Review Ramen Bankara

Ming

A good Japanese restaurant serving ramen. The Tonkotus is not as rich, creamy and gelatinous as I like, but is still full of flavour. I like the Cha-Shu don - very tender pieces of Cha Shu with a hint of smokiness.

Jabin Landayan

Pros: - Noodles made on-site! - Good ambience - Reasonable price - Good, rich broth - Smoky bacon accompanies each bowl Cons: - First few sips of the broth is the only good part of the meal. - Serving of noodles is disproportionate to amount of broth in the bowl. There was too much noodles for the bowl. - Noodles were too soft and overcooked. Ramen noodles are supposed to be springy to the tooth. You can get away with the wrong ingredients if you cook it correctly. Unfortunately, the erroneously already thin noodles were further butchered by being overcooked until gummy and soft. Recommendation: Come here only if you're in the are and craving ramen. I know that's harsh but I wouldn't come here again.

MM

Have come here a few times and has always been consistent, quick service. Roughly $14 for a bowl of ramen. Very filling and delicious. The place is quite small so I would avoid during peak lunch and dinner times as you may need to wait for a seat

시누시누시누

I didn’t exepct their ramen to be exactly the same as the ones in Japan. But it was very different, because it was extremely salty!😭🧂😭🧂I tried tonkotsu in Fukuoka and the salt ramen in Hokkaido before and they were not this salty. I assume that chef can’t tell the difference! But I give them 3 stars for their takoyaki🍱👍

George Hirata

This place has a great selection of ramen and other Japanese meals together with a good selection of Japanese beers. The wait times are usually not too bad, so you don't have to wait outside for long if you have to, and you don't feel pressured by people waiting outside for you to leave as soon as you're finished, nor to rush your food. Like if you agree.

Daniel Tan

Taste is good but portion sizes are a bit disappointing... Enjoyed the Buta Don but found the ingredients to be quite small servings. Update - April 2019 : the Kikuni-don is very good and succulent with good sized portions.

Sporter

I'm a usual customer here and so far i have enjoyed my meals here. The ramen here is delicious and I am satisfied with every meal I had. This place is not customisable ramen wise but nevertheless not an issue at all. 10/10 would recommend.

y y

Decent ramen, the spicy ramen is 👌👌. We ordered gyozas and they were alright, not the best. Some of the items were a bit pricey but that's expected since it's in the city.

Risa Sith

When it comes to ramen, you always have to eat it while it's hot and fresh which is what makes bankara so lovely. Bankara definitely hits the spot with the flavorful broth!!

Amy Vince

The black/garlic Tonkatsu ramen was AMAZING! one of the best ramen places in the city in my opinion and all the staff were super lovely :)

Qiwen Xie

Basically the worst ramen I’ve ever had.

Shiho Tokuda

The ramen is clearly instant noodle. Not tasty at all:( We spent around 40 for 2 ppl and the ramen cost around 15. At this price, you can absolutely eat better delicious food:(

Josh Gonzalez

Worst Ramen I’ve eaten at. Sadly it was absolutely terrible. Would not recommend any one eating here. Thank you

LILICIOUS

Ramen soup base was not fragrant as expected to be . Very watery as if it was just salty and barely any fragrant pork soup base that is stated to be boiled for twelve hours. Appalling, pork pieces were so skinny and little that it was just not worth $14.60(tonkatsu ramen) little bit of spring onion and black fungi. One piece of nori (grilled seaweed). Will not be back again.....

Eat Good Melbourne

On the hunt to try some new ramen spots and found Bankara. I was excited to try their slow cooked pork belly but sadly they had sold out :( We ordered a spicy ramen, original and gyoza. The original broth is very rich and oily. The spicy broth is super spicy I struggled to finish it as my lips were on fire! I really enjoyed the noodles as they stayed quite firm as I was working my way through it slowly and the chashu is very tasty and reminds me of the canned luncheon meat my dad used to add to noodles. I’d definitely be back to catch the pork belly and I’ll stick to the original.

LaMondo

Nice, relatively classy interior. Pretty empty at Tuesday 9pm. The ramen itself was pretty good - I got shoyu tonkotsu ($14). I liked the egg with the gooey yolk, but wasn’t a fan of the pork slices they included, which for some reason tasted extremely strongly of plain soy sauce. The volcano ramen was extremely spicy. I tried a spoon of the broth and the burning in my mouth and throat was akin to taking a shot of vodka. (I am not great with spice, my friend who is very good with spice said it was of a good level spice for her.

