Kintaro Ramen Noodle

This is my go-​to ramen place. I like that they offer a choice of different broths, levels of richness, and cuts of pork. I tried the miso ramen with a medium broth and fatty pork and found it soul satisfying. The noodles were nice and chewy.
My personal fave is the spicy garlic ramen with a rich broth and fatty pork. I’ve eaten this soup whenever I felt like I was coming down with a cold because thanks to that mighty little garlic ball, my sinuses usually clear up the next day. But I usually have to brush my teeth often and chew wads of gum to mask the garlic smell, which stays with you for a couple of days.
My other complaints are: their eggs are overcooked and they don’t allow substitutions. I once asked if they could leave out the egg and replace it with corn, which I was willing to pay extra. The server said no. WTF?
The lineups can also be long during lunch. But if you go between 3 – 5 PM or dine solo, the wait isn’t too bad.
Oh yeah, forget about Kintaro’s cash only policy. The restaurant now accepts debit and cash.

I had seen the long line-​ups outside of this joint every time my path crossed the area and always wanted to try this place out.
Finally on a very cold fall evening I decided to brave the weather and try this place out, when there was no line-​up.
However it was a big disappointment. The service is quite slow even though the place was half empty and it didn’t look too clean. Our server dropped a spoon on the floor and just picked it up and put it in a bowl that she was serving to the table next to us.
I tried the Miso Ramen with thick broth and have to say it was quite greasy. Overall, I won’t be back any time soon considering the abundance of choice.

3.5 stars. I havnt been here in about nine years and the place looks exactly the same; it needs a reno. The ventilation in this place is really bad and it gets uncomfortably warm.
The servings are large here. It’s good how many ramen choices they have but I don’t like how the egg is hard boiled. Staff are nice here. In the past you couldn’t get a takeaway container but now you can for 50 cents.

Put that plastic away, only bills accepted here!
Kintaro’s is a fairly small place (fits around 25 people) so steel yourself for a little wait outside if you come during the peak hours. You’ll get to look at the menu, but there’s not too many choices. Pick your poison: type of broth, meat, and toppings… and then you’re set!
If you’re ordering the spicy garlic ramen, I highly recommend getting the garlic ball on the side. A little is a lot in this case, and you’ll probably only need to use ¹⁄₃ to ½ of the ball. DON’T be like me and mix the entire ball into your ramen unless you’re masochistic and lookin’ to burn the taste buds right off your tongue. DON’T order the lean pork unless you’re a connoisseur of super dry meats; I’d probably try the fatty meat next time. And I was disappointed that the egg comes hard-​boiled rather than soft-​boiled. DO get medium broth.
Although the noodles themselves were decent, the quality of the toppings convinces me there’s a better bowl out there for me. I’ll find you one day, dream ramen, but it doesn’t look like you live here at Kintaro’s.

I wanted to try Kintaro about 4 years ago when the roommate and I were last in Vancouver. Unfortunately, there was a huge line that day, so we decided to go to another ramen spot. This past Sunday, January 17^th, on a stormy day, we decided to give it another shot. We showed up around 11:45am and guess what?! No line!
*Gyoza: 5 pcs ($ 4.95)
Came out piping hot. I had one and the inside was meaty. I like starting off ramen meals with some dumplings.
*Bbq pork ramen: bean sprout, bamboo shoot, green onion, dried seaweed & bbq pork, Rich soup, Fat bbq pork ($ 11.95 Shio ramen)
The roommate loves fatty broth so this was good for him. He loves when the fat melts onto the noodles as he’s slurping away. Came with a lot of cha shu as well. For some reason, his ramen came with an egg instead of seaweed, so it’s good to note if you want dried seaweed in your bowl.
*Spicy garlic ramen: bean sprout, onion, bamboo shoot, green onion, boiled egg, garlic ball and bbq pork, Medium soup, Fat bbq pork ($ 10.95), add Corn (+$ 1.25), Dried seaweed (+$ 1.25)
Hello garlic! Be warned. You will have garlic breath the rest of the day. The bowl was a generous size with a good amount of toppings. Sometimes places skimp, so I normally add toppings. I didn’t need to in this case. The noodles had a nice chew and the cha shu was tender. A good subtle spice as well.
It was a cold rainy day, so I liked that it was warm inside. But after sitting down for a bit with the heater blasting on top of us, it was getting unbearably hot and stuffy. I started sweating while digging into my bowl. I said something to the roommate and they must have heard me as they opened the door a little after I said something. I welcomed the fresh air.
Solid ramen spot. I’m glad I was able to try them after all these years!

