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Kenzo Ramen
Categories: Restaurants Japanese Restaurants Soup Japanese, Soup [Edit]
138 Dundas St WToronto, ON M5G 1C3
Neighbourhoods: Discovery District, Downtown Core
(416) 205-1155
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11 am - 11 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
93 reviews for Kenzo Ramen
Review Highlights
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"The King of Kings ramen is a great winter soup." In 11 reviews -
"the broth was absolutely delicious." In 33 reviews -
"Otherwise, it's definitely my go-to place for noodles." In 38 reviews
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93 reviews in English
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Review from Emily C.
1/25/2012
This place was excellent. We had just come back from eating ramen everyday in japan so this was totally reminiscent of the vending machine/standing table joints found everywhere in Tokyo.
The first time we were super rushed, like, "can you make this in 5 minutes? we have to leave in 15?". And they did! It was first thing Saturday morning and empty ... but the broth came out fresh, it was simple, the noodles were good. No complaints!
The second time, the place was totally packed but same quality. Definitely will be my go to ramen place! -
Review from Wendy C.
5/20/2012
Good, not great, ramen. Tonkotsu ramen is one of their specialties. Orochong or hot Netsu ramen has a slight hint of spiciness, I guess that's "hot" for Japanese cuisine. Broth has some depth, I wasn't overly thirsty after the meal, so I think they go light on MSG.
Service is hurried, although not rude. All energy is reserved for getting you in and out as quickly as possible; not interested in chatting with you or encouraging you to linger on.
If I'm in the area again and looking for a quick fulfilling bowl of noodles, I wouldn't hesitate coming here. -
Review from Heather G.
Toronto, ON
5/3/2012
I came here for the first time on a Saturday afternoon. It was pretty busy, but luckily a single table was available for my boyfriend and I. It's pretty small in here, but not at all cramped feeling.
We ordered the gyoza and green tea smoothie to share. I had the Ji Su Men and my boyfriend ordered The King of Kings. The gyoza was packed with flavour and each dumpling was very generously filled. I will definitely order this dish every time I come here. It's really that good! The green tea smoothie although delicious was not worth the $4.95. It came in a very small glass whereas the photo that was advertising the drink was in a glass twice the size that was actually delivered to me. I was pretty disappointed and I don't recommend ordering this drink.
I had better luck with my ramen thankfully. The Ji Su Men had a broth that was rich and thick thanks to the egg and the noodles were perfect. The portion was pretty big, in fact sharing a bowl probably would have been more than enough especially after filling up on gyoza. I had a few sips of the King of Kings. It had great flavour and wasn't overly spicy. My boyfriend definitely enjoyed it.
Overall we had a great meal and we'll be returning to eat more gyoza and to try the other ramen dishes. -
Review from Joie T.
4/17/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Two check-ins later, what is my verdict? "Slightly Inconsistent".
GET THESE:
When we come, we order these: Hokkaido Ramen, Gyoza, and Takoyaki.
Oh? In English? This is what we ate:
Ramen - japanese egg noodle soup
Gyoza - fried dumplings, typically filled with pork
Takoyaki - grilled breaded fish balls
TASTE TEST CHALLENGE:
Ramen:
1st round - was almost perfect. Savory pork broth with chewy ramen noodles. 9 / 10
2nd round - noodles a bit soggy 7 / 10
Gyoza:
1st round - Died and gone to heaven! 10 / 10
Super piping hot and crispy on the outside and juicy in the inside! It's a perfect 10!
2nd round - even though it came out piping hot, this time a bit soggier, less crispy 8 / 10
Takoyaki:
1st round - Exceptional! Soft and creamy semi-sweet dough, filled with chunks of fish meat inside! Best part of the meal! 10 / 10
2nd round - although piping hot, the dough was soggy this time, but was still tasty
Come here for a great variety of soups and a few apps - all items under $13! Portions are pretty big! I could have shared - but - why?!?!?! Hehehe
Service is pretty quick for orders and receiving - but getting your bill is sometimes a challenge if you are in a rush!
CURRENT STATUS:
Definitely worth a 3rd round! -
Review from J Y.
Toronto, ON
5/21/2012
I came here with a group. Not cheap, but not expensive either (for their ramen - their sides are another story).
Yakisoba - $11. Very tasty. Topped with bonito flakes. Served sizzling and delicious. Seems to be their only soupless noodle option. 5/5.
