Review Ramen Ichinen - Calgary

I came to Ramen Ichinen for the first time today and was so pleasantly surprised. There was a depth of flavour to the broth that reminded me of my grandma’s kitchen. The noodles were fresh tasting and perfectly cooked (as I hate soggy noodles). To be honest, I’m annoyed by the bad reviews of this restaurant on google. Of course it’s not 100% authentic -we live in Alberta, Canada. What I can say is that it’s better than most fancy ramen places I’ve tried in Calgary. I think it’s better to have less on the menu and perfect it than to have more on the menu and provide less quality. If you think it’s bland, it’s probably because there’s no MSG. 😂

Tried this place out for the first time. Highly rated so I had high expectations. Service was top notch and the front of house ladies were very nice and welcoming. Although we ordered the same ramen one was level 3 spice which was great. Overall it kind of lacked flavor personally, a bit bland for me. Great experience though and would probably come back

A great experience here from beginning to end. Super friendly and welcoming staff member who promptly got us seated. There doesn't need to be a lot of food options here as ramen is the specialty (can't go wrong with any item). Highly recommend the chicken karrage for appetizer - juicy and crispy in an unexpected way. Ramen, broth and content all came out in a reasonable portioned manner. The taste isnt overly salty and very flavourful. Ranging from $13-16 a bowl, well worth the amount.

There are word of mouth among our Asian friends that this is one of the best Ramen in Calgary, and I think they’re not lying! First of, parking in the area will not be problem as there are lots of spaces in their commercial compound. Staff was amazing and really happy to serve their customers. Service was super fast! I mean, we got our Ramen bowl in just 5-7mins!! It’s piping hot and smelled heavenly. I like that they don’t put any MSG in their broth and they really put attention to tiny details in their bowl. I ordered their black garlic oil ramen and it tasted amazing! The pork broth tasted delicious with some kick of umami. The noodles were kinda thin for my liking, but there is an option of thick noodles too. The Chasu pork I think was the best part in my bowl. Super tender, marbled fats, and smoky that it compliments the wonderful taste of the broth! I tried my partner’s Original tonkotsu broth and it was creamy and full of umami flavour! Overall, we only spend 15-20mins inside and we’re fully satisfied! I think this is the best place to go on a quick lunch break during work week. I will order their spicy ramen next time!

Ramen Ichinen may be as good as it gets in Calgary. It was not the best ramen I have ever had, but it was decent and the chef put effort into making his food. The soup was flavorful but a bit salty. I had the thin noodle which tasted more like the Chinese wonton noodle. The tonkatsu was a couple chunks of pork instead of sliced, but very tender. We were a party of 8 and the restaurant had a big table to accommodate all of us which was nice. Many Japanese restaurant cannot seat so many unless they have a tatami room.

Friendly and welcoming service from a cozy shop. Typical high quality and attention to detail from Japanese owner/operators. The noodles were al-dente and had a fantastic bite/chew to them with an extra portion offered at no charge. Everything was made fresh and quickly; an enjoyable dinner for a solo business traveler.

Service was fast and friendly. Ramen was great, no MSG in the broth yet had wonderful depth of flavour. Fried chicken knees and gyoza were yummy as well.

Wonderful service in a simple and clean location. Disclaimer: There are many types of ramen noodles, but my preference is for thick, chewy noodles with a good bounce and a bit of bite. We ordered 2 dishes: Tonkotsu Black Ramen - unctuous broth with great flavour (on the salty side). The thick noodles had good bite, but could use more bounce. They remind me of a good wonton noodle more than a ramen noodle. The star of the show is the Tsukemen (dipping ramen). We first tried this type of ramen in LA and were hooked from the first bite. We ordered the Tsukemen with thick noodles which is perfect for gripping the salty, fatty broth. We’ll definitely be going back for the Tsukemen and would recommend giving it a try.

