Crafty Ramen Guelph

I’m new to the Guelph area and I was looking for a place to eat. I picked the first place I saw, and I’m so glad it was crafty ramen. I had the chicken tantanmen as per the chefs suggestion. It was so unbelievably tasty. Spicy broth, beyond flavourful. It appears to me that they use real egg noodles which had a satisfying chew. The service is top notch too. I will definitely be back!!!

We drove to this place specifically to try it! I’m very disappointed with the service 😢 We ordered earlier than the four people who came after us, and they ordered the same dishes. There were only two of us, yet we were the very last to receive our order. No matter how tasty the food was, the staff didn’t apologize, they worked slowly, and we had to wait a very long time for our order. It happened on December 7th at 5:30 PM, and we waited for almost 50 minutes.

Might be some of the best ramen I've ever had. I got The Gryphon and was great! The staff were very friendly and the atmosphere was cozy. Will definitely be coming back!

I have been here a few times now, with friends, family, and on date nights. And I will definitely continue to do so! My go-to dish is the spicy negi with chicken, it is super delicious. Its the perfect level of spicy where it has the kick but it doesn't hurt! The oni chicken bao were life changing though. Much smaller, definitely not a full meal but EXTREMELY delicious. They quickly became one of my favourite things on the menu. The service is always quick, and the staff are super polite and accommodating, even when its super busy! That being said, it does get very busy very quick. They have one larger table inside that is better for accessibility purposes, and is very nice by the window and can seat quite a few people. Its quite cozy! But if that isnt of concern there is also the bar style seating. It is rather limited though. So id say definitely try and get there before the dinner or lunch rush! The patio seating during the summer is my favourite though, but even then they fill up quickly! Definitely one of my favourite local places and I will continue to recommend it!

Recently went here drawn in by its high reviews, and it certainly lived up to the hype. The ramen is on the pricier side, but the quality justifies the cost. The menu features interesting names for the dishes, but they're still easy to understand in terms of ingredients and components. On the day I went, the soup wasn’t quite as hot as I would’ve liked—I’m a fan of my ramen piping hot—but the broth was incredibly rich and flavorful. It was still an amazing dish. The service was quick and friendly, which made for a pleasant experience overall. I'm definitely looking forward to returning to try out the other ramen options they offer. It's a great spot if you're in the mood for something indulgent and delicious!

I love the quaintness and authenticity of the Guelph location! The Ramen is always delicious. I was sad to see The Northerner Ramen has been taken off the menu but there are many other wonderful options to chose from.

In a cold weekend in December, after attending the spirit of the season (Guelph Christmas market), we walked into crafty ramen after having been rejected from 3 other restaurants. We got lucky and dined at their biggest table and ordered almost all of their menu. The food was good and the service was great. I really liked their fries and also their cheeseburger gyoza.

We've been to the store in KW, and thought if we'd like to have crafty ramen again, why not check out the other chain store? I think this store in Guelph is actually the first crafty ramen store. Interested interior setup, nice noodles and fried chicken, ingredients are fresh:) Services are excellent, as well! Thank you for giving us a good start for the rest of our day <3

This was my first time here and I was pleasantly surprised at the ambiance of the place. It felt as though I was transported to a little ramen restaurant in Japan! I sat right up at the bar and ordered the Gryphon as a combo with their edamame and pop. The ramen was pretty decent and I found that the noodles had this perfect bounce and bite to it which I really liked. I think the best bite though was the spicy edamame. I just couldn't stop eating it! Service was quick and attentive and overall, I had a good experience. I guess the only downside was that the portions were a bit small for the price.

Fast friendly service, diverse enough of a menu for my family. I also really liked the decor!

Having marked this for a while we finally made it to CR. The interior is cozy and limited seats available. We got the high seats right in front of chef. The service was quick. Tofu Tokyo Salary Man - the broth light and perfect flavour and miso notes coming through. The noodles perfectly cooked with a slight chew. The almost blackened tofu with sesame crust was amazing. Tofu Kaizen Warrior- similar flavours coming through. The tofu good and the broth a bit more saltier, but not bad. Tofu Spicy Negi - the broth a lot less spicier than I expected. The chilli oil drizzled is a nice touch and some toasted sesame oil finished this ramen. All the above were vegan, which makes this place unique and not just a dish or two for vegans like us. The only negative we felt was the temperature of the broth - much less hotter (temperature). Didn't have gayoza's available. I guess we have something to look forward to. Regardless - a must for vegan ramen lovers.

