Aurore L.
Yelp
Fresh from a tai chi class in the Parkdale neighborhood and bordering on "hangry," I stumbled into this unassuming ramen shop, and I'm very glad I did. From the outside, it's a blink-and-you'll-miss-it spot, but the inside has an authentic, buzzing vibe, complete with what I can only assume was a Japanese top-40 station playing.
The layout is long and narrow, making clever use of the space. There are tables for two, larger group spots with benches, and a fully stocked bar complete with stools that seems ideal for solo diners or couples. Practical touches are everywhere: coat hangers at shoulder height, bag hooks under the bar, and a carafe of water that appears on your table moments after you do. The decor is an interesting mix of traditional (wood and paper light fixtures) and quirky (a random yellow bicycle mounted on the wall).
I opted for the creamy chicken broth ramen, upgrading with an egg and pork wontons. Now, a heads-up for ramen purists: this isn't strictly traditional. The broth was surprisingly foamy - a first for me--but the flavor was fantastic and deeply savory with clear soy notes. The bowl came with bamboo shoots, red onions, slices of chicken breast (another new one for me in ramen), noodles of course and pork that had the texture of thinly sliced ham. It was an unexpected but delicious combination.
So, why four stars and not five? The noise. For a small, intimate space, the sound level was... a lot. Between the music being a touch too loud and my neighbors narrating their entire lives at top volume, my post-tai chi zen was thoroughly rattled. I found it a bit unsettling and couldn't really hear myself think, let alone savor the ramen in peace.
Bottom line: The food is inventive and genuinely delicious. If you're looking for a lively, bustling spot with a great bowl of ramen, this is it. If you're a person who prefers a more tranquil, contemplative slurping experience, perhaps bring noise-canceling headphones (which i eventually pulled out) or aim for an off-peak time. I'll be back for the food, but I might need to mentally prepare for the auditory adventure.