ramen-​fans only, long lines, cash only
First, I say you should be a ramen fan because boy, if I wasn’t I will never wait outside in the cold for this massive bowl of deliciousness.
Second, been coming here for years and Kintaro is very particular. They will hand you a menu while you wait in line and it is highly suggested that you order when asked to ensure you get your ramen asap.
Third, the broth gets me everytime. It is the best remedy for a cold day. Tender pork and always a great choice to go with fatty soup and fatty pork if you want the full experience. For the adventurous, I recommend the cheese ramen as it is one of the only places with that option. Be warned, it is different! We would also bet to see who can finish the whole bowl. No matter who says they are more hungry, it is still a tough task. Great gyoza on the side too.

I ordered Garlic Spicy Ramen (medium broth, lean meat). I expected it to be like a ramen with a nice hint of garlic and spices, just like the other ramen places. However, in the case of this ramen, chilli and garlic were definitely overpowering the taste of the ramen… I can only feel fat, chilli and garlic. That’s way too much!
Also, this is definitely not the ramen you would order before/​during romantic dates. My mouth still smells like garlic on the next day, meaning my bf will avoid kissing with me for 2 days … I think they should put a warning sign saying «Garlic alert!!! You will smell like garlic for 2 days!» to avoid unfortunate situation.
Well it’s a good ramen to eat if you are in a situation where you are trying to avoid romantic situation… ;)

CASH ONLY!
Honestly, this place wasn’t that bad, especially because we showed up when there were no lines (yay). The only thing I thought was odd is that they didn’t want us to take pictures of the peeps cooling in the open kitchen.
The place is small, there’s some bar seats around the open kitchen and few tables. Definitely not for large groups bigger than 8. 6 is pushing it but doable.
Food: We ordered the popular miso ramen and spicy shoyu. Both were decently fatty and hit the spot when it was freezing outside. I would give the ramen a B+. Not sure if I will wait in line for more than 30 minutes though…
By the time we were done the line outside during the weekend was pretty long around 6pm.

My partner and I had the Shoyu and Shio respectively, both medium with lean BBQ Pork.
The Shoyu was by far and away the better of the two. The broth is the second best ramen broth I’ve tried (Momofuku has the #1 spot for me).
The Shio just seemed to be missing something, and medium broth seemed a little to fatty and rich for the ingredients.
The Shoyu is just delicious. It’s everything you want in a soup on a cold, wet Vancouver afternoon.

*3.5 stars*
Finally tried out the infamous Kintaro on a cold fall day. One of the surefire ways to tell if an establishment is good: lineups. Kintaro’s no stranger to this, which is why they actually take your order while you’re waiting in line! Genius… almost; just because you order while waiting in line it doesn’t mean that it will be ready when you sit down! We still waited another 15 – 20 mins or so for our ramen.
Let’s get down to the ramen. It’s good. What makes it so good is that you pretty much get to make it yourself by ordering your choice of light, medium, or rich broth, and lean to fatty meat. That’s a big bonus! Plus you also get some great add on’s like seaweed and a garlic ball. Yes… a garlic ball.
Worth the wait? Maybe not in the rain or snow… but when I am in the area and have a craving I will be ready in line!

I am always skeptical when there is a long wait for a place. Is it really that good? Is it really worth it?
This is one of the few places where it IS worth it. For me, that’s a high bar to pass. Not only am I super impatient, but when you have two hyperactive and very hungry children, a wait of more than 10 minutes is a big problem. The wait here is more than 10 minutes. It is a LOT more than 10 minutes. The place is tiny. You will have to wait outside in the cold. You will have to sit at a communal table most likely. Even after you sit, you will have to wait a long time for your food. DO ALL OF THESE THINGS! IT IS WORTH IT! Best ramen I have ever had. You can customize the amount of fat in your broth. Extra garlic ball is the bomb (just stay far away from other people afterwards). The egg is to die for! The veggie ramen has so many vegetables.
Tip: Not vegetarian friendly. My husband wanted to believe that the veggie ramen meant veggie broth, but this ramen is pork based only. Cash only.

