Kelvin Y.
Yelp
"Do you want to try the pork one or the chicken one?", I asked the little ones (I was referring to the two Ikkoushas along Queen Street).
I was secretly hoping that they would choose the chicken one (two doors down) because I've already tried the original Ikkousha four years ago when they first opened. Even though I walked away impressed back then, I've been longing to try their chicken ramen, but is almost never in the area.
Four years later, I walked away satisfied, but not as impressed. Reasons? Maybe, the novelty has worn off? Perhaps Toronto's ramen game have really stepped up in the past four years or my kids didn't order what I would have liked. Nonetheless, they still delivered a solid ramen.
My favourite part of their ramen is their noodles (4 years ago it was the soup). It's a skinnier type of noodle with a good chew to it. The god fire ramen that my older one ordered was quite spicy even at two chilies. They didn't lie about it being extremely spicy. I can't even imagine what four chillies would be like. Aside from the heat, the tonkotsu soup was rich. I generally liked it, but it's just a bit out of my comfort level.
My younger one ordered a shio tonkotsu ramen. I'm not sure if it's because he ordered the light version of the soup, the soup was lacking a bit of flavour and was heavy on white pepper taste. I was really holding out hope that I could ditch my family temporarily to try the chicken place. That's why I paid $2.50 to add noodles to one of my kid's bowl so that I won't be completely full. I ended up blending the two soups for mine so that I can enhance the flavour and reduce the heat.
I have no recollection of the portions from four years ago, but their normal noodle portion and the extra noodle add on were quite generous. Just when I thought the hope of me escaping to the chicken place was dashed, an ethereal, pure, but yet familiar voice asked, "can I have some of the noodles from my brother's bowl (as the younger one was struggling to finish his bowl), dad (meaning I don't have to fulfil my daddy duty of finishing my kids' leftover)? ". The glimmer of hope resurfaced and I knew that was my cue to ask my SO whether I can excuse myself (for those who are interested, check out my Ikkousha Ramen Chicken review).
When I returned, I was at least able to try a one bite gyoza that my SO ordered after I left. The pan frying was done well, the flavour is solid, but I wish it had a slightly meatier texture. After that of course I happily footed the bill and everyone went home happy (or at least daddy got what he wanted...so I'm happy).