, or more meat. If I were to give you advice… Get the runny egg! It’s the best!
The noodles are freshly made through a machine and don’t forget to save your broth and ask for more noodles for 1.25 dollars extra! Kae-​Dama!

Many others have covered some of what I’m going to say here.
I really liked the chicken broth, it was as different, not necessarily better, but I do think when I’m next craving Ramen, I might crave this over pork broth.
I will, however, say that this is now my favourite Ramen place in Vancouver. I never was impressed by Kintaro or Santouko, but I really dig the lesser known Hida Takayama but this place has tasty Ramen and more. than the other places.
I really liked the flavoured egg, and a side dish e got which was roasted pork on rice with amazing complex flavouring. Those alone would draw me back. The other thing about here is I like the décor and location better than the others,. on a quiet sidestreet but nice wood exterior and layout inside with rustic communal tables. Hida has none of that and the only ting the usual suspects has over this one might be noodle texture,. but I was more than happy with what I received.
Some have complained about portion size and no corn etc. I dont like the corn and I found the size fine, (for $ 1.25 you can get a top up on your noodles if you are still hungry) so none of that bothered me. Try the spicy broth btw, I liked it better than the original.

Cannot for the life of me decide whether I like this place or Kintaro better. They’re equally as good. TBH, I think I like this place better than Santouka (shocking I know!) ;)
Their ramen is SO YUMMY! However, I will say that whether you like Marutama is very subjective. Their ramen is very different from your regular shio, shoyu, and miso. Their chicken based broth is a whole other ball game.
I basically ate their entire menu (char su don, ramen, daikon, dashimaki, kaedama) and everything was delish!
Only complaint? The small portion sizes (Kintaro takes the win for the most bang for your buck!)

If egg matters to you in a nice warm bowl of ramen, then these guys have mastered the soft-​boil. Every egg I’ve eaten had that slow-​oozing yolk that took my ramen to whole ‘nother level.
Their chicken broth is also a good alternative if you’re not in the mood for the heavy richness of a pork broth. Overall, a good ramen contender on that end of Robson.

I LOVED IT!
I have never been to Santouka and I probably won’t go ever since I have Marutama right across the street. No lineups so we sat down right away, service was good, food came out fast, and it was bombbbbbbbb.
Had the ramen with the soft boiled egg and it was AMAZING.
Soft boiled egg was amazing I almost fainted (not an exaggeration)
Do yourself a favour when you see that hella long santouka line and cross the street over to Marutama!!!

By far the best Ramen in downtown Vancouver. Worth dealing with the otherwise insufferable crowd.
The broth is incredibly flavourful. There’s a creaminess to it which is so harmonious. They use fresh green chillies in the broth and trust me when I say that makes a huge difference in flavour — and generally for the better. The noodles are also house made and delicious.
There’s always a line up and at least a 15 minute wait but I’ve braved the great & very recent windstorm of Vancouver for this ramen. Really the noodles and broth are far superior than anything else I’ve tried in this city.

With all the ramen places popping up around town, this place stands out for the famous chicken soup base, as opposed to pork.
Parking is available along the side streets, though the situation is usually quite awful in this part of town.
The inside looks pretty much like most other ramen places around town, with the wooden furniture, and typical Japanese-​themed décor.
Staff were friendly. Instead of a hostess writing the wait list, they use the Japanese-​style (so I’ve been told) clipboard (literally) system, where you sign yourself up on the list and wait around.
The chicken ramen definitely tasted different. Much less fatty than the pork-​based competition. Special mention goes to the soft-​boiled egg, which was nice. The noodles were nice and springy. With that said, well, it’s just ramen. For the price ($ 11), it’s worth a try for sure, but other (cheaper) places taste just as good in my books.

