It is not often you see a restaurant open a second spot a few blocks from one it already runs, but that is exactly what is taking shape at Coquitlam Centre.
Kinton Ramen has coming soon signage up inside the mall’s food court, recently spotted by a Noms Mag community member (Derek).
The signs point to the ramen chain’s second food court stall, after it debuted its first food court concept at Waterfront Centre in downtown Vancouver earlier this spring.
That downtown debut was a noticeably different setup from the brand’s usual sit-down rooms.
Instead of table service, the Waterfront stall runs on self-order kiosks, with a digital screen showing the order queue and a number-based pickup system built for the lunch rush.
It also leaned into takeout, using two-layer bowls that keep the broth separate from the noodles and toppings so nothing goes soggy on the walk back to the office.
There was even a grab-and-go case of onigiri for people who did not have time to sit down with a full bowl.
The menu itself mirrored the sit-down locations, with pork, beef, and chicken ramen plus the usual add-ons like thick noodles, gluten-free noodles, extra toppings, sides, and combos.
If the Coquitlam Centre stall follows the same playbook, expect a similar quick-service format aimed at mall and office foot traffic rather than a full restaurant experience.
The wrinkle here is the location.
Kinton already runs a relatively new sit-down restaurant just a couple of blocks from Coquitlam Centre, which means the food court stall would give the brand two spots within walking distance of each other.
Doubling up in one neighbourhood is an unusual move, and it says something about how much foot traffic the chain thinks the area can support.
For now there is no opening date on the signage, so this is a watch-this-space situation rather than a firm launch.
What it does confirm is that the chain is still growing.
Kinton Ramen has been serving Metro Vancouver for more than 13 years, with locations including Robson, Broadway, and Burnaby, plus its more recent moves into Coquitlam and Richmond.
A food court stall is a lower-overhead way to plant a flag in a busy mall without committing to a full dining room, which fits the brand’s current expansion pace.
We will keep tracking this one as it develops.
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: Coquitlam Centre food court, Coquitlam, BC