Gyoza - $9. 6 pieces. Expensive, but each piece was large. Still not worth it, but it was pretty tasty. It's pretty hard to screw up a dumpling IMO, so it being tasty is nothing special. 2/5.
Takoyaki - $9. 6 pieces. Expensive and not good at all. Every other place I've had takoyaki served 6 pieces for under $5 (before taxes) and was the highlight of the meal. Here, it tasted like deep fried banana batter with small pieces of squid in the middle. Not a fan, especially at that price. 0/5.
I wouldn't go out of the way to visit this place, but if you find yourself there, get the noodles, and nothing else. The company I was with ordered other noodle dishes and everyone liked that. The sides were generally disappointing. If you must get a side, avoid the takoyaki. -
Review from John C.
Mississauga, ON
4/5/2012 1 photo
Wow the place has the best Ramen soup
It a must if you like soup. -
Review from Esther W.
Toronto, ON
3/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
I was there before for they open the store because my greyhound bus arrived early...when they open the door, I immediately ordered the house ramen. To my surprise, it came warm instead of hot, little slices of meat with my noodle soup. And my soup was just too salty so I asked for a cup of tea..but it was a tea bag tea with charge. I was very disappointed in their service. The waitress was busy talking to the guy cook instead of coming to check on my table. I had to walk to her to remind her that I was ready to pay the bill!! Ridiculous!
-
Review from Joanne S.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 4/9/2012
Came back, same salty/nauseous feeling. AVOID! AVOID! AVOID!
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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1/16/2011
King of Kings the second time made me nauseous because it was too salty. Won't be coming back, I… Read more »
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Review from Sophie T.
2/24/2012
This place was def a cool spot. I wasn't super hungry when we arrived but i was def looking forward to the ramen. Being from DC, we don't have that many ramen places.
I ordered the Tonkotsu Ramen: it was really really good! The noodles were perfect, the soup well seasoned and perfect for our cold day.
We also ordered the Takoyaki as an app, it was meh (Guu Izakaya is much better).
Would I return, sure if I'm in the area. Will I have dreams about it, probably not! -
Review from Kiki I.
Toronto, ON
1/16/2012
KENZO mmm mmm good.
I cannot claim that i have a refined palette for determining what good Ramen is due to the fact i have never been to Japan. Nor will i make judgements on Korean owned restaurants creating Japanese dishes especially since Japan occupied Korea for 35 years and from what i know the origins of Ramen are Chinese.
Kenzo is a Lil hole in the wall the service is generally fast but not always timed well, for example your guest may get their soup before you do. I never care cuz the food is mouth watering.
I always order soup and an app. takoyaki or gyoza both are good.
my top 3 fave soups are
The King of Kings Ramen has all the accompaniments of a Ramen soup... full of spicy smoky flavour
Sho-yu Ramen is delicate and perfect for a hangover.
Tonkatsu- pork bone broth yummers
I love KENZO -
Review from Cheryl C.
Scarborough, ON
10/29/2011
I was rather disappointed in this place.
I got the shio (salt) noodles @ $6.95. They were ok, but nothing special. Although I wasn't expecting a flavor that could compare to anything I've had in Japan, I also wasn't expecting the flavor that was rather close to canned broth here. The King of King noodles someone else at my table ordered were fancier, but it didn't look like it should cost more than $10.
The expensive $8 for 6 tako yaki were not worth the price. The batter had was dry and had no flavor. (I prefer the cheaper ones they sell in the food court at T&T Supermarket Milliken.)
I probably won't come back here, which means I'm still looking for a half decent ramen shop in Toronto. :( -
Review from Patty L.
North York, ON
After returning from Japan a few weeks ago, I was seriously craving some yakisoba - and Kenzo Ramen showed up in a few searches as having the best in Toronto. For the record - they don't. What they do have is a very nice pan-fried noodle served on a searing hot metal hotplate that is quite overpriced.
This restaurant is quite small and seating is cramped, but you could fit a group of 8 in the front if you used up all their tables. If you're sitting up on the upper landing near the kitchen you'll find it quite stuffy and you'll leave smelling like you walked out of a deep fryer.
They offer tacoyaki (sic) on their menu (which made my sister and I giggle) - but also offer it without octopus using ingredients like shrimp or cheese, etc if you prefer; in which case it can't be takoyaki since there's no tako in it (Ebiyaki anyone?)!
Service was lack-luster, but neither friendly nor rude. They accept credit cards on purchases over $10. There is a washroom on site for customers.
