Quebec City Ramen: Where to Find a Good Bowl

Quebec City ramen is a small, serious scene in the Saint-Roch neighbourhood, where a kimchi ramen shop, an artisanal ramen counter and a Japanese tavern sit within a short walk of one another. Order the broth that matches your mood, ask what is made in house, and try a second kitchen on another day to compare.

Ramen is not a traditional Quebec dish, which is part of why Quebec cooks have made it their own.

What is Quebec City ramen like?

Closer to a neighbourhood noodle shop than a big-city queue. Quebec City ramen is cooked in small rooms with short menus, and the best descriptions focus on the broth and on what is made in house. The kitchens are in Saint-Roch, which makes a ramen crawl easy on foot. The city is cold for much of the year, which is a good reason to have a hot bowl. Seats are limited, so go at an off-peak hour, and be prepared to share a table at lunch.

Where do you find kimchi ramen in Quebec City?

At the kimchi ramen shop, known for rich, aromatic broths and a house-made spicy kimchi paste. Kimchi ramen in Quebec City is a good way to check how a kitchen handles heat, because a spicy broth shows balance quickly. Ask for the spice level you want, and expect to be asked. Add the egg and the extra greens if you want a fuller bowl, and finish the broth only if you like it, since it is rich and salty.

What makes an artisanal ramen counter different?

Local ingredients. Some Saint-Roch counters make their ramen largely from farm ingredients grown in the province and take their recipes from traditional Japanese cooking. That gives you a different comparison from the kimchi bowl: not heat, but how a Japanese recipe tastes with Quebec produce. Order the house ramen and see what is in the bowl.

Is there a Japanese tavern in Quebec City?

Yes. An izakaya in Saint-Roch is a Japanese tavern known for yakitori grilled over charcoal and a selection of imported sakes. A Japanese tavern in Quebec City is a good second stop if you want small plates instead of one bowl. Yakitori in Quebec City is also worth a visit on its own, as skewers of grilled chicken, vegetables or other parts are cooked to order. Ask the person at the counter what is freshest.

How do you compare ramen broth in Saint-Roch?

By tasting it plain first. Ramen broth in Saint-Roch is the base for everything else, so take a spoonful before adding chilli or seasoning, and note whether it is rich, clean or sharp. Then taste the noodles, which should still have some bite. Keep notes on three things: broth, noodles and topping. A simple scorecard on your phone makes the difference between two bowls obvious.

When is ramen the right meal in Quebec City?

In a cold month, after a long walk, or when the group cannot agree on a cuisine. A bowl is a complete meal, so it solves the question of ordering for everyone, and it arrives fast. It is less suited to a long, slow dinner, which is why a tavern with small plates makes a better second stop. If you are travelling with children, ask for a milder broth and extra noodles. If you are vegetarian, ask about the base of the broth before you order, because many are made from meat or fish.

What should you ask the kitchen?

Three short questions go a long way. Ask what is made in house, since the best kitchens make their broth, oil or noodles themselves. Ask how spicy a dish is, so you do not guess. And ask what the cook would eat, which usually points you to the broth they are proudest of. Staff in small rooms are used to the questions, and your bowl is better for asking. Keep the exchange friendly and short at busy times and finish the bowl while it is hot.

What else should you try near the ramen kitchens?

Rue Saint-Joseph has more than noodles. Pair a ramen with the Neapolitan pizza and poutine counter described in the Saint-Roch guide, and if you want the city's classic dish after the comfort food, the poutine guide explains where to go. The Limoilou guide has the neighbourhood to the north.

How do you rate a bowl so you remember it?

Rate the dish by name. In the Mosey app you can write "spicy kimchi ramen" or "house ramen", give it stars and add a note about the broth. Tag the place with the tags that fit, and tag the friend you ate with so they can add their own rating of the same bowl. Put your comparisons on a list called Quebec City ramen, and the next time someone asks where to go, you can hand them the list.

What else does Quebec City offer a visitor?

A great deal more than noodles. The Canadian food guides show every city, and the Quebec regional foods guide covers the dishes the province is known for.

Next time you finish a bowl, open the Mosey app, rate it by the dish and add the room to a list of favourites.