This restaurant makes me sad. Before Covid this restaurant was the best with little miso lego figures and better quality and yes sure it was a little crowded but so delicious. But now overpriced, less fresh tasting aka it tasted like they took the box version and stuck it in the restaurant and no lego figure ( which was my favourite thing ) also it's even more crowded. Don't give up on your Guelph location crafty ramen!!!!!!!!!!

Good ramen not friendly stuff. Will come back but the lady was so mean. Maybe next time

Been going here since they opened. Never had a complaint about the food, it's always on point. Only ever had problems with rude customer service. Wish the original guelph location was bigger!

Great food Really love the ramen, korean fried chicken. Sea weed salad was just ok. Not a huge fan. Overall price was reasonable. They make food in front of us Didn't see beef options. Mainly vegetarian, pork and chicken. Love mango juice too but i think it was bought from someplace else. They have small space to dine in but it is plenty for 5,6 people. Staff is really friendly. It can get crowded real fast Considering the location, finding a parking space is really tricky. I would definitely visit again

Lukewarm smiles serving Lukewarm Ramen. I don't know why this place has such rave reviews. It's awful :( We came here on a Thursday in the late afternoon. There were no other customers inside. I ordered the Northern Warmer and my wife ordered the Spicy Chicken Negi. The girl took our order and we sat at the empty counter and watched as our Ramen was slowly made infront of us. The bearded chef on the other side of the counter made our Ramen right in front of us, and didn't make eye contact, smile or acknowledge our presence in any way. As I watched our Ramen being finished the first red flag appeared as it didn't appear to be steaming hot at all. The food was brought around the counter to us. It was then I noticed that these $17+ bowls of lukewarm Ramen didn't even include an egg...that's an extra cost. My Northern warmer had a decent flavor but wasn't what I was expecting. The description of a Sapporo Miso Ramen with Corn and Butter was very inviting but what I got was very meh. The Butter turned out to be in the shape of little Robots which is a neat idea, but it only looked neat as the taste was just blah. The Corn was fried with some other veggies. Noodles were soft and over cooked and the Ramen itself wasn't hot. My wifes' Shio negi ramen was bland and had no flavor, and the chicken breast was rubbery and dry. Shio Ramen is a difficult thing to get right as it's a fine balance between bland and too much, but this was just bland and flavorless. Also the noodles were overcooked and too soft, and the Ramen itself wasn't hot. This was probably the 2nd worst Ramen I've had in my life, and my wife who is from Japan said it was the worst Ramen she's ever had. When we left our bowls were still half finished. It was that bad. I would have to say the worst thing about this place is they have a Tampopo poster on the wall. There was a ladder leaning infront of it but I noticed it eventually. Tampopo is an old cult classic Japanese film about a struggling Ramen shop owner and her journey to craft the perfect bowl of Ramen. There is a scene in that very film where the chef is explained how her Ramen wasn't being served hot enough...and here I am staring at this movie poster, thinking of this exact scene, while I slurp my bland lukewarm Ramen when I should be blowing on it first because Ramen should be served hot. Someone should take down that poster. Also, for $17+ include an egg in your Ramen. Yeesh!

Found the stock to taste like strains through my socks really very disappointing. They went to Japan to learn how to do this. They should go back and learn again.

Pretty tasty soup. Ideal for the changing cooler temperatures. Went here back in September. I ordered.... a soup that was a bit too spicy for me. Allbeit incredibly delicious. I got extra sesame seeds and bok choy too, which increased the price. Mmmmm good. It took me a while to eat it all because of how spicy it was. I remember ordering a couple juices too and the total came to close to $23, which imo is rather pricey for a large bowl of soup and 2 juices. At the end I also tried their mini ginger ice cream from FourAll. It reminded me of that Graham cracker cereal. All in all, I would definitely return and try a less spicy ramen next time.

Crafty Ramen does something amazing. They contrast cold winter days with warm, uplifting bowls of magic. It's busy. Purposefully busy. It's part of the magic to wait in a line, be seated with people you don't know, and not have table service. This sets the stage to focus on the food. Much like a bible, the menu is cryptic. There are words you recognize, but you're somehow ok not knowing what to expect. When you make your way to the front of the line, the staff is kind, helpful and knowledgeable. The chef line is clearly visible, and while they're preparing you're food, the orchestration is so much fun to watch, that you could care less about how long it takes. You'll see blow torches firing, noodles bouncing, stock pots simmering, and a flurry of activity. The only thing that is hard to describe is the food itself. It's diverse, traditional, and consistently delicious. It's the type of food you wake up at 3am craving, and if you have a bowl in front of you, each taste is savoured.