The Casual Diner

Will come back for: + Black ramen Came by here for lunch as we were feeling like a ramen fix. We ordered a volcano and black ramen. Both ramens were ok, but I particularly liked the black ramen. The soup was flavourful and the portion good for the price. The service was quick and efficient and the ambience of the place was decent. There are so many ramen joints in Melbourne now, so this rating reflects where this one sits. In the middle compared with some of the other ones in town in terms of flavours of the soup and the texture of the ramen.

Tinmans Treats

I came here because I was hungry and needed to carb load before a half marathon. It was decent enough ramen. In Melbourne's CBD, there's a lot of excellent choices for ramen and is very competitive. People are very passionate about their ramen. There's a decent vibe with the interior. As for this ramen, it's okay.

Clarice Natasha

Ramen Bankara is an overall cosy ramen place if you just want a quick sesh of decent ramen in the heart of the city! I always order the Black garlic ramen, and they taste amazing. But sometimes the pork fat could be a little overwhelming. Their portion is pretty decent, sometimes it’s a bit much for me. But I really enjoy their ramen overall! The service is quite slow, especially if you’re seated in the upper level, they tend to ignore you unintentionally. Food : 4.5/5 Ambience : 5 Service : 3.5/5

Croissant Lady 91

Waiter was efficient - water station said "self service" but he served us and even brought a full jug for refills when I told him the ramen was spicy.the spicy (volcano) ramen really is spicy and this is coming from someone that eats Sichuan food! we were sweating!had the top on of pork kakuni for $6 - that was generous.also tried the tonkotsu - pork chashu here isn't the circular thin slices but rather fatty and thick long strips. We prefered the pork chashu over the kakuni. would return.BOGOF on the Ent. Book

Linnie Eats All The Food

Whilst wandering around in the city we were getting a bit peckish and sifted through our Entertainment book to see what deals we had and BAM we landed at Ramen Bankara. Since anytime is ramen time, Mr D did not hesitate. We were greeted by the staff and was shown to our table (luckily we like to eat early and there were plenty of tables free). We couldn’t NOT get kaarage (fried chicken) and was super excited when it came out. Unfortunately, it was quite dry on the inside.

The Superscript Diner

❤️ Shoyu Tonkotsu ($14); Black Tonkotsu ($15); Gyoza ($6.80/R) 💔 Ebi Fry Curry Don ($14.80) 👥 Individual meals per person—moderately full 👍 Beautiful flavours in the broth, especially the black sesame; great presentation in all the dishes; great design and ambiance; pork belly was the highlight ingredient in both the noodle soups 👎 Appeared to be understaff [1]; unenthusiastic staffs [2]; lacking in pepper spice [3]; curry was lacking in flavour; very small traces of prawn in the curry [4] 🕓 Moderately busy at 8 PM, Saturday night; food comes out within 5 minutes ❗️[1] It took a surprisingly long time to be seated when we enter, as there was no one there to greet us and to direct us to our seats [2] Staff who took our order, and another staff who we paid at the counter did not seem very happy or wanted to know how our meal was [3] Dried peppers/chilli shaker to sprinkle over the curry [4] The prawn was covered in lots of crumbs instead

Hubert Natividad

Great food and ambiance! The ramen is Best in Melbourne! it feels like I'm eating ramen in Tokyo! And all the staff are very friendly. Value for Money!

IsaH

Tonkotsu ramen's portion was generous, lots of noodles. The broth was quite rich and on the salty side, and because the noodles were rather soft (not mushy) it soaked up a lot of that salty broth so it's difficult to finish the entire bowl. The chashu was tender in parts, generally drier than ones I have in other ramen shops. The marinated egg was really nice though, gooey yolk and nicely seasoned. I added the bamboo shoots because I like the crunchy texture but struggled to eat them all because again they were really salty. All in all, the rich (but overly salty) broth and these average toppings didn't do it for me. Because the food experience wasn't that good so I think paying $14 + $2 (extra topping) is rather overpriced. Service was ok at best. The restaurant looks really casual and cosy though. It seems small from the outside but it's actually quite spacious, with more tables inside.

Usagi

Japanese setting, Japanese staff, pretty standard Japanese menu. My buta-kakuni don has a weird composition with a lot of salad that doesn’t belong. The pork belly is good enough, I have had it better elsewhere. It can be very filling. My friend ordered Shoyu Tonkotsu that is good EXCEPT the broth is disappointingly lukewarm. Also ordered chicken nanban from the side menu and was served a sweet fried chicken dish that is definitely not chicken nanban. Weird. Verdict: ramen can be good if the broth is hot. Don’t order rice bowl or side dish.

