Ovo
Japanese
Non-veg

Serves meat, vegan options available. Japanese restaurant offering vegan ramen, pot stickers, and tacos. Open Mon-Sat 11:30am-2:30pm, 5:00pm-9:00pm. Closed Sun.


Venue map for Kayo's Ramen Bar
© OpenStreetMap contributors

19 Reviews

First Review by Linda♡

jenna33

Points +636

Vegan
15 Nov 2024

Great vegan ramen

I loved the vegan tantan with medium spice. Lots of flavor!!

GlobeTrottingFoodie

Points +86

Vegetarian
19 Oct 2024

Very vegan/vegetarian friendly

This restaurant will adapt most ramens to make it vegan or vegetarian and they have great vegetarian options listed in the menu. Portland is good for that. Portland is known for its ramen because the water. (“Japanese chef Taichi Ishizuki chose Portland, Oregon to open the first US location of his restaurant because of the city's water quality.”

Kayo’s ramen doesn’t taste strongly of seaweed (a must for me), and has wonderful ramens with a Portland twist. I love the Tan Tan, but the pineapple ginger, and the curry ramens were also excellent. I haven’t had anything here I didn’t like.

DeedeeChiang

Points +100

Mostly Veg
04 Oct 2024

Mala and curry ramen were delicious!

Tried both their mala and curry vegan ramens and was blown away by the flavor.

The mala ramen was special since it had that real Sichuan spice. The tofu that subs as protein was also really great. It was marinated in a slightly sweet sauce and added a nice soft texture and flavor to the bowl.

There are poblano mole tofu taco was awesome really great.

I would go back to order the taco and mala again

Pros: Great flavors, Lots of vegan options, Vibe

PaulAtreides

Points +1083

Vegan
24 Jun 2024

Kayo's Way is the Best Way

I've loved Kayo's for a long time. Almost the entire menu can be made vegan. Addicted to the TanTan ramen but also love the fusion Japanese tacos. This place goes far beyond being the best vegan ramen in town, it's one of the best vegan Japanese places in Portland and it's not even a vegan restaurant.

Pros: Incredible ramen, Amazing service , Love the super original fusion tacos

DeedeeChiang

04 Oct 2024

Nice! I've been eyeing both their tantan and black sesame dipping ramen

JustinCory

Points +990

Vegan
26 Nov 2023

Heyo KAYO’S!!

So many vegan options, all of the ramen styles can be vegan as well as potstickers and ramen style tacos?!? Love the Tan Tan.

Pros: Almost entire menu is Veganizable

justification

Points +61

Vegan
06 Sep 2023

Good ramen!

Everything vegan is marked clearly, and more than half the menu can be made vegan! (You can choose your protein, and broth)

Pros: Lots of options, Served really quickly

hell0angela

Points +382

Vegan
29 Apr 2023

Vegan ramen

Great vegan options. I had the Wasabi broth and a mole taco.

OperationChowhound

Points +7531

Vegan
19 Mar 2022

Kayo's Is So-So

I ordered the kale potstickers and the pineapple ginger ramen. We received our food in only a few minutes! The potstickers were okay, but disappointing compared to those at Shandong. The ramen was too sweet for my liking, but I should have expected that from the pineapple.

Pros: several vegan options, quick service, outdoor seating

jchongster

Points +718

Vegan
21 Jan 2022

Hip and hearty

I took myself here on a solo lunch date on a random Friday afternoon. Service was efficient and friendly. I had the Vegan miso ramen with corn, Asian vegan taco, and a cider. All were good, and as commented elsewhere, there’s a good sesame taste to the broth. The food was good and I ended up adding vegan kale gyozas to finish off my outing. Glad I took the time to treat myself out today !

Pros: Most items can be veganized, Hip space with covered & heated outdoor seating, Quick service

allycep4

Points +139

Vegan
14 May 2021

Amazing flavors!

Vegan kale dumplings and spicy vegan mala are to die for! High recommend. Extreme spice levels available for spice lovers.

