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I have been wanting to try Kazoku Ramen for some time, having discovered it next to my favourite West End Pasta Purveyor. Today, I was in Jasper Place on business, and craving Ramen. Tucked away in the corner of an industrial estate, this is an easy location to miss, but it if you look carefully it is worth finding. The restaurant is nicely put together, and is going for a Japanese experience for it's patrons. Japanese pop music, open beam ceilings, servers in kimonos, paper lanterns and a stylised mural depicting an anime Godzilla, that is the first thing you see when you walk through the door. There is a sense of fun to the place, but the food is pretty serious. I opted for the Tonkotsu Black Ramen with Black Garlic and a pot of green tea. The Ramen landed on the table in just a few minutes. I expect Kazoku do a brisk lunch trade and quick service is important. The Presentation was lovely, in a large stoneware bowl, with a small ladle inside, which is a spoon worthy of it's job. My first move was to sample the broth, which brought a smile to my face. The included elements were not as magical, I'm afraid. The Char Siu was thin and wan in both colour and taste. It was fall apart tender, but did not bring much to the game. There were fried onions and black fungus, but they too lacked any identity in the dish. The half soft boiled egg was perfectly cooked, and carried with it the flavour soaked up from the broth, and the noodles were lovely. The outstanding element in this bowl was the broth. It was rich and deep, the kind of broth that makes you make involuntary yummy noises when you swallow. Oh yes... the tea was excellent. Restaurant: Comfortable, inviting, and warm. Pleasant decor, comfortable chairs and the washrooms are clean. Service: Excellent. Friendly, helpful and efficient. Food: I will be back for this broth. I will be interested to try some of their other dishes, and more of their Ramen.
First time trying Kazoku Ramen! I was very surprised to see how busy this restaurant was on a Monday evening. Service was a bit slow and they didn't come back to refill our waters. But the food was delicious. I highly recommend trying their Tonkotsu Black (Black Garlic). This restaurant only accepts cash or debit.
I wanted to try something completely new and that I keep hearing about on tv. The owner sat us down and was our server. She was very sweet and quick to get us drinks. I ordered the garlic miso ramen and my buddy ordered the miso ramen. He and his family have been to this location many times and told me it was one of the best. Our bowls of ramen came and they were nice and hot and looked gorgeous. However it's just not for me. I didn't enjoy my ramen at all. It's not because of a lack of anything other than my taste buds didn't care for it. The location you'd miss if you blink and drove by, but if you are a person who enjoys ramen you may have a better review than me. I also found my broth to be lacking in any flavour the ramen noodles themselves were good. I just didn't care for it all put together.
One of my favorite Ramen places to go to in Edmonton. I used to come here a lot for a bowl of my favorite Tonkutso Ramen since I used to live in the West End. It is a family-owned business. The mom is the main server and her son is the cook. They only have a few staff to run the business, yet they can keep up with the demand. Coming at noon isn't too busy, but it starts to get crowded around 2 pm and onwards. Recently, I visited this place once more with a friend and ordered the same as ramen as always. I'm not sure but for some reason, something is changed with the broth, it wasn't as creamy as I remember. It came with lean pork shoulder, just the right amount of noodles, corn, scallions, nori, bean sprouts, and 1/2 egg. It's still good for me but there was something off with the broth that I can't put my finger on it.
Heard about this ramen place in the west end a while ago and finally made it there. We drive by all the time as it is located amongst other business in a strip mall along a busy avenue. Very easy to get to and plenty of parking, the restaurant looks small but has many tables. The restaurant and washroom are clean and the staff are quick. We were greeted right away and given menus. My son noticed that the menu changed from when he was there. We were ordering ramen and I noticed that all the soup ingredients were similar, contain pork belly or the choice of lean pork shoulder, soft boiled egg, black fungus, bamboo shoots with a few other vegetables like corn and bean sprouts. The big difference was the broth flavour but I wasn't that impressed with the choices. What I thought was interesting was you crush/grind your own sesame seeds to add to your bowl of soup. The sesame was so fragrant. For what we got, I thought the prices were a bit high. Our waitress told us the Tonkotsu black garlic soup was popular so we ordered that and also tried the spicy miso and miso. The spicy one was quite spicy so beware in case you can't handle too spicy. The soups did taste good but wasn't enough variety. I think we will probably spend our money on other Asian food rather than come back but if you've never had ramen then this is a good place to try!
