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

If you come here you should get their karaage chicken ramen or the death by chicken karaage. The death by chicken karaage has a nice flavor kick to it. It is not spicy at all. The chicken was nice and crispy. The noodle was tasty. Do not order the Ebi Wonton ramen. I went back the second time and got that and I was disappointed. It reminded me of Chinese Wonton soup. Note that their chicken and pork chashu is not made using the authentic way. They do not use pork belly for the chashu. It is not the one you typically get at ramen from bigger cities or Japan. The chicken is basically regular seasoned chicken breast and the chashu is basically pork shoulder. The one I am used to is where they take the pork belly, season it and then roll it up. It is not the case here. The noodle was tasty but not wow and you can tell that it was freshly made in house. Broth was ok. But hey this is the only ramen place in Kelowna (2023) at the moment. Inside is ran by Japanese people. Chicken Karaage ramen 3.5 stars Ebi Wonton Ramen 1.5 stars Death by Chicken Karaage 4 stars. I am giving this place 4 stars because it is located in Kelowna. If this restaurant was located down in the coast (Vancouver) or any big city than I would give it 2 stars. Also I do find that the quality of food was not very consistent. I went back the second time and it was not as good as the first time. Service was ok. Note that Parking is free after 6 pm. read more

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Got lost finding this place. It's in a very non-descript street and location - almost looks like a garage. It's not a very big restaurant and it was 3/4 full when we arrived. We were greeted immediately and sat at a table at the end of the restaurant. We ordered Chicken Karaage and Gyoza to start. The karaage was excellent. My wife who doesn't usually like fried stuff thoroughly enjoyed it. They also have a spicy version which I think I will try next time. The Gyoza was a bit meh. For ramen we ordered 2 Original's and 1 Tan Tan Men. The Tan Tan Men was excellent - broth was flavourful and enough spiciness that you get a kick but without overpowering everything overall. The Original wasn't that good - broth wasn't as flavourful. The noodles also were the straight thin kind which is not our favourite. We also had 1 order of extra noodle on the side which was quite a good portion. Service was good and washroom's were clean. For one of the top Ramen places in Kelowna we were underwhelmed. read more

Very tasty authentic ramen. I recommend the Tonkatsu Pork ramen. Service was quick and friendly. Next time in Kelowna, a return visit is a must! read more

Wasabi Izakaya - Tonkatsu Ramen - Japanese Near Me - Kelowna, British Columbia

First time going to this restaurant, was a professional business meeting over lunch. The restaurant wasn't busy, we placed our order. The server came back 15 minutes later and asked us what we ordered. They forgot our order. Our order took another 15 or 20 minutes to arrive. They offered no discount but instead three of their little appetizers as an apology. We didn't feel like our business was valued. Food was good, service was poor. read more

Wasabi Izakaya - Japanese Near Me - Kelowna, British Columbia

Wasabi was not accommodating to our family with kids tonight. The server was beyond annoyed that we suggested to put tables together to fit our family so we could stay together because according to her it was against the law to put tables together. Her anger escalated like a drop of a hat, and provided no real solutions but asked us to call the city to change the bylaws to allow ganging tables together if we were not happy. She also slammed chairs together to demonstrate her point. Yes, this all really happenend when we want to get seated! We understand there are rules but please also be kind and dont stress your guest over it. Very unprofessional. The city make rules to protect your guest not stopping you from serving them. You made our family feel very uncomfortable and we were there for only 5 minutes. We left feeling unwelcomed and honestly put at dent in our evening. Luckily there are plenty of options in Kelowna. read more

Wasabi Izakaya - We walked in and within 5 minutes walked out. Terrible customer service and too cocky for my taste. Not accomdating for groups. - Japanese Near Me - Kelowna, British Columbia

Really good ramen spot kind of off of the main strip in the area. Not far, just a couple of blocks. I noticed a crowd outside and decided that was a good sign. Not a lot of seating but good enough for groups and some seating at the sushi counter. Service was nice and polite. The food was delicious. Broth was tasty and not too salty. Homemade noodles which was very good. Appetizers were also good. Not expensive either. I will definitely visit when I'm back in the area. read more

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I'm always skeptical with izakaya or sushi when I'm not having it in Vancouver, but this place was pretty good. Wasabi Izakaya is an authentic Japanese appetizer and ramen place. They specialize in freshly made ramen in house and of course their izakaya. I didn't get a chance to try their ramen, but ordered a bunch of their small dishes instead. Takoyaki - crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. Can't go wrong. Chicken Karage - juicy and tender on the inside and crispy on the outside. Not too oily or overly salty either. Black Cod - portion is a little small, but it's delicious Oshizushi (pressed sushi) - I felt there was too little fish and too much rice Eggplant - Quite tasty and a bit spicy as well as tangy Tako Wasa - Fresh and delicious Gomaae - I loved it. Boiled green beans with sesame miso dressing. Not too overcooked so still crunchy and so refreshing. read more

