I came here for dinner after a long day of hiking on a Sunday and just wanted a comforting meal. The place is a bit small but the wait wasn't long. We ordered the miso ramen, the katsudon, and the katsu curry. The portions were large and everything tasted great. The katsu curry was probably the best dish since it actually had a spicy kick and not sweet like other Japanese curries I've had in the past. The staff were very friendly and helpful. It was pretty authentic and I wanted to come back but it was closed for the next 2 days (Monday and Tuesday) so you should check their hours on the door just in case. read more

Chaya - miso ramen - Ramen Near Me - Banff, Alberta

Was craving some Japanese food while in Banff and this place was close to our hotel. Other reviews touted the fast service and it's true! We wanted something fast to take back to our room and they had my phoned in order ready in 10 minutes. Got the katsu curry, chicken teriyaki bowl, and edamame. The katsu curry was very flavorful and the pork was not fatty. The chicken teriyaki was tender and not drowned in their mildly sweet teriyaki sauce. The edamame was cooked to order and still warm when we opened it in our room. This place is staffed by real Japanese folks so you know the food is legit..... and very affordable! read more

Chaya is a great option for ramen, soba, or udon in Banff! Everything is relatively affordable for the area - around $14-18CAD with normal sized portions. I got the curry udon and it came out piping hot, udon noodles were cooked well, and filling for a dinner. The restaurant itself is fairly small - with 15 seats or so. We were there for an early weekday dinner and there was no wait. The food came out pretty quickly. The place is also popular for takeout. Definitely a good / affordable place for being right in the middle of Banff. It really hit the spot on a cold rainy day. read more

Chaya - Curry udon - Ramen Near Me - Banff, Alberta

The restaurant was small had about 5-6 tables. They had a big reservation coming and nicely seated us and informed us- we assured her we would be out in time. We ordered the tonkatsu ramen and the shoyu ramen and gyoza. The gyoza I would pass. The ramens were not bad. We were expecting more flavor but as we kept eating the milder flavors were actually quite good after a colder day of walking and hiking. The staff were very nice and come by often to make sure everything was okay. read more

3.5 stars Chaya is a small ramen/rice bowl restaurant located in the heart of the Town of Banff. We got here at around 3pm and we were seated right away. I think the max capacity is around 20 people. A friend of ours was in Banff about a month ago and recommended the place. The ramen is made with Japanese egg noodles in pork broth soup. You have a choice of shoyu, miso, tan tan, wonton, bbq pork and vegan. We all got the miso, which only came with one slice of pork, corn, sprouts and seaweed for $16-18 CAN. $7 CAN for an extra slice of pork seems steep. The broth was good, not mind blowing. I was hoping for more toppings because I'm spoiled and used to the extra toppings in US like an egg, more meat and veggies. They also have curry and rice bowl. We also got the Gyoza to share, which was tasty with crispy edges. The Salmon Rice Ball was not what I expect with way too much rice and very little salmon. It would taste better with less rice and some seasoning. The matcha cheesecake was delicious. Friendly service. read more

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Ramen and small plates with no frills. Fast quick service. I usually come here for a quick tasty bowl of ramen. It's just as fast as mcdonalds. It's tasty and quick. The broth is rich and tasty. Most items are $15 to $18 though. So it's not the cheapest option. There's not too much toppings for that price but I did however like the prices for small plates as they were very reasonable and all less than $6 each. It's a nice stop on banff with no lines and you don't need a reservation. Place is small with just 5 tables though in prime location close to mcdonalds on banff Ave. I would skip the cheesecakes though they were tiny slices and were not flavourful at all. And frankly tasted old and stale. Takeout is packaged well though. read more

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I was recommended this location as the second best ramen place in town. No line up and went in. The broth was great. I had ordered the tan tan. But there was nothing special about the ramen. The ramen lacked noodles and protein- I just didn't find they put enough of the stuff that would make you fill up in there. Service was fast, price point well- it's Banff price point. For $20, I think I can fill up better at a pub. That's my two cents. read more

We got the tonkotsu ramen, katsu curry, gyoza, and salad. The ramen was a bit disappointing; the broth lacked umami and the toppings were scarce. However, the katsu curry was very good, a crisp golden brown with delicious curry sauce, and the gyoza was tasty as well. read more

Fantastic hole in the wall spot with great ramen. Slurped it all down! If it's cold or rainy don't pass this spot up. read more

Chaya - Ramen Near Me - Banff, Alberta

Small, cute, clean place. Very friendly staff. The wonton soup didn't have much flavour to it. The noodles looked and tasted a bit better than a dollar pack noodles. read more