Best Ramen I have ever eaten!!! I have eaten Ramen in two continents and nothing holds a candle to Crafty Ramen. Im so glad they were able to open a second restaurant in Kitchener! I love taking friends abs family here it never disappoints! With single seating in front of the kitchen its a great place to dine alone... the line chefs will always chat away with you. Now with take away options I can slip into a noodle coma from the comfort of my couch!! You gotta eat here!

Amazing fresh ramen, with generous, well cooked ingredients (the marinated egg is a must) and rich broth. Holds up very well for takeout. However I find the spice level very inconsistent, some days a 3 is a 5 etc, so perhaps order spice on the side.

Our family has ordered from Crafty Ramen many times - always excellent! so it's about time I submitted a review. Crafty Ramen is an excellent restaurant. Food and service consistently top-notch.⁠⁠ Crafty Ramen has a great selection of vegan dishes, conveniently displayed in a separate section of the menu - eliminating the inconvenience of having to read through all the omnivore meals searching for plant-only or plant-substitution items. We often dine with omnivores, who also report their meat-inclusive meals are delicious. Highly recommended!

Cute place but definitely not a date spot. The location is too small with the amount of customers there (i did go on a Saturday for dinner when it is likely busier). If you go don't plan on having a table to yourself as there is only two two-person tables and one group table for the whole place. Other than that you are eating at the bar. But despite the small location the food is pretty good. I had the 'Big City' ramen bowl and an order of gyoza. The broth could have been slightly more flavourful, but it was good and I enjoyed it more the more I ate. Tender meat and I suggested adding one of their marinated eggs (it was one of the highlights of the meal for me). The gyoza was slightly saltier than I expected but still good. All considered, I would go back if I had a ramen craving and try something new.

Yummy! Good value for price. Variety is excellent. I especially like their plant-based menu. Their desserts are delicious.

Chicken karage was the star by far!! Crunchy ! Flavourful! Delicious!! Dumplings were ok ... not my favourite .. but I am a dumpling aficionado. Points for being homemade though! Northern Warmer was excellent and filling. Spicy. Flavourful. Definitely recommend.

The only ramen shop in Guelph... and the angels have sung! So thrilled to have this here! The ramen was absolutely delicious. They certainly do not skimp out on their fillings/noodles. I would like to see more broth though. We had the Meat Lovers, Big City Smoke and Tokyo Salary Man (chicken). All of them tasted amazing; I specially enjoyed the meat lovers. Price point is rather higher than I'm use to from other ramen shops especially given it doesn't include the egg (which is an extra $1), but again, they do load it up. Happy that they now offer take-out! Once delivery hits, it may be dangerous (for my wallet!). I would have given this place a 5 star rating but I felt the price point is a little too high plus they also do not offer the karaage/gyoza items in the evening which knocks off a point.

Came here on Saturday for a friend's birthday at 11ish, right about the time they opened. The place is tiny so be prepared to wait outside if you come during peak hours. You choose what you want and pay first--kind of like a fast food place--then sit down wherever you can find a spot. I strongly suggest limiting your party size to 4 people, or you really won't be able to find a place for all of you to sit together. I ordered the Big City Smoke and also tried their karaage. I found their ramen to be underwhelming. The broth lacked that elusive umami taste--oily, but surprisingly lacking in richness/depth of flavour. Ramen aside, I found the karaage (dipped in that crispy kimchi mayo) to be spectacular! DO NOT MISS. While I left this place a wee bit disappointed, I still think that this ramen shop is a nice addition to the food scene here in Guelph. Hope y'all give this place a shot!

The ramen is tasty but I just ordered a subscription box and my order was delivered totally wrong. After a two week wait to receive the order, that's a bit disappointing. I just tried to log in to the website to check on my order history and...the website is down. When you pay this much for noodles and broth, it would be nice if they would get the details right. Not sure about this one anymore.

