Is there anything better than a steaming bowl of ramen when the Montreal temperature starts dropping? Ramen Ramen Fes is back for its 5th edition, running from October 12 to 25, 2026, which means you’ve got about one week left to slurp your way across the city.
How It Works
According to Tastet, nearly 20 participating restaurants are putting ramen at the heart of their menus for two weeks, with signature bowls, some created exclusively for the festival. Check the official festival page for the interactive map of participating spots.
- People’s Choice Award: The public votes for its favourite bowl on the festival website, so try a few and make your voice heard.
- Jury Prize: A jury of Montreal food creators (Aretha Eats, Angela Fiesta, Jeff Radimiri and Charles Nguyen) will reward the restaurant that stands out for technical mastery and creativity.
The festival is run by ASIASIE, the non-profit behind YATAI MTL, POCHA MTL, Japan Week and the ASIASIE Market.
Where to Start
This year’s bowls range from classic long-simmered tonkotsu to cross-cultural creations. A few stops to put on your route, based on Tastet’s guide:
Neotokyo
Between downtown and Old Montreal, a noodle bar with a cyberpunk look (concrete, sheet metal, neon) and a menu that runs from tonkotsu to shio yuzu, plus brothless mazemen.
Umami Ramen & Izakaya
On the border of Mile-Ex and Little Italy, a fully vegan spot where the noodles, tofu, ferments and sauces are made in house. Plant-based eaters, this is your stop.
Ramen Nakamichi
On Saint-Laurent in the Mile End, with a long counter facing the kitchen and a cloudy, rich tonkotsu broth. Stay for the Japanese sake and whisky list.
Tsukuyomi Ramen
A Mile End favourite since 2017, focused on customizable tonkotsu, with a vegan option too. Its Bishop and Bois-Franc locations are also taking part.
Kazo Ramen
On Newman Boulevard in LaSalle, serving creamy tonkotsu alongside whole-chicken and clear beef or vegetable broths, with thin or thick house-made noodles.
The Fusion Bowls
For something different, try the Latin-Japanese bowl at Escondite, the Vietnamese-accented creation at La Belle Tonki, or the izakaya take at Biirū.
Also on the list: Kinton Ramen (Sainte-Catherine x Guy and Pointe-Claire), Marusan at Time Out Market, Nakagin, Sansotei Ramen (Mackay, Mont-Royal and Sainte-Catherine) and Shushuto Bar à Ramen et Tapas.
After the Festival
The ramen doesn’t stop on October 25. Montreal readers voted Yokato Yokabai among the city’s best ramen in the Cult MTL Best of MTL 2026 poll, and it remains a local favourite.
Hungry for more? Check out our MTLàTABLE 2026 guide, our list of the best pizza in Montreal and everything else in MTL365 Food. Itadakimasu, Montréal! 🍜
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Photo: Shisma / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Sources: Tastet, The Main, ASIASIE, Tourisme Montréal
