Ezogiku Noodle Cafe (270 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone 604-685-9466) serves bowls of hot, steaming Japanese ramen noodle soup. A bowl of ramen soup costs around $7.25 plus tax, and you can also order some appetizers such as pan fried gyoza dumplings. I enjoyed the Kimchi Ramen (pictured below), which featured the traditional Korean spicy cabbage as well as barbecued pork.

Ezogiku Noodle Cafe is located near the Vancouver main library downtown, as well as BC Place Stadium, home of the BC Lions Football team. It’s also a short walk from GM Place Stadium, home of the Vancouver Canucks hockey team. The restaurant is within easy walking distance of hotels such as the Rosedale on Robson, Westin Grand, and the Hampton Inn and Suites.

Kimchi ramen noodle soup

The interior of Ezogiku Noodle Cafe on Robson.

Wild Ginger Restaurant (web site, 604.893.8608, 2015 – 88 West Pender Street, Vancouver, BC) is a spacious, 120 seat restaurant hidden away behind the Tinseltown Mall food court, on the second level of the mall below the movie theatres. The Asian Pacific post writes:

“Tantalizing fusion cuisine mixes local flavours with those of the Far East. Fun dishes to try include Kung Pao Power, Sticky Ribs, Mayo Mayo, and Spring Blossom Rolls.”

The menu features a selection of Chinese and Korean fusion dishes, as well as cook-at-your table Korean barbecue. Visit at lunch time for the best deals: a large entree with soup and salad goes for approximately $6.99. At dinner time the average entree price is around $16.00. Pictured below is the “Happy Family” entree ($16.99), which is a tasty mix of choice seafood, meat, and vegetables stir-fried and served in a sweet ginger and garlic sauce.

I went back to Book Kyung Ban Jeoun Korean Restaurant (1638 Robson Street, Vancouver, phone 604-689-3898, more info) and enjoyed the Bi Bim Bop, a traditional Korean dish that is rice in a hot stone bowl with a selection of seasoned roots and vegetables, mushrooms, and beef (pictured below, around $11.00). It was served with a delicious spicy soup broth with onion, and a very hot sauce.