Crafty Ramen is located in downtown Guelph, close to main attractions like the Basilica of Our Lady Immaculate and the Guelph Civic Museum, and two blocks away from the Guelph Central (Train) Station. Street parking is available along Mcdonnell Street, as well as the Mcdonnell Street parking lot. The decor is hip and vibrant, the staff is friendly and enthusiastic. Seating is comprised of a long table at the entrance, bar seating (around 18 seats) with comfortable stools facing the open kitchen, and two mall tables for two at the back. Patrons order at the counter when they enter, before getting a seat. During my first visit, I tried the Vegan Surf & Turf ramen, comprised of braised black beans and kabocha, baby bok choi, enoki, dried tomatoes, shredded nori, miso veggie broth; I added the Sesame Crusted Tofu. This ramen was spectacular; each ingredient was flavorful on its own right; the braised beans were delicious, the kabocha had a nice texture, the baby bok choi had subtle citrus notes, the dried tomatoes offered a punch in taste without overpowering the other ingredients, the broth was so nice (although quite salty) and the noodles were perfectly cooked. The extra Sesame Crusted Tofu was lovely, crispy on the outside, nice texture on the inside, and rich toasted sesame yumminess. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this ramen, considering I'm a meat eater and there was no meat whatsoever in the dish. For my second visit, I ordered the Meat Lovers ramen, comprised of pork jowl kakuni, pork chasu & pulled shoulder, chicken breast, green onion, pickled shiitake and burnt sesame oil in a rich shio pork&duck broth. I was ready to be blown away again, given the fantastic first experience, but unfortunately this dish fell flat. In my opinion, the pickled shiitake was overpowering; the pork jowl and pork chasu were not as tender as at other ramen restaurants in Toronto; chicken breast texture was nice; I did not enjoy the burn sesame oil, as I could not taste and enjoy the shio pork&duck broth. Five star rating for the Vegan Surf & Turf ramen; unfortunately, one less star for the Meat Lovers ramen experience. Their bathroom decor is fun and worth checking.

After a long drive and difficulty finding parking, my wife said "this better be some amazing ramen" as we walked in... And they totally nailed it. We didn't get the Karaage, which I've now read is amazing. The Shishito peppers were not the best I've had. But the ramen is the star of the show and it was truly excellent. Lots of creative options and they all look great. Be sure to add a marinated egg, they are perfectly done. A Crafty location is coming to Waterloo later this year and I'll be there on opening day!

$17 for a bowl of ramen that's just....mehhhh. But I guess it's Guelph so we take what we can get. I'm also comparing it to ramen I've had in Toronto and Japan. This is place is only decent. This restaurant has a hipster vibe to it. Atmosphere and food. They have vegetarian and vegan options. They don't have many tables but there are seats at the bar. I heard they can get pretty busy but their service is fast. Their ramen broths are just ok to me. Not enough flavour in my opinion. But their add on egg is good. Their karaage and the kimchi mayo that comes with it is also delicious.

This is the best ramen in Guelph! With one caveat. It's the only Ramen place in Guelph. I don't have high standards for my Ramen, but when it costs close to $20 for a bowl it better be damn good. I expect these prices at a place like Momofuku or other snooty ramen places in Toronto, but not here. I guess it's considered a specialty in Guelph, hence the insane price. And when you're the only one in town there's no competition to incentivize lowering the price. The service was friendly and the people working there are all very nice, but it's just too expensive for what you're getting. If this ramen cost like $10 i would give a 4 Star review. As it stands I struggle to even award 2 stars. Also it's insanely cramped, and ramen isn't exactly a portable meal. Really hard finding a seat which is another downside. I look forward to some competition entering the Guelph space sometime down the road. As it stands, it's just not worth the money.

I've come here twice now, once with my roommate and once right after work. I've tried two of the kinds of ramen. Both of them were a hearty broth, coming in hot and going down silky. The noodles themselves are amazing. They're quite good. Now, the service has to be the best for such a busy spot. People came in and out like crazy, and a lot of people sit in to enjoy their ramen. I'd have to say, I'm impressed with how well it's run. Be prepared though, to spend at least 18-20 bucks here. Drink & ramen gets expensive. Other than that, I'm coming back here again.

A lover of ramen, this place surprised me. After ordering the meat lovers and thoroughly enjoying the dish, I walked away with one question. This one question frequently permeated my mind; "Is this the best ramen I have ever had?" I am proud to say, yes! The broth rich, the meat plentiful and thick, and the noodles hearty. Having gone with a group, all loved this dish, despite varying palettes. My only issue was the space and seating was scare. They opted for an authentic experience by having the food preparation occur in front of the seats. Personally, I was not a fan of this. It infrequently disrupted my conversations. Overall, please go to this place and try the meat lovers. An amazing dish that satisfies any carnivore's urges.

Ok. I had the Rich Broth with Pork. OMG the broth was amazing. Add the marinated soft boiled egg and the two thin cut pork chops for an amazing lunch. Delightful staff chatted the whole time and it was a great experience. I will be back. Honestly though, the Rich Broth is truly wonderful, savory and rich. A mix of pork and duck makes it both thick rich and delectable.

