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Benkei Ramen
Category: Restaurants Japanese Japanese [Edit]
1741 Robson StVancouver, BC V6G 1C9
Neighbourhood: West End
(604) 688-6790
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11 am - 3:30 pm
Mon-Sun 5 pm - 10:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
69 reviews for Benkei Ramen
Review Highlights
"I always get the miso when I go to Benkei."
(in 24 reviews)
"Just get extra noodles if you are super hungry, or add..."
(in 6 reviews)
"...seating (far more comfortable and clean than Kintaro."
(in 29 reviews)
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69 reviews in English
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Review from Sam L.
1/18/2012
I'm not sure why it's taken me so long to write a review of Benkei since I've eaten there more than at any other ramen joint in the city. Does this mean I think it's the best ramen? No, but Benkei still has a special place in my heart. Benkei is one of the OG ramen shops and when there was only one location, all the best ramen shops (Kintaro, Motomachi and Benkei) existed within one block of one another.
In my opinion Kintaro gets a big old "meh" and Motomachi is good but not really traditional ramen, so I found myself at Benkei a lot. The winter of the year I discovered it I think I ate here at least three times a week. Slurping up a big bowl of their ramen (especially the spicy miso) surrounded by the wood beams in their cozy little shop with snow falling outside was life changing.
What I think Benkei fails in is consistency. It seems like every time I order something, it will somehow be different from the last time I ordered the same item.
Benkei is probably closer to three stars, but I just can't bring myself to do it. -
Review from Dru C.
1/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
One of my favorite spots downtown during a cold winter night and stop by a small Japanese shop for a bowl of delicious ramen.
I came here a long time ago when this establishment just opened, a month after Kintaro. I recently came here again to visit the nostalgia and the true essence of Japanese ramen in a bowl. I love this place as it is directly on Robson and it has special options for combos and additions into the ramen.
I love the decor here as they spent a lot of time on it. The wood stools, and the authenticity of a "side kart" like decor into a store is very modern in Japan, especially. The wood plated walls are amazing, and the old traditional patio they try to emulate the style of shinto/zen decor. The chef's kitchen is always open, like all Japanese bars, to create a sense of comfort and home to the restaurant.
I enjoy their shoyu ramen and the pork soup base is very flavorful. Yes, I did drink the whole bowl. It was too delicious not to. :3 and the cha siu had perfect cuts of getting some fatty parts in it too, but i took those out. Only negativity about this place is that when it gets busy, it will be packed and there will be long lines.
But for sure, this is one of my favourite spots in downtown I would head to for ramen. Yummy! :3 -
Review from Janice F.
Updated - 1/10/2012
Doh! They have a one year expiry on their loyalty card!
I tried their beef curry on rice yesterday, nice addition to the menu. A little spicy, thick creamy brown curry with nice chunks of beef brisket. The best thing about it is the rice - I'm not sure what kind of rice they use, but it's got a similar texture to sushi rice but not gluey at all. For $8, it's worth a try.
Also had the miso ramen, I think their cha shu has gone a bit downhill - or maybe it's just in comparison to Santouka's superior cha shu. Will be sticking to the shoyu broth.
Another menu item added that I didn't get a chance to try was their chicken clear broth soup (forgot the name of it) but I was sad to see they no longer offer the buttery creamy corn chicken ramen.
It's still nice to know that I can get a quick filling meal here.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/5/2008
I'm a regular here, their buy 9 get the 10th free stamp card lured me in .. That and the fact that I… Read more »
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Review from Kenneth E.
Vancouver, BC
2/2/2012
For a chain franchise, it's just average...been to both the Thurlow and Broadway, just find it's very tiny portions for the meat, and though it's not always about quantity, i don't find 3 or 4 thin & tiny slices of pork in my shio ramen making me come back for more.
I need 2 of these to make me satisfied... -
Review from Aron A.
Vancouver, BC
1/7/2012
3.6 stars? Ya? Ok. If some places like kintaro weren't sooo good this would be a 4 star. I just can't rate it that closely to ramen royalty.
I don't know. This is not great but it's good. They have takeout which is a bonus. Nice thick rich broth. I've eaten here a few times. I'll go back.