I didn't feel I got my money's worth here, and I probably won't be back. The yakisoba at Okonomi House is better (although still not authentic enough for me) and less expensive, and I can find cheaper ramen elsewhere in the city. -
Review from Robin D.
10/15/2011
There is not many seats so even though the line may be short, it may take some time to be seated. Tried to come here for weekday lunch a few times, but there is always a line.
So I finally waited the line out and had some of their nice miso ramen!! Nice shop. Definitely a nice place to get your noodle soup fix. -
Review from Laurie G.
North York, ON
2/6/2012
This review is for the North York location.
I have been to Kenzo several times in the past. After my last visit I have decided to never go back. I went with parents last time and the owner was rude to us. When he served us he never smiled, made eye contact or utter a single word. It is poorly organized and understaffed. You pretty much have to stand there and hope you don't get cut in line while waiting for a table, because there are two separate entrances so you'll have people standing at either end of the restaurant hoping to be seated. -
Review from Justine H.
Toronto, ON
Restaurant: Kenzo Ramen
Cuisine: Japanese
Location: Dundas Square
Address: 138 Dundas St W
Price Range: $10~15
1: Poor
2: OK
3: Good
4: Very Good
5: Excellent
Food: 3
Service: 2
Ambiance: 2
Overall: 2.5
Extra information:
*Korean Owned
*Specializes in Japanese Ramen
*Open for lunch
Kenzo is a Korean owned Japanese ramen shop- so would it taste authentic? nope of course not. Does it taste good? it's decent but nothing special.
It was my second time here and I don't even really like Japanese ramen to begin with. The only reason I went back to this place for the second time knowing it's nothing fabulous after the first time, was because I was craving noodles and couldn't find anything else that was close to where I was at.
So my expectation wasn't set high and I was just craving some hot Asian soup! When you walk in, it usually takes them a while to get to you since the kitchen/employee area is inconveniently located at the back. Don't expect them to smile at you, people working here are the most emotionless Koreans I've ever seen in my life.
Ordered: Kenzo Tonkatsu Miso Ramen, $8.95. This comes with few pieces of bokchoy(veggies), bean sprout, 3-4pieces of pork, 1/2 boiled eggs and green onion on top. Soup is pork bone based so it's smooth and creamy. The noodle is thin and has instant-freezer noodle texture to it.
I would never expect to find authentic Japanese ramen in Canada...especially because I've tried real ramen in Japan and the noodles were SO damn chewy it was the best ever! But Kenzo is ok once in awhile if you are harsh craving some ramen.
Summary: I find the price sort of expensive for the quality of food you get especially when they don't use fresh ramen. I would go back if I was craving ramen until I can find a better spot (I really hope I can) -
Review from dolphy r.
Richmond Hill, ON
11/4/2011
Went there for lunch at about 1 ish, I would have to say this is one of the worst and yet funny experience I have had for a while. The waitress there (btw only two of them) are extreme rude with a BIG attitude to all customers. We waited for about 20 mins and saw one of the customer complained about her order because it is not what she has ordered. Waitress took back the ramen to the kitchen and soon came out again and YELL (seriously yell) at the customer!!! and dumped back the ramen soup back to the customer's table and forced her to admit that is what she ordered?!!
Me and my colleagues finally got the sits and we ordered and confirmed twice with the order to make sure we will not have such a bad experience like the above. The first ramen came out very quickly and we attempted to inform the waitress that the ramen soup is not what we ordered! (The toppings are not the same as the ones we pointed on the menu). The lady waitress gave us a total mad face and choked her shoulders said that she has no control and do not know why the ramen does not look like the menu ramen pictures. It is up to her previous boss who makes up the menu and decide not to follow the toppings on the ramen soups? Not to waste anymore of our lunch time, we accepted the order as the previous customer did. We were basically forced to eat the toppings that are not what we've ordered.
Food wise is not that bad but the portion could be better. But I was so thirsty after I get back to the office and we are not planning to refer ANY of our colleagues to this downtown Kenzo Ramen!
Only go there if you are in a good mood, otherwise you will get yell at for sure. Waste your money somewhere else with at least an acceptable customer service. -
Review from Michael Y.
Toronto, ON
8/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Delicious Ramien. Way better than the stuff you get in packages at the grocery stores. I would come here again just for the food. The wait staff seemed frazzled and overwhelmed with the number of customers in the restaurant and the ones waiting in line. I saw one waiter asking if they asked for the bill and they actually ran out of the wonton dish my wife ordered. I got the King of Kings and was very yummy.
