Wasabi Ramen And Izakaya - Kelowna

It's worth noting that their chicken and pork chashu are not prepared in the traditional manner. They don't use pork belly for the chashu, which differs from the type you would typically find in ramen spots in larger cities or Japan. Here, the chicken is simply seasoned chicken breast, and the chashu is made from pork shoulder. The traditional method involves rolling and seasoning pork belly, which is not the case here. The noodles are enjoyable but not exceptional, and you can tell they are freshly made in-house. The broth is decent, but overall, I find this to be the only ramen place in Kelowna (as of 2023). The restaurant is operated by Japanese staff, which adds to its authenticity. Here’s my rating: Chicken Karaage Ramen: 3.5 stars, Ebi Wonton Ramen: 1.5 stars, Death by Chicken Karaage: 4 stars. I’m giving this place 4 stars primarily due to its location in Kelowna; if it were in a larger city like Vancouver, I would rate it only 2 stars. I also noticed some inconsistency in food quality; my second visit wasn’t as good as the first. Service was satisfactory, and parking is free after 6 PM.

To start, we ordered Chicken Karaage and Gyoza. The karaage was fantastic—even my wife, who typically doesn’t enjoy fried food, loved it. They also offer a spicy version that I’m eager to try next time. On the other hand, the Gyoza was somewhat disappointing. For our ramen, we chose two Original bowls and one Tan Tan Men. The Tan Tan Men was excellent; the broth was flavorful with just the right amount of spiciness to give it a nice kick without being overwhelming. Unfortunately, the Original ramen didn’t impress us as much—the broth lacked flavor, and the straight, thin noodles aren’t our favorite. We also ordered an extra side of noodles, which was a generous portion. Overall, the service was good, and the restrooms were clean. However, considering this place is touted as one of the top ramen spots in Kelowna, we left feeling somewhat underwhelmed.

The ramen here is incredibly delicious and authentic. I highly recommend the Tonkotsu Pork ramen. The service was prompt and friendly. When I'm back in Kelowna, I'll definitely be coming back!

Absolutely adore this ramen place! I typically opt for vegan/vegetarian broths, and honestly... I was blown away by both of their options. Their vegetarian broth is so yummy, and so full of flavour, I absolutely could not get enough. Their vegan ramen has marinated tofu chunks, and they're so delicious they complement the broth and the noodles very well. I did try some of their non veg ramen, and they were also just as good. So far I have tried the following ramen: Beef chili lime ramen you wouldn't really think it, but tomato went really well with this bowl of ramen. I don't know what it was, but it added a spritz of acidity and freshness and I really appreciated that. Tantan men Personally, I don't eat pork, but I really wanted to try this bowl of ramen. When I dropped by Wasabi for the very first time, this was the ramen I tried, and I remember asking the waitress if I could modify it and I remember her saying that she was more than happy to. Unfortunately, I can't remember what the sub was, but I do remember that I was very much satisfied. Vegetarian ramen creamy, hearty, yummy! It was not bland at ALL! I am so utterly impressed with this place, because even ramen eateries in Downtown Vancouver seem to not be able to grasp how to make delicious and flavourful veggie ramen! 10/10 Vegan ramen this is my usual order tbh, because it comes with marinated tofu bits, and they are to die for. It's such a simple little thing, but to me it completely elevates the dish and makes it that much more yummy. Ebi wonton OKAY so this one... also amazing! I wish it had more dumplings, but that's just because I am a unfillable void, I guess. Spicy Yuzu great for cold, wintry days. This is my go to during cold Kelowna winters, and during Term 1 final weeks because I can feel my immune system slowly tanking and I must clear my sinuses ASAP. Overall, I adore this place (if you couldn't tell already). I'm seeing a lot of people complain about the service here, but I have never had a problem. The servers are always so kind and accommodating, I don't see that being an issue at all. I do see, however, a lot of entitled rich families come to this place, thinking they can order people around and expect everyone to say yes to their every whim sorry but that's not how it works! Just treat people how you want to be treated, and be considerate! This place gets busy, and the servers are working hard.

Amazing ramen! Went in on a rainy day to warm up with some ramen and a good book. Great people and authentic really hearty and wholesome ramen! Best in town!