Oh man, I clearly never learn my lesson. Opening day of a new place in town and what do I do (after explicitly telling another friend that we should play the wait and see game)? We go and check out the latest ramen join in town. Kazoku Ramen, which I've heard rumblings about for the past few months, finally opened it's doors. Weirdly, it's name reminds me of one of my favourite restaurants in Montreal, Kazu. So similar in name or maybe just everything in Japanese sounds the same. Located right across from the Edmonton Police station, you can't miss it with it's bright red awning beckoning you in. It's also in the same complex as Bucas & Pastas if that's more helpful. Bbop and I arrived around 12:30pm on opening day. The word must not be out yet because there were only two other tables occupied. Obviously, they were Asian - if you don't have any Asian friends, you should re-consider the poor choices you've made in life because they know all the latest/greatest/hip places to check out. The inside is pretty spacious with the counter right in the middle splitting the dining area into two main groups. A huge Godzilla mural covers one of Kazoku's walls. Two thumbs up for the cool art décor. - Tonkotsu ramen ($14.00) - char siu, half soft-boiled egg, nori, bamboo shoots, corn, bean sprouts, toasted sesame, green onion and naruto. The egg was lacking a bit in the soft oozy yolk compartment and only giving half an egg seems pretty cheap when you're paying $14.00. The broth had a nice creamy flavour and I thought the noodles had a decent spring/elasticity to them. Definitely the better of the two ramens that we tried today. The bamboo shoots were interesting - much better crunch and flavour than the crappy cheap ones that you normally get. - Kazoku ramen ($15.00) - the Kazoku comes with pretty much the same toppings as the tonkatsu except you get a full soft-boiled egg and wood-ear fungus. I had a taste of Bbop's broth and you could tell right away that the broth was made from chicken. I believe that it's a mix of chicken and pork. Interesting. We both thought it lacked a bit of flavour (Bbop had to ad some salt to his bowl) but he mentioned that the broth grew on him after mixing all the ingredients together. Flavours are definitely on the subtle side. We were both pretty stuffed after eating our bowls. It's nice to see a bunch of new restaurants opening in the west end! Especially Asian ones in the area (hello Cô Dô Hue and Malaysian Delights: Island Cafe & Bistro). Is it better than Yuzen? Tough to say based on a first visit but one thing is certain - eating ramen is sure going to be a lot easier! With long hours of 11am-10pm (closed Tuesday) and 11-12am (midnight) on Friday/Saturday, you can grab a bowl for some late night eats. Yaaaaaaaaaas.
Tonkatsu Ramen with extra noodles, extra Cha siu, 1 order of vegetable tempura, 1 side of rice, side of half egg, green onions and seaweed sheets. This is very filling, the rice is eaten with the tonkatsu Ramen soup after we ate all the noodles. I usually eat my ramen this way. The side green onions I only put a little on top little at a time because freshly cut and eaten green onions, enhance the taste of your ramen, instead of soaking your green onions inside the soup. I also like wrapping the rice with green onions inside the seaweed and dip them in soup then soya sauce, tastes very good. I've been here 5 times and it's hard to find a quality texture noodle with a soup base that isn't over powering. If you're craving for ramen this place makes the best Tonkatsu Ramen in Edmonton.
This is my favourite place in Edmonton for ramen. Hands down. Although they have a full menu, the ramen is what keeps pulling me back. I've tried a number of the flavours but found the Tonkotsu Black is the best overall. The prices here are at the high end compared with other ramen establishments which, in general, are high. At least here the quality and quantity match the price better than most. The servings are large so my tastebuds get their money's worth. Three highlights make this place stand out for me: 1) The noodles are cooked perfectly and are the most homemade noodle I have experienced in the city. They come out right at the edge of chewy just as they should. As you continue to eat you can tell the noodles are still cooking in the broth. Amazing! 2) The char siu is served two ways depending on preference: rolled pork belly or the leaner pork shoulder. I go for the pork belly every time and recommend you do too. Either way, this is the most substantial and flavourful piece of pork served in any ramen I've experienced in the city. It truly becomes part of the meal rather than added as a garnish like I've seen elsewhere. 3) The toasted sesame is served to you first right after you order. It comes out with a 'suribachi' and 'surikogi,' the Japanese mortar and pestle. How cool is that? You are no longer waiting to be served but instead you have become an active participant in making your meal! You can grind the seeds to your desired consultancy. Once the soup comes out, pour it on and eat. So cool. I wish I could give this place a perfect 5 but I have not found their other offerings as amazing as their ramen. That means they're still pretty good because their ramen is amazing!
