Sansotei Ramen

I decided to give this place a try after seeing its 4.7-star rating on Google Maps. Today was my first visit — and unfortunately, it will also be my last. I ordered the Tonkotsu Black Ramen and the Tomato Ramen. The noodles lacked the texture I expected, and the portion size was quite small for the price. The tonkotsu broth was completely overpowered by garlic, which made it hard to enjoy. What surprised me even more was the cleanliness — the booth seating along the wall was noticeably dirty. I didn’t expect this level of hygiene from a Japanese restaurant. Overall, it was a disappointing experience.

Tried this ramen spot recently and really enjoyed it! The broth was rich and flavorful, and the noodles had a great texture. The ambience is warm and inviting—perfect for a cozy meal. Service was friendly and attentive. My only gripe is that they only offer pork options—NO chicken or seafood, which limits choices for those with dietary preferences. Still, if you're a pork ramen fan, it's definitely worth a visit!

Had dinner here when we visited Ottawa, saw great reviews and thought it would be worth a try… it is! We ordered the Tonkotsu and the Tonkotsu Black. Great broth richness level, love it with the thin noodles. The Tonkotsu Black is my fave because it had a very rich garlicky flavour. We also ordered the gyoza, which was very nice. They’re a bit full during dinner time, you might have to wait a bit, but the service was so speedy. Think we got our ramen within 5mins after ordering. Would come back!

This is a must-visit for ramen lovers. The warm, inviting atmosphere and attentive service made for a fantastic dining experience. We ordered the Tonkotsu Black and Tonkotsu+, and they were so tasty—rich, flavorful broth, perfectly chewy noodles, and well-balanced toppings. The Gyubee and Zangi were equally delicious and well-seasoned. With exceptional food and service, I will definitely return here. Highly recommend!

Had a delicious shoyo ramen. Flavour was nice and the pork was good. Atmosphere was pleasant and service was quick

The Tonkotsu broth was rich, creamy, and packed with flavor – you could tell it had been simmered to perfection. The noodles were perfectly cooked, and the toppings were fantastic. To complement the meal, the Matcha Milk Tea was smooth, refreshing, and had just the right balance of sweetness. The service was friendly and quick, making for a great dining experience overall. I can't wait to return and try more of their menu! Highly recommend this spot to any ramen or tea lovers!

*UPDATE: Jinsei Ramen took my top spot. This is it. This is Ottawa's ramen spot. Bless this place and its being here. After trying all (most?) of the other dedicated ramen spots downtown and being underwhelmed and sometimes even disappointed, I finally made my way here. This was actually legit good. The noodles are nothing to write home about but they are still good. Everything else though, is just great. First off, the pork chashu is cooked to disintegrating levels of soft, which I am all for. Maybe they could dial it back like one notch, but honestly I love it. Secondly, the toppings are pretty top tier. Fresh green onions chopped nice and small, and a perfectly cooked seasoned egg. Maybe the egg seasoning was average, but the yolk and everything was just perfectly cooked. Finally, and most importantly, the broth. This is what puts this place way ahead of the other spots in town. Just a really perfect, well balanced tonkotsu. Not too rich, plenty salty, and umami as HECK. Seriously a great broth. The tantanmen broth is also dang good. Ramen that's actually worth paying for in Ottawa. 8.7/10 for real.

Really like the Vegeterain Mazemen. I do not like pork and order this vegie option. It was so delicious. I ordered peach sake which was good but pricy (29 CAD)

You aren't ready for this! Even my friend that doesn't like pho/ramen love Sansotei for the broth. They serve delicious exotic cocktails and is always crowed (for an obvious reason). The place is vibrant. Fun fact, the staff greets you when you leave (wishing see you next time) It's absolutely fabulous

The service is good and the staffs are very nice, the food is well cooked and the ambiance is dim and lively.

Despite having tried many different ramen spots, I quite enjoyed this one! The thick noodles were a great texture and the broth was not overwhelming but had a nice light pork flavour. Definitely one of the better ramens I've had in a while! I took the pork donburi home and had it as lettuce wraps for dinner so I was pretty happy with the portion size in this set ($12 pre tax). The place seemed quite popular around lunchtime when I went as well!