Go for the food - but be willing to be patient with the wait staff. -
Review from Bik D.
Oakville, ON
1/24/2012
I work about a block away and I always look forward to trying out new places
that are around me, which are numerous. I've tried most of the places on
this strip and I think Kenzo really stands out.
Excellent soup and great gyoza!! This place makes some amazing Ramen
and I love going there for lunch time and time again.
I usually get the Netsu-Ramen (Pork & Egg noodle) and I'll say that I probably
could eat this dish every day.
Great service, and
prices, I just wish the place was a little bigger. -
Review from rennie w.
5/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
A simple menu selection, only ramen with some sides of gyoza or octopus balls. They also had a special of wonton ramen and yakisoba.
Food was good with a tasty broth which I finished completely. Had nice iced green tea latte as well, refreshingly cooling and delicious.
They only accept cash, debit cards and Visa only - no Mastercard.
Oh and they greet you with the warm "irashaimase" which made me feel like I was back in Japan. Be warned - they are very busy during lunchtime rush hours when there is often a queue. -
Review from L L.
Toronto, ON
7/21/2011
When it comes to ramen, I may have high expectations.
Ever since I had that amazing tonkotsu kimchi ramen on one sizzling summer day in the middle of downtown Osaka in 2001, I still cannot forget the experience of lining up for ramens in 38 degree heat for 20 mins. The ramen after the wait was so good that the tonkotsu broth, the noodle, and the spicy kimchi toppings were just perfectly balanced. It was totally worth the wait in that heat with a bunch of other customers.
I may still be living in that dream because the tonkotsu at Kenzo fell short of my expectation. Comparing to Ajisen ramen, it was a par in terms of quality and taste. However, it fell short in terms of amount. Smaller amount but higher pricing point at $8.95. Also, I have tried tonkotsu-miso ramen ($8.95), and tsauke-men($8.95). All of them did not meet my expectation in terms of quality with respect to pricing.
Service was below my standard as well. The server forgot to put my gyoja order. But when it was found out missing, there was no apology or no excuse for whatever happened. He tired to argue that we did not order it. :( Since I don't generally argue with a server, I've just let it go. Sub-par training and management.
Three stars for food, two stars for service and ambiance. -
Review from Tas H.
Toronto, ON
8/16/2011
Best cure for our Toronto winter.
First time a friend suggested going for Ramen I balked. Why bother when i can get my ramen fix from instant ramen? Then I tried it on a cold winter night with a friend and became a convert. Its nothing like the MSG filled Mr noodle that was my staple in undergrad years. Their broth is to die for and the ramen noodles.. le sigh. Totally worth the wait for tables.
Will return again and again for the Sapporo style NetSu- Ramen. -
Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
Updated - 2/26/2011 15 photos
After being to all 3 locations of Kenzo Ramen in Toronto, This particular Kenzo now officially won "The Worse Services" and "The Most Unfriendly Waitstaff" award.
Though I cannot fault the food... the Ramens we ordered were excellent... But in order to eat that Ramen we have to endure crappy and unfriendly services?!!
No smile, No greetings... Just point...at the empty table
You ask for something, no acknowledgement.. if you lucky you might get what you request?
No Thanks, No Bye...
For me is BYE... since now your location is NOT the only one in town!!Listed in: Ramen in Toronto!
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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5/11/2010
As promised, I am back again to try out their dumplings.
I have to say the dumplings are really good!… Read more »
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Review from Pardeep R.
Markham, ON
Few of my friends wanted to try this place, so gave it a shot on a Saturday afternoon. The staff is very friendly and kind... found eating space for group of 11 very easily. Service was great.. we had a cute asian boy serving our table! lol
Most of us ordered the Pork Bone Ramon and it was simply delicious and full of flavour... good til the last drop!... Price is very reasonable for the quality and portion size you get. Def two thumbs up and do give it a shot. -
Review from Lynn C.
3/1/2011
I do love this place. In fact, I loved it so much the first time I came here, I suggested that we come back again the next day with a different group of people. The Netsu and Tonkotsu ramen I tried were so delicious that even though I wasn't hungry, I ate the full thing anyway, AND drank all the soup.