Wasabi Izakaya - Japanese Near Me - Kelowna, British Columbia

I rate this place a 4.5 I love this place! Service is so great. And food is yummy! The music they were playing at the time puts a smile on my face and reminds me of my fave Japanese ghibli movies. Everything tasted great. Most authentic ramen *in Kelowna* hands down. read more

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

Wasabi Izakaya - Ramen and reading at Wasabi - Japanese Near Me - Kelowna, British Columbia

Had great ramen and gyoza here. The service was fast too. The food was delicious, definitely can't wait to come back again. Would recommend to anyone craving ramen when in Kelowna! read more

Wasabi Izakaya - a black plate of dumplings - Japanese Near Me - Kelowna, British Columbia

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don't let the outside fools you...you will be amazed by the environment, the service, and the food; read more

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The setting is cute, appetizer menu was decent BUT rolls & service need a lot of work!!! The rolls were nowhere comparable to what we have in Vancouver. Maybe that's why I was disappointed at their rolls. They DIDNT even clear our table when we finished eating. My friend was disgusted looking at our mess that wasn't cleared. The plates kept stacking. Would we return? Highly NOT likely! read more

Wasabi Izakaya - We got the bill & they hadn't cleared the table... - Japanese Near Me - Kelowna, British Columbia

Decided to come here for the ramen. I ordered the Tonkatsu Shoyu Ramen $10 with egg $1.75. My family members ordered their own ramen, udon and soba dishes. The broth is chicken based listed as umami flavour, which is translated as a pleasant savoury taste. We also added 3 Izakaya dishes: Okonomiyaki (cabbage pancake $7.50), Spicy Tuna & avocado tempura salad ($7.80) and Sea eel tempura ($9.50). All were amazing dishes that left my tongue dancing and my tummy full. We finished off the meal with banana tempura with green tea ice cream, which was delicious. Unfortunately they were out of Macarons to top the bananas. Still, this dessert was a wonderful way to close it off. read more

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Had the Spicy Yuzu Pepper Ramen. It wasn't as spicy as Szechwan peppers, but it still has a slight numbing level of spice that I find delicious. Seems like a cool locals spot, albeit I was in Kelowna during the off season. Rad place, excellent food. read more

Wasabi Izakaya - Spicy Yuzu Ramen - Japanese Near Me - Kelowna, British Columbia

We were kind of rushing to our next destination Banff, so stopped by this place for quick lunch. Usually ramen places are so quick and you can finish eating within 30 min since you enter the restaurant. However, this place was so slow and it took about 30 min just to get our order. We kindly let our server know that we were kind of rushing but she just bluntly replied that it usually takes 20-30 min to get orders, which was ridiculous for a ramen place. And what really bothered me was that the other party who came after us got their order before us. Although the food itself wasn't bad at all, I think they really need to improve their efficiency and the service. read more

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I've been to many Japanese restaurants in my time, and I'd have to say that Wasabi's is in the top 5. Ordered from the Izakaya menu, which consisted of okonomiyaki (japanese pizza), which is normally pizza shaped. At Wasabi's it's cut into bite size pieces. The ebi is also very tasty, lightly battered and has a sweet and sour sauce. These two appys were on the happy hour menu, so you save a dollar on each. We also ordered the teriyaki chicken which was perfectly falvored. The udon noodles were very good, and the miso ramen was flavored just right. The restaurant itself has been here for about 7 years. I wish I would've found it years ago. I'll be back if I'm ever in the area. read more

Wasabi Izakaya - Kitchen - Japanese Near Me - Kelowna, British Columbia

Yummy ramen from Wasabi in Kelowna This is the chicken karaage ramen that was on special - SO GOOD! They gave a really large portion of chicken, which was super yummy. The broth is delicious too - not too salty like most ramen places. Overall, I'm super pleased with this place! read more

Wasabi Izakaya - Chicken Karaage Ramen - Japanese Near Me - Kelowna, British Columbia

Let me start off by saying this, it is very rare I ever give a restaurant a 5 star rating, if you look at any of my previous reviews and status, you will see this is one of the few. Anyway, I had the Okonomiyaki, and it is very rare to ever see it at a sit-down resturaunt, or even a street vendor for that matter. Okonomiyaki is a Japanese savoury pancake containing a variety of ingredients. The name is derived from the word okonomi, meaning "what you like", and yaki meaning "cooked". This is a must to have when you go, so don't forget it! I also had the chicken karaage, which is basically deep fried chicken in batter, the overall meal was very good and is definitely something to come and check out, for a good bite to eat! read more