Lizzie Eats Melbourne

😱Lizzie’s first impression: Don't think i've been to a ramen joint as bad as this one before... 🍩Lizzie enjoyed: sure, the presentation was not too bad as seen from my photos and I was actually really excited to eat it. 🍅Lizzie did not enjoy: The ramen was really soft and didn't taste like the ramen noodles you'll find at other Japanese/ramen joints in Melbourne or Japan..The ramen soup was too salty for my liking also. 🥇Lizzie rates overall: yes presentation was not bad - but the food wasn't as good as expected unfortunately.

Miho Matsumoto

We came here this afternoon. The food was good. The staff were very friendly and guided us how to order. The prices were not ‘expensive.’ Very polite people and would recommend to everyone.

Melbourne Food Finds

Very pleased with my visit here. The ramen broth was very authentic and hot. You can tell that the broth has been boiled for a long time, the pork flavour is just right! Felt like I was right in japan and the ambience and decor of the restaurant provided for that too. Prices are reasonable for serving size and quality. Although the restaurant is small, it is intimate and cosy and not a factor that would influence eating there. Would definitely be visiting soon again!

Jimbo

Nice and cosy Japanese ramen place in CBD. Ordered the signature ramen with slow cooked pork, as well as fried gyoza. Ramen was flavoursome but a touch too salty. Not a stand out but I finished it anyway. Pork gyoza was nicely cooked and not overly burnt. Overall it was ok but nothing special.

Marina Ung

I came here last night for dinner around 8pm. My partner and I ordered for starter Takoyaki Balls with cheese ($2 more for cheese), the Blank Tonkatsu and the Volcano ramen. The Black Tonkatsu tasted like mushroom ramen, broth was beautiful. The volcano was meant to be spicy.. however it was only a kick. Remember to have a lot of tissues if you’re doing the volcano, you’ll sweat in a very tight squeezed dining area. The only downside was the fact that the mains came before the entree and the broth were both lukewarm. $51 for two mains, one entree and a glass of sake! 💕

Lily Tang

Came here with my family and it was alright. I got the Cha shu don and it was just okay. I wouldn’t come again just because I’d rather go to other places since this was just satisfactory. The radish was really good and somehow the pork tasted like eel to me ? 🤣 but yeah overall it was alright Came here again and ordered the ramen and it was alright. The ramen was good but not exceptional to the point where I would want to come again. The place was quite dark. It is really cute with anime characters around the place which I loved but the food was just not it. The prices were also the same as other places so next time I’ll go there for Japanese food.

Snowflower

Lovely ramen. The volcano broth was really spicy - as warned by the lovely staff. Chr siew were tender and fragrant. Will recommend. Entertainment book users can enjoy a one-for-one ramen offer. 👍🏼👍🏼

Joanne | Melbournecitay

Overall score: 18/25 or ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ in 5 words: Smokey pork and springy ramen! * Taste ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - they have expanded the menu - there’s a wider range of ramen to choose from now (compared to zomato’s menu). ✅The black garlic ramen had a delicious pork broth soup base. We enjoyed the smoked taste and balance of fat and meat on each pork chashu slice. Noodles were springy and thin, though not the best tasting ramen i’ve had. Eggs were cooked perfectly. 🆗 I added $1 to make my tonkotsu more spicy but it got so spicy that I couldn’t drink the soup! Best to stick with a regular tonkotsu instead. * Ambience ⭐️⭐️⭐️ - this place transports you to a ramen bar in Japan. decoration and ambience was good, and there were ample seats at the back. * Price ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- we had an entertainment voucher so we snagged a buy 1 free 1 ramen. Otherwise, a ramen generally costs $14-$16 which I think is value for the egg, 3-4 pork slices, seaweed and plenty of noodles. Wish they gave more bamboo shoots though. * Presentation ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - the ramen looked great and again, my partner stared at me impatiently as I took photos. * Service ⭐️⭐️⭐️- I experienced some language barriers here as I couldn’t speak good mandarin. Otherwise, service was fast and efficient. We got our ramen within 5 minutes. This is great for a quick dinner!

