Kayo's Ramen Bar
Ramen restaurant · Boise
3808 N Williams Ave # 124, Portland, OR 97227
Highlights
Vegan & meat-centric noodles, beer, wine, sake offered
Vegan & meat-centric noodles, beer, wine, sake offered
"Opened by Osaka expat Kayoko Kaye, the star of the show at this airy ramen spot (which also features indoor and outdoor seating) is the mala, a Sichuan hotpot-inspired bowl infused with tongue-tingling Sichuan peppercorns and dried chile peppers. Nearly all the entrees are also available in vegan form. The creamy tantanmen is another beloved stalwart and a good option for heat fiends." - Zoe Baillargeon
"At the airy-yet-comfy Kayo’s Ramen Bar, Kayoko and Matt Kaye bring clear, light assari-style ramen to North Portland. Despite having standards like shoyu, shio, and miso — as well as singular options like curry and mala Sichuan peppercorn — the go-to order here is the tantan ramen, a tasty blend of spicy chile, sesame paste, and savory ground pork. The noodles here are the restaurant’s own, and every ramen in the shop is available vegan." - Rebecca Roland
"Ramen is unquestionably suited to Portland’s wet season weather, but the city’s superlative selection makes it worth seeking year-round. Kayo’s ramen menu ranges from traditional shoyu to more inventive variations like the Sichuan hot pot-inspired mala. Seasonal specialties include noodle salads and a Japanese-inflected tacos featuring ingredients like tantan-style ground pork, diced tofu, and chashu. Every ramen is available in a vegan format; guests can sit in Kayo’s bright, high-ceiling dining room or outside on its spacious front patio." - Nathan Williams
"Located on North Williams, Kayo’s Ramen Bar offers a vegan version of almost every bowl. Made with an assari-style kombu, shiitake, and vegetable base, the restaurant’s meatless renditions of classics like shio, shoyu, and miso are solid. However, the real star is the shop’s take on tantanmen, a blend of creamy sesame paste and fiery Sichuan peppercorn. Not for the faint of heart, there’s also a mouth-numbing Sichuan hotpot-style mala ramen. Pair it with a cold Japanese lager or junmai sake. In addition to ramen, Kayo’s offers a number of vegan plates, like kale potstickers, wasabi-infused pickled shiitake mushrooms, and tantan tofu tacos with sliced daikon." - Waz Wu
"Osaka expat Kayoko Kaye runs this an airy ramen spot (which also features heated and covered outdoor seating) where the star of the show is the mala, a bowl infused with tongue tingling Sichuan peppercorns and dried chile peppers. Nearly all the entrees are also available in vegan form. The creamy tantanmen is another beloved stalwart." - Ron Scott, Eater Staff