Quality product. -
Review from Russty N.
Vancouver, BC
12/18/2011
Vancouver has so many choices in Asian noodles, from Vietnamese Pho to Taiwanese beef nooodle soup. These comfort foods do a great job at warming you up on a cold wet day in rainy Vancouver. If its Japanese noodles you crave You have your choice of Ramen, Udon or Soba. Ramen seems to be the only one that has restaurants dedicated to it.
We usually go down to the Westend to have our Ramen. Our first choice would be Kintaro on Denman, but this place always has a lineup out the door. Fortunately there are two more Ramen places around the corner on Robson, Benkei and Santouka. You can usally get a table at Benkei.
Benkei has a good selection of differnt broths. We had the Miso and the Curry. If you add 50 cents you can sumo size your noodles. The miso broth is flavorful and not too salty. The pork chasue was not too fat, and our order of gyozas had a decent amount of filling. As for the Curry Ramen, the broth was smooth and tangy, but not overly spicy. Apparently they do not use MSG, yeah!!
The service is attentative and polite and the place has a nice warm feeling with all the wood on the walls. You are also not crammed in elbow to elbow like you would be at Kintaro. The restaurant also has a loyalty program where 10 Ramens will get you a free one. -
Review from Sean N.
Vancouver, BC
They have all the usual ramen you would come to expect as well as some house specials like curry Ramen. They offer vegetable shoyu as well made with chicken and seafood broth (if you have a seafood allergy don't come here,the menu says that all the stocks have a bit of seafood broth in them), they also don't use MSG in there Ramen which is a plus.
There is lots of seating at both locations at the Thurlow location they have a big winding bar, the wood walls give a great warmth to the small space to both places I've been, I'd say it be nice on a cold rainy night~the perfect night for a bowl of ramen.
Here are a selection of menu items I've had so far:
Pork Gyoza $3.75 for 5 large gyoza (Thurlow), Benkei offers 3 different types~pork, shrimp and vegetable, I went with the pork, the filing was flavorful and the wrapper was nice and tender, they were also a great size. Vegetable Gyoza $3.25 (Robson), not a winner with this one, the filling was completely mushy and not very flavorful so the pork ones are a definite winner over these but then again anything with pork in it is a winner!.
Miso Ramen $8.75 (Thurlow), I can't say anything bad about this, the broth was flavorful, my noodles were cooked perfectly and the pork was fatty enough without being like bacon and it melted nicely into my soup after letting it sit for 5 minutes or so.
Curry Ramen $7.95 (Robson), this was a first for me, the curry flavor wasn't too strong but the broth had a thickness to it which made the noodles quite slippery and you really don't want curry broth splashing around~I took a shot in the eye at one point, this Ramen also had chicken in it with baby carrots and some spinach and corn. It was an interesting experience but I think I'll stick to the broth type soup's.
At the end of the day Benkei is a nice alternative to hit up for a bowl of MSG free noodles and the gyoza is good, nice alternative to the other noodle houses around. -
Review from Eva G.
1/6/2012
We came for a quick carb-load before our bike ride at Stanley. Many ramen shops are clustered nearby, but few were open as early as this one was (11am). This is an late/old review; I'm not a huge stickler about ramen but what I do remember was that I enjoyed theirs.
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Review from Leon F.
Vancouver, BC
10/2/2011
Good ramen (but I'm not an expert). It hit the spot after a long bike ride on a cool day.
Nice interior and not crowded, no wait time on a Sunday.
Also, nice strong tea and fast service.
I recommend the 50 cents for 50% more noodles option. -
Review from mei s.
8/31/2011
when we got here it was not crowded at all. we ordered spicy ramen, miso ramen, achashu plate, curry ramen, chashu rice and gyoza. It was very friendly. When it started getting busier, there was this empress dowager type that kept walking over by our table to see how much longer we would be.
overall, the food was good. just don't linger!! -
Review from Jacqueline T.
Coquitlam, BC
8/9/2011
Ramen places are popping out all over. You gotta stay on your A Game to win in the noodle race.
I rate Benkei one of the lowest compared to other neighbouring ramen joints such as Kintaro or Santouka.
