Nikkei Ramen-ya

Elected not to eat here due to the 15% “living wage top up” charge at the final stage of ordering. Just increase your prices like normal people. YOU as the employer pay the living wage.

Transparency would be customers being able to tell before they get to the final stage of ordering that there’s a 15% mandatory gratuity for a no-service restaurant.

I have always adored this place; my family and I come to Comox to visit family all the time, and we always make a stop here when we can. The ramen here is unlike any other place I’ve been!

The food is amazing and the preparation process is super impressive. Meal prices are well worth it, and ensured each employee a living wage. Speaking of which, the employees are super friendly and welcoming—it’s clear the people working here care for the restaurant. When we were eating there today, I could hear the staff chatting about making ramen tier lists!

To the staff: you guys have done such an incredible job getting through the pandemic. It’s not been easy on small/local businesses, but you’re going strong as ever. Much love!

Wow, I'm picky and this is the best! Easy self order and great service, nice tunes and street view.

Went there for the first time, the other day. Friend told me about it and had to try it. Best ramen I have had. Need to get it more, but sadly, I am from out of town. Will hunt down the kits to try and will try to go before I go again.

If I had seen this receipt before paying, I would not have eaten here. I guess such tricks can only be pulled off here. If you do this in Vancouver, I guarantee you will be scolded very badly. As a chef, I believe that the operating costs of Vancouver restaurants are not lower than yours, but they may be more honest. P. S: if you have time and energy to refute bad reviews, maybe you can go to Vancouver and try Maruhachi, Jinya and Danbo.

Edit: The broth was much better the second time! A lot thicker and creamier. Good service too. Great experience.

Original Review:
I found the tonkotsu to be a bit weak and lacking some depth. The service and ordering was also somewhat strange. Overall though, it's not a bad little ramen place.

Excellent food and friendly staff. The atmosphere is chaotic and fun, the open kitchen brings a sense of involvement and engagement with the action of the chefs, which is what Nikkei wants you to be, engaged with the food. They make their own noodles on site (except the gluten-free) and they are proud of it, check out their website for more info. The poker chip tokens are to be presented when you're ready for a noodle refill (leave broth in your bowl in anticipation of this). Vegan notes: 2 dishes are vegan, noodles and everything (just ask for no butter), was very easy to order and it was filling and delicious. I went on Nov 10th and they had a 50% off special for veterans and currently serving military, which I thought was really amazing. Update: it's years later and they're still going strong and the food is as good as ever. Nikkei Ramen Ya is a living wage employer, they automatically add the gratuity to your order and there's no tipping options or choices to make, I find that really refreshing in a world where tipping and inflation have gotten out of control. It's a great example that more businesses should follow and also should commit to paying a living wage.

Overpriced for what you get.charging customers for a living wage is insane. Maybe pay your employees a descent wage and not charge your customers for it. Food tasted allright but barely any meat in the dish for the price point. Won't be going back for the fact you pay almost 18% extra for takeout.

Absolutely love this spot. Small place, which is right in line with Ramen shops in Japan. The food is legit, deceivingly filling and so tasty. Service has always been great and definitely a fan of the living wage they provide their staff. Worth the trip south from CR every time.

I was blown away by how delicious the ramen is here. My entire mood was uplifted by a bowl here. Highly recommend.

Get the extra noodles, eat the noodles without drinking the broth, then add the extra noodles and eat it normally

Excellent Ramen. Noodles prepared fresh to order. Lots of delicious options. Service was quick. One thing to note is is not a place to spend a long time. More like a Tokyo noodle counter. Yum

We are from Powell River and heard about this place from a friend there. Happy for the recommendation. We stopped in for lunch while shopping. I really enjoyed my shoyu ramen. Prompt service and the broth was tasty. We’ll be back.

Went for the first time today and we really enjoyed ourselves. We were greeted right away by a friendly member of staff and shown how to order and pay on the touch screen. I loved ordering and paying this way—less pressure while selecting an option! For those who were not comfortable navigating the touch screen menu, I saw a staff member help them make their selections. Sat at the bar and was really impressed by how calm, super clean and organized the kitchen is, even as it got busier. Food was served pretty quickly. We tried the gyoza, which had a great flavor. We also really enjoyed the delicious ramen broth and how tender the pork was. Portions are just right, and prices are reasonable. Great experience overall and very friendly staff. We will return! Thank you!

Staff were super friendly and helpful about ordering and the food was delicious! I'll be back

I found the tonkotsu to be a bit weak and lacking some depth. The service and ordering was also somewhat strange. Overall though, it's not a bad little ramen place.