Delicious! Happy with all the ramens we had here. - Tonkotsu - Shoyu - Spicy tan tan We live in the GTA and been to one of the Sansotei GTA locations, but this Ottawa location was much better than the GTA's. Ottawa (Bank St) location's ingredients are more authentic to Japanese ramen. The soup arrived hot (important!), with proper & generous toppings (No shiitake!). The Char shu was melty tender with a hint of charcoal. We loved Spicy tan tan. Japanese tan tan men is actually based on Chinese Dan-dan noodle, but, the soup is less oily, thinner but has full of flavor. This tan tan men's broth was delicately spicy, seamlessly balancing contrasting flavors. I was very happy to meet this very authentic Japanese tan tan men here in Ottawa. Service was super friendly and quick. I will come back whenever I visit Ottawa!

Wow! Great ramen! The broth has such a deep flavour, full of umami! Pork broth, mushroom, garlic, all the flavours coming through. Noodles have a good chew, and the pork belly is so soft and flavourful. It's easy to see why there are line ups here. Staff were pleasant, helpful, and attentive. Despite it's small size, it is a great vibe.

Stopped by for lunch with a friend while I was in town this past weekend and wow was I impressed by the ramen that I had! Service here was great and the servers were quite helpful with any questions we had and it's a great little shop to have lunch or dinner at if you are craving for some ramen. After looking over the menu, I ordered their special Tonkotsu+ bowl while my friend got the regular Tonkotsu bowl. Both of them arrived rather quick and were delicious! The unique toppings of my bowl blew me away with the pastrami and meatballs working quite well with the truffle oil infused broth which brought in quite a bit of richness. I never thought you could add pastrami and meatballs to ramen but they made it work! The noodle texture was perfect and I opted for the thick noodles but you could also order bowls here with thin noodles. The addition of daikon ended the bowl on a great note and was a unique touch to an already interesting bowl. Pricing wise, its pretty affordable for what you are getting and the bowls here are quite large. The ambience of the shop was like your typical ramen shop with the servers moving around from table to table taking orders and the shop bustling with customers and the décor was reminiscent of most ramen places that I've been to. If you are in Ottawa and want some delicious ramen, come stop at Sansotei! They have a wide variety of bowls to choose from and I look forward to returning in the future when I am back in town!

I stopped by Santosei Ramen downtown a while ago. The place had a fairly relaxed and lively atmosphere and service was good. In terms of food, I tried the Tonkotsu Black with thin noodles. The soup was rich and garlicky, the tonkotsu had a nice barbecued flavour, and the noodles had a nice crunch and soaked up the soup as intended. The value was really good as well considering the quality, quantity, and other places in the area so I'd give it 9/10

Good portions and very tasty but just wasn't super filling. Felt like it would be great for lunch but as a dinner, needed an evening snack after.

Went for lunch, and had a brief wait to be seated. Understandable, as the place is small, and popular. Once can see why it is popular, however, as the food is great. I had ordered a second smaller dish to try but never received it, but I wasn't charged, so it was all good. The ramen was great, and tasty and satisfying. Definitely would recommend for a lunchtime spot in downtown Ottawa. Even during the pandemic, the service was good and they do check for vaccination status also.

The food was okay, but it was very salty and unappetizing. The service was pretty slow. But, it was good, and they were very nice.

Quite possibly the best ramen I've ever had. Noodle texture perfection. The garlic oil drizzle was enough to lay me out! Service was decent and super fast.

Excellent Ramen. I always try to get some when I'm in centretown. It's a very short walk from Alt Hotel which is another favorite.

A very good and very tasty ramen. Got Tonkotsu Black ramen and it was delicious! Staff is attentive and friendly, we got our food very fast. The place itself is nice and very small. It is very easy not to notice it when you are looking for it outside. I would come again and definitely recommend visiting!

I was in town and seen good things about this place, and it did not disappoint. I got the Spicy Tan Tan ramen, which was really flavorful and filling. We also got some appetizers, all of which were tasty. We especially enjoyed the fried chicken. Would definitely suggest this place for anyone in the area craving ramen.

This location is in downtown Ottawa near the Parliament Hill with a bit of a walk. The storefront is rather small and we actually walked past it before we had to double back. The store is smaller than expected but worth the wait and food. We got a Tonkotsu Black Ramen which was well portioned and tasted excellent. Staff is busy and attentive so good mix along with a traditional Japanese greeting on entry. Worth a visit!