Don't underestimate this little restaurant, the food is delicious, the portions are huge and everyone is awesome! We ate good and took enough leftovers for another meal. We had the katsu curry and gyoza. read more

The ramen was delicious! On a cold night it was just what we needed. The portions were generous without being wasteful. The service was very friendly and welcoming. Would highly recommend! read more

Chaya - Miso ramen with pork. Had started eating before taking the so it was more lovely before I stirred it up. - Ramen Near Me - Banff, Alberta

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Unassuming place next to McDonald's. You wouldn't notice it unless you look for it. This place serves authentic Japanese udon, ramen and curry. Best Asian food we've had in Banff. read more

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Same owner for years now. Food is good- great Service decent- good Ambiance- good We come here every time we in Banff. For sure Tan Tan Ramen was $10.95 , it's $16.00 now. Recommended. read more

Chaya - Ramen Near Me - Banff, Alberta

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Great spot!! Stopped in here after hiking in Banff and wanted quick, delicious food - and that's what we got! Great prices, good portions and very quick service! Worth the visit, they have a lot of great options! read more

Quaint Japanese restaurant in downtown Banff with lots of Japanese food options! They have different types of ramen & broth, along with katsu rice bowls and appetizers. Since they are super small, there are only 4 tables in the restaurant. Lots of to-go orders during our dine in. Service is quite quick as well. My family had their dandan noodle, it didn't taste quite like what I was expecting it to be like other places I've had (less peanutty). The Katsu Don that I had was actually quite good and filling! read more

Chaya - Katsu Don- very filling! - Ramen Near Me - Banff, Alberta

very cozy. very traditional ramen, udon,soba or curry if you enjoy a focused menu youll love this small 8 table restaurant tucked away on the main drag in Banff! read more

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The food quality is good and delicious. As an Indonesian, I definitely like the taste and the texture of the ramen and udon. I had a Curry Udon. I give it a go for a suggestion to people visiting Banff and the price is reasonable ranging from CAD$ 5 up to 18. read more

Chaya - Japanese Ramens - Ramen Near Me - Banff, Alberta

Settled on this place wanting something lighter. The patio outside is nice and the servers are friendly. The wonton soup was a decent portion (4pc) and pretty standard. The tantan noodles were spicy! I ordered a tea expecting a single cup but was surprised they gave us a whole pot and tea cups to share. Overall not bad for the price. read more

Chaya - Wonton soup (front), tantan noodles - Ramen Near Me - Banff, Alberta

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First time in Banff. But definitely not first time to eat Japanese Ramen. The noodle is good and firm to my taste. With $1.50 you can get extra noodle. Good deal. $5 for extra BBQ Pork. Price is overall reasonable for a tourist spot. Unlike Niagara Falls, everything is jacked to the max. But the soup is too salty. It's close to original taste of Japanese ramen. If someone prefer light taste, I'd recommend tantan noodle instead of miso. They don't have many toppings to select like in Montreal. read more

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This is a good entry in one of my favorite odd restaurant genres, "more authentic than tasty." The food wasn't exceptional or standout, but it was super solid. I had kitsune udon, and the noodles were cooked perfectly and the broth was flavorful. Perhaps the noodles weren't super fresh, and the tofu was oddly sweet, but it hit the spot. It's reasonably priced for Banff Ave, and it's basically home cooking in a tiny shack. read more

Amazing ramen! Exactly what you need to warm up your soul!!! A hole in the wall place will not dissapoint read more

Chaya - Tan tan ramen - Ramen Near Me - Banff, Alberta

Good quick service and pretty good food that is well priced for being on Banff Ave. They are super sweet service and right next to McDonald's. read more

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Walked by this restaurant and it smelled so good that we decided to grab a quick bite here. Small indoor restaurant but also had outdoor seating. The warm ramen was perfect for a chilly evening. The spice level and savory broth did not disappoint. read more

Chaya - Ramen Near Me - Banff, Alberta

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I was craving Asian food and found this spot as we were walking around Downtown Banff. I liked that there is a huge variety of Japanese meals with choices of ramen, udon, rice bowls, curry and more. This place is a bit of a hole in the wall with less than 20 seats. It's a quick meal type of place as you order with the cashier at the counter first before they bring your meal out to your table. Everything was quick and efficient, which was great too! The two of us shared the Tantan Ramen ($14 CAD) and Katsu Curry ($15 CAD). The ramen was pretty basic with only a spoonful of ground pork and toppings, although the broth was pretty good. If you're craving ramen in Banff, go to Ramen Arashi instead. But if you like variety, then Chaya is a great and cheap choice. The curry was yummy and satisfied my cravings. It also came with a small, simple salad, which was refreshing. Overall, great choice for a quick, cheap, and satisfying meal. read more

