Ryoji, Toronto’s newest ramen shop and izakaya, is set to open this month

The mania for non-sushi Japanese food that dominated the restaurant scene last year is continuing into 2013: Ramen and Izakaya Ryoji, an Okinawa, Japan–based chain of izakayas and ramen shops is opening its first international location on College Street. Located a couple streets west of recent Vancouver import Hapa Izakaya, Ryoji is scheduled for a January 15 launch provided it gets its liquor license in time. Expect the chain’s “Tondou” brand noodles swimming in either a pork and chicken–based broth or their unique “Onna-aji,” soup made from a blend of three different broths: pork-chicken, fish and vegetable.

Ramen and Izakaya Ryoji, 692 College St., facebook.com/RyojiofCanadaInc