During our stay in Calgary, we've been trying to find a different type of food each day, and of…read morecourse I couldn't skip ramen. Wakado Ramen was within walking distance from us, so we decided to give it a try.
The restaurant is located on the first floor of a commercial complex with very little foot traffic, and to be honest, I was a little skeptical at first. Surprisingly, the ramen here was actually pretty good!
We ordered the recommended two-person set and chose the Chili Goma Ramen, Tonkotsu Shio Ramen, and a plate of gyoza. I had the Chili Goma Ramen, and I was very satisfied with it.
The strong, rich aroma of Sichuan peppercorn immediately reminded me of Sichuan Tan Tan Men, but it was blended with goma-style sesame sauce, which softened and balanced the flavor nicely. I thought that was a clever and enjoyable way to present the ramen.
The broth was thick and rich, with a slightly bubbly texture on top and plenty of chopped scallions -- visually, always a good sign for the style of ramen I personally enjoy. The flavor was very good as well. The bamboo shoots were nicely marinated: soft, but still with a bit of crunch, turning into little bites of flavorful vegetables after a few chews. The soft-boiled egg was also well executed; I devoured it in one bite and was rewarded with a rich, flavorful mouthful.
My only food-related complaint would probably be the noodle texture. The noodles were on the softer, looser side, closer to the texture of instant noodles that require boiling, rather than the firmer, chewier texture I usually prefer at ramen shops. I know some people may actually enjoy that softer noodle style, so I wouldn't say it was objectively bad, but for me, it was the one imperfection in an otherwise enjoyable bowl.
The gyoza looked similar to frozen Ajinomoto-style gyoza, so I honestly didn't feel too excited to try it. Since gyoza isn't too difficult to make fresh, that left a bit of a question mark for me.
My main complaint was the service. The restaurant only had two occupied tables at the time, but after we were given the menu, we still waited around 18 minutes without anyone checking back or explaining the meal sets. I eventually walked toward the server and finally caught their attention while the server was chatting with coworkers. The service also felt minimal throughout the meal, with items placed on the table without much communication. I understand most items were obvious, but even a simple "Here is your ****" would have felt much more welcoming than placing items on the table without saying anything. A little more attentiveness would have made the overall experience much better.
Overall, the ramen itself was better than I expected, especially the Chili Goma Ramen, which I genuinely enjoyed. But the service experience and the gyoza made the visit feel less polished than it could have been.