Chaya - Tantan Ramen. - Ramen Near Me - Banff, Alberta

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This is a review for visitation for a dinner in Feb 2022. This place is a small restaurant but offering variety of warm home cooking Japanese meals. They practice social distance and places plastic walls between each tables. As said this being a small restaurant, they have 3 tables for 4 ppl (maybe 6) and 1 table for 2 ppl. Serving size is quite enough and normal for the price. We even had left over to take with us. Apparently, they have two super nice workers running this place and doing the best so if you are in hurry and can't wait for the table, you might want to call ahead for a take out. Now, this is for customers. When it's packed and people are waiting to be seated, specially for busy dinner time, don't stay and keep chatting. Be considerate to others and leave when you are done eating. There are coffee shots to keep chatting, if you haven't noticed. read more

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During our visit to Banff, we stopped to eat lunch at Chaya. We were happy they were a dog friendly restaurant as we had our pup with us on the restaurant patio. Chaya has a selection of noodle and rice dishes. Our order was prepared quickly and the portion sizes are great. I ordered the kitsune udon with kakiage. The flavours were satisfying and the noodles cooked perfectly! read more

Chaya - Kitsune udon with kakiage - Ramen Near Me - Banff, Alberta

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Delicious poke bowl and friendly service! Ramen was also very good. Highly recommend!

Lovely place to eat! Came in from the cold and this place was FULL, which is always a good sign. Limited seating though, and we were told we'd be seated within 10 minutes (which was true!). Once you're given a table, you go up to the cashier to order and pay for the food in advance. Tantan ramen w Add-on Pork Slices -- my boyfriend got this and he really liked the broth! I'm not a big fan of ramen but even I enjoyed the taste and consistency of the broth; slightly spicy, but with a good depth of flavor. The additional pork slices are the way to go, since the tantan ramen originally comes with only ground pork. However, it made the dish slightly more expensive, so that's up to you! We enjoyed having a bit more meat to much on with the broth. Kakiage udon w Add-on Beef -- very surprised at how big the portion was! Broth wasn't the most flavorful but honestly that's probably what made it so easy to eat; I didn't start feeling sodium fatigue til the last bites. The fried portion was GINORMOUS, and with the beef add-on I was super stuffed. Flavors went really well together, and the mix of textures was great to have! I could sip some soup, eat some of the crunchy fried bits, or opt for the soup-softened ones to eat with the beef or noodles. Service was fast and speedy; the workers are very kind and accommodating. Not to mention, they took down our order in Japanese which was pretty cool and gave them some major authenticity points. Overall, really great place for lunch in Banff. We were looking for some kind of soup to warm ourselves up from the cold weather, and Chaya really delivered :') read more

Chaya - Tantan ramen w add-on pork slices! - Ramen Near Me - Banff, Alberta

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Stumbled upon this restaurant while I was snowboarding in Banff. Location/Service: Perfect location - right in downtown Banff, and on Banff Ave. It's right beside McDonald's with a huge sign. Parking is available on the next street. Inside is a very small restaurant - probably fit around 10-15 people. If it's full, the staff will give you a number and give you an approximate time to come back (cause there's hardly any spots to stand around). All the staff are very friendly and gives instructions on how to order. This is a little self-serve style, where you order/pay at the register, pick up your own utensils/drinks and the staff will bring you the food when it's ready. Food serving time is also very fast - a quick dine in-and-out kind of style. Food: Katsu Curry - essentially a Japanese curry sauce with breaded pork cutlet. There was a lot of sauce, so it was perfect mixing in with the rice. As for the pork cutlet, it's done well where it's not too breaded and still soft on the inside. It was very well done - reminds me of the ones I've tried back in Toronto/Japan. And this was the perfect meal after a long day of snowboarding. They also serve sushi, ramen/udon and donburi. Everything is pretty authentic with a homemade Japanese tasty feel to it. I would definitely recommend after an outdoor activity of snowboarding or hiking - to carb out and feel satisfied for the night. read more

Chaya - Classic Katsu Curry - breaded pork cutlet served with a Japanese style curry sauce. Comes with Salad on the side. - Ramen Near Me - Banff, Alberta

I was surprised that there was an authentic looking Japanese restaurant in Banff, so I decided to check it out and order the Katsu Curry. Once you enter the restaurant, there's ~8 tables and you choose where you want to sit then go up to the cash register to order. The dishes were prepared quite fast and in HUGE portions. The curry was packed with flavour and spices while not being spicy hot (more of a mild peppery spicy if anything). There was tons of sauce and tons of rice to soak it all up. The pork cutlet was crispy and flavourful too. The side salad it came with was very refreshing and I loved the miso dressing on top! Overall a very hearty meal to have after hiking for the whole day! read more