Would I come back? I wouldn't mind. However... Honestly, I think the popularity of this restaurant has a lot to do with the lack of alternatives. As far as ramen is concerned, Crafty just doesn't stand out in any way: presentation, uniqueness, flavour, customizability, etc. It's not bad though! It's okay, and unfortunately, when you have to wait for something that's just okay, it makes you wonder why you even bothered to begin with. Again, Crafty isn't bad. But from the ordinary noodles to the limited seating, it's not quite up to par with the ramen in Toronto.

Best ramen in Guelph. Love their Kombucha and their marinated soft boiled egg is a must try.

I ordered Seoul vegetarian spicy ramen. It was really delicious, only downside bit salty. Nicely packed in recycled container for take out!

Last year July, after eating, I saw a fly in the soup, and then I got diarrhea...But I forgot to report to the Public health...

Wow was I surprised. I went there just as they opened and they do it differently than other places. You place your order at the cashier and than take a seat. I thought it odd that there wasn't a step to give a tip, but I guess they are keeping it authentic to the ways they are doing it in Japan. I ordered the Mazemen and meat lovers and both had great flavour and the egg was perfect plus they make their own noodles. Nice to find a place outside the GTA. Great service to boot! Limited seating but totally worth it if your in the area.

I've been here a couple of times, and I've always gotten the Gryphon ramen. The broth is thick and flavourful, and they are quite generous with the ingredients as well. It is however still on the pricey side, as there are currently no other ramen places in Guelph.. my Gryphon ramen came up to a hefty $19.38 with the added soy marinated egg and an extra half portion of noodles.

This is good stuff. You're in for a bit of a wait if you come here Friday or Saturday night, but I feel it's worth it. I'm not a ramen expert, but it's as good or better as anything I've had in Toronto or KW. Everything tastes super fresh. Be sure to add an egg to your dish - it's popular for a reason. Note that the restaurant is quite small and often busy, so you'll have a hard time fitting a big group of people.

I have been to the Crafty Ramen twice now. The first time I was very excited about a ramen place opening in Guelph. I got the 'salary men' with chicken both times. Tasty, but would be so much better if it had more vegetables in it - or just a bit of colour! Considering it is $13.... Service is friendly.

I'm glad Guelph is beginning to diversify their food ventures into other cuisines rather than focusing on your average Western dishes. Tried their karaage and their meat lovers ramen. I would highly recommend their karaage, which is just fried chicken paired with a tasty crispy kimchi mayo. Their ramen is alright. If you are looking for a ramen experience in Guelph, this could possibly satisfy your craving, although make a small dent in your wallet. The noodles are tasty, and broth very flavourful. If you're looking for authentic ramen I would go to Toronto. Overall I enjoyed having a bowl of ramen at Crafty Ramen. Did it taste like authentic Japanese ramen? No. Is it the best ramen in Guelph? Yes. Would I go back? Possibly.

Delicious ramen although a little pricey. More complex flavours than the average ramen resto in Canada.

A great little place, replicating the small scale ramen shop tradition of Japan. Quirky by North American standards, I guess, but great ramen bowls. Even veggie options!

I really want to love this place. Guelph desperately needed a noodle shop. It is so cute, the interior is very tasteful and it looks like they put a lot of effort into figuring out how to maximize the teeny space. The seating is a bit of an issue if it's busy. Groups beware. The pay-before-you-eat orientation is neat, they have self serve water and sodas. Beers on tap are a small selection of local and import. The Karaage - OH MY GOD. Do not miss this. It is made super fresh, comes piping hot, and the crispy mayo, oh lanta is that ever good. The Gyoza - again, not to be missed. These are little morsels of heaven stuffed into a perfectly seared/steamed little wrapper served with sauce. MMMM.... But the ramen... the ramen is just OK. I had higher hopes. This is what you really come for, isn't it? The portion sizes are generous, they have many interesting toppings and combinations to try, but of the few that I have tried (northern warmer, big city smoke) it seems to be missing that Umami flavour, like other patrons have noted here. I like that the noodles are made in-house, but they aren't anything spectacular, they feel like a pasta noodle in your mouth! These are not the slippery slurpy bouncy chewy alkaline ramen noodle that you crave. The flavours of the broth itself are underwhelming and for a "rich" broth I found each very watery-tasting. I thought the broths could use more salt and more balance. The chashu pork is served slightly seared and is a very generous portion of thick sliced meat on top. Nicely cooked and great flavour and cut of meat. I will be back, but mostly for the gyoza and karaage and convenience of a hot bowl of "ramen" right in Guelph.