8 months ago
Kazakh Ramen has become a favourite spot for me when it comes to ramen dishes. Service is always very welcoming and fast at this place, which is always nice!! I'm a regular with the tonkotsu ramen bowl, served with pork, ramen, delicious broth, and egg, to name a few. Their shrimp tempura is always tasty. Ambiance is relaxing and it's very enjoyable to eat the ramen bowl. read more
It is no secret that ramen has exploded in Edmonton and what was once an elusive cuisine is now entirely common. It's wonderful to have so many options available and one of those is Kazoku Ramen in the west end area of Glenwood. The Edmonton Food Faves We Crave 2022 list named this restaurant as one of their Favourite Date Night spots and I was very excited to find out how they compare to the other big ramen shops in town. Visiting on a Monday evening, the restaurant was busy and bustling, indicative of it's popularity. Almost every table remained occupied for the duration of my visit. The location isn't exactly the greatest part of the city, however you'll find them in a strip mall directly next door to perennial favourite Bucas & Pastas (have you had the pasticcio??). Kazoku is immediately recognizable by their red awning and this theming remained excellent on the inside. Stepping through the door the aroma of broth tantalized my senses and I couldn't wait to taste the food. My eye was drawn to the incredible mural on the wall, which I absolutely loved!! It's of a city skyline with an adorable cartoonish Godzilla eating a naruto (a type of fish cake). The artwork is striking and looks amazing with the red lanterns hanging throughout the restaurant and dark wooden beams. They've done a wonderful job of creating an amazing atmosphere that you wouldn't necessarily expect from a strip mall! Kazoku means family in Japanese and this family business strives to only serve food that they would serve to their own family. The focus is on authentic ramen made with the freshest ingredients, creating delicious melodies of tastes and colours. Our server was prompt and efficient but I did find her to be quite curt and uninterested in answering many questions or offering recommendations. I was happy to order a Japanese Cream Soda (Melon flavour soda with a scoop of vanilla ice cream - $6.50) to drink, a beverage that I've seen on Japanese menus before and was happy to find here. The colour alone is a lot of fun and we enjoyed slurping on the deep green liquid. The soda tasted sort of citrusy to me and not as much like melon. But when you get the ice cream in the mix it's all very sweet and joyful. (An ideal treat for kids.) Next, we grabbed an order of Edamame (Soy beans sprinkled with coarse sea salt - $4.50) because you can't go wrong with some tasty beans. Bright green, well-cooked, and nicely salted. We happily popped these into our mouths and enjoyed the tender beans within. Edamame always feels like snacking, except in a healthy way. The menu features several types of appetizers and tempura but I zeroed in on the Takoyaki (Fried wheat balls with octopus in the center topped with tonkatsu sauce, mayo, nori, bonito - $13.00), a favourite of mine. Complete with dancing bonito on top, these takoyaki balls appeared to be entirely legit. I am certain that the restaurant is using a specialized takoyaki pan, which is what creates their perfectly spherical shape. Biting into the golden-crispy balls, these were almost identical to what I'd experienced on the streets of Osaka. Crisp on the outside but very soft on the inside with a piece of tender octopus hidden within. The sauces on top added a lot of flavour as did the shaved bonito. These were really good and one of the highlights of the meal for me. Ramen, of course, is Kazoku's specialty and with twelve types on the menu they've got a ramen for everyone. Heavy to lighter broths are offered and the menu does a good job of describing the type of broth to expect in each. I couldn't help but notice some stark similarities between the ramen at Kazoku and the ramen offered at Japanese ramen chain Santouka (my favourite ramen of all-time), including the appearance of shio ramen (my favourite!). They also have a chili goma which I usually love, full of spicy chili oil. However, for my first visit I felt that I should experience the Kazoku (Char siu, full soft-boiled egg, nori, bamboo shoots, corn, black fungus, bean sprouts, toasted sesame, green onion, naruto - $18.50), the restaurant's namesake bowl. Unexpectedly, the server asked if we wanted pork belly or shoulder for our char siu and I have never encountered this option before. Looking for some guidance on which to choose, the server offered little (none) information on the difference between the two. We chose pork belly as that seemed to be the cut of char siu that we were more familiar with. Made with a lighter pork broth, the depth of flavour was alright but I did find myself longing for something a bit more robust. I wasn't all that impressed with the char siu overall. As a BBQ pork, I found the slices incredibly thin (they should be quite thick!) and completely lacking in caramelized BBQ char. The meat was underdone and full of wet, uncooked fat. The noodles were great; nice and loose and tender. The ajitama (egg) was nicely prepared with an ideal jammy yolk, although a bit more marinaded seasoning would have been read more