Soup is leaning towards the bland, and the noodles itself is too eggy/waxy.. Maybe its trying too hard since it feels pressured by the compitition :(
Place is cute, with modern japanese touches. Price is more reasonable than the others.. but sometimes you are willing to pay that extra dollar or three.. to have that OH SO SATISFYING YUMMY BOWL OF RAMEN!
When going to Benkei.. I now order the Beef Curry. Which suprisingly tastes even better the day after *if you have left overs*
Perk: You get a stamp card when going to Benkei! 10 gets you 1 free! -
Review from Edward L.
There's a reason why Benkei locations are popping up all over town. With the increase in locations there is a noticeable decrease of traffic at the Robson location, but as a customer this is not a bad thing at all.
They have a customer loyalty program. Buy 10 ramens within a year, get 1 free. Yay!
The pricing is decent, and their noodles are fresh and good.
But what does it for me? The soup. Not sure what kind of crack they put into it, but I've tried 4 of their 5 flavours and each one is freaking good. Add a few spoonfuls of fresh garlic (they give each table a jar) and you'll be dreaming of this stuff.
I like how you can customize your options, and at 50c an option, it's pretty reasonable. Examples include green onions, a hard-boiled egg, corn, or bamboo.
The gyoza is fresh and searing hot.
My only gripe is that the entranceway is way too small for 2-way traffic, but maybe they did it on purpose. I also like how they let you collect all your friend's "frequent diner" stickers. Some places are really anal, but this one wasn't.
The other ramen places within a stone's throw of this location (Kintaro, Machimaro, and Santouken) are also great, but I always find myself gravitating to this one for some reason. -
Review from Kim L.
Vancouver, BC
5/15/2011
Of all the ramen houses in Vancouver, this is my least favorite.
I've been here a number of times when friends want to eat here, but I find that the broth is not memorable, no matter which one I try. I also know I'm in trouble when I overlook the ramen choices and opt for a side dish...and even then the side dishes are not that good.
After combining stray loyalty cards from friends who have left town or are not going back (1 stamp for each bowl of ramen purchased with a complimentary bowl after 10 stamps), we now have one free ramen bowl. To date, we still have not used it. -
Review from Johnson C.
Vancouver, BC
3/17/2011 1 photo
[sigh] I seriously don't understand the appeal of ramen. Everytime I walk out of a ramen joint, I just feel like I got ripped off and I should have just went for pho or Chinese noodle soup instead - which is god tier compared to the second-class tier that ramen occupies in my rankings. I'm convinced part of the ramen appeal is the fact that it's Japanese - which still retains an air of sophistication whereas Vietnamese and Chinese cuisine is often seen as lower class. [shrug]
Anyways, I like Benkei more than Kintaro for the simple fact there's no ridiculous line-up or you're literally rubbing elbows with other diners like brutish savages. Benkei has some bench couches and hard wooden stools. I guess they are going for that Japanese-y decor, but come on. Maybe it's just chivalry and gender roles, but if a gentleman and a lady come here to dine -- guess who's ass is going to wind up on the uncomfortable stool? In the words of Charles Montgomery Burns, "Oh, yes, sitting---the great leveler. From the mighiest pharoh to the lowliest peasant, who doesn't enjoy a good sit?"
Maybe it's the fact I have a insufficiently padded, pancake-like Hank Hill ass (despite my girth) - but I demand better seating! Come on, Benkei - get some decent chairs... or at least make all the chairs equally uncomfortable in the interest of gender equality. As much I would like to, it would be unacceptable for me to get some Nicki Minaj style butt implants.
They told me they ran out of their special curry beef rice. I grudingly ordered the curry ramen for ~$8 as a consolation prize.I guess it's a plus if you want to customize to your liking - but these extras always feel like a cash grab. Service is very Japanese and they will tend to you hand and foot.
The pork gyoza had a good level of char to it. I wasn't so impressed with the curry ramen - the broth was passable but seemed to lack flavour. I like GMen's curry ramen more and I really can't tell the difference between Benkei and Kintaro.
Take it from me -- the guy that knows dick-all about ramen! (thumbs up) -
Review from Alice L.