Gloria Pang

Before, I had rated 4 stars because every time I had Karaka-men, it was really nice, perfect amount of spice that brings a little heat, and the both was decent - flavorsome. However, this time, I wanted to try something different, I ordered the Curry Tsukemen. I could honestly say, it was bad. Firstly, the 'dipping sauce', the curry, it did not taste like Japanese curry at all, I don't know what I bit into, but it brought a very strong taste which I did not like. There were so little meat inside. Now to the side dish, the lotus chips (?) that were served on top of the noodles - which looked burnt and in really tiny pieces - the flavour was alright, but the moment I bit into it, oil bursts out, it felt like it was soaked in the oil and was not drained properly. Now, onto the main star, the noodles - it was undercooked, it was hard and tough. I thought they usually ask before we order, whether we want our noodles soft or hard, but this is literally undercooked. I was so disappointed. After eating half way, I was feeling sick and couldn't finish it no more. Also, noting that, I feel like the menu is overpriced for its portion.

Aldsy

Have been here countless times ever since its opening in 2016. Love the Bankara! It has a very rich broth, the kakuni is tender and it melts in your mouth! Worth a try!

Lina's Music House

We tried this ramen place because it was in the Entertainment book. The dipping ramen was delicious and different to other ramen places. It's a nice casual Japanese ramen restaurant in the CBD.

Doris J.

Tofu and Rice was ok, and the lotus chips were really good . However,ramen but too salty and noodles over cooked. Fried dumplings were disastrous, frozen dumplings and bad fillings.

Ash Wirthensohn

A review based on the Black Tonkotsu Ramen Pros. - Nice soft pork cutlets - Other ingredients were nice too - Quick service - Not a long wait on food Cons. - Broth was too salty - Unenthusiastic staff - Portion size was a little small Other. - Thin noodles - Anime and Manga images on walls - Authentic (or close to real Japanese ramen shop) Chopsticks, Glasses, etc. Summary. A store with a unique atmosphere, obvious love and passion put in my owners, staff maybe not so much. The ramen itself was okay but nothing unenjoyable. A little too salty for my taste. Perhaps I was unlucky and got the bad staff. It is unfair to judge a store on 1 visit, therefore if I were to return to again I will order a different meal to give fair judgement of food and staff as well.

Don Djoe

I couldn't resist the temptation. I had to try their volcano ramen and it was damn spicy. Did I enjoy it? Not so much, somehow it was just pure hotness without any other flavour. I appreciate the noodle though, it was pretty nice but their meat was almost non existent. The place was quite busy but the staffs were attentive. So it was nice. Overall, it's not a bad place to have a meal.

Robin Tay

First time to RB and ordered their JFC Japanese Fried Chicken curry don. The chicken itself was fried to perfection but what was lacking was seasoning and also the curry sauce itself which was strange for being called a curry don. Location was good and we didn't wait long to be seated. Most of the other patrons ordered ramen so will have to do that next time.

Cathy Yang

This little place looks quite cozy and nice from the outside so I went in for a quick ramen for lunch. The tonkotsu ramen is quite well done, noodle texture is nice and the soup is tasty. However the chashu pork that comes with it is not as satisfactory, in fact it was cold when I was eating it off from my noodles. I understand it could be pre-made and perhaps refrigerated? But at least heat it up please. Also it’d be perfect if the ramen has different level of texture/salty selection to personalize it,Iike the traditional way. I’m also missing the takana and ginger that usually come with it. Nevertheless it’s a pleasant experience eating here overall and I think I’ll be back again.

Looster_Foodie

Was pleasantly surprised with the ramen I ordered, the black ramen with fried garlic oil. It was flavoursome and portion was generous. Only thing i noticed is that i was left rather thirsty after the meal.

Bun's Food Diaries

From the outside it's not obvious that inside is actually quite narrow but there is upstairs seating at the very end of the restaurant. Interior was decorated with empty bottles of sake and felt cosy. I ordered the bankara signature ramen. The soup was very tasty and there was plenty of ramen but the let down was the very small amounts of meat - literally two thin slices. As pictured, all the toppings can be seem at the top. I'd rather them charge a little more and include more meat, at least have that option. It was a similar thing with my partner's rice dish, lots of rice and vegetables but little crab. The yuzu mocktail was quite refreshing and gyoza was nice. I wouldn't be coming back for the mains.

Stelly

Came in for a quick dinner and got the Ebi Katsu Curry Don ($14.8). The curry exceeded expectations - it has a nice, deep flavour, and I found it to be spicier than most other Japanese curries around here. The quality is reflected in the price.

Elonie

With so many ramen places in the city, it is hard to know which one is better. I ordered the Tsukemen. It's a fun way to eat and you can control the amount of sauce in each bite.

