Introducing: Ryoji Ramen and Izakaya, the Little Italy outpost of the Okinawa-based chain
Introducing: Ryoji Ramen and Izakaya, the Little Italy outpost of the Okinawa-based chain
By Gizelle Lau | January 18, 2013
By Gizelle Lau | 01/18/2013
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
Little Italy’s Ryoji combines two of the city’s hottest food trends: ramen and izakayas. The popular Japanese chain, founded in 1988 by chef and owner Ryoji Kinjo, has nearly a dozen locations in Okinawa, although this is the first outside Japan. The ramen ($10) uses the company’s “Tondou” noodles (produced off-site in Toronto), and is made from either tonkotsu (pork bone) or shio (chicken and pork) broth, along with various combinations of flavourings and toppings. The izakaya menu features Okinawan dishes, like goya chanpuru (stir-fried bitter melon slices with tofu, scrambled egg and pork belly, $8) and ji-ma-mi (peanut tofu, $6), as well as other Japanese bar classics, like fried chicken ($8) and daily raw fish selections. The room thumps with clubby beats, and has the izakaya-standard communal tables and wood trim, supplemented with Okinawan details like ryukyu glass light fixtures and handmade bricks along the walls. There’s also a lounge area for patrons more interested in the shochu and sake-based cocktails than the dinner menu.
186722 Ton-toro ($11): grilled pork neck with chopped wasabi on the side (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Ryoji Ramen and Izakaya Introducing: Ryoji Ramen and Izakaya https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/jan13-Ryoji-07-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/jan13-Ryoji-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/jan13-Ryoji-07.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ryoji/slide/jan13-ryoji-07/ jan13-ryoji-07 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
186723 The signature Onna-Aji Ryoji ramen ($10): light chicken and pork bone broth topped with pork belly chashu, leek konbu, fish cake and dried seaweed (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Ryoji Ramen and Izakaya Introducing: Ryoji Ramen and Izakaya https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/jan13-Ryoji-08-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/jan13-Ryoji-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/jan13-Ryoji-08.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ryoji/slide/jan13-ryoji-08/ jan13-ryoji-08 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
186721 Poki salad ($10): Hawaiian-style salad with sashimi, fruit, mixed greens and sweet chili dressing (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Ryoji Ramen and Izakaya Introducing: Ryoji Ramen and Izakaya https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/jan13-Ryoji-06-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/jan13-Ryoji-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/jan13-Ryoji-06.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ryoji/slide/jan13-ryoji-06/ jan13-ryoji-06 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
186720 Ji-Ma-Mi ($6): homemade peanut tofu (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Ryoji Ramen and Izakaya Introducing: Ryoji Ramen and Izakaya https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/jan13-Ryoji-05-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/jan13-Ryoji-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/jan13-Ryoji-05.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ryoji/slide/jan13-ryoji-05/ jan13-ryoji-05 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
186719 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Ryoji Ramen and Izakaya Introducing: Ryoji Ramen and Izakaya https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/jan13-Ryoji-04-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/jan13-Ryoji-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/jan13-Ryoji-04.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ryoji/slide/jan13-ryoji-04/ jan13-ryoji-04 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
186718 On the walls of the dining room are handmade bricks from Okinawa (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Ryoji Ramen and Izakaya Introducing: Ryoji Ramen and Izakaya https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/jan13-Ryoji-03-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/jan13-Ryoji-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/jan13-Ryoji-03.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ryoji/slide/jan13-ryoji-03/ jan13-ryoji-03 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
186717 The lounge area (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Ryoji Ramen and Izakaya Introducing: Ryoji Ramen and Izakaya https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/jan13-Ryoji-02-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/jan13-Ryoji-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/jan13-Ryoji-02.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ryoji/slide/jan13-ryoji-02/ jan13-ryoji-02 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
186716 (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Ryoji Ramen and Izakaya Introducing: Ryoji Ramen and Izakaya https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/jan13-Ryoji-01-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/jan13-Ryoji-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/jan13-Ryoji-01.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ryoji/slide/jan13-ryoji-01/ jan13-ryoji-01 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
186724 Owner and chef Ryoji Kinjo hopes to imbue the restaurant with the spirit of “ichariba chode,” an Okinawan saying that means, roughly, “though we have met once, we are friends for life.” (Image: Gizelle Lau) Introducing: Ryoji Ramen and Izakaya Introducing: Ryoji Ramen and Izakaya https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/jan13-Ryoji-intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/jan13-Ryoji-intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/jan13-Ryoji-intro.jpg 656 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ryoji/slide/jan13-ryoji-intro/ jan13-ryoji-intro 0 0
(Image: Gizelle Lau)
Ryoji Ramen and Izakaya, 690 College St., 416-533-8083, facebook.com/RyojiofCanadaInc
i like ramen… but damn. enough shops yet?
Keep em coming, it’ll drive the price down!