Marutama Ramen: Chicken broth noodle in Burnaby and Vancouver

Marutama is a Japanese ramen chain with locations in downtown Vancouver, Burnaby and Richmond. Ramen is a traditional Japanese noodle soup dish. Most ramen joints use a pork or beef soup base, but Marutama focuses on chicken broth.

This review is based on dine-in experiences at both their Vancouver and Burnaby locations. Quality and taste is consistent across different locations.

Interior

The spaces of Marutama ramen chains share a similar theme – a traditional Japanese wood theme. Tables and decor are all wood based. Usually they have a big wooden slab table for shared seating, so if you come as a table for 2, you might be seated around strangers.

There is always a wait for Marutama, especially on cold or rainy days. Don’t expect to be seated until your whole table has arrived and yes you will be waiting outside.

Once you are seated, it’s not cramped but the space itself is usually quite small for a restaurant. It’s a very fast-paced service – the menu really only consists of their signature ramen bowl so it’s fast to order, fast to arrive and you’re in and out before you know it.

Food

Marutama’s menu is very limited. Their 1-page menu consists of their chicken broth ramen with different variations. Example, one has an egg, one has no meat, one has extra meat… they’re still all the same bowl of noodles with different toppings. They have some small dishes and a spicy version of their noodle, but I only come here for their signature dish.

Tamago ramen ($13)

This is the ramen I always get from this place – it’s their signature dish. The tamago ramen comes with a soft boiled ramen egg, 2 pieces of char siu and a handful of aosa seaweed.

The chicken broth is light and screams comfort food. I love their milky broth. If you prefer stronger or spicier broths, you can add spicy pepper flakes and garlic chips for stronger flavour. I usually only add some sesame seeds and a few garlic chips.

The egg is to die for. Always so perfectly soft boiled and runny on the inside. The char siu is soft and fatty, basically rips apart when you poke your chopsticks in.

I also usually prefer thin noodles, so this is the perfect bowl of ramen for me. You can add additional noodles (“kae-dama“) for $1.75 if you have a bigger appetite. I usually am full when I finish the bowl.

Final thoughts

Marutama ramen might be my favourite ramen restaurant in Vancouver. This is only because I love their signature dish so much. If you try it and don’t like it as much as other types of ramen, you may not find yourself a return visitor too often because this is literally all they sell lol. Variety is not their strong point.

Service is usually great once you get seated. It sucks to have to wait outside in the cold. Almost always their staff are Japanese, which adds a bit to the authentic experience. I also enjoy how they send you off with a cheerful Japanese “itterasshai!“.

Sincerely, Loewe