Discovering: Mystic Ramen

Tucked into Hamilton’s culinary destination, King William Street, Mystic Ramen is more than a noodle shop. It’s the story of a husband-and-wife duo, a family dream, and a serious commitment to making good food from scratch.

Noah Woods and Heather Elson are the team behind this funky and stylish ramen spot. He’s the chef, she runs the front of the house, and at home they’re raising two boys. They bring decades of restaurant experience and a deep understanding of what makes a bowl of ramen memorable.

Noah, a trained chef, was inspired in culinary school by Japanese cuisine and spent years working 100-hour weeks before deciding to join the original Mystic Ramen inside the downtown Farmers Market around 8 years ago. Just one month in, the original owners offered to sell, and Noah and Heather leaped. They remained in the market for three years and started to seek a stand-alone space. They almost moved out just 10 days before COVID hit! Instead, they delayed the move and, after choosing to stay at the market to weather the pandemic, finally opened the doors to their new King William home 5 years ago.

Mystic Ramen doesn’t cut corners. The broth is simmered for 12 hours. The noodles are made in-house. The vegan stock is divine and begins with roasted vegetables and is packed with layers of flavour. Our server, Andy, was friendly and helpful, and expertly guided us through a menu that’s clearly built with care.

It was a perfect introduction to kick off with the Mini Yuba Katsu Don, panko crusted folded pieces of tofu skin on a bed of rice with a tasty sauce and sesame seeds. Appetizers are all around $8.  

The beautifully plated Chicken Katsu rice dish, with a delicate carrot flower garnish and the vibrant contrast of green onions, was crispy and delicious. The vegan Tamari ramen was a standout: lightly crispy, gently spiced, and filled with tender eggplant. The vegan ramen we tried had a rich, loaded broth with shitake mushrooms, both rehydrated and pickled and double-marinated, that delivered a wonderful depth of flavour. Most main courses are around $20.

They are very accommodating to allergies and cater to gluten-free, keto and vegan diets with a wide variety of options for each, as well as reasonably priced kids' options. Everything is made fresh, with local produce sourced from Buttrum Farms. Even the mocktails feel thoughtful — ours came with added strawberry syrup. Beyond the cocktails and mocktails, there is a good selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and several Japanese beverage options, including sake and Japanese tea.

There’s an energy inside Mystic Ramen. It's clear this isn't just a business, it’s a craft, and a continuation of the couple’s shared love of food and people. Whether you’re a ramen fan or new to Japanese flavours, this place offers something unique and flavourful.

Mystic Ramen is serving up something special, one handcrafted bowl at a time. It’s what Noah calls “edible art”.

Mystic Ramen

51 King William St, Hamilton.

Tel: 289-389-3064

Web: https://www.mysticramen.ca/

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