Bite The Looks By BHA

I wanted to have an early dinner and saw this restaurant from far away The staff were welcoming and friendly. I ordered the bankara ramen and chasiu rice and it was alright. The chasiu meat was tender and juicy, a bit dry, generous portion was good for the price given. Was not pleased with the matcha tea as there was too much milk being put in the tea Overall, good food and good vibes! #BHAsFoodDiary

Melbourne Food Monkeys

Can’t say the ramen tasted bad, but definitely nothing special. Can definitely find better especially in the CBD. Service was good, friendly waiters.

Heg

Totally ok Ramen, not bad and not amazing. Easy to come here. Tried the bankara only though maybe I’ll like the other ones more. Would come again stil

Harry Efron

First time have dinner there, the food is not fresh at all, I got diarrhoea after the meal. The raman is quite raw, not really recommend. Hope cook well be better. But I would not like to go there anymore.

Ria梨婭

Simple ramen traditional flavor,make me back to Japan when I was student. Agetashi tofu is softness,good taste!! Good for single or visit with friends

Evelyn Chen

Occasionally, seeing lots of people inside, we came in and had our meals. The fried chicken was good but the ramen and crabs were just average. Considering the price, it was most suitable for students and tourists in general.

Amber Cartwright

Delicious, authentic ramen and great small plates as well. Have visited a number of times and have never been disappointed. One of my city go-to favourites!

Coffee And Food Enthusiast.

Had the ebi prawn Katsu curry with cheese and it was amazing, been here a couple times and on both occasions I left impressed. It's. A little more expensive than alot of options around, but I feel the price is justified with the quality.

Kamehameha Hadouken

Ordered the cha shu don and was Dissapointed that the dish was rushed (not the speed but the dish itself) with the salad unseasoned and dressed (if it was, it was abysmal). A week ago when I order the cha shu don, the pork was marinated and cooked delicately in a sweet sauce that was slightly charred to taste. What I go this time was a (fewer) sliced dry, charred pork slice with no sauce. In fact the colour was pale whereas the first time was a glossy deep brown. Dissapointed. Please maintain consistency in your dishes in appearance and taste. I was looking forward to this dish but was Dissapointed in the bland and rushed bowl. Will come again and hope the cha shu don is simmered and serve with sweet sauce!

AlwaysHungryForMore

Ramen Bankara marks the first foray into Japanese cuisine by the China Bar Group (China Bar, Wonton House, Secret Kitchen). Whilst restaurants in the group aren't exactly known for spectacular meals, we were pleasantly surprised by the bowls of well-cooked noodles served in a flavour-packed tonkotsu broth. Only later did we find out that the openings in Melbourne are actually related to the original franchise from Tokyo (hence the great ramen!). Follow us on Instagram: @alwayshungryformore

Jennifer Cruz Diaz

Soooooo Gooooooood!!!! Highly recommend the Ramen and Chicken Karaage! The pork flavour in the soup wasn’t too strong and the spicy version of the soup was on point! Highly rate this place!

Pradeep Gunasekaran

Had the tonkotsu ramen , asked for spicy which they ensured it was , service was terrible for Japanese standards . Portion was too small and ramen flavour was weak . The egg though was alright. A kinda place you will easily forget

Terence

Food was good. One of the male waiter on Monday night was very rude to all the customer, yes all the customer. The male waiter don’t even put the bowl gently, No smile no eye contact no thank you when I pay at the cashier.Bad experience, manager or owner should do something about it. The only star is for the food

Rodney Ho

Tried this Ramen in CBD and the food was not bad. The taste was little bit too heavy but still not bad for ramen. Customer service was alright.

Tiffany

I had the tonkotsu and it was way too SALTY. I took a sip of the broth alone and can feel my sodium levels rising. The pork was too salty to eat too, managed one bite of it. It’s a no from me and I will not be returning. With so many ramen places around I suggest Mr Ramen san or Hankata Gensuke

Carley Peng

Nice and cosy Japanese bar/restaurant in central Melbourne. Worth a stop for their Japanese curry and range of ramen options. The wait time for food is reasonably short without compromise to its great taste!

Melbourne Digest

Conveniently located along the Swanston edge of Melbourne Central, Bankara serves ramen, rice bowls and tapas style dishes. On every table, there’s a small set of condiments- sesame, soy sauce.. Absolutely delicious tonkotsu ramen soup- thick and flavoursome. Waiting for the day to order it on its own!