Excellent food and great prices. Good amount of food and the staff is efficient, polite and quick! Awesome experience...

Best ramen in Ottawa. I stayed in Ottawa last week, during my stay, I went to dine in 2 times. Their slow cooked chicken was perfect, I ordered 2 times. The tomato soup ramen was my favorite. BTW, all the waitresses were very nice.

Very good ramen. Just as good as the other locations in Toronto, the location in Ottawa is usually packed during the dinner rush. The pricing remains the same, in the $15~$20 range for a bowl. My favourite remains the black garlic, partner ordered the normal tonkotsu. When we went in the middle of the afternoon, it was still half full as a restaurant. Service is quick, and they provided takeout containers. A good staple chain ramen spot.

It's a food-reason to come back to downtown Ottawa! You can't possibly do anything wrong with this menu. The tight quarters only help to keep you in the cloud of ramen-smell delight and ensure you get the best service from an ever-bustling service staff. They flip tables like a gymnast somersaults. Back and forth, in and out (the front door to take names and say hello). When I said you can't do anything wrong, I meant it. Miso Black is a favorite for sure. The belly slab you get with your ramen only complicates matters for you as to whether to eat it straight away or savor bites over the course of your ramen. There's plenty of chashu underneath so don't worry!

My husband and I visited Sansotei Ramen for the first time last week. Because of the pandemic, there weren't a lot of tables but we got there right after we opened, so it was no problem getting seated right away. However, I noticed that shortly after they opened, there was a lineup of people waiting outside and the same thing in the evening so I'd definitely recommend making reservations. I ordered the tonkotsu black and my husband ordered the spicy tantan. They were both absolutely delicious. The eggs in both were nice and runny and the meat was very tender. The broth was also very tasty. The noodles were perfectly cooked with just a little bit of a bite to them. Both of us had the thinner noodles, so I can't say what the thicker ones would be like. The service was fast and friendly and the inside of the restaurant (including the washrooms) was very clean. We'd definitely go back!!

Delicious ramen, fast service, friendly waiters, and a cool space in the city. Highly recommend the Tonkotsu black!

Visited this location several times since I moved to Ottawa, and never have I been dissatisfied. Their quality especially on the appetizers have gotten better, and the ramen has of course remained consistent. Even though this place is small, they run it efficiently and the staff are very friendly. The huge mirror when I walk in trips me out every time, it makes the place look double the size until you realize you're looking at your own reflection

The person standing after me was right. It wasn't that this ramen restaurant was good. It's only that other ramen restaurants around Ottawa were bad so it looked like this place was good. I waited for 30 mins and got to my seat. Ordered a standard Tonkotsu ramen and it took 15 mins to arrive. It's a simple dish that is ordered hundreds of times every day, and shouldn't take this long. I followed up with the waitress and she only said it's being prepared. They focused more on takeout than dine in customers. The umami was typical Sansotei which wasn't any different than the ones at other cities. 3 star. So you might ask why did they lose a star on top? All of the staff forgot to say goodbye and thank you when I paid and left. I don't think I'll go back again

Food is pretty tasty, but the service was a bit disorganized and they brought out the wrong dishes. We had waiting a while and were too hungry to notice until it was too late. Tasted good none the less, but for the price it fell a bit short.

This tiny ramen shop was a great find in Ottawa. The servers were very helpful and nice recommending their favorite menu items. Very reasonable pricing too. I was shocked at how good the ramen tasted. The thin noodles and super deep flavor of the tonkatsu plus broth blew me away. The truffle oil gave a whole other dimension to the dish. All toppings m in the Tonkatsu plus were just as good. The meatballs were full of flavor and the mushrooms were marinated perfectly. The added daikon radish wrapped up the whole dish to end on a great note. This will be a go to spot every time I'm in town.

Was visiting Ottawa from out of town and decided to get some ramen for dinner. Let me start by stating that if you are vegetarian, then do not go here. Everything here is made from pork broth. In addition, most of their ramen has pork in them. Though I eat pork, the food was overwhelming with pork flavor. The restaurant is extremely busy with over an hour of wait every night. The place is small with limited seating, and the service is average. Overall experience was not very good.