Was there last Saturday and this is now my favourite Ramen place in Calgary. I ordered the Red Ramen and also ordered the Spicy Mazemen and a side of Chashu Bowl (Yes I know, I'm a pig! lol) and they were all extraordinary. The Spicy Mazemen had a very complex sauce and the noodles were cooked to perfection. And yes, as the menu suggests, you might want to order an extra bowl of steamed rice to soak all the goodness of the sauce on the bottom of the bowl. The Red Ramen? hmmmm... the broth was out of this world! Hands down my favourite broth out of all the ramen places that I've been to in Calgary. With the friendly service and amazing food, I am addicted to this place! See you again this weekend!

As a Japanese having ramen for decades I give full marks for the Tonkotsu Red Ramen. It is not just spicy but is composed of good balance of spicyness and texture. What is more the spicy miso paste gives a fantastic kick and savory flavor to the broth. It is very different from spicy ramens from other shops that put too much Doubanjian and make broths smelling only it.

This by far is the most delicious ramen We've tasted in Calgary! been searching for a place with hakata thin noodles...finally! new favorite.:) the Tonkotsu Red Ramen and Original Tonkotsu Ramen are both superb. You also get to choose the type of noodle (thin or thick), meat (belly or shoulder), veggies and noodle firmness which i looove! Comfy place plus the people are friendly and accommodating. Thanks miss Meg!

Great ramen! Great service! I ordered Black Ramen, spicy level 2, thin noodles, and fatty char sui. The umami is definitely there and the base was smooth. The char sui was perfectly soft. The ajitsuke tamago on the bowl was perfect, but the extras we ordered were a bit overcooked. Other than that, it was a perfect Ramen experience. We'll be back tomorrow.

This place made me fall in love with ramen... And the chicken karaage is a must try too! Plus very friendly staff. ��

We love Ichinen! It's our go to spot for any time we get Ramen cravings in Calgary, which is fairly often!!! They always run out of soup so early so we're hoping they get larger soup pots soon so we won't be disappointed whenever we decide to drop by, which is like every week :) Owner and servers are always friendly!

By far, the best ramen and karaage I've had in Calgary. Totemo oishikatta desu 👍 Excellent customer service too, as if I am dining in Japan.

I try this ramen noodles shop is delicious and I like it

Best ramen house in Calgary. Legit ramen taste and friendly staff. Oishi des!

ごちそうさまでした。オリジナル豚骨ラーメンとからあげボールをいただきました。替え玉も頼みました。とても美味しかったです！ありがとうございました！#flyinhawaiian ��

Very good food and services. The soup is great and the fatty char shun is super.

Really delicious ramen. Very nice staff. Cute place.

Awesome friendly staff and great ramen and broth. Keeps me coming back.

The best in Calgary. This was what I was looking for. Thank you so much for the great friendly service. My husband will have 2 Karaage bowels from the beginning. Possibly 3.

The broth is very good. Nice and thick and full of flavor. Owners are a nice family. Must check this place out.

Best Ramen place in the city. You can really tell the passion they put behind their product. If it's not right they will not serve it. That's accountability and so you know that when you come here you are getting the BEST Ramen. Customer service is amazing as well. We love the staff, very friendly and accommodating. Also note that this is a family friendly place with a few highchairs, so bring your little one!

Best ramen in Calgary. Just order and savour and experience the bliss. Best service also.

The best underrated ramen in Calgary. Locally owned with a simple yet well thought out menu. The staff is always so friendly and accommodating. I enjoy coming here frequently to get my ramen fix.

I’ve eaten here before the COVID-19 restrictions came into place and I had takeout from them the other day. Very kind and polite staff, absolutely delicious and authentic, flavourful ramen. They know what they’re doing here and they do it well. I’ve had the original tonkotsu, the black garlic tonkotsu, as well as the tsukemen, and they have been incredible. I will be back for sure, my brother is vegan and their vegan ramen is a new menu item that we’ll need to try out.