7/24/2011
I can only compare this place to the santouka ramen shop just across the street because I always compare places to the best I've had. And honestly santouka has a long line for a reason and I would stand in that line instead of coming here. Not that I hated this place or anything like that, but santouka is just way better by a long shot.
The soup wasn't rich enough, but the pork was good, and the noodles were the yellow eggy kind that I do like. I just wished this place was better because those lines at santouka always look really long. The place was clean which is good and they offer you garlic and hot pepper by request which is nice to top your ramen with. I had the shio tonkatsu and it filled me up, but a part of me still wished it was better than it was while I ate it. The broth just lacked richness and porkiness.
Well I probably wont be coming here again, it was a good effort Benkei, but you just don't satisfy my picky ramen standards! sorry! -
Review from Anthony F.
Vancouver, BC
1/5/2011
Background: The ramen revolution hit Vancouver around 5 years ago with the rising popularity of a couple places on Denman. Now everybody and their mother wants a piece of the handmade ramen market... whose cuisine shall reign supreme?
Food: The thing I like about this place is that they always change things up... they're not one-trick ponies. Try the ramen in the butter + milk sauce. Or try their Japanese-style curry ramen. Dayum. The usual shio, miso, and veggie ramen are just so-so... as for the actual noodles, to be honest they lack the firm core bite of an al dente noodle. I'm still partial to the Kintaro texture. The pork is meh. And for goodness sake DON'T order the fried rice! It's a horrible waste of rice. Shrimp and pork gyoza could be slightly crispier but otherwise are spot on.
Ambiance: Lovely and uncramped quarters compared to its brethren.
Service: Usual attentive Japanese servers.
Pricepoint: $10 after tax for a o
Overall: I like this place because of its variety of soup bases and attractive ambiance. However if you only care about the noodles, I can think of a couple places that do it better. -
Review from Joshua G.
4/24/2011
Excellent ramen
Plus some excellent service.
Order the Shio. -
Review from Megan M.
Vancouver, BC
4/18/2011
I've filled so many stamp cards at this place that the boyfriend and I have vowed not to come back for awhile. When you live around the corner, and Kintaro and Santouka always have lines, it's so easy to fall back on the "usual".
That's not to say the usual is bad. The usual is good. Thick, chewy ramen with a nice assortment of basic broths (I usually order the miso or akaoni, which is spicy). To be honest, I feel like ramen is ramen-it's something I crave when I want a quick, warm, cheap, carb-filled dinner. It's simple and there isn't much you can do to screw it up as long as you do the basics right (which they do).
The thing I really like about Benkei is that they allow you to substitute the chashu pork for chicken breast slices. I know this isn't very traditional, but to be honest, I'm not a big fan of chashu. I like my meat very lean with little to no fat. The chashu at Benkei is pretty good, but there's still some fat on it, so I really appreciate being able to have chicken breast instead. I don't know any other ramen places that offer this.
The curry ramen is delicious, but it's a very rich and heavy meal compared to usual ramen-I often feel a very strong urge to curl up for a nap afterwards. I expected broth with some curry flavourings, instead I had a bowl full of the thick, rich brown Japanese curry you would normally find on rice. Unexpected, but nonetheless delicious. -
Review from Jasmine T.
Burnaby, BC
3/28/2011 4 Check-ins Here
I crave ramen. Any ramen. I relish the Saturday mornings that I am home alone and came make ichiban with a lightly poached egg. Ahhh...
So D and I came here and made our male companion sit on the hard stool... had I known, I would have switched with him... and then we made him sit there for so much longer whilst laughing and talking... so sorry. Whoops. Besides one table, on a Tuesday, this place was almost empty. I have never seen this place so empty... but then again, I don't stare into the windows every time I walk/drive by.
I am swayed by advertising. I ordered the Peko because of the two big posters I saw and I added an egg. For $.50 I added half a hard-boiled egg. I stabbed around and used my ladel spoon. Nope, just half an egg. It was salty, creamy, yummy... I ate all the noodles. I wish I had added more noodles. Normally I want to add more meat, but I guess I am okay with just the two slices of pork.
We shared to gyoza. I thought they were okay. I liked that they were more meaty than cabbage-y. I love their garlic and spicy bean sauce. Ahhh, but if you add too much spicy bean, it gets a little too salty.