Sansotei Ramen was my first ever real ramen experience and I loved it! I always order the Tonkotsu Black Ramen whenever I go. It has braised pork, black fungus, egg with a slightly runny yoke, green onion and garlic oil. I love the richness and creaminess of the broth with the garlicky flavour of the oil. I have a bit of a sensitive stomach though when it comes to rich foods, so I can only enjoy half the dish at a time because of the rich broth. I would gladly devour it all in one sitting if I could. The texture of the black fungus takes some getting used to as well if you're not familiar with it. Overall, this is such a comforting dish and perfect for cooler weather. My friend got the Miso Black with the edible flower and really enjoyed her ramen as well. Great portions and reasonable prices for what you get!

This is my ramen place to go to around the downtown area. Sometimes you have to wait in line but it's worth it. The service is fast and the staff are friendly. The flavours are on point and you leave with a happy stomach!

Amazing ramen! Good service. Cool ambiance. Very tasty and delicious. The noodles are fresh and the broth is made to perfection. Original Japanese ramen with plants of choices. Strongly recommend. I would definitely go back soon!

Pretty average ramen. It is the first ramen I've tried in Ottawa, but in general, I've had better. On a Friday, there was a short wait for a table of 2 around 6 pm. The line went kind of fast at least, and we were seated in about 15 minutes. I had the black miso for $14.50. I do like how each bowl comes with an egg and some other toppings (bamboo shoots, mushrooms, etc.) and you don't have to add on extras. Also, I think you get two pieces of pork, one that is fattier (presumably pork belly) and one that is leaner (pork shoulder). The broth was standard. I had the thick noodle and that was fine. I think the egg was the best part. I think the portion is a bit on the smaller side. I don't have a huge appetite, but even for me, the regular size was barely enough. So if you are hungry, I would recommend getting extra noodles for $1.50 and/or an appetizer. Service was good. Our water was refilled often, and the staff are very friendly. Honestly, this place was just okay but if it's supposedly the best in Ottawa, I guess I may come back for any ramen cravings.

Service was great, Ambiance was great, the food was incredible. Broth was rich and flavourful, the pork was soft and beautifully marinated and the rest of the dish was great all around, price was well worth it.

5 stars out of 5 for: - Ottawa does not have a whole lot of ramen places; I find this one to be a good one compared to the others (again, not many to compare it to) - reasonably priced - short menu list so it won't take your forever to decide - tasty ramen; I only go for the ramen, & it is usually enough for me for lunch or dinner - good for groups BUT be prepared to line up; there usually is a line up but it goes quickly - friendly staff - Bank St. location is convenient for commuters as it is accessible with numerous transit lines (I have yet to visit their Merivale location.)

I was lucky enough to go when the place wasn't too busy and I'm not lying, the food was amazing! The ambiance too was just on point!

A friend and I decided to go here because I heard good things about it and we were both craving ramen...and I can see why! It did take a little while to get seated and to get our food, but considering the amount of people who came during the time we were there, I'm not surprised at all (and they tried serving everyone as quickly as possible, even the ones who were waiting for their takeout or to be seated)! Also, service was very sweet & I really like the ambience of the restaurant, even if it was pretty small. I had the Tonkotsu Black, which I really enjoyed: all the ingredients together make a very satisfying bowl of ramen & I was honestly a little sad that I finished it too quickly. I had also decided to have some Zangi (fried chicken), very crispy and it tastes even better with the lemon they provide! My friend also gave me the opportunity to taste her mango cheesecake, and it was not too sweet and the taste of mango was subtle but still noticeable. Overall, I'd love to come back to try the other ramen, because they all look delicious!

This is absolutely my favourite ramen place in the entire city and I am so glad that they still do takeout and delivery during the pandemic (means I don't have to stand outside in the cold waiting to get in anymore!) The ramen here is so rich, decadent and thick. the Soup really fills you up and makes you feel very warm inside. I mostly only order the TONKOTSU BLACK, which is an addition of garlic oil from the basic tonkotsu ramen. My other item that I usually add on is the zangi hokkaido style chicken. It is a bit greasy, but I like that about my fried chicken. It is perfect for me. The prices, to be as filled as you are, are one of the best on bank street!

