Toyori

"While the ramen at Toyori is totally craveable, you also get an adorable tiny probiotic drink at the end of the meal, which, you know, cute. The nondescript interior dark walls, rows of utilitarian booths and tables make the floor-to-ceiling gold Toyori mural feel like a special backdrop once you taste the glistening pork buns or spicy tan tan ramen. Maybe the menu resembles ones at other ramen shops, but the quality and consistency keep us coming back for bowl after bowl.  What to order: Toyori bun, spicy signature tan tan ramen, signature rib steak sizzling plate" - chelsea thomas, gianni greene

"The combination Japanese-Taiwanese restaurant Toyori serves up some of the best ramen in Chinatown. Every bowl arrives fast, scorching hot, and beautifully composed with thick cuts of rich chashu pork, aromatic broth, and a really cute wooden spoon. We crave the signature spicy tantan ramen with its double pork (chashu and spicy ground pork), squishy kikurage mushrooms, and thick, chili-spiced broth. And the tonkotsu black garlic ramen with silken pork broth, a deep and comforting garlic-umami bomb. And after filling your stomach with noodles, Toyori gives you a bottle of gulpable probiotic yogurt, probably for something digestion-related, and we just think that’s nice. " - gianni greene, chelsea thomas

"ToyoIf you’re wandering around Don Huang plaza in Chinatown, unsure of which of the many restaurants will offer you shelter and sustenance, fear not: Toyori, a ramen and sizzling plates spot, will provide you sanctuary. Dig into the spicy tan tan ramen, or order one of Toyori’s sizzling plates, essentially a super-charged version of a Salisbury steak TV dinner with a black pepper sauce and a pile of spaghetti. The food arrives fast—you’ll likely eat it just as fast—and the space is casual enough so you don’t feel rude occupying a whole booth for yourself. " - Gianni Greene, Chelsea Thomas

"Toyori is an excellent ramen and sizzling plates spot in Chinatown. Served quick and hot, the signature Spicy TanTan Ramen has ground pork, thick chili-bombed broth, and perfectly cooked noodles. You can also take ownership of a personal sizzling plate, which is kind of like a fancy frozen dinner that someone tossed a fried egg onto. Even better, no one working here will ever use the word “tapas” to describe anything." - Gianni Greene, Chelsea Thomas

"We’re not sure what our favorite thing about Toyori in Chinatown is. On the one hand, the ramen at this Japanese and Taiwanese spot is totally craveable, as are the sizzling plates of meat, but Toyori also ends the meal with adorable tiny probiotic drinks, which, you know, cute. While the interior feels nondescript in the same way most new spots in Chinatown do—dark walls, rows of utilitarian booths and tables—the dim lighting and floor-to-ceiling gold Toyori mural feel special. As does the food. Dig into glistening pork buns with zig-zag drizzles of mayo and tonkotsu, or spicy tan tan ramen with crispy charred chashu pork. Or have a rib eye sizzling plate with signature black pepper sauce, a pile of spaghetti, and steamed freezer-grade vegetables, ‘cause, why not? Everything shows up fast, and you’ll probably want to eat it equally as fast (this is where the yogurt drinks come in handy). And while the menu at Toyori may feel familiar to other ramen spots, the quality and consistency are what keep us coming back for bowl after bowl. photo credit: Richard Casteel Food Rundown photo credit: Richard Casteel Toyori Bun A pillowy soft and squishy bun surrounds charred pork with sweet and rich sauces. The blanket of tonkotsu and aioli amplifies the savory, rich flavors. photo credit: Richard Casteel Takoyaki Octopus Balls These takoyaki are a bit softer and spongier than others we’ve tried. More like if you stuffed octopus into a hush puppy. photo credit: Richard Casteel Signature Spicy TanTan Ramen The texture of the double pork here makes it. We love pulling up noodles laced with spiced ground pork, then adding a bite of the caramelized chashu. And the ramen is just spicy enough to perk up your sinuses, but not so hot you can’t enjoy slurping down the entire bowl. photo credit: Richard Casteel Signature Ribeye Steak Sizzling Plate What’s not to love about a plate that comes with spaghetti noodles, steamed frozen vegetables, and a fried egg? It’s like the grown up (well, kind of) version of a Salisbury steak TV Dinner." - Chelsea Thomas