Love the tonkotu soup and ramen

Excellent bbq pork; tasty, tender, & large portion! Noodles (thick & thin) have great texture & you can add extra for free. Original broth had less depth than we’re used to, but the black garlic oil was 💯! (4/5)

Great little place with friendly staff! Their focus is on tonkatsu Ramen and it shows! Go there 2 to 4 times a month for lunch! Get the chicken Karage, it’s amazing as an appetizer.

We are regulars here. I love their lunch specials where you can choose a side for an extra $2.50 or extra noodles for free! My husband always orders their spiciest level 4 sauce for his ramen bowl. It is good! I love that they have huge mugs of their special Oolong tea. I can't ever finish it! The servers are always super friendly and attentive. They take pride in their establishment!

A very nice small ramen place. The atmosphere was very nice as the simple decorations, cute and friendly waitresses and jazz music really helps one relax while eating. The Chicken Karaage (Japanese Fried Chicken) is a must try, by far the best and juiciest fried chicken I've ever tasted. The ramen served here is pretty good. The broth is nice, rich and filling. Personally, I think the lean pork tastes the best. Definitely will visit again in the future

I eat here probably around twice a month. By far, the best Ramen in Calgary. I have tried almost every other ramen place in Calgary and it isn't even close.

Small little restaurant hidden in a plaza. Soup is flavorful but it makes you feel like crap after! I used to always get fatty pork until they ran out, I discovered that the lean pork is so. much. better. The chicken karaage is one of the best I’ve ever had!

The broth is pretty complex and an amazing mouth feel. The garlic notes work amazingly well with the roasted pork belly. The choice of thick or thin noodles make for a nice change. The egg was nice but just a bit overcooked, such that the yolk was not jelly like. it was still pretty awesome.<br/><br/>You also have a choice of spice levels.<br/><br/>Just a warning, they make a huge batch of soup, and when they run out, they close for the night.

Found this ramen shop from Instagram and it was a nice surprise. We went in early on a Saturday night to avoid any possibility of them running out of soup (it looks like it happens quite frequently based on their Instagram posts).<br/><br/>The restaurant is small and quiet.<br/>Service was friendly.<br/>Options for thick or thin noodles, lean or fat pork (fat is clearly way to go).<br/><br/>We ordered:<br/>- karaage chicken - they were salt and pepper flavored but I will admit I was a bit disappointed that they weren't deep fried with extra crispy skin<br/><br/>- Tsukemen - the broth was very rich and thick, coating all the noodles when they were dipped<br/><br/>- Original Tonkotsu - flavorful broth<br/>

One of the best ramen I've had in the city. I love their thin noodle, chashu is delicious and the egg is cooked in a perfect manner. Please don't come to this place, I don't want this place to get busier and harder to find open tables!

I called beforehand to make sure they weren’t sold out of ramen. The person who answered the phone was cheery and helpful. She warned me if I were to come in the next hour, we would likely have to wait a little for a table. Excellent receptionist service always wants me to visit a restaurant.

I'd like to place a review but the place ran out of soup.. I'll change my rating once I actually get to try this place but running out of soup for a ramen place is a bit strange. It's like a burger joint running out of buns which has happened to me

Been wanting to try Ramen Ichinen for a while now and so happy we finally did today! <br/><br/>I had the red tokatsu ramen (red=spicy as per waitress) and my fiancé had the dry ramen. The spicy level wasn’t spicy at all for me (I like spicy food though) however, they have an option to add levels of spice for extra $. Since it was my first time I wanted to try without customizing the spice level. The dry ramen bowl was suppose to be spicy too but we tasted none as well. Regardless, they were both very good. I think this is the only ramen place in Calgary thus far to have dry ramen bowls. <br/><br/>The concept to ordering is like build your own, choose you topping, type of noodle and add $2 or $3 for a side. I had the bonito bowl for $3 and it came with 3 giant slices. My fiancé added the chicken bowl and it came with a lot of chicken! <br/><br/>The waitress, a cute Japanese lady was very friendly and provided great service. I will definitely be back!