Everyone is so nice here... -
Review from Jespeter L.
Vancouver, BC
12/8/2010
Today was rainy, what can you ask from Vancouver. So I was craving ramen, but not a huge bowl from Kintaro. So I walk around the corner to see Benkei and decided to sit in for a pork Gyoza and a light Shio with 1/2 egg and nori.
I love the decor and the perfect size of serving. Thank you!
Perhaps it's the international taste that's pushing it away from comparing to the neighborhood ramen-king. But I do find this place a better choice without the gut kick of wasting food, blame to my small stomach.
The gyza was a little bland on taste.. at least with HALF THE SODIUM! But the skin of it that was thin and crunchy, filled with what was a surprisingly juicy filling inside like a Shanghai steamed dumplings- a great choice in a side dish.
So overall it was a pleasant experience. Cheers! -
Review from Allen W.
Vancouver, BC
4/2/2011
Lackluster. The two stars are for the friendly, efficient staff. I considered giving 3 stars but I just can't justify it.
I was disappointed by the regular shio broth ... very weak, no richness, just kinda blah. It was topped with bamboo, bean sprouts, and two of the thinnest little pieces of pork you ever did see (like 3 inches wide and super thin). I also added an egg and spinach ... it reality, it's half an egg and a little plop of spinach.
Noodles were ok but not too bountiful either. For $9, I don't think it was worth the money. You'll see that they try to get you to add toppings (and noodles) with upgraded charges. Seriously, just serve me a good bowl of ramen on the first go and don't force me to pay for more noodles, meat, and other toppings in order to make it a decent bowl of ramen.
Overall, it just didn't measure up to all of the other wonderful ramen places in Vancouver. -
Review from Kristina C.
Vancouver, BC
3/19/2011
I've been to several different Benkei Ramen locations, and at each one I've had a really enjoyable experience. The servers are super friendly and prompt, the decor is homey and rustic, and the ramen is delicious.
I typically order the miso ramen or the spicy miso ramen as I find the shoyu broth too salty for me. The noodles are fresh and chewy and the char siu is very tender. The gyozas are also delicious: be careful of the broth inside as I've almost sprayed my dining partner in the face when I bit into one.
True, the seating isn't the most comfortable, but people don't generally spend hours eating ramen, so for the hour (or less) that I'm sitting doesn't bother me too much. -
Review from Tee D.
9/8/2010 1 photo
What do I know about ramen? Not much.
I grew up eating packaged, instant ramen. Blame my mom. Once I got to college, I was out of control. I was really into this creamy chicken flavored ramen, which probably bears zero similarity to Japanese style ramen.
What I do know is this: I liked Benkei's ramen. I ordered the shoyu because it looked the tastiest, and hey, it was super tasty. The broth was light and flavorful, and the pieces of pork in the soup were tender and wonderful.
Overall, I'd have to say my first Japanese ramen experience was a success! -
Review from Marti L.
6/30/2010 4 photos
Before I begin I just want to say: I didn't know about Kintaro until after my trip. So if you know what I'm talking about, please don't get on my case. And if you don't, please just ignore this spheel. =D
Benkei is ramen chain located in Vancouver. This Robson location is clean and modern. And the servers are extremely friendly.
Akaoni Ramen (http://www.yelp.ca/biz...): Minced pork in spicy miso broth. Reminded me of Ramen Dojo except this Akaoni was way spicy! In a good way of course. Even with my eyes tearing, nose dripping, I couldn't stop eating until I was done. So yum!
Shoyu (http://www.yelp.ca/biz...): The traditional ramen with soy sauce broth. I usually stay away from this broth due to previous bad experiences. But the one here was spot on. Just the right amount of saltiness to add flavor but not overwhelm the noodles.
Peko Ramen (http://www.yelp.ca/biz...): An inventive bowl of ramen with its broth made with coconut milk. The broth is light compared to the other ones but still flavorful. And instead of pork, chicken is served. The chicken was cooked in an interesting way so the resulting texture is very similar to pork slices. It had a tenderness that just melts.