I've been looking for a place in west Edmonton where I can get a decent bowl of Ramen for 3 years, the search is over. I dunno how this place eluded me but I'm glad I finally found it. We travelled there on a crappy wet rainy Sunday afternoon, which is perfect Ramen conditions obviously. It's a place you drive by all the time but never try, I implore you stop next time you do. It's a pretty big place for being in a kinda strip mall set up. Pretty typical Japanese decor, but clean well set with nice wooden tables. I was optimistic when we walked in at 1:00 on a wet and rainy Sunday and the place was packed, we got the only table left We started with the thing I always get in Raman places, good ol chicken Kaarage. It was absolutely delicious! Crunchy and flavourful with some kind of seasoning I'm not sure I've ever had before but it was amazing. We also grabbed an order of gyoza too simply because the table next to us did and they looked amazing, and they were. Pretty much perfection Raman time! My GF got the standard tonkotsu version with pork belly. Spice level was excellent, depth of flavour in that broth was beautiful. I had a chilli goma which was equally delicious. I added pork belly to it which was nice but honestly I would do it vegetarian next time. It had chunks of chopped up pork in it that were as dry as it gets so I just avoided that and left them in the bottom of the bowl..The noodles were perfect Ramen noodles, chewy but soft. Service was a little slow, but I find most Japanese joints to be that way for some reason. We had nothing to do but sit and watch the room enjoy their soup so no problem. Our server was super friendly and attentive when she wasn't running around like crazy, it was very busy. All in all I loved it and will be back, try it out before you drive by Cheers Andy read more
4 years ago
I have been wanting to try Kazoku Ramen for some time, having discovered it next to my favourite West End Pasta Purveyor. Today, I was in Jasper Place on business, and craving Ramen. Tucked away in the corner of an industrial estate, this is an easy location to miss, but it if you look carefully it is worth finding. The restaurant is nicely put together, and is going for a Japanese experience for it's patrons. Japanese pop music, open beam ceilings, servers in kimonos, paper lanterns and a stylised mural depicting an anime Godzilla, that is the first thing you see when you walk through the door. There is a sense of fun to the place, but the food is pretty serious. I opted for the Tonkotsu Black Ramen with Black Garlic and a pot of green tea. The Ramen landed on the table in just a few minutes. I expect Kazoku do a brisk lunch trade and quick service is important. The Presentation was lovely, in a large stoneware bowl, with a small ladle inside, which is a spoon worthy of it's job. My first move was to sample the broth, which brought a smile to my face. The included elements were not as magical, I'm afraid. The Char Siu was thin and wan in both colour and taste. It was fall apart tender, but did not bring much to the game. There were fried onions and black fungus, but they too lacked any identity in the dish. The half soft boiled egg was perfectly cooked, and carried with it the flavour soaked up from the broth, and the noodles were lovely. The outstanding element in this bowl was the broth. It was rich and deep, the kind of broth that makes you make involuntary yummy noises when you swallow. Oh yes... the tea was excellent. Restaurant: Comfortable, inviting, and warm. Pleasant decor, comfortable chairs and the washrooms are clean. Service: Excellent. Friendly, helpful and efficient. Food: I will be back for this broth. I will be interested to try some of their other dishes, and more of their Ramen. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
First time trying Kazoku Ramen! I was very surprised to see how busy this restaurant was on a Monday evening. Service was a bit slow and they didn't come back to refill our waters. But the food was delicious. I highly recommend trying their Tonkotsu Black (Black Garlic). This restaurant only accepts cash or debit. read more
7 years ago
I wanted to try something completely new and that I keep hearing about on tv. The owner sat us down and was our server. She was very sweet and quick to get us drinks. I ordered the garlic miso ramen and my buddy ordered the miso ramen. He and his family have been to this location many times and told me it was one of the best. Our bowls of ramen came and they were nice and hot and looked gorgeous. However it's just not for me. I didn't enjoy my ramen at all. It's not because of a lack of anything other than my taste buds didn't care for it. The location you'd miss if you blink and drove by, but if you are a person who enjoys ramen you may have a better review than me. I also found my broth to be lacking in any flavour the ramen noodles themselves were good. I just didn't care for it all put together. read more
4 years ago
One of my favorite Ramen places to go to in Edmonton. I used to come here a lot for a bowl of my favorite Tonkutso Ramen since I used to live in the West End. It is a family-owned business. The mom is the main server and her son is the cook. They only have a few staff to run the business, yet they can keep up with the demand. Coming at noon isn't too busy, but it starts to get crowded around 2 pm and onwards. Recently, I visited this place once more with a friend and ordered the same as ramen as always. I'm not sure but for some reason, something is changed with the broth, it wasn't as creamy as I remember. It came with lean pork shoulder, just the right amount of noodles, corn, scallions, nori, bean sprouts, and 1/2 egg. It's still good for me but there was something off with the broth that I can't put my finger on it. read more
Heard about this ramen place in the west end a while ago and finally made it there. We drive by all the time as it is located amongst other business in a strip mall along a busy avenue. Very easy to get to and plenty of parking, the restaurant looks small but has many tables. The restaurant and washroom are clean and the staff are quick. We were greeted right away and given menus. My son noticed that the menu changed from when he was there. We were ordering ramen and I noticed that all the soup ingredients were similar, contain pork belly or the choice of lean pork shoulder, soft boiled egg, black fungus, bamboo shoots with a few other vegetables like corn and bean sprouts. The big difference was the broth flavour but I wasn't that impressed with the choices. What I thought was interesting was you crush/grind your own sesame seeds to add to your bowl of soup. The sesame was so fragrant. For what we got, I thought the prices were a bit high. Our waitress told us the Tonkotsu black garlic soup was popular so we ordered that and also tried the spicy miso and miso. The spicy one was quite spicy so beware in case you can't handle too spicy. The soups did taste good but wasn't enough variety. I think we will probably spend our money on other Asian food rather than come back but if you've never had ramen then this is a good place to try! read more