My friend and I both ordered the tonkotsu ramen and mine came with thick cut noodles and lean cha-siu. The broth was tasty and not too salty. I really enjoy the ramen and definitely coming back.

Ramen Ichinen has a ramen-focused menu and incredible tasting bowls that will leave you smiling ear to ear. It's the only ramen restaurant in Calgary I've been to with red tonkotsu, and its original tonkotsu ramen has the most unique tasting broth of any bowl in the city. They give you 1.5x the noodles free of charge, have 4 different levels of spiciness and overall just have amazing ingredients. CHECK THIS PLACE OUT.

Love this ramen joint hidden in a plaza off 32nd ave. They boil their broth everyday and it's super flavourful and thick just like how it's served in Japan. The Char Siu is seasoned very well. I love the option of thick or thin ramen cuz I'm a thin ramen person and it reminds me of Ichiran from Japan. The service is great, very attentive to your needs. <br/>Oh and their house made Gyoza are superb!!

Tonkotsu ramen was delicious, flavourful and filling enough for one person! Restaurant also has a liquor license so you can enjoy a cold beer while you eat your warm broth Japanese ramen.

Very cute little restaurant located in a very busy strip mall. It's quite difficult to even find parking during the lunch hour. However this is probably one of the best options for Ramen in the area. The staff is extremely friendly! <br/>I adore the menu and 'directional' menus lol! They are so cute!! The soup 🍜 itself has a delicious miso broth with the typical ingredients. The difference with this restaurant is that they give you add on option that you may add to your soup for an additional charge as well as the option to choose your level of spicy 🌶I opted for spicy level 3 (goes from 1-4) and it was great. I may actually try level 4 next time 👍🏼 but I love my soup spicy! I also found the soup to be quite small. I tried their premium sake which I wasn't impressed with. It's expensive for just 3oz and the flavour wasn't the best. Overall this is a great option for NE ramen.

This place is really hidden away and the parking lot is atrocious in that you must circle around many, many times to get a spot, if you get one at all. If you're going for lunch, go early! But the ramen is worth it. The pork was soft and delicious and the broth was really rich. Wish I could go more often, but out of the 3 times I've gone, I have only gotten a parking spot once!

We completely accidentally stumbled upon this ramen restaraunt and we were so happy we did ! Service is amazing and the ramen is outstanding ! I had thin noodles (which were to die for, so fresh and unlike noodles at most other ramen places), pork belly (a nice slice of pork), green onion, seaweed and a half soft egg. The spicy paste was delicious with a hint of garlic and sweetness - I ate it all up! I am still thinking about it and ready to plan my next lunch/dinner there ! Be sure to check it out !

Calgary seems to have a revolving wheel of new ramen places opening up. So unfair. I tried hitting up Ramen Ichinen a few months ago but they were closed the day we went (so we went to their next door neighbour, Fat Kee Noodle House). Well, on my last trip, I made sure it was open and we arrived just before they opened (hence the closed signs) on an early Saturday morning.

Went here for the first time a few weeks ago with a friend when I told her I was craving ramen. This was the best ramen I have ever had! The broth is full of flavour and the pork belly is so tender and soft you can easily pull it apart with chopsticks. The ramen they make here is so good that I was craving it again, and decided to take my spouse to try it. He couldn't agree more with me that it's hands down the best ramen place we've been to. It's quite small so if they're busy you'll be waiting and there is no sitting area to wait, but despite that the service is wonderful and the food top notch. This is going to be my ramen place from now on!

Ordered the Red tonkatsu ramen. Taste wise was full of flavour. The cha siu pork was one of the best i have ever tasted. Nice char flavour. Woulda liked more ingredients to come with this 15$ Ramen. They like to add alot of green onion which i felt overpowered the broth. I like to drink the broth on its own in the end so i like my soup to be without toppings eg. Green onion. <br/>Super friendly waitress and efficient service. Will be back to see if they have a more extended menu.