Maybe it was a good thing I didn't know about Kintaro (the supposedly best ramen place around). Benkei is already better than many places I've tried in the Bay Area. It'll only be torturous if I had even better ramen and be so far from it!Listed in: Ramen Adventures!
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Review from Alison T.
Burnaby, BC
11/27/2010
I always get the miso when I go to Benkei. I don't know why I just like it better than Kintaro (and others may disagree, whatever I don't care), I liked Benkai.
The decor is very nice, it's clean and unique and there's this one painting thing that I always just want to take home with me. I've tasted all the flavours on the menu and I still like miso the best.
However I wish they didn't charge for everything extra considering they don't have much in the bowls. (I like bamboo shoots, egg, AND corn! That's like $1.50 on top of my ramen). I know, I sound cheap but hey I'm a starving student.
I've had the riceballs with cha shu which I did not really like (I found them bland and pretty tasteless) and in the summer time they offer this cold soy dessert pudding, which I really liked.
All in all, I really enjoy the ramen here and I need to go back for a fix.Listed in: OMNOMNOM!
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Review from sandy y.
USA4/20/2010
x_X
I guess you pay for what u get for.....
It's not the best place to have ramen. It was way too salty or didn't have a heartful flavor... so sadd to see my firmy noodles lay there in stress because I hardly ate it.
I don't care how busy this place looks, their ramen sucked a DONKEY's ASS.
If you're willing to be cheap, here is the place to be. :) -
Review from Doris L.
Vancouver, BC
Updated - 2/8/2011
Yesterday I went for Ramen. I had the miso and I swear to God, they shrunk it WAY down since the last time I came here (it's not that long ago). It seems like they only gave me 2/3 of the stuff they used to and barely any meat at all this time.
Maybe it's a monday thing or maybe it's their way of making more money by cutting back on what they give you. But they really should have at least tried to make this look like I was getting more by putting in extra sprouts like Pho places, oh wait. They did.
Anyway, I'm not sure what happened. Normally they are pretty standard. Maybe it's a one off but it's definitely giving me an excuse to eat at other Ramen places.
Oh, and absolutely no service this time. We asked twice before we got our tea. Highly disappointing, and could explain why it was so empty last night.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/21/2011
Today I went in for Ramen and had their Shoyu. It's pretty cheap. Just about $7 before taxes etc.
The… Read more »
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Review from badassrealtor W.
Vancouver, BC
1/14/2011
Benkei has yummy noodles and yummy soup.
I never really understood what was the big deal w/ all these ramen noodle joints until I started eating at Benkei.
Their noodles are OK, what I really like is their broth. It tastes like homemade or as close as you can get to homemade. Even though I shouldn't (I have carb addiction) I usually add extra noodles for $1 more.
Kintaro around the corner I find just too salty. Benkei on Robson has been very consistent.( I have been to their East 5th location but found their broth salty.)
Robson is having their 3rd Anniversary special, I believe they are offering 2 free topping or an upgrade to sumo size. -
Review from Angie L.
Burnaby, BC
11/2/2011
I've only been to this location twice, enjoys going to the Thurlow location as it's closer to work. Everything is clean and staff is nice. I LOVE their curry ramen, so much, that I would come out to downtown just for that and go back home myself. Umm...the curry flavor was sweet, has that Japanese curry fusion taste, the noodle, the chicken, the vegetables with the soup base, oh my, I'm craving for it now...
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Review from Vincci L.
4/3/2010 4 photos
Came here on a late Wednesday night after finding out that Motomachi is closed on Wednesdays.
There was a bit of a wait, a line up, in fact. When I looked in, there were actually quite a bit of empty tables, so why weren't they seating anyone? When it got to our turn, we saw an empty table right in front of us, but we weren't seated. Instead, we were kept waiting for another 5 minutes before the girl came back and then sat us down at that empty table.
We were given water right away, and then told that my favourite ramen here-the Shiro ramen is sold out. Its a creamy tonkotsu with pan-fried chicken, spinach, butter, herbs, corn, garlic and milk. Think a light creamy soup like cream of corn.I opted for the Miso Ramen instead-which was a combo of a chicken broth and tonkotsu soup base. Also got an order of shrimp gyozas.
