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An Avia Google

about 1 month ago

THERE’S NO TABLES! I wish I had known before coming: they only let you dine at a table if you have 3+ people (even if the shop is empty). The bar is really shallow but there’s JUST enough room for the tray. I know there’s nothing they can do about that, but the photos here didn’t show how small the main space was, definitely not the place for a date, my friend is quite big/tall. The food was delicious! I didn’t even get a photo of the chicken karage because we finished it so fast before our noodles came. It was juicy and tender and so fresh. Spicy White Sesame Shio comes with a little bowl of sesame seeds to crush, interesting! And the Kotteri Rich Shoyu was great. Noted that it’s the same as the roasted garlic shoyu, they just top it with the pork fat instead of the garlic paste. The servers were on the younger side, I assume they were new trainees without their manager present because the vibes were weird compared to most food service I get in Hamilton. They seemed kind of vaguely confused, weren’t enthused to answer my questions about the menu, spoke very flatly and acted like they were itching for us to leave- we definitely didn’t do anything to offend them, maybe there’s a 1hr seating limit they were trying to hit. All things considered, I would come back if I had a party of 3+!

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Xavier Malonevia Google

about 1 month ago

Been dining here since Tondu, and since Ramen Isshin took over. While I do periodically miss Tondu, the folks here at ramen isshin will not disappoint whatsoever. I’ve tried nearly everything on the menu at this point, and I always add a large pork cha shu, they don’t torch it with butane, so it tastes amazing. I can’t say the same for other ramen restaurants in the area. The attention and care they put into hand making their own noodles and broths is nothing short of pure dedication, raw talent, and a love for quality; and it tastes delicious every. Single. Time. Without fail. The FOH and BOH staff are very polite and welcoming, always greeting you with their beautiful smiles and a traditional greeting. You feel welcomed and at home right away. My favourite order is the Hiya Yakko (cold soft tofu with garnishes) , tako wasabi, Koterri rich shoyu, extra ramen egg and as mentioned, a large pork cha shu. To drink, their calpico soda and the oi ocha (cold green tea, good for digestion) are my go to’s. I’m not a big dessert person, but I always make sure to get their Mango or Strawberry dessert. Rest assured you will be well taken care of, fed well with high quality food items, and leaving feeling with a sense of longing for your next visit. Thank you to the wonderful team at Ramen Isshin for delivering such a beautiful Ramen experience. Thank you kindly for your time, I hope you check this place out 😁 P.S. my spend per person is higher than usual, I order many items when I visit.

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Up4Socialvia Google

about 2 months ago

We were a party of three, yet their response says less than three sit at the bar. We arrived for a Sunday night dinner at 7:30p, plenty of time before they closed at 9p. Instead of sitting in the actual dining room, they made us sit up front near the entrance. We definitely had to keep our jackets on from the draft. Not the best dining experience! Not sure why they needed 1.5hours to clean the dining area. Food was ok, I ordered the Miso bowl, but was a bit too salty, and should have had more noodles for $20. If you go, go before 7p to get into the dining room.

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Fujimaruvia Google

3 months ago

I got a Garlic shoyu ramen and a small chicken karage. The food was really tasty and the proportion/quantity was nice as well. Felt like the meat was a bit on the smaller side though. As for the chicken karage... honestly, on the whole way back to my house I was thinking of this dish. It really confused me. There was a slight spicyness to it that I didn't expect, the chicken was done very well (crispy exterior but it felt as if the chicken itself was not deep-fried even though it clearly was), it was super soft. The Mayo at times felt like too much in the bowl and at times I wanted more. I'll probably ask for it once more because this was a very confusing experience and I want to understand what happened. The rice was nothing extraordinary and brought the dish down a bit? Still good though. I'll update once I try it once more and I figure this weird culinary experience (I've had chicken karage Don in other restaurants but it never left me confused so). TLDR: good dish but was different than expected. But I have to say, the highlight of my visit was the service. It was SERIOUSLY impressive. Seeing the servers running was a strange sight and showed motivation I rarely see. Honestly, it's weird but that made me appreciate the place more. Anyone who runs (safely of course) at work to be able to assist more deserves a raise. That shows a level of motivation that's rare nowadays. They were also very kind, professional and with a smile so that's a big plus. I think my server was Ayami or Ayumi? (Shoulder length brownish hair, the other server who had longer black hair was also very kind and helped as well) Sorry for not remembering it correctly! Anyways, I definitely enjoyed my time here!

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linavia Google

4 months ago

Love coming to ramen isshin, and was even more happy to hear they were opening in Hamilton. The service is amazing, everyone is friendly and accommodating. Bathroom is clean. Food is amazing. Can't wait for their halal option to arrive but even their vegetarian options are still yummy.