Great little place with friendly service. Ordered the tonkotsu red, and it was delicious. The restaurant boast their soup has been stewed for 12 hours. I would recommend it to others.

Stumbled on this place for lunch. Nice zen decor in a cozy mall bay. Appears to be authentic Japanese establishment.<br/><br/>Ordered the black ramen ( black garlic oil) $15 with a side of nori (toasted seaweed) $1.50. Chose the thin ramen with lean pork ( shoulder or butt) and green onion. Broth was mild flavoured, creamy and rich, implying high fat content. Confirmed as I still feel full 5 hours after the lunch. The thin ramen was similar to angel hair (capellini) pasta size, a new one for me. It seemed to be from dried noodles. I prefer the chewy texture of the thick (regular) ramen. The black garlic oil and egg was OK. Thought the serving size and contents was sparse for the price. Expect lunch to average $16 to $20 per bowl with a green tea.<br/><br/>May return only if we have a yen for ramen while in the 'hood.<br/>

My friend ordered the dry ramen with ground pork and I tried a little and it was very good. I ordered the tonkotsu black, and it was ok. Only one piece of meat and it was quite thin (still delicious) and the broth was average, nothing special.<br/><br/>The soup ramen comes in different options: thin or thick noodles; greens or green onions; and fatty or lean char siu. <br/><br/>I would come back if I'm ever in the area (rarely) and get the dry ramen.<br/>

I've been going around town recently trying out different ramen places - for the most part I was disappointed. This place is pretty good though. I tried the red tonkotsu ramen. I feel it's a more authentic Japanese style ramen place. The only place so far that offers Kyushu style thin noodles. Little far out for me, but I'll be visiting once in a while.

I had lunch with my friend S earlier this week at Ramen Ichinen.  We usually get once once or twice a month since our work places are close by, but S is moving to a different office next month :(  So, I asked her to get one last lunch with me and this place seemed like the perfect spot. Ramen Ichinen is another new ramen joint to hit the Calgary food scene.  Ramen seems to be the trendy food of the moment with a lot of new places having opened up in the past year or so.  Ichinen, according to the waitress has only been around 2 months.  It’s located in the NE just down 26th Street in the former location of Clay Oven and right next door to Fat Kee.  If you’re still confused, it’s in the shopping area where Inti is, which reminds me that I haven’t been to Inti in a while and I should rectify that!

Went here and it was pretty slow there.  had the Red Ramen, the broth was very rich and flavorful.  My gf said it was too rich though.  the noodles were okay, nothing special.  The pork was really well cooked.  I'd come back here for sure.   I also tried the Black Ramen, and it was good a well.

Average Ramen restaurant, very small little place. Soup was pretty rich, just wish there was more meat. Pretty good lunch deal adding $2 for a small bowl of cha su rice.

Ramen Ichinen ticks all the boxes for us -  not far from home, plenty of parking, not having to line up to ensure we get a bowl of ramen,  offers decent sides, great service, no pounding music and hipsters taking selfies, plus prices that don't empty your wallet.  It has the atmosphere of a homey utilitarian  diner v.  hipster hangout ; green tea is in a bag served in giant glass mugs and the decor could use some sprucing up.  But when we dine, decor is the last on our minds.  Would Ichinen live up to our expectations was the big question. <br/><br/>They do not make their own noodles, but they are great quality; there is a choice between a thicker wavy ramen noodle  and a thinner straight noodle.  I ordered the classic Tonkatsu with thick noodles;  it was a rather  plain looking bowl  with just a sprinkle of green onion, some nori and a soft-boiled egg half.  Sort of underwhelming looking but the tastes were right on; the tonkatsu according to the restaurant is simmered for 12 hours.  It could have used maybe some sprouts or greens and a fishcake or two to dress it up a bit.  The char sui was exceptional (you have a choice between lean and fatty), and I ordered an extra slice for $3.    Silky and rich, the fat melted to a clean rich taste in your mouth (Of course you must order the  fatty char sui right??? live it up)  Overall, the tonkatsu ramen tasted beautiful and was not too salty. <br/><br/> My husband fared better with a spicy mazemen with ground pork (no broth but a sauce).  Rice is given on the side to soak up that amazing sauce.   It was beautifully presented with bonito flakes and chili threads.  The mazemen was pretty spicy and I think he got more noodles than I did.   It comes with the thicker noodle and to be honest,  both of our noodles could have been cooked just a touch more, to score 5/5.  <br/><br/>We also shared a chicken kaarage starter - my husband enjoyed it but I thought it was a little overcooked, some of it was dry.   Great flavor though.  Service was cheerful and enthusiastic and the servers had no problem answering our questions.  It was hard to believe they have only been open two months.  Service was extremely smooth and knowledgeable.  Ramen Ichinen is a hidden gem.  Open for lunch and dinner from 5-8.