Hands down the best Ramen I had in Vancouver. Situated near Robson & Bidwell (The Ramen hotbed) Marutama specializes in Ramen made in Chicken broth. I love the amalgamation of flavors when cha-​shu and rich chicken broth come in a bowl filled with in-​house noodles cooked as per your liking. They have the option of kaedama where you can ask for a refill of noodles. Oh they also do broth refills :)
The Yaki Cha-​su is yummy too. But you go here primarily for the awesome ramen. They also have extra condiments (spicy pepper, Dried garlic & Sesame seeds) that add to the flavor.
Food: AMAZING
Service: Great
Ambiance: Casual /​Cozy
Worth the price: Hai

I’d say 4 – 4.5* is about right! Loads better than my first ramen experience via Momofuku TO.
(Give me a crowded, more authentic experience with reasonable prices vs. start, architecturely empty, watered down, «brand name» ramen… with price to match any day!)
Located on the West End, on a small street, a fellow Unilocaler told me about this place and I’m glad that she did! Place itself is on the smaller side, tightly cramped, and waitress — at least mine — was ver smiley and welcoming.
I got the Tamago, spicy, with al dente noodles — ~$ 10. Broth was not red, so I figured that I was brought the wrong order, but it definitely had a kick to it! «Cloud broth» was nice, slightly thicker than reg chicken broth and I’m glad they have this option for non-​pork eaters. However, I believe that pork is the only meat that comes with the noodles. I’m sure you can ask them to leave out the meat, if you’d like!
1 bowl was enough to satisfy my walking downtown for several hours hunger. I did not have to ask for either soup or noodle refill, as those were both an option.
My friend ordered the reg noodles and honestly, I did not taste a difference between those and the al dente. Both had a nice chew to them!
Great place if you want to experience ramen, but aren’t prepped to shell out like $ 15/​bowl!

Do you know why I love Unilocal?Because it leads me down the right path. Major props to Ivan, he was the reason I came here.
Now as an Asian I feel I have to eat noodles at least once a week (stir fried, in soups, in sauces, and to dip in sauces). Of course, that means I’ve had my fair share of ramen, but never, ever did I have a chicken and salt cloudy ramen, until now. And I feel like I’ve just found the new next best thing!
Marutama Ramen is located on the West End of Robson, tucked away on Bidwell. You just might miss it if you’re standing in line for another popular ramen spot on Robson, which we observed as we shook our heads at those poor souls standing outside in the rain and wind.
It’s a small restaurant (just like most ramen joints), we noted a communal table and a few tables, and counter space seating throughout the restaurant. As you walk in the door, to your right is someone making fresh ramen noodles, so you know this place is authentic.
The menu is small, about 6 – 8 ramen dishes with a few accompaniments and sides dishes. We both ordered the tamago cha-​shu ramen, you can have it mild or spicy, of course we ordered it spicy. There were 3 major condiments on the table: sesame seeds, togarashi (chili pepper), and Garlic chips (YES, PLEASE!).
When our ramen arrived, I took a taste and then added the garlic chips (as directed by my ramen guru, Ivan), and it blew me away! I was expecting the broth to taste like a Filipino chicken based soup called batchoy, but it tasted just like creamy, rich, chicken ramen broth!!! Who knew?! The noodles were cooked perfectly, and I submersed my cha-​shu pork in the broth just so it would be infused with its flavor, and the egg was absolutely delectable, soft boiled inside with a light soy flavor. And the garlic chips just add another level of flavor! The spiciness was just about right!
The next time we’re in BC, we’re definitely coming back here! We’ve already spread the word to our friends!!! Be expecting an influx of Seattlites to be coming through here soon and we’ll be right there with them!

I love Japanese foods whether is snacks, pastries, desserts, sushi, sashimi or ramen. Vancouver has a lot of Japanese restaurants but not many of restaurants are authentic/​tradition Japanese cuisine. I haven’t find any good Japanese restaurant that can make me say «Wow» or compare with Japan’s restaurants.
Marutama Ramen is a small and franchise shop in Vancouver. They emphasis the ramen make in house and broth is chicken-​based instead of pork-​based.
We ordered tamago cha-​shu ramen (sliced roast pork with egg ramen) and extra cha shu. The chicken broth has depth and rich flavour, but soft-​boiled egg was a bit overlooked. Cha shu were too fatty and cold.
My hubby had comment that we paid over $ 40 for 2 ramen in Tokyo but we paid $ 30 in Vancouver not getting a good ramen. That’s sad!