Gyozas were a little burnt, and the skin was a bit dry. Probably not the best gyozas I've had. The ramen came soon after. This came with bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, green onion and cha siu.
Soup was not too heavy, not too salty. It was alright. Noodles were nice and chewy. Two pieces of the cha siu wasn't too fatty. Wish I had added more of the 'extra' stuff-eggs, spinach, corn...
Overall, I like the atmosphere of this place-authentic looking, with hints of bamboo accents. Service is good-they kept on refilling my water, and made sure that everything was ok. A good late night dinner indeed!Listed in: Noodle-ing., Ra Ra Ramen...
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Review from Marimo A.
1/10/2010
Benkei can easily take over Samurai Noodle in Seattle.
As a ramen lover from Japan and a visitor from US, I was very excited to try this place. There was a long line - I went there on Jan 1. The staff told everyone that spicy miso is out (I assume it's popular) while waiting.
It took about 20 minutes to get a table. But after that, it was pretty quick. I ordered miso with boiled egg, rice ball with cha shu and gyoza (dumpling).
They brought rice ball with cha shu first. Nicely flavored, not too salty, with good amount of cha shu. It fell apart a little but that's OK.
Ramen...sure I wish there were more free ingredients (at least where I'm from in Japan they usually offer generous variety and portion of them like bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, corn, nori, etc.), but soup was great, egg was soft and cha shu was juicy. I like fatty cha shu better than dry lean one, so theirs was just great. Don't get me wrong - it was the right amount of fat, not nothing but fat.
Gyoza wasn't bad either but didn't really stand out compared to others.
Prompt service. They yell a lot but oh well. I'm used to that...pretty common in Japan.
I wish I could move all good Japanese restaurants in Vancouver to Tacoma...or at least Seattle... -
Review from kath r.
Updated - 8/24/2010
Consistency is the sign of a good restaurant.
It's been more than a year since I last reviewed this location and since then I've veered off the path and tried out the new Benkei on Thurlow. This one is still my fave as it's a lot more serene and peaceful than the Thurlow location.
On my most recent visit I indulged in a bowl of Shio ramen - rich tasting but actually quite light. And so very very tasty.
Motomachi Shokudo is still my number one fave place in town for a steaming hot bowl of ramen goodness but this Benkei is where you'll find me on Wednesdays :)1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/10/2009
Friendly. Fast. Tasty. Cheap
On a cold, damp and rainy day nothing warms me quite like a bowl of… Read more »
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Review from pauline c.
4/1/2009 1 photo
Meh, is all I can say.
Great service, you get your order fast, and it fills the stomach. It's not some of the best tasting soup, but after I bombarded it with garlic and chili paste, it was delicious enough to satisfy. -
Review from Cody S.
2/17/2011
We have been here a number of times when either of us is in the mood for a big bowl of noodles. Every time we have been here the experience has been great. It's not that the ramen is all that great. I know of a couple better places in Vancouver. I just like the cramped space and number of people in here. It just seems right to me.
Listed in: Japanese Food, My Two Cents…
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Review from samuel a.
Vancouver, BC
10/6/2009
I'm conflicted. It's nice inside. Nicer than Kintaro to be sure, and I want to say the ramen is as good - but it's not.
I've heard others say that they prefer Benkei (I keep on wanting to say Bengay) over Kintaro and I suppose it's a matter of preference.
I got the shio ramen with all the toppings - which included nori, bean sprouts, spinach, chashu, egg, green onions, kimchi, corn ... and let me say that spinach does NOT belong on any sort of ramen. But can I call myself a name and say that I am a complete kimchi whore on ramen? To many it doesn't belong, but I just love kimchi on ramen for whatever reason. And corn and egg have become staples in any ramen that I have too.
The soup was OK. Better than the bland soup at Menya - not as rich and flavorful as the base at Kintaro (I also go for medium soup there). The noodles were OK too. It was all pretty non-descript.
Where I prefer Kintaro is the soup (more taste) and the chashu (which is more meaty and fatty - yes I go for the fatty there - it is great).