Oh man, I clearly never learn my lesson. Opening day of a new place in town and what do I do (after explicitly telling another friend that we should play the wait and see game)? We go and check out the latest ramen join in town. Kazoku Ramen, which I've heard rumblings about for the past few months, finally opened it's doors. Weirdly, it's name reminds me of one of my favourite restaurants in Montreal, Kazu. So similar in name or maybe just everything in Japanese sounds the same. Located right across from the Edmonton Police station, you can't miss it with it's bright red awning beckoning you in. It's also in the same complex as Bucas & Pastas if that's more helpful. Bbop and I arrived around 12:30pm on opening day. The word must not be out yet because there were only two other tables occupied. Obviously, they were Asian - if you don't have any Asian friends, you should re-consider the poor choices you've made in life because they know all the latest/greatest/hip places to check out. The inside is pretty spacious with the counter right in the middle splitting the dining area into two main groups. A huge Godzilla mural covers one of Kazoku's walls. Two thumbs up for the cool art décor. - Tonkotsu ramen ($14.00) - char siu, half soft-boiled egg, nori, bamboo shoots, corn, bean sprouts, toasted sesame, green onion and naruto. The egg was lacking a bit in the soft oozy yolk compartment and only giving half an egg seems pretty cheap when you're paying $14.00. The broth had a nice creamy flavour and I thought the noodles had a decent spring/elasticity to them. Definitely the better of the two ramens that we tried today. The bamboo shoots were interesting - much better crunch and flavour than the crappy cheap ones that you normally get. - Kazoku ramen ($15.00) - the Kazoku comes with pretty much the same toppings as the tonkatsu except you get a full soft-boiled egg and wood-ear fungus. I had a taste of Bbop's broth and you could tell right away that the broth was made from chicken. I believe that it's a mix of chicken and pork. Interesting. We both thought it lacked a bit of flavour (Bbop had to ad some salt to his bowl) but he mentioned that the broth grew on him after mixing all the ingredients together. Flavours are definitely on the subtle side. We were both pretty stuffed after eating our bowls. It's nice to see a bunch of new restaurants opening in the west end! Especially Asian ones in the area (hello Cô Dô Hue and Malaysian Delights: Island Cafe & Bistro). Is it better than Yuzen? Tough to say based on a first visit but one thing is certain - eating ramen is sure going to be a lot easier! With long hours of 11am-10pm (closed Tuesday) and 11-12am (midnight) on Friday/Saturday, you can grab a bowl for some late night eats. Yaaaaaaaaaas. read more
2 years ago
8 years ago
Tonkatsu Ramen with extra noodles, extra Cha siu, 1 order of vegetable tempura, 1 side of rice, side of half egg, green onions and seaweed sheets. This is very filling, the rice is eaten with the tonkatsu Ramen soup after we ate all the noodles. I usually eat my ramen this way. The side green onions I only put a little on top little at a time because freshly cut and eaten green onions, enhance the taste of your ramen, instead of soaking your green onions inside the soup. I also like wrapping the rice with green onions inside the seaweed and dip them in soup then soya sauce, tastes very good. I've been here 5 times and it's hard to find a quality texture noodle with a soup base that isn't over powering. If you're craving for ramen this place makes the best Tonkatsu Ramen in Edmonton. read more
4 years ago
5 years ago
This is my favourite place in Edmonton for ramen. Hands down. Although they have a full menu, the ramen is what keeps pulling me back. I've tried a number of the flavours but found the Tonkotsu Black is the best overall. The prices here are at the high end compared with other ramen establishments which, in general, are high. At least here the quality and quantity match the price better than most. The servings are large so my tastebuds get their money's worth. Three highlights make this place stand out for me: 1) The noodles are cooked perfectly and are the most homemade noodle I have experienced in the city. They come out right at the edge of chewy just as they should. As you continue to eat you can tell the noodles are still cooking in the broth. Amazing! 2) The char siu is served two ways depending on preference: rolled pork belly or the leaner pork shoulder. I go for the pork belly every time and recommend you do too. Either way, this is the most substantial and flavourful piece of pork served in any ramen I've experienced in the city. It truly becomes part of the meal rather than added as a garnish like I've seen elsewhere. 3) The toasted sesame is served to you first right after you order. It comes out with a 'suribachi' and 'surikogi,' the Japanese mortar and pestle. How cool is that? You are no longer waiting to be served but instead you have become an active participant in making your meal! You can grind the seeds to your desired consultancy. Once the soup comes out, pour it on and eat. So cool. I wish I could give this place a perfect 5 but I have not found their other offerings as amazing as their ramen. That means they're still pretty good because their ramen is amazing! read more
4 years ago
Now I'm no expert on Ramen... to be honest this is the only spot I have ever actually had Ramen. But I've been here a half dozen times now and ventured a bit through the menu and have been happy and satisfied each time. My favourite would have to be the Chili Goma Ramen which I ask for spicy and opt for the pork shoulder. I've had it a couple of times now and find it tasty and filling. The Spicy Chicken Karaage makes a tasty appetizer as well. This spot is convenient for me both from work or home. The meal is always hot and delicious and the staff is fantastic. Again I have nothing really to compare to but this suits me just fine! read more