This place is amazing. AMAZING. And I don't say that lightly because honestly, I'm not a huge fan of ramen here in Calgary. <br/><br/>I came with my friend and we came with no expectations. The space is small, but not cramped; it's clean and sparsely, but nicely, decorated. The waitstaff is very friendly, too!<br/><br/>We started with the katsuo, which was super tender and flavourful. There were garlic chips that were perfectly fried and had such a punchy kick, but paired perfectly with the fish. The sauce was sweet and bright without being overpowering. <br/><br/>Then we got the ramen. I had the gyokai, which is pork and fish broth, and it was so flavourful. I opted for thin noodles, fatty pork, and green onions. The noodles were more similar to what I prefer (unless I'm going super thick, chewy noodles) and the broth coated them perfectly. Each bite was just the right flavour, without me ever getting a naked noodle or missing out on anything. The pork, too, was so good! So yummy. I find a lot of pork just takes on the flavour of its broth, but this one had its own distinctly charred flavour. It was also so tender. I've never had pork melt in my mouth like that, and it was just the right amount of fatty and edible. LOL. My friend had the black, which was also super good. A bit lighter than mine in terms of umami flavour, but well rounded and not super oily. <br/><br/>Having gone to Japan over the summer, I've found myself leaning away from a lot of Japanese fare since I've been back because no where could compare. But this place has changed my mind about that. <br/><br/>PS. My friend and I loved the ramen so much that we got a third bowl (the red!) to share. We tried it with the thicker noodle (which is more common in Calgary) and it was still just as good, though I do prefer the thinner.

Different with the skinnier noodles. Got chicken kaarage to start and it was the best I've had!! So perfect on a chilly day, the soup was flavourful. Awesome meal :).

Another wonderful ramen place in the Northeast. This cute tiny restaurant is in Clay Oven's old space as Clay Oven moved a block away into a new building. Specifically, it is located deep in the Interpacific Business Park off of 32nd Avenue NE across from the Husky House truck stop diner. They renovated the place, and it looks modern, open, and bright. This place is also run by very kind and super friendly people.

I work next door to this amazing ramen shop. I've been eating here since the first day they opened. The broth is very flavorful and thick. The broth is made fresh everyday. Can't beat that. The owner is super friendly. It's a must try.

Highly recommend everyone who loves ramen to give this place a try. Its different than most because they use a different type of noodle but I definetely loveee the thin noodles they used. <br/><br/>You can smell the broth from where you're sitting; smells amazing. Broth had a almost similar taste to wonton soup broth but as soon as you mixed the paste in (I believe this varies depending on which you get, I got the Tonkotsu Red Ramen) it changes the flavour completely. <br/>They offer you either green onions or arugula. As well as lean char siu or fatty char siu. Service is great, the lady who waited us is super friendly. <br/><br/>I recommend getting the chicken kaarage as a starter. Different than most places and the sauce on it was awesome.