A cozy hole in the wall ramen shop, but this ramen is worth the wait. They have a variety of different ramen options (ex: Shoyu, Miso, Spicy Garlic). The noodles were cooked well, and the broth was so flavorful. You have the option of choosing how rich you want your broth as well as how fatty your meat is.
I’ll admit that this is the best spicy ramen I’ve had since leaving NYC. My fiancé loved his Miso ramen as well.
The only catch — They are a cash only restaurant, and each member of your party must order at least $ 9.95 worth of food (which really isn’t hard if everyone orders a bowl a ramen).

My mother says I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect bowl of ramen since I was 2 years old. I’m not going to argue with that.
Kintaro offered what I believe has been missing in all my other ramen experiences. The place is small and cosy. A nice tight bar with an open kitchen and friendly staff. I got to sit back and watch the ramen bros shake off steaming noodles and dip out bits of pork fat. Is there a better way to wait for your meal /​ignore your date? Is there? No. There isn’t.
The second thing missing from my previous ramen nights — a large chunk of garlic. Think you’ve had a lot of garlic in a dish before, nah bro, think those thoughts again. You’re about to get Kintaro-Garlic’d. It’s like a kick in the face by a strapping young lad. Deserved and perfect.

I had the Spicy Garlic with medium broth and fatty cha siu. The verdict:
Noodles:
Just the way I like ‘em — al dente, chewy and bouncy.
Medium Broth:
A bit too salty for me, especially when you mixed in the ball of garlic into the broth. Next time I’ll go with the light broth. Nice and spicy, lacked a bit of depth in flavour though.
Fatty Cha Siu:
Good balance of fat and lean meat. Good texture but again, lacked a bit of flavour.
Extras:
Hard-​boiled egg (I prefer soft-​boiled so you can dip the noodles in the runny yolk), bean sprouts, chives, garlic, and bamboo shoots (love me some bamboo shoots!)
Overall, it was decent, but not my favourite ramen joint. Good portion for the price and fantastic noodles but lacked that extra oomph of flavour in the pork and broth.

After biking the seawall, we realized that we actually were early enough that we might make it into Kintaro with out waiting in line for a million years. Score!!!
My partner ordered the rich shiro broth with half fatty half lean pork, and I ordered the spicy garlic rich with half half pork. After having eaten here a few times, every time I go I find myself less excited by the offerings.
The plus’s…the ramen noodles have always been that perfect al dente with bite and taste fresh cooked to order. The broths are often flavourful, but can be salty on occasion. The fatty pork is very nice, but the lean is boring.
While this place will always be a steady for a decent bowl, it is by no means the best. The eggs that should be just cooked with a nice yolk texture are often overcooked and are of lesser quality. The spicy garlic would have been fantastic if they did not put a ball of pre chopped jarred garlic in the bowl. The jarred stuff has a bitter fermented chemical taste (the preservatives) that makes mixing it into the broth very unpleasant.
Overall a decent bowl on a rainy day, but not the best. I would not wait in line and be hurried about just for this.

Favorite ramen joint in Vancouver, and it has never disappointed. I have been going there for years now and I always get what I expect: large portions of delicious noodles that I always will come back for.
I realized that I haven’t left them a review yet and I think so, I might as well. When I go to Kintaro’s, I usually get the spicy garlic ramen even if it kills my breath. It’s just so so good! Usually I recommend light broth with lean meat but most people prefer the medium. It’s easier to down all the soup that way in my opinion though!
Go when it’s not lunch hour else you will get a long line up that frankly, is not worth it. I usually drop by in the afternoon when I am passing through Robson shopping or something. Overall though, it is a place that you must check out at least once!