Had the Kara Miso Ramen and it was delicious, full of rich flavour and can’t wait to have it again the next time I’m in town. The marinated egg is spot on and the noodles were cooked beautifully! Just as good if not better than the majority of Japanese ramen places on mainland. No it isn't $2 instant noodles, it is the real deal similar to something you would have in Tokyo including the ordering from the computer! Loved it!

The only suggestion would be to be able to have the assortment of vinegars and chili oils on the table to be able to play around with flavours but not necessary. Just a thought.

I was surprised to see how empty this place was but perhaps it will get busier as more people find out about this special spot in the Comox valley.

Tasty ramen. Love having the extra options. Cozy & charming atmosphere. Good price point. Strongly recommended.

This place is always amazing. The food is terrific. I recommend the Shoyu ramen with the chili oil, chili solids, and marinated egg. I'm hungry again just thinking about it. No way I remembered to take a photo either.

We've been looking forward to trying Nikkei for ages; we've struck out a couple of times, but we're able to snag seats this time, and the wait was absolutely worth it.

If you haven't been before, claim your seats right away, but don't sit there like we did, waiting for service. I guess we missed the signs, and nobody mentioned it to us, but there are two self-serve computers where you place your orders.

Once we figured it out, we got our orders pretty quickly, and it is absolutely and without reservation, the best ramen I've had in the island. I'd recommend splashing out for the chili oil too - it adds a nice little bite!

Can't wait to go back!

Came here for lunch and the food was absolutely delicious! I had the tonkotsu ramen and my mom had the shoyu ramen. Both were delicious. Great atmosphere and friendly staff.

Delicious flavourful ramen. Chewy noodles, wonderful umami chicken broth, melt in your mouth chashu!

Managed to snag a spot for 4 around 130pm on a Friday. You order through a tablet. Food came out within 30min. Service was friendly.

Recommendations: Hokkaido ramen (chashu is insanely tender), gyoza, and veggie miso ramen. Treat yourself to the ajitama egg. Worth it.

Only issue was that the noodles stuck together. Would’ve been good to boil them 30s longer and have the broth hotter to cook the noodles a bit. It was a tad too al dente and the stuck noodles took away from an overall amazing ramen experience. Comparable to what you’d find in Vancouver. Will come back again when I visit the island.

Super rude kid answered the phone.
Asked to place an order for pick up when I was directed to place an order online with a very snarky tone.
Then I got a ughh fine I can take your order.
Definitely not the attitude I want preparing food for me.

I've come for the week to Courtaney for work and the first thing I look up is Ramen. This place is great! Menu is friendly to kids and anyone with dietary requirements. The food is quick and amazing! Definitely one of the best Ramen I've had!

Edit: the staff are friendly, they make everything they can from scratch and you can buy kits (sold at other locations) to take home to make your own ramen. Menu isn't big, but it doesn't need to be. I couldn't be happier to have found this amazing place

Literally the best ramen I've ever had anywhere (including Tokyo). I love this place so much that I have their official merch. I come here almost anytime I visit Courtenay. If I could rate six stars I would.

Amazing every single time without fail. The food is great, the staff are happy, the prices are decent, and we haven't ever had a bad experience here. Treat yourself and eat here.

Cute ramen spot in a small city. Being from a bigger city, I’d say the ramen is decent but nothing to write home about.
Due to Covid a lot of things are self serve? You do the ordering and picking up your food yourself.
Portions are small for the price, definitely left is wishing there was more.
Seating outside was nice.

Food is way too expensive for the small portions you are given. They removed the free refill noodle feature and make you pay extra. Chili oils? Extra. Wanted to try a dessert but didn't feel like paying $10 including "living wage" fee for what was surely going to be a tiny portion of shaved ice with 2 small pieces of candied mango. Owners proudly boast how they pay their staff a living wage but charge the customers the privilege of doing so. This would be fine if the staff actually did anything but everything from ordering to picking up the food and drinks is done by the customer. $24 for a small bowl of Ramen with 4 pieces of chicken is a bad joke. The food itself is tasty. If there was another option in courtenay they'd have to sharpen their price pencil.

Loved how Nikkei Ramen-ya had the Hakata style noodles in their Tonkotsu ramen, it really put it a step above the ramen I've had at other restaurants on the island.

The ordering system they had was cute, it definitely reminds me of ordering ramen from shops in Japan.

A true to Japanese style ramen restaurant! Being from Vancouver and having ramen quite often, I was delighted to find this hidden gem, in the small town of Courtenay.