5 years ago
7 years ago
Hidden gem alert! In a desperate search for something delicious to have one lunch time, and amidst a real lack of quality non chain options near my work, myself and a co worker stumbled upon Kazoku. Boy, what a great choice. Inside the decor is really cool. They seem to enjoy Godzilla quite a bit, who doesn't? See photo for example. Waiting staff were attentive and quick to get us waters etc. Food wise I have to recommend the Katsu curry - delish in the extreme! The omelet under he chicken is a nice touch. My friend went with the ramen and really enjoyed it. Future lunches will be had here! They certainly tamed my monstrous appetite!! read more
9 years ago
** OWNERS CURRENTLY ON VACATION RETURNING OCTOBER 4, 2017 ** This is one of my son's favourite noodle shops as they offer gluten free ramen. Call before we go to ensure they have his noodles as they get them shipped from Japan. Voice mail not updated to reflect resto is closed for vacation but website is. We usually only order the ramen soups but their menu offers rice and other noodle dishes. Tonkotsu black is the ramen to order. Delicious creamy broth with pork belly slices, veggies, and black garlic. Mix in your ground sesame seeds and slurp. My son, allergic to dairy, eggs, and all nuts usually orders one of either Miso Vegetarian, Shoyu (soya sauce flavour), or Shio (sea salt flavour) with the gluten free noodles or udon noodles if they ran out of the GF noodles. Their katsus, deep fried cutlets of meat, chicken or pork are also tasty. Beef tataki is nice, not too over powered with sauce. We've had their tempura, it wasn't great. The batter was too thick and oil not hot enough, sent the plate back. So full from ramen, never enough room for dessert. One of these days I'll get to their waffle-yaki. read more
This ramen place was recommended to me by a couple people and it took me a little while to make it out to try it, but yum, definitely worth the trip. I tried the tonkotsu black ramen as recommended by several reviewers and can confirm it was absolutely delicious. The restaurant itself was kind of unobtrusive in a shopping mall strip but easy enough to find if you're actively looking for it, and they have parking out front which is convenient. Staff were friendly and attentive, and service was prompt (the place was about half full). I'll be back for sure! read more
The service was friendly, quick and good. The restaurant was clean, decorations tasteful and seating generous. The serving dishes and plates were beautiful and even the food was attractively plated. Unfortunately, although I found some tiny glimmers of yumminess during my meal, I generally found the food to be lackluster in taste. There were no involuntary sounds of "mmmmm" or "sooo good" coming for me here. To start, my boyfriend and I ordered the spicy chicken karaage. The chicken pieces were quite large and the meat was tender and juicy. But, in my opinion, the chicken flavor lacked any spunk. I don't know if it was the oil they fried the chicken in or maybe a lack of seasoning on the batter or maybe a combination of both. Something seemed a bit off. The majority of the spicy seasoning seems to have been at the bottom of the dipping sauce (served on the side). I did not enjoy this dish. We ended up bringing home two pieces. Next, we had the vegetable tempura - staple for most Japanese restaurants. The slices of zucchini, yam, onions, and eggplant were about average in size. I appreciated how the batter stuck to the vegetables. The vegetables were soft, moist and easy to eat. In the past (in other restaurants) I notice sometimes the batter and vegetables separate once you bite into the tempura. I would say this dish was just okay in terms of taste. Last but not least, since this is a ramen place, we tried the miso ramen. Right away I literally smelled something fishy about this soup. This was odd because there was no seafood in this dish. My boyfriend suggested that the nori strips may have contributed to this smell. There were also pieces of pork and bamboo shoots in this dish. I appreciated the flavor of the meat and thought the thin slices were tender and quite easy to eat. Now I don't usually add extra seasoning to my meals for taste, but in this case, I added more salt, pepper, soy and the special mixed seasoning provided on the table. Again, I found this dish was also okay. This was my first time eating here. These are just my raw first impressions. Maybe over time things will change and improve as this restaurant gets more established. But for now, I will say this food here is average and just okay. read more
So, my girlfriend and I decided to check out the newest ramen place in town on a Friday afternoon. We met at 12:30 and about 3/4 of the tables were full. The restaurant itself isn't very large to begin with. Our server(s) were pleasant enough, answering questions and checking on us while we ate. To start, we shared the bbq duck for $10. The server said it's bbq'd in house and had just come out of the oven at 12:30. Excited, to try, we were left disappointed. The flavor was there, but the duck skin was NOT crispy and the duck itself was so skinny there was barely any meat to eat. As for the ramen, I ordered the Tonkotsu ramen while my friend ordered the spicy ramen on special. She enjoyed the flavor of her broth moreso than I enjoyed mine. I found mine lacking depth, that umami, and welll-rounded broth that I find in other larger cities. The half egg that accompanied the bowl came with the runny yolk, but it was not marinated and therefore found it tasteless. The three pieces of "char siu" that came with the bowl were quite fatty and also flavourless that I ended up discarding most of the pieces. So in the end, I was left with a soggy piece of seaweed and some corn to accompany the noodles. (I declined bean sprouts, bamboo shoots and the funny white & pink floaty things). I found the noodles themselves cooked well to the point of chewiness. Overall, another disappointing ramen place in YEG. I'm tired of getting my hopes up for a place that would rival even Vancouver or LA. *sigh* read more