Really wanted to try ramen before leaving Vancouver! I heard great things about the ramen here and really wanted to check out one that was reviewed by many Unilocalers! Kintaro Ramen is conveniently located on Denman Street, which has plenty of parking on the smaller streets nearby, both metered and hour parking. The restaurant is very small and can seat about 20 – 25 individuals so they normally like you to order as soon as possible in order to make things more efficient for them in getting more business. Because we were a party of four and there is only one large table that seats 8, we had to share the table with another party of 4.
The menu is very nice in that you can choose the richness of the broth from light, medium, rich and the different pork meat, either lean or fat. My family and I ordered the miso, shoyu, shio, and spicy garlic ramen. When they first gave us the ramen, oh my gosh, the portion is HUGE! There is so much in there and I was very surprised by how large the bowl was! The flavors were on point! I loved my spicy garlic ramen, which I ordered in medium (because I was afraid it might be spicy). There was enough garlic and a good portion of noodles and bean sprouts. I really enjoyed it! It really brings back memories of ramen I have had in San Mateo, CA, which is known for Ramen and I must say, it is definitely comparable.
As a fan of ramen, I would highly recommend Kintaro Ramen! Very yummy and large portion to guarantee to get you full. I would highly recommend coming here for an early dinner since the restaurant is smaller. We came at 5 to eat and did not have to wait but I can imagine a long line around 6 – 7. They also only take cash so please remember to bring enough money! Each bowl is on average $ 10 – 11. Well worth it!

3.5÷5, +.5 for service
Kintaro reminds me of Kinton in Toronto in terms of the hype. There was always a lineup outside, and it took my friends lining up about an hour before I arrived for us to get a table. Mind you, this was on a Sunday.
The place was very small, which is quite normal with all the popular ramen joints I’ve been to. During busy times, you order your food before you enter, so you don’t have to wait long for your food and to finish your food. It’s essentially a well oiled machine, as you’re normally out in 30 minutes or less.
I ordered a miso ramen with a medium broth and fat chashu. I love me fat; besides, I was gonna walk it out on Robson later anyway! When the food arrived, the chashu… was REALLY fat. If you don’t like your chashu that fat, don’t order fat. You have been warned. The broth was a perfect mixture of richness and lightness, and the ramen actually did remind me of Kinton’s ramen.
Service was very good, and despite the fact we were a table of 4 (which is considered large for this establishment), the waitresses managed to accompany us very well. I wish we weren’t rushed out, but seeing how busy this place is I don’t blame them at all.

NPS = 8
Awesome ramen at a fantastic price!
I paid $ 10 something for some of the best I have had in a while!
My only turnoff about this place is that it is cash only. And there is no ATM on the premises. I had to walk to the Safeway next door to get cash (who uses cash anymore??)
The place is very small so do not get surprised if you are sat at a table with other people (we were!).
The ramen can be asked for in flavor, richness, and type of pork (fatty or lean).
I choose the miso, with medium richness, and lean pork. The pork was a little dry. The level of richness in soup was just right. I also asked for extra noodles and I left extremely full.
The line waiting to eat here gets long but it is definitely worth waiting to get into.
Their soda is canned so don’t expect unlimited refills (or maybe that’s just an America thing).
They also have locally brewed beers. Definitely worth checking out while in Vancouver.

I’ve been here a couple of times, and I think this is probably one of the best ramen places in Vancouver. It’s a hole in the wall type of place. Not very large and the kitchen is right behind the bar so you can watch them boil your noodles and make your ramen. There’s pretty much always a line, but it moves quickly. For Sunday lunch there were 15 people in front, but we got in the store in 15 – 20 minutes. All their ramen uses a tonkotsu (pork bone) based broth.
They let you choose the fattiness of your broth (light, medium, rich) and your BBQ pork (lean, or fat). I usually choose medium broth and fat meat. I tried the rich broth once, and it was way too much fat, felt like I was drinking fat. The fat meat is nice and fatty and delicious.
Menu Items:
1) Shoyu Ramen: Soy sauce flavored broth, I find this one slightly salty for my taste, but if you like soy sauce go for it.
2) Shio Ramen: Salt flavored broth. Super salty. I’d avoid unless you really like salt.
3) Miso Ramen: Nice miso flavored broth, this is a good default for anyone trying the place for the first time.
4) Spicy Garlic Ramen: This is their take on spicy miso ramen with a nice garlic flavor. This is my favourite, but it is a little spicy and has a strong garlic flavor which not everyone may like.
* BBQ Pork Ramen. This is basically your choice of 1 – 4, with extra BBQ pork.
5) Cheese Ramen: Miso ramen with shredded cheese sprinkled on top. I found that the cheese melts and makes a giant gooey blob of cheese, rather than being nicely diffused in the soup. So you have to basically take bites of the cheese blob along with your spoonful of noodles. I find the cheese flavor a little strong and overwhelming the miso pork broth flavor. I wouldn’t recommend.