Most food courts in Metro Vancouver have long been missing a real ramen option for as long as I can remember.
And I’m not talking about the mediocre “ramen” tacked on one of those teriyaki stalls either.
Well, FINALLY, that gap got filled.
Kinton Ramen quietly opened its first food court concept at Downtown Vancouver’s Waterfront Centre earlier this April.
And it is a brand new format for the long-running Japanese ramen chain.
If you have been following Kinton’s run across Metro Vancouver, this drops right on the heels of their new Sunwood Coquitlam location and on top of their existing Robson, Broadway, and Burnaby spots.
For a chain that has been around for over 13 years, Kinton is not slowing down anytime soon.
The menu inside the stall reads a lot like the one at their sit-down restaurants.
Pork ramen, beef ramen, chicken ramen, plus the usual upgrade options.
You order from one of three self-order kiosks that show the full menu, with the option to swap to thick noodles or upgrade to a gluten-free noodle, add extra toppings, and either tack on a side or turn it into a meal.
Place your order, then wait for staff to call your number when it is ready.
A TV screen mounted beside the menu boards also shows the order queue and which numbers are ready for pickup, the same kind of system more upgraded fast food chains have been rolling out lately.
That is ACTUALLY handy when you are racing the clock on a lunch break.
The biggest difference between this stall and Kinton’s regular restaurants is the onigiri display case.
Beef, pork miso, all sitting right there for grab-and-go.
Makes total sense given the office tower foot traffic in the area.
Another thing worth flagging: your bowl of ramen does not come in Kinton’s usual ceramic bowls.
It comes in a two-layer takeout bowl that keeps the broth separated from the noodles and toppings so the noodles do not get soggy on the way back to your desk.
Smart for takeout. Less ideal if you are planning to eat right there at the food court.
I grabbed a pork miso during prime lunch hour, and the food still came out fast despite more than half a dozen orders sitting in the queue ahead of me.
Kinton’s Richmond outlet location also seems to have quietly opened recently, adding yet another spot to the chain’s Metro Vancouver footprint.
Kinton Waterfront now joins a growing list of recent Vancouver openings including Rongsi, Little Spoon, and The Waffle Co. Robson.
Address: Waterfront Centre food court, Vancouver, BC