Chloe

Went with a friend yesterday was amazing,lovely place,good service and amazing food ! Ramen was served quickly and was so filling I couldn’t finish all of it,definitely worth going ! Tho I wish I got more then half of an egg

Don'tMessWithMyFood

Great ramen - Particularly liked the rich, hearty broth for the ramen. Have tried the Bankara and the Tonkatsu, and been back twice in 2 months! The cha-su served with the ramen is exactly as I like it (minimal fat - although I know this defeats the actual concept of the cha-su in the first place!) The chicken karage and agedashi tofu sides are tasty and good value. Reminds me alot of the many little cafes in Japan - quick service, fast turnover, focusing on a handful of perfected fishes.

Tanmay

Dropped by for lunch.. Ordered Ramen and Soft Shell Crab which was very tasty and yum.. absolutely delicious nothing we ordered was less than amazing! Definitely recommend it!!!

Georgia Marett

This place reminds me of Tokyo so much! Not just the ramen but also the decor. The ramen was amazing though, lighter broth than some of the heavier tonkotsu places (looking at Hakata Gensuke) and the best quality pork I've had in Melbourne (though the amount of pork in the bowl is really small unfortunately). The menu is much more extensive than other ramen places and I can't wait to go back and try their curries. They also have a really nice selection of sake. Overall I would definitely recommend, especially for its central location and affordability.

Ling Yuan

Great place for a Japanese ramen experience with waiters and waitresses greet you and call out the order the way just like you are in central Tokyo. Loved the dense flavour and texture soup base and the most tender braised pork belly. Extra Onsen Tamago (soft boiled egg) and Menma (pickled bamboo shoots) toppings highly recommended.

Benjamin Koh Jit Han

Ramen greatly improved compared to last time! Service was Quick, took around 5mins Had the bankara ramen. Broth was tasty. The pork was melting in my mouth, overall was umami.

Scrumptious GG

Recommended by a friend, I wanted to try this place, and today I had a chance. When I went in, the staff escorted me to sit at the 2nd level area at the back. Ordered their Bankara ramen, it had a nice flavour but little oily for me, good quantity of noodles, and it tasted pretty good. The best ramen I ever had? Maybe not but it wasn't dissapointing at all. Service was good and the staff were friendly and efficient. If I can give a suggestion, maybe the shop could have invest in brighter light, because sitting there for about 30mins enough to make my old eyes sore. 👀

Pacc

It was a chilly night in melb and this ramen joint really hit the spot. $13.8 for their signature ramen and it came out within minutes. Broth was rich and flavoursome, the meat was super tender, perfectly boiled egg and noodles cooked well. It was a faultless bowl of ramen but would have like more meat, given the price im paying for it. Service was standard and good location.

Stu

This is a really cute little place, with a great selection of dishes, could’ve eaten everything. Found my meal a little bland but otherwise everything was good.

Stephanie Limcorn

The ramen was a disapointment, it was pretty bland despite of looking rich and creamy. We went there wanting to try the tonkotsu ramen in the morning and was just surprised how it's sold out despite of them just starting the day... My friend ordered the teriyaki chicken cheese don only to find out that we can't even taste the teriyaki sauce at all, it was just fried chicken with some cheese sauce on the top.. This meal is so not worthed...

The Darth Zader

Ordered the bankara ramen- spicy, crab by the beach with an extra egg, and a nojito drink. All was delicious. The spice in the ramen was perfect. I’d recommend if you like more than just noodles in your ramen to take advantage of their cheap ramen extras.

Marina

I’ve been walking past almost everyday since starting Uni and been wanting to try the Ramen. Today was a cold day, so it was perfect. I had the Bankara Ramen after asking the staff for some recommendations. It had quite a nice flavour and enough noodles to make myself full. The staff are very friendly and attentive. However, it took a while for my noodles to come out.

Culinary Artist

One of the best Tokyo style ramen I’ve ever taste. Slow cooked pork bone with in house shoyu, char siu , ½ boil egg and seaweed. The broth it’s self have a hint of sweetness, rich and thickness body. On top of that I add extra kakuni, which was their signature pork belly. It is slow cook for hours and slice thicked, so just melt in your mouth. Steak pork gyoza is nice plum and juicy. Served with pickle ginger.

James Wang

Very good location. Tried once after work. good noodle with tasty soup, the snack is also very nice. The staff are friendly. Will come back.

Who Loves Good Food

Awesome ramen 🍜 Simply delicious broth. So many different ramen variety to choose from, including Tsukemen (dipping noodles). Spoilt for choice!