Aniseed

Points +5253

Vegan
19 Mar 2021

Amazing Vegan Ramen and Vegan TanTan

Excellent vegan ramen and vegan TanTan. All ramen (except 1) on the menu can be made vegan with tofu. The Vegan TanTan was unbelievably tasty, def my fave but the Vegan MoLa was almost as good! Both packed with flavor. Both dishes were really spicy, which I love, but definitely tell them your preferred spice level. We also enjoyed the kale pot stickers which were very flavorful, with the vinegar was awesome. I love that they have all these incredible vegan options! The tofu was delicious but I think offering some vegan meats as a protein option or as an add on would be amazing!

ceej

Points +111

Vegan
11 Oct 2020

So dang good

Listen, I love a good ramen, but I'm not gonna pretend to be an expert. All I know is, they make a mean vegan tantan. I always get it bc who can resist a creamy nut soup? Okay, okay, sesame is a seed. But seed soup sounds nasty, and this soup is NOT nasty, it is SO GOOD. Oh they have kale potstickers that are a real good time, too. Try the wasabi mushrooms, they add a lot of fun to the table.
I've come here with my non-vegan, non-ramen-loving mom, and she loved it too.
They have specials that are really fun, too. And tacos.

Pros: Gr8 soup

Cons: They get busy AF,

DianeH

Points +1121

Vegan
23 Sep 2020

Sooo goooood!

Many vegan items on the menu! I decided to try three of the five vegan taco choices. They looked so good that I gobbled them up before I remembered to take a photo! Friendly service, Covid conscious, outdoor seating… I will be back!

MirelReyes

Points +435

Vegan
17 Feb 2020

5 Stars, WOW

I had the TanTan made all vegan and the spiciest level they have. Wow! So creamy, so so so tasty. I can't wait to have this again. (Not sure why Happy Cow isn't allowing me to give this 5 stars... it's only going up to 4... odd.)

heatherbrownart

Points +74

Vegan
12 Jan 2020

Excellent vegan ramen

I got the tan tan spicy vegan ramen and I was in love!!!! So much flavor and the staff if friendly and attentive. Potstickers and fried rice were excellent! Probably best vegan ramen I’ve ever had!!!!
Highly recommend!!!

Dannyboy44

Points +33

Vegan
12 Dec 2019

Really solid

Almost all their ramens can be veganized. Spicy options are actually spicy, super tasty.

KierstenLutz

Points +20

Vegan
14 Oct 2019

The best Ramen

I have eaten every Ramen in this city, and Kayos is hands down the best. Almost all of their ramen can be made vegan and they have kale potstickers which are to die for. My favorite is the pineapple ginger ramen, my partner always gets MaLa.

Pros: A lot of Vegan options - almost half of the menu, Location, Hours

lacieguler

Points +54

Vegan
27 May 2019

Best Ramen in Portland

So many vegan options. Exceptional and fast service. I love the vegan shio ramen and garlic fried rice

Pros: vegan options , Service

Linda♡

Points +171

Mostly Veg
24 May 2019

Japanese ramen done vegan way

Vegans, go there! I love noodles and ramen, and it is hard to get a good veganized Japanese ramen in restaurants. This place knows how to make it flavorful without sacrificing animals. All ramens can be ordered with meat broth or vegan broth. The server also asked if I want to include egg or not. My Miso ramen was chewy, rich, and salty (as it usually is). My partner's Tan Tan ramen was even more delicious: sesame-savory and spicy. (You can choose from 5 levels of spiciness.) Also you pick the topping of pork or tofu. The grilled tofu is also chewy and tasty.
----------------------
Second visit
I went specifically to try the happy hour menu and ordered the followings. They were all disappointing. I will only get ramen at this place in the future.

Cucumber salad: just cut up cucumber with sauce on top.
Kale potsticker: ok. Not that crispy. Just warm kale insert.
Garlic fried rice: It was garlic-flavored rice with chopped scallion on top.

Updated from previous review on 2019-05-16

Pros: Most dishes on menu can be ordered vegan, Vegan broth/toppings are a choice not a substitute, Vegan ramen tastes rich and flavorful

Cons: You need to ask to exclude egg in ramen, Some non-ramen dishes are not great




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