Marutama Ramen is finally open in Burnaby on Kingsway just minutes away from Metropolis at Metrotown. I absolutely adore their delicious creamy chicken broth and I can’t get enough. Even Jason Momoa agree as he’s a regular at the Downtown location.
I would actually come here a lot to their Downtown location when they first opened. As I spend more time at home in Burnaby, I was super stoked to hear that it opened so close by. It’s actually a great spot as there definitely needs more good ramen shops in the area.
Line Up
As Marutama in Burnaby is just a few weeks old, it is drawing crowds for lunch and dinner. They open at 11:30am for lunch, so we ended up getting there at 11:45am because it’s hard to be on time anywhere with a baby.
We missed the first seating, but we were the 3rd in line asking for a table of 4. They asked us if we wanted to split up, but we said no, so the wait was around 10 minutes. The turnover is pretty quick and we noticed that people in groups of 2s got in and out very quickly.
Interior
There is one big communal table, and then a bunch of seats for 2s. It’s a decent size inside but it’ll be hard to get a big group in quickly unless you’re the first people there.
Kid Friendly
The space is cramped but they are kid friendly in a sense. I know I was nervous taking Baby E as its a busy place with limited space. Where we were seated, they provided a high chair, sippy cup, and kid friendly cutlery and scissors. It was a nice touch.
We left the stroller and car seat in the car. Normally I would attempt to take it in, but at 7 months, she’s fairing well with high chairs even though she looks like a tiny little nugget.
I did notice other families at the communal table with a stroller for a small baby and a high chair for their toddler. Just arrive early before the lunch hour to make sure they can seat you in a good spot.
Menu
Tamago Ramen
This is their signature item on the menu and I highly recommend it if it’s your first time here. It’s a great introduction to Marutama with their great chicken broth and marinated ramen egg. You also get two pieces of chashu, and AOSA sea lettuce. You can get this mild or spicy.
I’ve had both before and spicy gives you a nice kick of heat. On a regular day, I would go with the mild.
Also, don’t forget to add these beautiful garlic chips into your ramen. It’s pretty damn good.
Aosa Ramen [Add Egg]
This is my go to ramen since I love the AOSA, which is sea lettuce. Unlike seaweed, it has a great flavour and texture. Usually you don’t see this in ramen, but it pairs so well with their broth.
I added the ramen egg to it since it’ so good. The chashu was very dry when I went, so not as enjoyable.
Gyoza
The gyoza are hand made and then pan-fried. They come to the table with a crisp exterior and stuffed with pork and vegetables. There are 5 pieces to an order.
Cha Shu Gohan
The hot rice is topped with cha shu, pickled daikon, and green onions. It’s a nice side item to add to the meal. Or even a small dish to order if you’re not too hungry.
Final Thoughts
I really like Marutama and I would highly recommend it. The downside is that it is just terribly busy on weekends and also evenings. Weekday lunch is better as the wait is minimal.
Address:
5278 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC
Website:
https://marutama.ca
