A popular Vancouver tonkotsu ramen chain has opened a self-order express counter at UBC, and it stays open until 11 p.m. every day.
Danbo Express, the quick-service spinoff of the popular Ramen Danbo, opened late September at 5743 Dalhousie Road, which places it right below Big Way Hot Pot.
“Thank you for waiting!” the team posted on Instagram the day before.
When we first reported the signage in August, the Danbo team told us they were aiming for late September to early October.
They made the early end of that window.
This express concept caters to students and UBC staff, who are likely looking for a quick bite.
Ordering happens at a row of touchscreen kiosks under the menu boards, and the format is built for quick dine-in, takeout and delivery.
The room has a long communal table and a window counter lined with red stools.
The menu is four ramens, all on the same tonkotsu pork broth: Classic, Shio, Miso and Negi-goma, which adds sesame oil, roasted sesame seeds and fresh scallions.
You still get to build the bowl yourself like at the original Danbo, picking classic thin or thick noodles, firm to soft, light to rich broth, and with or without karadare, the house spicy sauce.
Toppings run from ramen egg and kikurage to karashi takana and extra chashu, and the sides include gyoza, vegan gyoza and chashu or soy chashu donburi.
The website says a vegan menu is also available.
For autumn, the menu board is running a limited-time Ginger Tonkotsu Ramen.
The detail Danbo regulars will want to know is the rewards program.
It runs at $1 per point, and 170 points gets you a free ramen, with smaller rewards at 50 points (a soft drink or water) and 110 points (six gyoza).
It’s a separate program from Ramen Danbo Rewards, though, so points can’t be combined or moved between the two.
Taking it home?
The website has a prep guide for takeout: heat only the broth in the microwave for about 1.5 to 2 minutes, then add the noodles and toppings, and eat it within two hours of buying it.
Danbo Express is open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
UBC students and staff now has another great food option on campus!
Danbo Express joins other recent Vancouver openings like Yoona’s Cafe on Robson, Linh Noodle Bar in Coal Harbour and Straight Outta Brooklyn on Kingsway.
For more new and upcoming food spots in Metro Vancouver, take a peek at our tracker here, and subscribe to our weekly newsletter here.
Address: 5743 Dalhousie Road, Vancouver (UBC Village)
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