The ramen at Sansotei Ramen is beyond tasty! The depth of flavours was incredible and the egg melted in my mouth! I crave this dish often and it never disappoints!

Great broths, a little pricey but nice to have a ramen place near home. Their pork belly is tender and sweet.

Best Ramen in Ottawa hands down! My all time favorite, you won't be ever disappointed. Nium

Pre-pandemic, Sansotei was a place that was bustling with traffic; every time I commutes past it, there's be a large lineup of eager customers-to-be. When I partook in this ritual, I experienced a 27 min wait time. For this reason, it is prudent to order ahead of time. I had the Tonkotsu Black with extra thick noodles, with a friend and I sharing Spicy Slow Cooked Wings. The quality of the ramen delivers for its price; not exceptional, but I was satisfied with it since I was waiting for a while on an empty stomach. The wings stood out as they weren't too hot to handle (for me at least) and the spices served the tender chicken well. Evidently, service had to be quick and efficient so as to get through all their customers. This is appreciated. 4.5/5, rounded up. Since I've been meaning to come back eventually, I'll provide an update.

This place has the best ramen I've ever had, and I've been to Japan. I come here about once a month for lunch with a friend, and every time I go I'm amazed at how incredibly delicious the food is. I demolish that bowl of ramen, often MMMMing the whole time. It's busy and they don't take reservations. If you don't want to wait for a table come when they open at 11.

Best ramen in Ottawa, we have been coming here for YEARS. We used to stand in the snow for over an hour to eat here (pre-kids), it's THAT good. We love the tonkotsu and miso black ramen, the gyoza and fried chicken. The staff is always super friendly and on their mark. Get the thick noodles, you won't be disappointed!

I'm here in Ottawa on a business trip...and guess what!? I had to have a ramen craving!!! And to my surprise, I found this awesome place to come and get a delicious bowl of ramen!!! I highly recommend the Black Miso, it's full of flavor and more importantly, it's delicious. I know that Sansotei Ramen will be my place to visit whenever I'm in Ottawa. :)

They should adjust their hours if they have a 20+ minute break for CHANGING THE WATER...!? What is changing the water? Tap water lunch. Evian for dinner? List hours as 11-3 4-11 (example). Complete waste of our time, finding parking, etc

I visited Sansotei Ramen after hearing many people recommend it, and I can see why it has a popular reputation! I had the shoyu ramen, and it was delicious with a great portion size. I'm looking forward to returning!

This is the best Ramen place in town! Food is awesome and service is fast. You just have to be prepared to wait / line up if you show up at noon. Lots of line up winter or summer time. Highly recommended

It is a chain, would be below average in a place like Toronto, but for Ottawa it is the most authentic spot you can find. It is true to the Japanese food experience, but just know there is better if you went to another city. It is well priced and is consistent.

Fellow Yelpers feedback brought me here for the first time today. It's Saturday and I'm on a late lunch...it's 2:45PM and the place is packed!! I walked by many places that close between lunch and dinner where this place clearly is happening during this time. They have a small menu but gathering from the crowd here and the reviews on yelp, this place seems to be the place to be. Can't wait to try out the food. Starting with the greeting and initial ordering, I've got to say that the staff appears to be super friendly and forthcoming. I've ordered the Spicy Tan Tan with extra pork belly and extra noodles (feeing hungry). Oh wow!! The flavors!! Outstanding! Not because I still needed it, but more so because I needed to try it, I ordered the small rice with beef cup. And it too was amazing!!! What a feast for about $20!!! Can I recommend this place to my friends and business partners?? Sure thing! In fact, I'll tell them they cannot afford to miss out on this place! I'm a little sad that I only make it through Ottawa three, maybe four times a year, but I'll be back the next time!!! Well done Team Sansotei Ramen!!!

I love the Sansotei in Toronto and was worried that this location would not live up to the expectations, but it sure did! The line ups during lunch and dinner time are proof of this! I got the tonkotsu black as usual, and it was exactly the way I remembered it. Will definitely be back! Thanks for letting me have good ramen in Ottawa

Takeout Spicy TanTan. The broth was very salty. Not sure what happened to this place during covid. For a $18 bowl of soup. Not cheap and I would expect perfection. Hopefully it was one off.