Chaya - Katsu Curry - Ramen Near Me - Banff, Alberta

Chaya was phenomenal. From it's exterior, someone could very easily pass it by when walking around downtown Banff, especially with other flashier restaurants near by. However, the flavor was not overbearing, the service was quick, and the portions were great considering that this ramen place didn't break your wallet like other places in Banff do. Many other ramen places that I've been to have made their food overly savory, leaving a pretty heavy feeling in my stomach, but this place offered food that was cleansing and hit the spot after a long day of hiking. They also have a waiting system that I consider super efficient. They don't take reservations early and it's a pretty small restaurant, but it's always packed. You come into the restaurant and are put onto a waiting list. When you first come in, they tell you how long the wait is and then give you a piece of paper indicating when you should come back to get your table. They're extremely good at timing the flow of customers given that they have very few tables and they also offer take-out as an option. read more

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When I looked up "Restaurants" in Banff, Chaya would come up first and I figured some Yelp algorithm would point me in the right direction. Plus, after a week of pizza and burgers, that sounded like exactly what I was looking for. Chaya is a small shop on the main drag in Banff, staffed 100% with Japanese people - I was cautiously hopeful. Oddly enough, they also serve Thai food - authenticity at its best. Unfortunately, Chaya's ramen was mediocre, the space is claustraphobic (max group size is 4 - they don't allow strollers), and the service is pretty atrocious. How that is possible at a Japanese establishment I don't know. * TAN TAN RAMEN - 2.5 STARS: Minimal vegetables (I added extra, and apparently onions are a vegetable), mediocre noodles, and terrible peanut-y broth. It's salty yet quite bland, and overwhelming of peanuts unlike anything I've ever had. You can opt to add pork "belly" because it only comes with some ground meat, but it tastes more like lean porkchop. There is no egg. Gasp. * SIDE SALAD ($2) - 3 STARS: The side salad looks like the stuff you get when flying economy on an American Airline internationally. It's a small plastic bowl of chopped iceberg lettuce and a piece of steamed broccoli topped with Japanese ginger dressing. The dressing was a bit on the sweet side but the redeeming quality here. It's reasonably priced and reasonably quick, but I'd rather get a sandwich at Squish than return to Chaya. Definitely do not go if there is a wait, and by all means, don't order the Tan Tan unless you like peanut sauce. read more

Chaya - Tan Tan Ramen - very peanuty - Ramen Near Me - Banff, Alberta

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Small establishment with only 6-7 small tables. We had only a 5-10 minute wait, and the server provided us a return time slip to save our table. Ordered edamame, curry udon, and Katsudon. The curry udon was good (just with it had some veggies in the curry). My husband thought the katsudon was very authentic and the Katsu was well cooked. I suspect the edamame was microwaved, but it still tasted great! Our total was $31.50 CAD. Banff in general can be quite expensive. This hole in the wall made for an affordable authentic experience that wasn't fast food! On a rainy cold day, I'd highly recommend Chaya. read more

Very basic ramen but if you want a change from the burger and pizza scene in the area, it is good enough to eat. The pork is quite fatty though and each ramen bowl only comes with 1 slice. I ordered extra and it came with 3 pieces for $7. read more

Wow. Authentic Japanese ramen and udon. Donburi was also spot on with the flavor. Would definitely come back!

Banff is cold so if you are looking for something warm to fill you up. This is the place! I recommend the udon with shrimp and veggies #10 I believe. It was so flavorful and delicious. Udon noodles was plenty to eat and affordable read more

Chaya - Ramen Near Me - Banff, Alberta

The ramen was so good here that I went here twice! The noodles tasted fresh and the broth was very flavorful. TIP: Get here early because place gets packed! read more

Chaya - Ramen Near Me - Banff, Alberta

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The city of Banff is very overpriced, especially with Asian cuisine but found this hole-in-the-wall next to the McDonalds. The menu looked pretty good, so waltzed in. It's small inside and you order at the front and they bring the food over to you. Ordered the Thai Tofu ($13.50) which came with 3 large pieces of tofu, a heaping bowl of white rice, peanut sauce and a ginger salad. The Chicken Teriyaki Don ($12.50) was also another generous serving and both dishes were not only satisfying but filling as well. Nice inexpensive eats and you will have leftovers. Not bad. read more

Chaya - Thai Tofu ($13.50) - Ramen Near Me - Banff, Alberta

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Edamame was a extremely over-salted, I'd say caked with salt. The ramen was mediocre and the pork in it was almost all fat... very disappointing and unfulfilling meal. Service was friendly. read more