Wasabi Izakaya - Okonomiyaki - Japanese Near Me - Kelowna, British Columbia

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First time here and am surprisingly impressed with the Miso ramen. I originally wanted the Tonkatsu pork ramen but they were sold out, so I ordered the Miso chicken with an extra side of chasu pork. Broth was savoury and tasty, noodles were chewy and meat was tender and flavourful. Coming from Vancouver and having lined up for the most coveted bowls of slippery, umami bowls of goodness, I feel I can recognize a good bowl of ramen. I'll be back for more! On the other hand, I also ordered the Negitoro roll and was quite disappointed. Kudos to trying to be different by offering the rectangle sushi with the smearing of tuna and chopped green onion on top, but there was simply not enough tuna and felt like I was eating only rice. Would not order this again. Four stars goes to ambience, feels like an izakaya restaurant, the interesting menu options and the ramen noodles and the fact that i would come back. If they upped their sushi game we could get an actual five star Asian place in Kelowna and that would mean something for sure! read more

Wasabi Izakaya - Miso ramen with chicken and a side of chasu pork. Flavourful broth, chewy noodles and tasty meat! Yum! - Japanese Near Me - Kelowna, British Columbia

Wonderful place to get noodles in Kelowna. This place is better than most of Vancouver ramen joints ( minus ramen santouka or ramen danbo ). We got two noodles and two sides: 1) Chicken Kaarage - Nice and crispy, seasoning is good. 2) Ebi Mayo - Shrimps were nice, sauce was tasty. 3) Tonkotsu Ramen - Very porky broth, it was colder that day with a slight breeze in Kelowna and was perfect to warm someone up. Noodle texture was al dente and the pork was beautifully slow cooked. 4) Tan Tan Men with Egg - Don't get the egg, its just a hardboiled egg even though it is "fresh". Soup was nice and spicy with strong tasting broth, and noodles were al dente as well. For tourists who don't enjoy having american / canadian food every meal, this is a great alternative! read more

It was very busy for a Tuesday night and we were fortunate enough to get a table (we made reservations two hours beforehand). Although the Japanese staff were run off their feet, they greeted us warmly the minute we stepped in. This place is also popular with the locals (which is a good sign); the owner knew several of the diners. We decided to try the chicken karaage, handmade gyoza, and fried calamari for appetizers. All were fried and seasoned perfectly. The chicken karaage was also juicy and tender on the inside, as well as the calamari. The thin wonton skin served as the ideal wrapper for the pork and cabbage filling of the gyoza--the delicate flavours really shone through. My ramen bowl, however, was the star of the show. The fresh, handmade ramen was sitting in a miso soup base (there's also a choice of soy, spicy yuzu pepper, curry, or vegetarian bases) and adorned with a chicken confit drumstick(with crispy skin), spinach, cabbage, green onion, and garlic oil. Mmmm... there's an amazing depth of umami through the combination of the garlic oil, miso, and chicken confit. Nothing can compare to fresh ramen. The seafood and chicken soup bases were also delicious (we had a taste of all three soups). read more

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In Kelowna for a few days and had a craving for ramen. Good thing you can get just about anything in Kelowna these days and Wasabi has good reviews on Yelp. It was around 6:30 pm and still about 34 degrees C but that did not stop us from riding our bikes about 6 km to try this place. Good to work up a bit of an appetite. There were four of us and we shared ten pieces of takoyaki (octopus balls) as an appetizer (yummy). For my main, I tried the Tonkatsu Ramen which was a special (not on the regular menu). The broth was nice and the noodles and meat were as they should be. Craving fulfilled. My daughter had a cold vegetarian ramen. I had a taste and it's not my cup of tea but nice to have that option for people that want it. For myself, I like meat! Our group also ordered the original broth with chicken. Being contrarians (eating hot soup on a hot day) we benefitted by it not being busy, no line up and plenty of physical distancing. While we were there, some customers came in for take out and there were others dining in. We had fast and attentive service. We left well satisfied. read more

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I went two days in a row, and tried two different Ramen. I tried the Curry Ramen and the Tan Tan Men Ramen. They're authentic, and I think the noodles are actually made from scratch. I would definitely go back so I can try the rest of their ramen in their menu. Portion Size: 6 out of 10 I thought it was too small, for its price. I wish they had two serving size instead, like a regular or a large. Price: 7 out of 10 Price is okay. But for the price, I was hoping for a larger portion. Flavor: 6 out of 10 The flavor is great, but on both times that I went there, my ramen souo was a little too salty. I had to put maybe just a little over 1/4 cup of water in my soup, so I can enjoy my Ramen. read more