In Vancouver Kintaro is still the King of Ramen. Benkei is a step down but is better than Menya. But man do I miss ramen in Tokyo. Being able to go to different ramen places and getting totally different types of unique bowls of ramen. Here ramen has gotten into a rut. Everyone is essentially trying the same type of thing riding off the originality of Kintaro. -
Review from Dave B.
Vancouver, BC
1/30/2009
I guess my food karma was on this cold night as I wandered down Robson Street looking for something yummi to warm my belly. I stumbled across Benke Ramen and ducked inside to the smells of bliss.
The place has a bit of a rocker vibe, could have been due to the punky style music playing and my waitress wearing a scarf on her head. Felt a bit like it was Hendrix inspired fashion, but it worked. I ordered up the miso Ramen with extra noodles. You can add many different extras as your food cravings see fit. The bowl arrived promptly and it was just what the doctor ordered. The noodles were done just right and the slices of pork were delicious adding a bit of a smokey flavor. I could only eat about half the bowl of Ramen so the portions are plenty.
I really liked this place and the price is right. Looking forward to trying my next bowl of Ramen at Benke Ramen Restaurant. -
Review from tee a.
6/27/2010
One of my favorite noodle places on Robson.
Hot, delicious and just down the street from Kintaro. This is the place to go to when you want "ambiance" while eating ramen. The seats are comfortable, good for larger groups (4-6), air conditioning and you don't stink after eating there. :) The broth is flavorful, the meat is tender and the noodles are cooked perfectly. For about $10, I will chose this big bowl of noodles over a burger and fries any day!
You can add a variety of toppings to your noodles for about $1.50 or so. I usually add the corn. Yum~
PS: if you have room, also try the cha-sew rice balls and the gyoza. equally as delicious! -
Review from J C.
Vancouver, BC
2/16/2009
Before Benkei, I never really enjoyed Japanese ramen, esp. the overwhelming flavor of the porky broth. But, Benkei has made me a true convert. In fact, I loved the ramen so much that I went twice in one week.
The first time, I had the spicy miso. It was delicious and flavorful but the ground pork and fried green onions made it a little on the greasy side. The second time I had the miso with double noodle, which was absolutely divine. (although I don't recommend the double noodle unless you are really hungry and eat a lot...) And if you like it spicy, you can ask for their hot chili sauce and garlic on the side. -
Review from Raymond O.
Vancouver, BC
7/9/2009
Another go to spot for hearty bowls of ramen. Cozy and comfortable seating, wooden tables, interesting bamboo decor, ample lighting, it had unpretentious yet sleek modern Japanese feel to it. Expect the long lines still, though once seated, service is a flash.
Their ramen has potential to be great as it had that good bite, bounce and elasticity that I often look for in ramen noodles. However, the broth could be richer, cloudier, and tastier for my liking. The shoyu base was pretty straightforward, however flavour was not complex and full-bodied as I wanted it to be. The pork chasu albeit tiny was tasty and tender, a bit on the leaner side. Crisp and fresh quality ingredient toppings like corn, green onion, nori, and bamboo shoots will set you back to about $.50/each.
Stamp cards and credit cards, this is a welcome plus. It still doesn't beat Kintaro, the reigning king of Ramen, but still a decent spot for a soothing warm ramen fix. After all, it left me all feeling nice and sedated. -
Review from Sarah O.
8/10/2009 3 photos
Hmmm.
Had the shoyu ramen and the shio ramen. The shoyu ramen broth didn't have a deep flavour and just tasted like they dumped soy sauce in there and said, voila! I couldn't finish my bowl because the soup was too salty. And the bamboo shoots were very soggy and not crispy like they should be. I ended up adding lots of garlic and chili sauce to give more depth to the flavor profile but nothing seemed to work. Very frustrated. Then the Shio ramen with all the toppings, which means there is a chunk of butter that in included. The butter overpowered the whole dish. Grr. And seriously, isn't japanese ramen suppose to be chewy? The noodles here were like chow mein egg noodles. I was very disappointed! But the gyoza was good, I won't knock on that.
Service was friendly but not great. We were famished and our waiter forgot to put our order in. I had to complain to him after we saw 3 other tables who came after us get their food served.
I love ramen but won't be returning here. For that price, I can get a delicious bowl of Pho somewhere else.