6 years ago
8 years ago
I had the opportunity to attend Kazoku's soft opening last week to get a sneak preview of the new restaurant space. The menu at Kazoku is fairly focused, offering a couple appetizer plates and a variety of ramen and rice bowls. Our table started out with a couple appetizers, trying three of the six available plates. The BBQ duck ($10) is roasted Chinese style in house daily and served with a side of plum sauce. The marinade for the duck was fairly typical of the ones you can pick up from any Chinese BBQ shop, but I found the meat to be quite moist and flavourful. Next we had the pork Gyoza ($7) served as a set of 6. The dumplings were pan fried to a lightly golden crisp, keeping the meat inside juicy and flavourful. While these gyoza were pretty standard, I quite enjoyed the ponzu style dipping sauce as it was both sweet and savoury with a kick of heat. Last but not least we had to try the Beef Tataki ($11). Kazoku's version had beautifully marbled striploin that was tender and sweet, dressed with onions, scallions, and a light but flavourful ponzu sauce. The slices were a fair thickness, and the portion size quite reasonable for the price. Next came the part we had all been waiting for: hot, steaming bowls of ramen. The menu offers five different options, which include the Kazoku ramen, tonkotsu ramen, miso ramen, shoyu ramen, and shio ramen. The toppings in each bowl are quite similar, so the bowls mostly differ in their soup bases.The first bowl to arrive was the Tonkotsu ramen ($14) topped with slices of char siu, a half soft-boiled egg, nori, bamboo shoots, corn, bean sprouts, toasted sesame, green onion, and narutomaki. The soup was slightly thick and creamy, the way most tonkotsu broths should be. I felt the broth could have used a tiny bit more seasoning, but otherwise it was tasty. While the broth is made in-house, the wavy noodles are flown in from a manufacturer in Vancouver. The noodles aren't too thick or thin, and once cooked have a dense, slightly chewy texture. While they hold their shape well while you enjoy the bowl, they don't quite have the elastic bite that I prefer. We also got an order of the Miso ramen ($13), which featured the same toppings as the tonkotsu, except with shredded nori. The miso ramen featured the most flavourful broth of all the bowls at our table that evening, and you could taste the subtle nutty flavours in the broth. The char siu in these ramen bowls is equal parts lean and fatty, lending extra flavour to the noodles. The soft boiled eggs are cooked to the perfect consistency with a slight oozing yolk, but they would be made even better with a marinade. For myself I had to order the Kazoku ramen ($15), which features char siu, a full soft-boiled egg, nori, bamboo shoots, corn, wood-ear fungus, bean sprouts, toasted sesame, green onion, and narutomaki. Basically, all the toppings that Kazoku uses in their ramen bowls. This ramen sets itself apart from the rest by its clear pork and chicken based broth. It's the lightest broth the restaurant makes, and it has very subtle flavour to it. I wasn't expecting this upon ordering, and initially found the broth to be quite bland and underseasoned. If you're looking for a broth that isn't too heavy, this may be for you, but I like my noodle soups to be packed with umami, and this bowl unfortunately didn't do it for me. Since Kazoku also offers rice bowls, we needed to try one out for ourselves. Bowls can be topped with BBQ pork, BBQ duck, imperial chicken, or soya chicken, but we chose to get a combination of the BBQ pork and imperial chicken with the 'pick two' option ($14). The large bowl of rice came to the table with a generous portion of pork and chicken, and sides of a soft omelette, broccoli, and bok choy. The rice bowl came as described, but it was quite boring compared to a big bowl of ramen with a variety of toppings. As rice bowls are fairly easy to put together, I would recommend skipping them all together and ordering a bowl of ramen instead. To finish off the meal that evening I chose to try the Purin ($4.50), which is the Japanese version of a creme caramel or flan. I'm a sucker for custards, and this one didn't disappoint with it's smooth, creamy texture. The purin wasn't overly heavy or sweet, making it a perfect end to the meal for me. The ramen scene in Edmonton is continuing to grow and it's great to finally have an option in the west side of the city for a bowl of this Japanese comfort food. While the noodles at Kazoku aren't what I prefer, the tonkotsu and miso ramen broths lack some depth but have good flavour, making them on par with other bowls in the city. As mentioned above, Kazoku will be featuring a Godzilla ramen bowl, where you can have it for free if you finish it! And to show off your amazing eating capabilities, you get a t-shirt featuring Kazoku's Godzilla on it too. The prices are affordable and on par with other Japanese restaurants, so stop by if you're nearby. read more
11 years ago
Great place. Been craving ramen since we moved to Edmonton from Toronto and this place easily stands up to anything you can get in TO. The Tonkatsu ramen broth was super flavourful and delicious. Slices of pork belly were tender and prepared well so that it had a perfect ratio of fat to meat. Noodles were chewy but never tough. Also like that the menu also gives you classic options like Shoyu, Miso, and Shio. The chicken karage was also great. Don't normally see pieces as big as the ones you get here, but the coating was crispy and the meat succulent and juicy underneath. I've had ramen many times in Japan and this place, while not 100% authentic, was one of the closest I've found to what you might find in Tokyo. read more
11 years ago
