The addresses of the Cuisinomane: ramen soups

MISE À DAY

It is generous, tasty, gourmet and brings its share of comfort: ramen soup, which has always been rooted in Japanese customs, is booming everywhere in Quebec.

While there are hundreds of variations to ramen soup, three elements will always be present: the broth; either pork (tonkostu), soy (shoyu) or miso, the noodles; thin or thick, then the toppings; pork or poultry, eggs and vegetables.

Here are some Japanese bistros where you can “slurp” a good ramen soup!  

Tsukuyomi < /h3>

At Tsukuyomi, the secret is in the broth – the Tonkostu, specifically. Entirely made from pork bones, it is gently simmered for almost 10 hours, until it becomes creamy, milky in appearance, without however being excessively fatty and salty. We also love its complexity when added to noodles made on site and braised pork. A real bowl of happiness!

▸ tsukuyomi.ca

▸ 5207 Saint-Laurent Boulevard, Montreal

▸ 1242 Bishop Street, Montreal 

Neo Tokyo 

The Neo Tokyo, which has just opened its doors a stone's throw from downtown Montreal, has everything to capture your attention. This neo-futuristic Japanese noodle bar invites its customers into a cyberpunk universe – straight out of the movie Blade Runner and the manga Akira. Skilled or not, arm yourself with chopsticks and dive resolutely into the various ramen soups or mazemens (bowl of noodles without broth), the latter representing the specialty of the place. An arcade session while waiting for the mazemen carbonara?

▸ neotokyonoodlebar.ca

▸ 425 Viger Avenue West RC-001, Montreal

Kokkaku Ramen 

A little gem on Main Street in Sutton, this Kokkaku. Since 2019, this family bistro has been concocting tasty homemade broths, steamed breads (bao bun), as well as a shovelful of small dishes that have everything to brighten up a hearty bowl of ramen. We like the freedom to create our own soup, by selecting the broth (including a vegan option), a sauce from 6 choices, as well as a protein (pork, roast chicken or tofu). On the go or on the spot, the stop is worth the cost!

▸ facebook.com/SlurpRamenBar/

▸ 19 rue Principale North, Sutton 

Misoya 

Not only does misoya mean “miso shop” in Japanese, but it is also the name of an internationally renowned ramen bar. No need to specify that here, miso is in the spotlight – and therefore, offers tasty broths that are entirely vegetarian. Once the broth has been chosen, the toppings remain at our discretion: egg with miso, breaded shrimp, tofu or the house specialty, the Cha-shu (pork) grilled with miso.

▸ ramenmisoya. ca

▸ 2065A Bishop Street, Montreal

▸ 30 Sainte-Catherine Street West, Montreal

▸ 406 Lafleur Avenue, LaSalle 

Tora-Ya Ramen 

Well established in the neighborhood for ten years, the Tora-Ya Ramen has built and maintained a loyal clientele. Customers come and go for the tasty miso or soy broth soups, gyozas and Japanese fried chicken, called karaage. A few vegetarian options are available, but we love the Omori Miso, with braised pork from Turlo Farm.

▸ torayaramen.com

▸ 75 rue Saint-Joseph Est, Quebec 

Yokato Yokabai 

Connoisseurs know it: this popular bistro offers one of the best ramens in town. Noon and night, the Yokato Yokabai teems with people claiming their overflowing bowl of umami. However, do not expect to spend an entire evening there; the experience is rather hasty, but oh so satisfying. Once seated, we make our selection on a small piece of paper (broth, toppings, thickness of noodles, salt level and accompaniments), we give it to our server, then there is no need to wait too long before the meal is served. We opt for the thick noodles made on site, as well as the tender pork belly as a garnish.

▸ yoka.ca

▸ 4185 rue Drolet, Montreal 

Hono Ramen 

Four years after the opening of the Izakaya, the Hono family gave way, in February 2022, to its little brother, the latter specializing in noodles in a rich and complex broth: ramen. Here, everything is homemade, prioritizing local ingredients. Five soups with different broths are offered at all times, including the creation of the month, as well as a vegan option. We accompany our steaming bowl of edamame, a few siu mai (Chinese dumplings), and for the greediest, the famous karaage Hono (fried chicken).

▸ ramen.honorestos.com< /strong>

▸ 680 rue Saint-Joseph Est, Quebec 

Bistro Kobo Ramen 

It was while rediscovering ramen through a trip to Ottawa that William Marier got hooked on this Japanese soup consumed at any time of the day in the bistros of Japan. After doing his homework in research and development, he co-founded Kobo Ramen, where he makes his own broths and noodles. Even if we are not in the purest tradition, we greatly appreciate that he personalizes his concoctions according to seasonal ingredients, his inspirations, and on demand, especially with many other small dishes to share: takoyaki (ball of octopus pancake), steamed buns (bao bun), fried chicken and curry. An address to discover in Sherbrooke!

▸ bistrokoboramen.ca

▸ 1 rue Wellington Nord, Sherbrooke

Tommy Dion is a columnist/food critic and founder of the web platform and gourmet guide www.lecuisinomane.com