The unfortunate thing about this place is how small it is. If you have a big group, the wait time could be very long, and you may have to wait outside in the cold. Otherwise, it's definitely my go-to place for noodles. Yum!Listed in: Japanese in the GTA
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Review from Edward H.
Toronto, ON
1/5/2012
Salty, strong flavor was my first impression. I am a vegetarian hence there are only 3 options open to me. I ordered the Saporo miso ramen, it was ok, nothing special (for $11 it should be more special, no?) But from the taste, I think the soup base isn't vegetarian, it must have some pork extract or meat powder flavoring in it. Tea is $1.00 (not free which is stupid), and my 'free' water is only half full. This is a somewhat disappointing experience, and because I feel odd about the soup ingredient I most likely won't go back again. Oh ya, I smell like the restaurant after too, and got really hungry 2.5 hrs later. Lol.
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Review from Yin L.
6/20/2011
Not the greatest but certainly good enough for me to get a quick ramen fix.
My only complain is their exorbitant charge for adding more tonkatsu. The waiter wasn't sure of the extra charge and told me it would be between 1 to 2 bucks. I said either way is fine. Well, I only got TWO extra slices of pork and was charged $2.50!!! I felt totally ripped off but hopefully this will not repeat with another customer.
The green tea latte was great. The authenticity of the tea can be tasted from the the matcha powder they used.
Overall decent place except for my misadventure of the tonkatsu. -
Review from Sam C.
11/26/2010 1 photo
I've been to the Kenzo on Dundas before, it was a Plan B after finding out there was a 3hr wait at Guu, and this was my first visit to the new expansion site in the Annex. Hands down I enjoyed my experience at the Bloor St better than Dundas St. I think it's mainly the décor which is much more modern with bright lighting and clean white tables. I wasn't too fond of the wood work at the Dundas location, it looked old and grungy. Downside to the Bloor St location is the size of the restaurant, Dundas is still bigger.
The Gyoza and Takoyaki appetizers are great (I actually think the Takoyaki is better than Guu) and the Gyoza is a must. The ramen is tasty as usual and fairly decent for Toronto.
The service is quick and they're banking on fast turnover given the size of the restaurant. Upon my arrival they were reluctant to seat us until our whole party was present. So no BS, just quick, cheap, and good eats. -
Review from gabriel m.
12/22/2010
I've been twice in three days so I guess the least I can give it is four stars. :)
The food is great and not too expensive. The place is small but fast so the wait isn't too bad.
I don't want to give it 5 stars as I need to become better versed in ramen.
However, this place rocks!! The King of Kings ramen is a great winter soup. The meat is fresh, not over cooked, and not too salty. The egg on top is cooked to perfection and is flavorful. The broth is also tasty and spicy. I can take much more spice but am happy with this one without having to doctor it much.
I'll be going back I'm sure. The better I get at ramen knowledge, I will come back and update.
Enjoy!! -
Review from T P.
1/28/2011
Drove 4 hours for ramen, and would do it again for this place. Got the king of kings and it was very delicious, the meat was perfectly juicy and flavorful. The ramen comes with a side of gyoza, but we didn't know had already ordered the gyoza appetizer - the waiter failed to tell us that. Would have been even better if the egg was salted, which it was not here.
But no one goes to an Asian restaurant expecting great service. So long as the food comes in a timely manner and they give you clean looking water and utensils, that's all you need.
I really enjoyed the king of kings ramen - whatever the husband got, he didn't like as much. It was a regular ramen so avoid that. -
Review from Vivien L.
4/15/2011
Came here with my boyfriend twice now and both times the food was good. I can finish a whole bowl myself and be full so I think normal people would need to order extra noodles to be full (I don't eat that much.. lol) or you could order the takoyaki to fill your stomachs instead!
Only things that hold me back from giving it 4 stars are the service and the environment. service was alright, not really existent and they took a while to get us water. and umm environment wise.. this location is really small and the distance between your table and other people are realllllly close so i could hear everything the couple beside me were saying hahah (but it was ok cuz their conversation was hilarious.. i would write what they said but i'm scared one of them might somehow read this post haha)
Lastly.. i think to save money.. they bought chairs from a library -
Review from Emily L.
Toronto, ON
11/4/2010
Keeping it simple: The way good ramen should be.
Ramen noodle houses have become somewhat of a successful trend in Vancouver, and I've tried my fair share. Having just moved to Toronto, I was glad to find Kenzo and get my "fix"!