Wasabi Izakaya - Curry Ramen - Japanese Near Me - Kelowna, British Columbia

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The karaage was nice but the ramen did not hit the spot for me. We got the tan tan mein and the hot yuzu. The noodle was cooked perfectly, but I didn't like the broth much. Was too limey for my taste. I would like to give it a 3.5 star though, since they were quite pleasant. Would I visit again? I don't know. I'm torn, maybe if I was really craving it. Again my comparison is to big cities like van, Seattle and Toronto. read more

Wasabi Izakaya - Japanese Near Me - Kelowna, British Columbia

I ordered the tan tan men. The soup was delicious but was not spicy at all. The ground pork had great flavour and the noodles was perfectly cooked. Definitely very authentic especially given that it is in Kelowna. Recommend read more

Not worth the money. It's basically inexpensive noodles you can buy for 50cejts a pack and shaved ham you can buy at the grocery store. No complexity to the broth. I have no idea how they have 4 stars. I love ramen but this was not even close to a good experience. read more

Undeniably excellent ramen. Wonderful, friendly, efficient service as well, and priced fairly. Lovely experience. read more

We had agedashi tofu, tantan noodle and cold lemon noodle. We loved it! Definitely will come back! read more

Wasabi Izakaya - Japanese Near Me - Kelowna, British Columbia

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The good news is that there is a half decent izakaya in Kelowna. Not on a par with Kingyo or Guu, but hey, it's not bad. Not the best ramen I've ever had, but no the worst either. The Chicken karaage I had was under seasoned, and basically uninspiring. However, on a cold night, when your other alternatives in small towns lean more towards Ricky's Family Restaurant or some sort of waffle house, Wasabi Izakaya is a welcome port in the storm! read more

Love ramen? Don't look anywhere else - this place is LEGIT. It's some of the most authentic ramen I've had outside Japan. It's always consistently delicious, with super friendly service and amazing Izakaya-style appies such as karaage (Japanese fried chicken) and takoyaki (deep fried octopus). The tan-tan men is UNREAL, but everything else on the menu is super delicious, too. (We have tried almost everything!) read more

Best Ramen in Kelowna. Delicious broth and good texture of homemade noodles. So filling. Yum read more

Wasabi Izakaya - Japanese Near Me - Kelowna, British Columbia

The sushi is great here! I have been making it my mission to finding great, affordable, fresh sushi in Kelowna (I am originally from Vancouver) and I believe this is the closest its gotten! Although I have yet to try their simpler, staple items such as California, Dynamite, Sashimi (does anyone even know if they have that?), but I did have their Takoyaki and Crispy Shrimp Chili Mayo. The Takoyaki was divine! I had a huuuuuuge hankering for Takoyakis and these were so satisfying. It was crispy, soft, creamy, tangy, all in one bite. I would have genuinely ordered two Takoyakis because they were THAT good. Finally, for the entree, I had the sushi roll. It was fairly good, not the best but good enough for me (remember, Kelowna standards)! It had a crispy, tempura shrimp inside, and chopped with a spicy, tangy mayo sauce. The shrimp was crispy but not greasy, and the rice was perfectly cooked. I hate cold sushi rice. I love it when rice is slightly sour, slightly sticky and never mushy -- and this place nailed it, Service was kind of sloppy. The server left when we were using the wireless Credit/Debit machines and wouldn't come back for a while... Com'on, this is a money machine, why would you leave it with some strangers? I mean, what if we were one of those debit-scammer-people?!??! Furthermore, this place has been fairly good. I can't wait try some of the other items they have on their menus. read more

DINNER REVIEW Atmosphere: hole in the wall. Casual. Lots of tables available. Service: quick and efficient. Very kind staff. Karage chicken ramen -3/5 -The chicken karage was good. I wouldve preferred if it didnt come soaking in the soup so I could just have karage taste -The ramen were al dente and there was a decent amount -There was not much in the way of toppings. Just some chopped onions and green onions which I thought was lame for $13.80 -The flavor of the soup was very average. It has a mild soy sauce flavor with lots of black pepper Overall 3.5/5 would come back if I was in a pinch and no noodle place was nearby. read more

