Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

Watch: New ninja-themed ramen restaurant open in downtown Vancouver

Featuring touch-screen ordering and four customizable bowls.

Your first clue that Nin Nin Ramen in Vancouver is inspired by ninjas might be the name, but the cartoonish figure of a shiba inu dressed as a Japanese covert agent outside the storefront at 660 Abbott St seals the deal.

Nin Nin is a sibling to Horin Ramen, which has five locations in Japan and two in Metro Vancouver (one on Robson Street and one in Burnaby's Metrotown). A third Lower Mainland location of Horin is in the works for Richmond, at 140-5911 No. 3 Rd, set to open next year. 

“'NinNin' in Japanese is used as a metaphor to describe the elusive behaviour of ninjas," explained Nin Nin on its Instagram page. 

Horin operators turned their bento shop into Nin Nin Ramen

And, indeed, they opened somewhat stealthily, with a soft opening that began June 27, following a few months of renovations to turn the former Wabukuro into Nin Nin. 

Wabukuro, which opened in 2021, was known for its Japanese bento boxes and grab-and-go items. Late last year, the business quietly closed. Behind the scenes, its owners applied for a new business licence for Nin Nin, and work began to convert the space's more retail shop set-up into a ramen restaurant.

Nin Nin has a contemporary design, with the central focus of the restaurant its u-shaped bar with square cushioned stools (that open up to stash your jacket and/or bag). At each seat a touch screen device is embedded in the bar, from which customers place their order, making this spot ideal for solo diners. 

Tables along the far wall can accommodate additional diners (including groups of four to six) but with no current wait list or reservation system, groups can expect to wait. In fact, at peak times, even solo or duo diners may find there is a 15-to 30-minute wait for any seat.

Four colour-coded bowls on the Nin Nin ramen menu

The Nin Nin menu is compact; they offer just four core bowls of ramen, colour coded. The "Black" is black garlic tonkotsu ramen, the "White" is miso tonkotsu ramen, the "Red" is spicy tonkotsu ramen, and the "Green" is a vegetarian option. Tonkotsu ramen is made with pork, so the veggie bowl has its own meatless broth.

Each order, however, can be fully customized with a tap of the screen, as customers choose the noodle firmness, the soy levels, and select any add-ons, like boiled egg, or omissions. The noodles, however, are all thin. I chose a medium firmness, and would opt for the most firm option next time. 

A "membership" sign up is offered when you first activate the screen, which accords discounts and has loyalty program features. However, after the server demonstrated how to order, I could no longer access that option, so for those keen to sign up to save a few bucks and tap into future bonuses, be sure to do so while you're waiting or before you order. 

The ramen is served quickly, and in coloured bowls that correspond with the contents. The portions seem just a shade smaller than at other comparable ramen restaurants, but with a good noodle to broth ratio. The chashu pork is thin and tender, and the egg (add-on) had a beautiful silky golden yolk. The broth had a good depth of flavour but it was on the lighter side. 

Payment, for those dining at the counter, is done by signalling on the touchpad you are done. Service was prompt and courteous. 

Overall, Nin Nin is a nice addition to the area, particularly for those who find themselves dining alone and looking for an affordable, minimal interaction meal. That said, I wouldn't count Nin Nin as among the Vancouver ramen options worth making a dining destination, particularly if you aren't flexible enough with time and find you have to wait for a seat. 

You can find Nin Nin Ramen on Instagram at @ninninramen. They are open daily from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 to 9:30 p.m.

Video: Checking out Vancouver's newest ramen spot, Nin Nin

@forkingawesomevia 🍜 Nin Nin Ramen soft opened in Downtown Vancouver at the end of June. From the same people that brought Horin Ramen from Japan to Vancouver, this new spot has a cute ninja theme. It is a small space with a mix of counter seating, and a few tables. At the counter, which is ideal for solo diners, you order via touchscreen. It is also a small menu! They specialize in tonkotsu ramen, in three varieties: spicy black, garlic, and miso. A fourth option is a vegetarian broth. All the noodles are thin, but you can customize your bowl to your heart’s content, including how firm you want the noodles cooked what extra toppings you want how much soy or spice or what you want removed. Prices are average portions may be a little smaller than other Ramen places; I finished my bowl which I rarely do. Overall, I thought it was a decent option for the area, but I would not go out of my way to visit. #forkingawesome #vancouverbc ♬ Eufemismo - JNT-021

🍽 Find more delicious Metro Vancouver food and drink video stories by following V.I.A's Forking Awesome on TikTok and Instagram, and signing up for our Forking Awesome newsletter 📬 delivered fresh to your inbox every Thursday.

$(function() { $(".nav-social-ft").append('
  • '); });