Great Ramen place in Guelph. Lots of options. The place is small so when it's busy it's tight. But quick service and tasty food, just wish it wasn't so expensive!

Thats some good Ramen. Handmade noodles...nice broths, A little cramped in there.. My only issue was the price. Its a tad expensive for a bowl of Ramen....

Pretty good ramen. Not the best but good. I would stop in if you needed to fill the urge. Creative dishes and cool ambiance.

I've been here a few times and loved it but today it was a real let down. I had the big city, it was really greasy, there was a overly burnt taste to the broth. Expected much better from this place given that I've had great past experience here. The guy at the front taking orders was kind of rude as well. The group in front of me wanted to look at the menu for a few minutes so let me go ahead and he rudely stated that he was trying to figure out who was next in line. Best to go when its not busy, service is much better.

Very salty broth, could have gone more savoury. It's not that good, but I guess if you really want a ramen, you can go here.

Awesome ramen. We stumbled in on a Sunday afternoon and were pleasantly surprised. The atmosphere in here is awesome. The portions are large and the food is very tasty. The staff are very friendly and though service can be a bit slower the quality is there. These guys are trying hard and are delivering a great meal.

So mf'n good!!! Will drive back from Burlington at the drop of a hat for more tasty tasty treat

It's one of the best Ramens I've had it's just a little over priced. But for sure delicious!

I've been wanting to check out this noodle bar for a while .. was driving by and decided to stop in. Wasn't quite ready for a full meal and the bowls come in just one size $12 and up approx .. noticed the Chicken Karaage (Japanese Fried Chicken) on the snack menu $7 and chose that. It was unique and delicious served alongside kimchi dip/mayo. Excellent and quite filling .. my review was a toss up between 3 and 4.. I edged up because I think this restaurant is a welcome addition to the variety of the city. It is fresh and a different concept with the small counter seating set up surrounding an open kitchen.. however i felt the counter service was a bit snobby and didn't particularly feel comfortable being there.. as a new customer It would be nice to be welcomed a little more . I wasn't even asked how I enjoyed the snack even when the counter person was not busy , so that personal touch was missing. I will sure give a noodle bowl a try next time , the other patrons choices looked great .

I had the Meat Lovers ramen with added ajitsuke tamago (marinated soft-boiled egg). + the pickled shiitake mushrooms are delightfully savory. + there's an abundance of meat toppings, and they're generally pretty well cooked (I'm assuming because everything is cooked sous vide) and well seasoned. The torch searing on the chashu is a nice touch. + the egg is pretty good, but the yolk feels just a tiny bit overcooked. - noodles have no mouthfeel, none of the springy bite that should come with kansui alkalization. They cook their noodles for slightly over 2 minutes, which feels way too long. For comparison, Santouka cooks their noodles for less than 90 seconds, and Ivan Ramen's noodles cook in exactly 50 seconds. My own super crappy ramenized pasta gets al dente in about a minute. - based on the description of the broth ("rich pork&duck broth"), I expected a richer, creamy kotteri-style tonkotsu/paitan broth, but instead it felt like a lighter maybe assari-style broth. I have a suspicion that that they don't have enough fat or gelatin in the broth, and/or don't try to emulsify the fat into the broth at all. - leading on from the previous point, unfortunately the broth just doesn't have much depth to it. I think the flavor is overwhelmingly overpowered by the shiitake mushrooms, which drowns out the meat flavor. This broth feels like it might have taken some inspirations from the Momofuku recipe, which IMO has the same problems. - the taré seasoning is (I'm assuming based on description) based on some kind of blackened sesame oil, which isn't nearly as good a match for this kind of broth as a typical shoyu taré would be. - there's some powdery seasoning on the bowl which I assume is supposed to be like Ivan's katsuobushi salt. I don't think it did anything. Overall, I think it's just ok. (I'm probably being a bit cruel in terms of ratings, it's probably more around the ballpark of 2.5 stars.) Not complaining at all about authenticity (I personally don't believe in that word), but I think the bowl itself is definitely a bit lacking in terms of depth and richness. It's a few steps above other ramen choices in proximity of the Waterloo region. I really really think that a place like Crafty should succeed, should have the kodawari ("dedication", "obsession", etc.) to succeed, but in general the area definitely still needs better ramen.