I consider myself spoiled in this area, and so, while I can say that I've had better, I found myself thoroughly satisfied with my dinner at Kenzo.
I had the Mi-so Ramen, and noted:
- the broth was quite rich, but not overly so. If you tend to like your broth less salty, my dad recommends the Sho-yu
- pork was delicious
- noodle to soup ratio was excellent (this is VERY important! I tend to need a lot of soup to my noodles, and there is nothing more frustrating than trying to "ration" your soup for the latter half of your dinner)
The service was quick - which I will give them a big thumbs up for. A moderate thumbs down to how rushed the initial wait staff made us feel. We had barely sat for 2 minutes when the waitress came over and demanded our order! She seemed peeved we weren't ready. She was back 1 minute later. We stood our ground and apologized, but we needed more time. Frustrated, she left and we never saw her again. In her place, a much more patient young man became our waiter. You could tell that he was probably fighting the urge to hurry us along and out as well, but fight it he did, and my friend and I passed a pleasant evening together.
They were out of the gyoza when we were there (very popular!), and while our replacement takoyaki was yummy (light, and creamy with just a tad too much sauce) - I'm going to come back GMG (get my gyoza)! -
Review from Giuliana B.
SCARBOROUGH, ON
10/4/2010
My bf has been asking me to go here with him for weeks. So, although based on reviews I was skeptical to try it out, I decided to be a good gf, and caved in. *Sigh*
We came here on a particularly chilly afternoon and were seated right away. At first we were given a table right by the door, but it was so drafty outside that I asked them to move us to a table inside. Once we got in we realized that there was lots of tables available in the restaurant, so I don't understand why they would sit us by the the door.
We were handed our menus by a somewhat pleasant server, and left alone to make our choices. A bonus of getting a seat at the back of the restaurant was that we had prime view of the kitchen and could see the chefs preparing our meals. The negative side of this? The chef really did not seem to appreciate my curious glances towards his workplace. Actually, at one point he stared me down. After that, I stopped glancing.
Another big big bonus of getting a seat in the back? We got to watch the lady who makes the dumplings hard at work. It was very interesting to be able to see her stuff the dough with the filling, and the shape it into the perfect little dumplings. Sweet. And unlike her grumpier coworker, she did not seem to mind my tentative glances.
I chose the King of Kings, the bf had the Orochong Ramen, and we also got an order of gyoza. Maybe it was just me, because based on other reviews people seem to really enjoy the King of Kings, but I did not like it one bit. It wasn't awful, but it really just wasn't good either. It had no real flavour, and was rather boring and were it not for its gigantic size, unimpressive. Blah.
The Orochong on the other hand was better. I enjoyed the flavour and kick in the broth much more, and though it seemed to be lacking on the ingredients, the broth sort of made up for it.
The dumplings were delicious. The right size and texture, and so very fresh. Truly a delight to eat, and the only reason this place isn't getting 2 stars.
Service wasn't awful, and the servers were kind of nice really, rushed and impersonal, but at least we got "thank-you's" and "bye's". -
Review from Karen W.
Toronto, ON
3/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
First time ramen eater. Verdict: tasty!
I ordered the King of Kings ramen and the gyoza.
The King of Kings broth had a spicy, pork-meets-fish flavour. The noodles were good, but I actually found them to be the dullest part of the soup. The star was hands-down the pork: both the minced pork in the broth and the sliced pork topping had this incredible smokey flavour that was really unique and delicious.
And the gyoza! Wow! Pork explosion! Probably better than the ramen.
I don't understand why this place gets such negative reviews. If you want good service, don't go to a noodle house. -
Review from Adrienne L.
Toronto, ON
11/14/2010
I went here for lunch after my first marathon.
I do not have extensive ramen experience (this was probably my third bowl of ramen), but I absolutely enjoyed it. The noodles were perfectly cooked and the soup was very flavorful, and not too salty.
Service was prompt and the portions huge. It was pretty clear that the tables next to us also fully enjoyed their meals. -
Review from Johnathan N.
Brampton, ON
Pretty excellent ramen, certainly the best in the area.
This place just opened, but you wouldn't know it. The service is prompt, the menu is strong and simple, the food is fresh and well balanced with no sign of growing pains. It helps that this is an expansion of their Dundas Street location, but even still I'm quite impressed with their execution.
