2120 W Broadway, Vancouver

Tel: (604) 288-2941

Web: http://gyopara.com

Instagram @gyopara

Advice: No reservations, server will seat you on arrival or take your name for the next table.

Located in the heart of Kitsilano is this hot spot eatery run by father and son Tak and Alex, where it is all about delicious Japanese noodle soups, gyoza and other small dishes. One thing that I love, in addition to the regular menu they also offer a Vegetarian menu offering guests a multitude of choices and the ability to customize if need be.

Sometimes I go the vegetarian route and others I order off the regular menu, it all depends on the mood and what I feel like. I love their Veggie Gyoza which are home-made and pan-fried; equally as their Original Gyoza which were also home-made, pan-fried and filled with pork.

The Veggie Tantanmen is my favourite noodle bowl,  love this traditional rich Sichuan style sesame based broth which has peanut butter in the broth, topped with sautéed ground tofu, peanuts, bokchoy, julienned green onions, cashew nuts, and garlic oil.

My other favourite is the Miso Veggie Ramen which comes in a tasty miso clear broth with noodles, vegetables and tofu.

The Tofu & Wakame Salad is a great sharing dish as is the Karaage Fried Chicken which comes with a lemon wedge, mayo and greens for garnish.

One thing to keep in mind if you have extra broth towards the end is KAEDAMA, for a nominal extra charge you can get a noodle refill.

If you are looking to satisfy a ramen craving or are wanting some Japanese comfort food then head on over to this neighborhood gem.

Review by: Richard Wolak