Phoebe Tsai

I can’t believe this restaurant is still surviving along Swanston street, their ramen is the worst dish I’ve ever tried, was very salty, oily and apart from ramen noodles, there’s nothing much added in the dish. Totally different from the sample dish displaying at restaurant window (near entrance). I will not go back this restaurant again and suggest people do not waste $$.

Hungry Jef

First time trying a ramen here in melbourne and its quite good but in manila it much more flavorful. Maybe since melbourne is so diverse they adjust the flavor for them. As I always say I need to try the other menu so I can like review it much more. The staff are nice and very attentive!

～Happy Neko~

Not good as what it used to be :( I love the soy egg but they’re only putting half egg in their ramen this days :( they got nice pork belly and I highly recommend the pork belly rice :)

Missjkenny

While it wasn’t inedible it certainly wasn’t good ramen. Hot broth was the best part. The noodles were thin and chewy but quite a tangled mess unlike any ramen I’ve ever had. The meat was thick but cold as was my mangled egg. I ate it and was filled but if you have time maybe try something different.

PedGetsFed

Why does this place have such a low rating. Ordered the tonkotsu Ramen... the broth (bit salty but full of flavour), egg and char sui were delicious. Would have preferred bit more bite in my noodles but overall would recommend. O and they take EG vouchers 🤗

Nancypants Fancydance

Disappointed The only reason I decided to eat here was because its in the entertainment book which I presented at the end of my meal when I went to pay. Rushed.. is what I felt, we only just sat down & the waiter asked if we were ready to order? Mate! we just sat down, then he tried again 2 more times within 10 mins,the restaurant wasn't even busy. My partner ordered the Chuka soba with extra egg & pork belly I ordered the Tsukemen & gyoza to share. The noodles were nice in texture but the broth was over salted my Tsukemen dipping broth wasn't hot enough plus it arrived what felt like 15 mins after my partner got his food, pretty sure the waiter stuffed up my order and gave my Tsukemen to another table. ( it would't of happened if he focused less on his hair and more about serving customers) There's plenty of better ramen places in Melbourne , don't waste your time here

Tonkis83

My wife and I went there for lunch. It’s been a great experience as shop is very nice with Japanese feels all ways. Services are top of class as we had a nice and very friendly waitress. We ordered Bankara and Tonkatsu. WOW what a great taste. Best ramen in Australia as we’ve been to Gold Coast, Sydney, and Brisbane but nothing compared with this. Well done and hope to be consistent.

Fried Chicken Reviewer

Tried both JFC NANBAN DON (Japanese Fried Chicken with rice) and TORI KARAAGE. JFC Nanban Don is deep fried chicken, dipped in sweet and sour sauce on rice. Taste is normal, not really crispy, and lack of juiciness. Unlike Tori Karaage, it tastes better than the one with rice. The presentation is simple, costs $7.80 which might be a little too expensive for a finger food but the taste is not too disappointing as it is quite juicy. They have a good service and restaurant ambiance is lovely 👌🏻 I would recommend you to try Tori Karaage if you love fried chicken!

ThatFoodie

Highly Recommended: Tonkotsu Ramen Bankara ramen is a nice modern ramen bar with great traditional styles of ramen, donburis and other staple Japanese dishes. The restaurant has pretty good service during both peak and off-peak hours, with servers greeting you from the moment we walked in and when we left. One thing that I like about Bankara ramen is that they have a specific type of noodle for each broths, which is pretty awesome as most ramen places use the same noodle for every soup base which sometimes doesn't work well.

Flying Forward

Points for: a decent ramen experience Not sure what happened to all the other satellite stores, but I hope the Swanston St store stays. The tsukemen noodles are thick and chewy, allowing the rich stock to cling on. Little bits of pork in the soup are also there to enjoy. I do wish the stock was more viscous and fishy, but that's a whole other thing. The signature bankara is served with thinner, straight hakata style noodles. Great that you get a whole seasoned egg, and that slice of pork belly is just so soft.

Danny

2 Very thin slices of pork and half egg overpriced for the paid food. Food is just ok, broth is quite oily. Restaurant said accepted eftpos i used eftpos gift card and not let me use even though the transaction is legel per Eftpos method. Thumb down and not next time

Junichi

Delightful ramen. In a hurry one afternoon and happened to come about Ramen Bankara. Greeted upon entry by staff and promptly seated at the ramen bar. I had the signature Bankara ramen, no extras. Food arrived quickly: soft silky noodles, slices of soft pork, nori, bamboo shoots, egg 'just right' in a rich broth. Inhaled in 5 mins flat, very tasty. Ambience seemed an authentic nod to ramen bars in Japan: lively, welcoming and approachable. Very positive overall, will likely warrant a revisit another time to try some of the other items on the menu.

