Growing up, the Japanese restaurants around town tried to be all things to all people. One of the big revelations I took from our trip to Tokyo years ago was how specialized the restaurants could be. Here’s one place that only did tempura. And then there’s another place that only did robata. We’ve been seeing some signs of this in Vancouver too. When Ramen Gaoh opened up in Burnaby Heights, it was “just” a ramen spot. Now, they’ve got bento boxes too.
To be fair, saying Ramen Gaoh is “just” a ramen restaurant isn’t completely true. They do rice bowls (donburi) and appetizers (like gyoza and chicken karaage) too. But, clearly, ramen is the main attraction. To my understanding, Ramen Gaoh and Ramen Butcher in Chinatown are connected in some way. But, back to Ramen Gaoh, they added some very takeout-friendly bento boxes recently. So, we thought we’d check them out.
Horse Mackerel Bento
2pcs deep fried horse mackerel (Aji Fry) with home made tartar sauce ($9.80)
All of the Ramen Gaoh bento boxes are the same price (just under ten bucks) and they all come with the same sides. You’ll get a dollop of potato salad, a bit of macaroni salad, some pickles, white rice, half an egg, a floret of broccoli, a cherry tomato, and a couple of nuggets. I’m not entirely sure what the nuggets are. This is all subject to change, of course. The only difference between the five bento boxes on offer is the main part of the entree.
In this instance, we got the deep fried horse mackerel. Think of it like fish tempura or, if you prefer, “Japanese” fish and chips, complete with home made tartar sauce. Unsurprisingly, there’s a good amount of breading and not a lot of fish, but the panko is light, crispy and satisfying. Don’t worry about the horse mackerel being too “fishy.” It’s not.
Chicken Katsu Bento
Breaded chicken cutlet with special sauce ($9.80)
As mentioned, the only difference between the bento boxes is the main. You get a single breaded chicken cutlet, about five or six inches long. It’s pre-sliced for your convenience, as can be expected from Japanese bento boxes. Again, the breading is light and crispy, the chicken reasonably moist. I’d say the chicken was more satisfying than the aji fry, heartier and more filling. That said, I enjoyed the lightness of the mackerel as well.
Aside from the aji fry and chicken katsu, Ramen Gaoh also offers bento boxes with chicken karaage, pork katsu, or four pieces of gyoza.
This is one of those “smack yourself in the forehead” moments. It wasn’t until we ate half of the chicken cutlet that we noticed the packet of special sauce underneath. The Bulldog-style tonkatsu sauce is sweet and a bit sour, sort of like Worcestershire or BBQ sauce, but thicker in consistency.
Classic Tonkotsu Ramen
Pork broth simmered to perfection with thin noodles ($12.00)
We also added extra noodles for $1.95, though you can get the free noodle refill (kae-dama) if you dine in person. This is all about personal preference. For my part, I like the thicker ramen over this thinner version. If you get the tsukemen, you’ll get thicker noodles. Either way, the ramen at Ramen Gaoh is always solid. I like how the takeout bowl is big enough to accommodate the soup (served on the side), so you don’t have to whip out a bowl of your own to eat your takeout.
I’m also partial the roasted black garlic variant of the classic tonkotsu (13.70) for that added punch of flavor. For something decidedly lighter, I recommend the Yuzu Shio Ramen. That gets a clear chicken broth with chicken chashu and yuzu citrus.
All Boxed Up at Ramen Gaoh
It’s true that a “Best Ramen” category is notably missing from my recent list of the best places to eat and drink in Burnaby Heights and Brentwood. When we first moved here, Hakkaku was basically the only game around. It’s a couple doors over from Ramen Gaoh. There’s also Kamamarui Ramen a few blocks away near Carleton Avenue. It’s a bit different with more “torched” chashu. And “the bomb” rice balls are, well, the bomb. All this said, if I were to add a ramen category to my “best of” list, Ramen Gaoh would probably take the crown.
Ramen Gaoh is located at 4518 East Hastings Street near Willingdon Avenue in Burnaby. For more information, visit ramengaoh.com. In addition to their own online ordering system, Ramen Gaoh is also on Skip the Dishes, Uber Eats and DoorDash. They’re open daily from 11:30 am to 9:30 pm, except Friday and Saturday nights when they’re open until 10 pm.
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