It's blasphemy, especially because Guy Fieri was in Missoula earlier this month, but I have been known to claim that Billings has better food than Missoula.

One of the Billings restaurants that I missed when I moved back to Missoula was Hokkaido Ramen & Sushi Bar. Yes, Missoula has ramen (and quite a few great Asian restaurants to choose from) but there's something about Hokkaido. I liked the flavors--not too fancy but bold enough to be tasty.

READ MORE: Your Best Bet for Asian Cuisine in Missoula Montana

Hokkaido Ramen House Now Open in Missoula

Well, my culinary dreams have come true because Hokkaido Ramen Bar & Izakaya, or Hokkaido Ramen House, opened recently in Missoula. I've been eyeing their location in what used to be Firehouse Subs and on a drive-by this weekend I saw a neon sign in the window lit up to say "open" and I could see people sitting at the tables through the windows.

Locations: 

The restaurant has multiple locations in Montana including two locations in Billings and locations in Bozeman, Helena, Great Falls, and Kalispell. "Izakaya" means "a casual type of restaurant and pub in Japan that Serves Japanese comfort food along with beer, sake, and other drinks", according to their website. Japanese comfort food? No wonder they're so popular.

I stopped by on a Tuesday for lunch and discovered that they were closed, but the hours on the door were listed as:

  • MONDAY: 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, 4:30 pm-8:30 pm
  • TUESDAY: CLOSED
  • WEDNESDAY: 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, 4:30 pm-8:30 pm
  • THURSDAY: 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, 4:30 pm-8:30 pm
  • FRIDAY: 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, 4:30 pm-8:30 pm
  • SATURDAY: 11:30 - 8:00 pm
  • SUNDAY: 11:30 - 8:00 pm

I'm looking forward to going back. If you need the address, it's 2845 North Reserve Street.

Also, if you're interested in other businesses that have recently opened, there's a new coffee shop on the northside of Missoula. You can see photos of the quirky and cool interior below.

Sneak Peek Inside Missoula's New Coffee Shop on the North Side

Funk It Coffee and Thrift was started by two Missoulians who turned their passion into a business.

Gallery Credit: Ashley

SEPTEMBER: Adorable Puppies Available for Adoption at the Humane Society of Western Montana

Look at those little paws and little ears! These pups are available for adoption as of September 17, 2024. Learn more at this link.

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