My love of ramen started with a package of Mr. Noodles when I was in elementary school. I always drank all of the broth (yes, salt, I know!) and of course ate the noodles raw, crushed, and shaken with the seasoning. As my family moved around Canada and eventually settled in Toronto, suddenly I had access to so many more brands and types of instant noodles. Nong Shim, Nissin, kimchi flavour, udon noodles; needless to say I was a happy girl. The cup noodle has a special place in my heart for it’s convenience and ability to brighten my lunch in a compact package but I’ll always love cooking instant noodles and adding my poached egg. During my two trips to Japan, my diet consisted of sashimi and ramen and for once I didn’t get odd looks for drinking all my broth!

xiaoEats at the Cup Noodle Museum in Japan

What I look for in a bowl of ramen are three things:

1. The noodles – are they chewy? has a good texture? not doughy and not over done?
2. The broth – is it rich? how much fat is there? is it bland? and even for me, is it too salty?
3. The toppings – what’s included? is there an egg? how’s the meat cooked? garlic paste? bamboo? seaweed? is there a good portion and balance?

Based on these criteria, here’s my ranking of Toronto Ramen shops (as of Jan. 30th 2014)

1. Sansotei – 5.0 $ @ 179 Dundas St W
2. Santouka – 4.5 $ @ 91 Dundas St E
3. Niwatei Ramen – 4.5 $ @ 3160 Steeles Ave E
4. Kinton Ramen – 3.5 $ @ 51 Baldwin St
5. Ramen Raijin – 3.5 $ @ 3 Gerrard St E
6. Touhenboku Ramen – 3.5 $ @ 261 Queen St W
7. Ryoji Ramen – 3.5 $$ @ 690 College St
8. Kenzo – 3.5 $ @ 4860 Yonge St

Still to come:

1. Momofuku Noodle Bar
2. Ryus Noodle Bar
3. Ramen Isshin