Brady Russell

Came in today for an early lunch, as the place looked fantastic. Unfortunately we got the least friendly waitress they had, who showed little interest in providing any kind of warm hospitality. Maybe I just got the bad egg. Luckily the food portions were generous and the meals themselves were fantastic and well priced, so I went home happy.

Gerald

Great service and friendly waitresses. I ordered the Chuka soba as I wanted a lighter flavored ramen soup base. I also ordered extra braised pork roll slices. My wife ordered the Tokyo style Bankara ramen, also with extra pork roll slices. I enjoyed the soup base and noodles, nice flavors. Some people may find pork slices sliced really thin... but then again, the upside is not wanting to chew on a thick piece of pork, rather instead, have a subtle flavour of pork when chowing down a mouthful. It would be nice to have more pork slices though. A bowl of ramen can be very very pricy if adding a couple of extra ingredients... which I don't think justifies the price. If you have the Entertainment book coupon, it's worth using.

Nick Lim C K

One of the most underrated ramen places in Melbourne. No idea why the rating score is below 3.0 Wouls easily pick this over Hakata anytime. In terms of taste and value for money.

Antoniette Santoro

Worst ramen of our lives. Just walked out and left half of the meal behind. The broth was all kinds of wrong and the egg was old. Disappointing

Sabby

Food arrived quickly, and a generous serving of ramen and soup. If you want additional toppings, it is slightly costly (what they provide for you in the ramen bowl you've ordered is decent, but next time I would order additional toppings). What I loved was the soup broth for R1, Bankara ramen- rich and not too heavy, oily or salty. Flavour can also be toned to a spicier level if you choose the option.

Steven Zhou

Customisable menu: you can add various meat/veggie toppings to your ramen at an affordable price. Authentic settings. Great service. May be a bit slow in busy periods.

Liam

Went here on Friday afternoon. To my great pleasure and delight I was served cold rice with my meal alongside the frozen chicken. The only thing that was properly served was the curry the put on top. Ive been coming here for a while and since I have been, the food and service has gradually been falling. Not impressed at all !

Rachael

One of the better ramen places I've tried in the cbd so far. There's some nice gems hidden in the menu worth a stop by. Particularly like the softness of the meat. The taste of the broth in the soup (R1)- Bankara was rich and well made. I like the assortment of additions available on all tables that was adequately stocked. Staff were attentive and nice; didn't make any comments on the outside drinks and friendly.

Mini Camilla

Came here for Saturday lunch and was a bit disappointed cuz it's simply overpriced compared to what we got. We ordered 2 Bankara ramen and 2 Tonkitsu ramen, gyoza and the Japanese crab meat ball to share. Green tea as the drink. The ramen came with only 2 slices of thin cut pork belly, which were too salty and half a boiled egg. Not to mentioned the green tea is not refillable... The crab meat ball was alright but only came with 3 pieces at a price of $9.8. Will not recommend

Mahardini Rizky

The ramen is actually really good, and the broth is thick and juicy. I've ordered the Bankara and the Tonkotsu. Both were great. The decor of the place is what really struck me. Besides the Korean music, you could really think you're in Japan.

Jolene Lim

We came to Ramen Bankara for Saturday lunch. I loved the design of the shop the minute we walked in, felt like I was back in Japan, quite authentic. Luckily, there was no wait and the 3 of were seated at the back of the first floor. We ordered the Bankara, Tsukemen "dipping noodles" ramen, gyoza, agedashi tofu and karaege chicken to share. The waiter who took our order has doubled up on the Karaege chicken order but since the portion is quite small, we accepted it. Both ramen broth are very tasty but I felt there are too much noodles but lack of ingredients. The background music was a mix of English pop music, classical and Korean love songs which was an odd combination and could be a little too loud for conversations.

Sin Yee

I came here almost every week with my boyfriend. Tsukemen, Gyoza and the sparkling water was my favourite! Staffs are also provide good service! Come and try you will definitely fall in love with this shop.

Danny Nguyen

Was very plain and simply over priced for what you get. The gyoza was average as well. I'm sure you can find a better ramen place for a better price. Customer service was good though.

Review Ramen Bankara - Melbourne