I wanted to like this place but they lacked skills. The taste was ok but the way the sushi was cut and rolled and the seabream carpaccio was cut was horrible. The sushi was cut like a novice and was big and fell apart easily and was not even rolled nicely. The seabream was cut into tiny little pieces and the sauce was in a bowl by itself it's usually on top of the carpaccio was that was weird. The pieces were cut so small I had to put everything onto a spoon to eat it. Lastly the miso black cod was ok but was funny it came on a plate of rice. Every time I order miso black cod it's usually just the cod alone no rice. Overall food was nothing exceptionally for taste and the culinary skills were lacking. Don't know if the head chef was off or what but I don't think I'll be coming back again. read more

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Let's see. This is the only ramen specialty in town. Therefore it's the best, but is it? Being able to compare it to other ramen shops in western Canada, this one comes about in the middle. The staff is young hip bearded Japanese guys and polite Japanese gals. They're trying a bit of Izakaya and Ramen all in one. Kinda like Nan Chuu AKA G-men ramen. http://www.yelp.ca/biz/g-men-ramen-richmond-2?utm_source=ishare Here you can order your ramen noodles hard ( aldente) or soft and they make the noodles there. So they're very fresh. Fellow Yelper Jay ordered the ramen with Yuuzu kosho which is a Japanese lemon sauce that gives the broth an added dimension. Very flavourful and rich. The Charsiu roasted pork slices, at first he was upset it was cold but then realized how juicy and soft they were. Complimenting that, it just got better for the ramen. But it was very filling. He could only eat half. Probably because the soup was so rich in flavour. I had the salads. Creative in one way but a bit of a letdown. They're ramen is better. For me, if they can do salads right, means they pay attention to the veggies in the fridge. The greens were all good. Crisp lettuce leaves topped with a variation of toppings depending on what you ordered. Green salad with tuna sashimi slices and onions and tempura bits and crispy fried kale..... Two things that could make this dish better. Change the deep fried kale and make proper kale chips by using a dehydrator or even cooking them in the oven. They can make big batches of them ahead for the salads and you won't get that greasy fried grease all over the plate. And the kale will be recognizable instead of the brown translucent leaves. The other is to provide a dressing option on the side. Which I did get, but it was still laden led with too much soya that the greens were already tossed in. Overall, it was too salty and greasy. I'd give it 2 stars for that but 4 stars for being creative. Execution of the dish is 3 stars. It could be 5 stars with some teaks and tasting of the dish before being served. The next dish I had was the Crispy Chicken Gomae. Same thing, great idea, but too salty. The soya overpowered the sesame sauce. It actually didn't need any soya in it. Both salads were good, just needed less saltiness and more emphasis on the freshness. Maybe add some Yuuzu to it for that bit of fresh bite and zest. I did enjoy the Tako Carpaccio but again, too much soya. Best dish there and I will say they have the best Karaage chicken in town! Nicely marinated pieces of boneless chicken deep fried crispy outside and juicy soft inside. I called and asked our Yelpers favourite Japanese Food Critique and she gave them a 3 star rating which is where I'm putting mine. Kelowna best attempt at Ramen can only get better from here. read more

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The ramen soup here is delicious. The noodles have a great chew to them, and then they are soaking in their delicious rich broth.....so yummy. My favorite is the curry ramen, and chicken karage. If you are craving ramen, I highly recommend to come here. read more

One of the best Japanese places I've been to... in Kelowna? Yes! Awesome, unique, thoughtfully prepared details, delicious! The interior has a nice zen, simple vibe. The Sunomono was DELICIOUS, and unlike any other I've had. kalamari and soft shell crab & daikon rolls were great. We really noticed the little details like tastier pickled ginger versus the limp pink usual stuff. Udon with awesome juicy fat prawns, spicy yakisoba with real bacon and for dessert deep fried banana in spring roll shell with chocolate sauce, pineapple, whipped cream and SESAME ice cream (SO GOOD!). We were visiting from Vancouver (land of 5 million sushi places) and this place really blew us away! read more

Wasabi Izakaya - Japanese Near Me - Kelowna, British Columbia

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Got through on the phone on my second try to make a reservation for 8PM. We ordered their calamari, gyoza, and chicken karaage to start, and then I had the ebi (shrimp) ramen special. Everything was delicious, not too greasy, and served piping hot, except for the green tea. The ramen noodles and shrimp broth were excellent! read more

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I love ramen and this cute little ramen store sure did hit the spot. The staff was super friendly and sat is right away. The ramen was so delicious I drank all the broth. The broth was full of depth and flavour. I got the miso broth with chicken and egg. The chicken cha sui was soft and tender. My bf got the tan tan with Ground pork, cabbage and handmade noodles in a spicy miso broth. Wow it was so good. read more

Wasabi Izakaya - Miso broth with chicken and egg. - Japanese Near Me - Kelowna, British Columbia

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