The Netsu ramen base has a nice rich flavour, not over-fatty despite the ground pork, and their hot sauce has a good heat. I was even more pleased with the Ji Su Men, though. Lots of veggies, fresh egg cooked in to a savoury broth to help thicken it, and noodles cooked properly so that they still have a bit of bite. Very tasty and a fine lunch at $8.95.
It's a ramen joint, don't expect stunning decor or brilliant music selections, but neither is the atmosphere distracting in any way.
Pro-tip: get the gyoza. Get. The. Gyoza. Freshly made to order and it shows. The greens in the filling are bright and fresh, again cutting the fattiness of the pork really well. Delicious, and utterly different from the pre-frozen lumps you get in most sushi joints. A bit expensive for a side dish, running as much as some of the mains, but they're big and an order would easily share 3 ways. -
Review from Ryan O.
Toronto, ON
Great, authentic ramen and atmosphere. Very flavourful and satisfying. Also excellent donburi. When they opened.
Unfortunately, over the past few months it feels as though their success has lead to a drop in quality of the food. In addition to this, one of my favourite comfort foods is no longer on the menu - donburi.
Will definitely check in from time to time as even on a bad day they're still one of the better options in the area. -
Review from Dave A.
10/30/2011
Really nice and filling for a late night dinner. Flavors are good and it's a meal on the unique side. By the way, you really can only get noodles here. Also, not sure why the beer was so expensive.
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Review from Gwyn H.
Toronto, ON
10/5/2010
So I think this will be a rolling review as I'm going to have to go back and experience Kenzo sometime actually sitting in the restaurant but until then I can review based on take out.
I've been here a few times as it's right around the corner from my work and here's really nothing like Ramen Soup on rainy days.
I haven't had any issues at all with the take out service - I can walk in and out within 5 minutes with my soup so no complaints there. The one thing with take out is that sometimes there isn't a lot of space to stand while you wait if all the tables are taken.
I found the Shi-o Ramen a bit of a disappointment to be honest. It's basic ramen and the broth is good but just a bit ... underwhelming. The
Ji Su Men ($9.95) though on the other hand I thoroughly enjoy. It's a thicker soup with finely chopped chicken and a hint of sesame. It truly is a soup that just hits the spot on rainy days.
I'll go back to enjoy the actual restaurant experience sometime soon though. -
Review from Rao R.
Brampton, ON
2/8/2012
This place is an okay but contains many flaws that stop it from becoming a excellent restaurant. Firstly, Kenzo contains a wide variety of Ramens to choose from including Netsu Ramen and Nagasaki Champon. During my visit, I had the Mi-so Ramen and it was good. The noodles were cooked to perfection and the soup was seasoned very well. However, not all parts of this restaurant was as good as the food. The atmosphere of this restaurant can be uncomfortable as this restaurant is very small. Everything feels squished in and disorganized. The table setting could use some improvement. The servers were good but could be improved on. At times, our server was no where to be seen and we were kept waiting. This restaurant contains many flaws with its atmosphere and its servers but the food really makes up for it. I rate this restaurant 3 stars and I would recommend this restaurant to any Ramen lovers.
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Review from Kat F.
7/12/2009 2 photos
I have to echo the sentiments of my fellow yelpers in saying that this place was mediocre at best, and the (lack of) service was what tipped it from being a three star experience to a one and a half or two star at most.
Our server was terse and forgetful - if this is, as some have said, "par for the course" when eating at a Japanese or Korean restaurant I'd honestly rather just cut the cuisine out of my repertoire entirely. I don't have much room in my dining life for terrible service. Within seconds of sitting down we were urged to order appetizers, yet we hadn't even been provided with menus. When I saw a nearby table snacking on steamed edamame, I decided to order it, only to be told that they don't have edamame on the menu. English was very limited so I didn't have the energy to argue.
I ordered the "orochong ramen", and thankfully one of my dinner mates spoke Korean and was able to request a vegetarianized version. I honestly feel like whenever I eat at an Asian restaurant I am at the mercy of the chefs when it comes to respecting my dietary preferences. I can never be sure if what I'm eating is truly vegetarian. It's a real trust thing.
The food was piping hot and the portion was ample. It was a little spicy for my tastes (and I like spicy food) and I was only able to finish about 1/5th of my meal. Despite this, the server didn't once ask if anything was wrong with my food or if I wanted to take it to go. It just sat in front of me, untouched, until after I had left. Apparently one of my dinner mates DID ask to have her food wrapped up and never saw it again. I wouldn't return.
Cash only.Listed in: Tipping Is Optional
