Introducing: Ramen Isshin, a new noodle house in Harbord Village from the owner of Kingyo
Name: Ramen Isshin
Neighbourhood: Harbord Village
Contact Info: 421 College St., 416-367-4013, ramenisshin.com , @ramenisshin
Owners: Adam Chan, Jason Matsubara and Koji Zenimaru, who also owns Kingyo in Cabbagetown
Executive Chef: Kingyo chef Koji Zenimaru
The Food: Zenimaru describes the new shop’s cuisine as “Japanese soul food,” but ramen is clearly the star. It’s made with two types of broth—t onkotsu (pork) or vegetable—and topped with things like pork belly, wood-ear mushrooms and house-made chili oil. Bowls come in popular flavours like miso, shoyu, shio and tan-tan, a spicy soup crowned with wok-fried pork and served with a mortar and pestle of black sesame seeds for DIY seasoning. Non-soup options include karaage (fried chicken), “Japatine” (poutine made with Japanese curry gray) and a trio of rice bowls.
The Drinks: Pop and green tea until the liquor license is approved. Once it comes through, Asahi beer will be available on tap.
The Place: Formerly home to a late-night shwarma counter, the space has been transformed to evoke a sense of Tokyo, complete with a mainly Japanese staff and decorative calligraphy on the walls. Diners can watch their bowls being prepped in the big open kitchen.
The Numbers:
• 24-60 hours to simmer Isshin’s complex broths
• 4 people who know the recipes for said complex broths
• 2 dragons pictured in the wall-spanning mural by Hiroshi Yamamoto
• 1 ramen, one heart: the restaurant’s motto (“Isshin” is Japanese for “one heart”)
254628 <em>Isshin</em> means “one heart” in Japanese. Isshin’s motto is “One ramen, one heart” (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Ramen Isshin Introducing: Ramen Isshin https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-01-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurants/slide/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-01/ ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-01 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
254629 (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Ramen Isshin Introducing: Ramen Isshin https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-02-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurants/slide/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-02/ ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-02 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
254630 Diners can oversee their bowls being prepped in the open kitchen (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Ramen Isshin Introducing: Ramen Isshin https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-03-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurants/slide/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-03/ ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-03 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
254631 Chef and partner <strong>Koji Zenimaru</strong> (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Ramen Isshin Introducing: Ramen Isshin https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-04-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurants/slide/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-04/ ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-04 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
254632 Japanese artist <strong>Hiroshi Yamamoto’</strong>s <em>Twin Dragons</em> mural uses the gradation technique of <em>Sumi-E</em> (Japanese Ink painting). In Japan, dragons symbolize power, strength and good luck (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Ramen Isshin Introducing: Ramen Isshin https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-05-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurants/slide/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-05/ ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-05 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
254633 The poem written by chef/co-owner Zenimaru, translated:<br /> <br />
It is just one bowl of Ramen that we offer you<br /><br />
And that’s why we put our heart and soul into this one bowl<br /><br />
Making Ramen heart and soul,<br /><br />
Just to see your happy smile.<br /><br />
Every encounter is a treasure, thus,<br /><br />
Dedicating all our soul into each and every bowl,<br /><br />
With this spirit, we give ourselves a name “Isshin (one heart).”<br />
(Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Ramen Isshin Introducing: Ramen Isshin https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-06-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurants/slide/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-06/ ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-06 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
254636 Isshin “Red Miso” Ramen: thick ramen noodles in red and white miso pork broth, wok-fried ground pork, onions, bean sprouts, carrots, black wood-ear mushrooms, chives and pork belly cha-shu ($10.25) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Ramen Isshin Introducing: Ramen Isshin https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-09-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurants/slide/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-09/ ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-09 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
254637 Isshin “Red Miso” Ramen: thick ramen noodles in red and white miso pork broth, wok-fried ground pork, onions, bean sprouts, carrots, black wood-ear mushrooms, chives and pork belly cha-shu ($10.25) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Ramen Isshin Introducing: Ramen Isshin https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurants/slide/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-10/ ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-10 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
254638 Isshin “Spicy” Black Tan-Tan Ramen: thick ramen noodles in miso broth with wok-fried ground pork, spicy chives, bok choi, black sesame, pork belly and homemade chili oil ($10.25). Black sesame seeds are served alongside in a mortar and pestle. (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Ramen Isshin Introducing: Ramen Isshin https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurants/slide/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-11/ ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-11 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
254641 Vegetarian “Shoyu” Ramen: savoury broth made from vegetables and kombu (seaweed) mixed with house made shoyu (soy sauce), green onions, bamboo shoots, seaweed and sautéed fresh mushrooms ($9.80) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Ramen Isshin Introducing: Ramen Isshin https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-14.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurants/slide/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-14/ ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-14 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
254634 Mentaiko Don: Japanese rice topped with spicy cod roe, bonito flakes, seaweed and green onions ($4.50) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Ramen Isshin Introducing: Ramen Isshin https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-07-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurants/slide/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-07/ ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-07 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
254635 Any ramen bowl can be sided by any rice bowl for an extra $3.50 (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Ramen Isshin Introducing: Ramen Isshin https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-08-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-08.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurants/slide/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-08/ ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-08 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
254640 Deep-fried chicken karaage served with garlic Kewpie mayonnaise ($4.75) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Ramen Isshin Introducing: Ramen Isshin https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-13.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurants/slide/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-13/ ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-13 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
254639 “Japatine”: fries topped with curds, Japanese curry gravy, seaweed and green onions ($5.25) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Ramen Isshin Introducing: Ramen Isshin https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurants/slide/ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-12/ ramen-isshin-toronto-restaurant-12 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
The headline should read “a new noodle house in Kensington”. Harbord Village ends at the north side of College.