Phil N.
Yelp
When I walked into Toya Ramen, the ambiance immediately sets the stage for a memorable dining experience. The dining area has been reimagined completely since switching over from Danwei Canting, the restaurant that occupied this space. The minimalist decor is accentuated by Japanese touches, and created the perfect balance between modernity and tradition in an intimate setting.
I'll start by disclosing that I'm not the biggest ramen fan...I often seek out highly regarded ramen places in town and in my travels and aside from a few experiences, most of the time I just prefer other asian noodle soups over ramen. I'm part Chinese and Vietnamese and I just prefer my noodle soups to have lots of toppings and proteins in them, and that's usually my issue with ramen, since they typically emphasize their broths by not bombarding each bowl with a ton of veggies and meats.
Toya Ramen seemed to find a perfect middle ground approach. Since they aren't trying to be a pure authentic Japanese experience, I felt like they aren't trapped by this same Japanese minimalism that I personally don't love. There was far more toppings and protein than you typically see in your bowl which made me happy. What also made me happy was how creative the menu was and how it borrowed elements from Italian (the Carbonaramen caught my eye) , Chinese, and Thai cuisines. Toya Ramen takes great pride in crafting each bowl with precision and care, and uses quality ingredients to create a symphony of flavors. The noodles all appear to be made in house and freshly made.
As good as the noodle dishes were, the true stars of the show were the starters. On my two visits, I over ordered and ate maybe 1/2 of their appetizers and nearly all of them blew me away and were so good that before I finished my meal, I texted my circle of friends and told them they had to visit this restaurant and perhaps share an entree just to go extra heavy on the appetizers. The fried rice, wok fried beans, crispy tofu, miso eggplant, karagge, crispy tofu, were all amazing...and even some of the more simple dishes were executed so perfectly that it blew me away despite not being able to hide behind their simplicity. I was saddened that one of my favorites, the pea tips were no longer on the menu as those were probably the best pea tips I've ever eaten.
Beyond the food itself, what truly sets Toya Ramen apart is the impeccable service. The staff here are not only knowledgeable about the menu but also passionate about sharing their love for Japanese cuisine with every guest.
In conclusion, with its exceptional food, inviting ambiance, and top-notch service, it's no wonder that this new gem has quickly become a new favorite for me. When you consider the price point of Toya and compare it to other ramen restaurants, asian noodle soup places, or even food carts, you'll find that the combination of what they offer is a tier above the competition.