Kazoku is the latest ramen joint to crop up on the Edmonton scene. I always crave a bowl of noodle soup any time of the year, so we decided to scope things out. When Andrew and I stepped in the door we were greeted almost immediately by the owner, after which we were lucky enough to get seated right away on a Friday evening. This place is packed. We waited about 30-35 minutes for our meal. I played with the mortar and pestle that held sesame seeds (which I think the server told us was for flavor enhancement - it was so loud I barely heard her). By the time our orders came out (the Kazoku ramen and the Tonkatsu ramen) and numerous apologies from the staff, I was so focused on getting that jelly in my belly, I'm sure anything would have made me feel satisfied. Unfortunately, Kazoku really fell short of my expectations. I'm not a ramen expert, but the noodles had the texture of having been soaked in broth for too long (you know when it starts losing its chewiness and you still have 3/4 of the bowl to finish) and the seaweed emerged a green soggy ball after not even a minute into my ramen. Kazoku means family in Japanese - family clan. I felt that the food lacked the warmth and flavor that comes from gramma's cooking. I hope Kazoku can continue to grow and improve - I'm still a firm believer in a better bowl of ramen! read more
I was very excited to learn that there was new ramen place in town and invited the bestie to come try with me. I was pleased to see that there was ample parking. We ordered the bbq duck as a starter as we were enticed by our server that they literally just finished roasting the duck 30 mins ago from when we got there. It wasn't even a second thought that we had to try it. The duck arrived and we a little disappointed that the skin was less than crispy. The meat was quite tender and moist but lacked flavor. I ordered the spicy miso ramen loaded with all the fixins. This is not a normal menu item by the way and I believe it was their feature of the week. The soup broth had a nice flavor and I enjoyed the little spice kick that I got from it. The ramen had char siu, half soft-boiled egg, shredded nori, bamboo shoots, corn, toasted sesame, green onion, and naruto. The char siu was had a strange texture to it (can't put a finger on it) and flavor tasted just ok. I did enjoy the noodles and the mixed balance of all the toppings. Not the best ramen I have had but might come back and try their other menu items before I give up. read more
11 years ago
Kazoku is so far my BEST go-to place for ramen in YEG. Their tonkotsu ramen is TO DIE FOR! Broth is rich and creamy and what (my) dreams are made of. Toppings are also plentiful; their pork belly melts in your mouth. Their spicy chicken karaage is also bomb.com! Very crispy and has just the right amount of kick with the spice. Admittedly i have only ordered their ramen and chicken karaage for myself (is it not obvious i love their ramen yet?), but have had a fair tasting of their other offerings when my boyfriend ordered his chicken katsu curry and the duck rice bowl (dont worry, these were ordered on 2 separate visits) and sadly, did not live up to my expectations. Katsu curry was a little bit on the milder and thinner sauce side than how i like my Japanese curry to be - thick and very flavorful. And growing up in Singapore, I'd like to think i know a think or two about cha siu duck and ricebowls of all varieties, but the duck rice bowl i found to be very dry (rice AND duck), albeit its cha siu flavoring. Could use some sauce perhaps...? But! 4 stars because of their ramen and their chicken karaage and cute little dinosaur painting on the wall teeheee! read more
9 years ago
Clean place with J-pop playing in background. Flavor is good for he miso ramen vegetarian I ordered without sesame or tofu. Has a Chinese restaurant feel but brighter with Japanese food of course also curry options. Mostly 20-30 years hang out. Clean bathrooms Delicious enough to eat me if I'm around this area again I may just come by. read more
6 years ago
7 years ago
If you're going to try ramen in the city, this should be the place you go to! This is one of those unique restaurants where food and service were both exceptional!!! The staff are so incredibly friendly and helpful. Thank you for letting me know which soups could be switched to chicken broth which was soooo delicious! Can't wait to stop by again! read more
8 years ago
This is the best ramen I have had...... by a sliver but it's the best. Now, I ordered the gyoza and the Tonkotsu ramen and this place crushed it. I mean it was outstanding. Having said that, I tried my niece's miso ramen and it wasn't my kind of flavour (I'm not a miso ramen guy) and the pork belly on my wife's ramen looked a little chewy, but the stuff I ordered was spot on... I mean killer. The broth was as good as my local place in Ottawa and that's saying something but it was the toppings that pushed it just slightly into top spot in my book. Their Tonkotsu broth is absolutely perfect and the service was outstanding- it was my Dad's birthday and they gave him a dessert on the house - if you like ramen, run don't walk here. It's worth it. read more
A very clean and bright place! Was happy to try this out for lunch after seeing the reviews. It's closed Tuesday so you know. The person who was here greeted me and had a big smile! Great attitude and she spoke great english and really explained all the types of ramen to me off the menu. I went with the friend chicken app chicken karaage which she did a special half order for me as I was alone. It was amazing. Very light batter, and a nice spicy sauce to dip that was not to overpowering. I ended up going B with the creamy Pork bone ramen. The flavour was great! Mild and had very fresh toppings. Corn was crunch and the egg cooked just soft enough. Very lean pork shoulder in there. I was impressed. Super hearty size too. Definitely don't need appies. This soup is a meal!! Also good to note they do not take credit only debit or cash. I will definitely be back to try all the other types of ramen here. This is definitely going to be a favorite place! Back again. Tried the spicy sesame ramen. It's not too spicy. Like medium and has a nice mild flavour. Very good. read more
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