Of course I had a bowl of Japanese ramen in Toronto. It was actually the first thing we did after checking into our hotel. We headed straight for pork belly and ramen at Momofuku Noodle Bar Toronto.
A Bowl of Japanese Ramen in Toronto
Ramen Around the World
I won’t bore you with how I’m borderline obsessed with ramen and have eaten a bowl of it around the world. I’ve said all that before. But I will note how most of the ramen I’ve had around the world is influenced — at least slightly — by local cuisine. Ramen in Vienna had breaded duck. Ramen in Paris had a strong resemblance to chicken noodle soup. Ramen in London struggled with its noodles.
But Toronto is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the world and their restaurants reflect that. We ate food from a different culture every meal during our trip. So it isn’t surprising that ramen in Toronto was less about incorporating Canadian influences and more about being authentic. And maybe a little unique.
Authentically Momofuku
Momofuku is the restaurant empire of David Chang, the chef, restaurateur, and TV star. He’s even more obsessed with ramen than I am. His (now shuttered) food magazine, Lucky Peach, had its inaugural publication entirely focused on ramen and each subsequent issue had an article dedicated to the Japanese soup.
The Momofuku line of restaurants first started with Momofuku Noodle Bar in New York City and since spread around the world, expanding beyond ramen to other Asian-inspired cuisines and a dessert shop. Even the name Momofuku is a nod to the founder of instant ramen.
David Chang, who lived in Japan for years, emphasizes that the ramen at Momofuku isn’t trying to be identical to ramen in Japan. “Momofuku ramen is our own story and no one else’s. We borrowed it but made it our own narrative,” he writes in his magazine, Lucky Peach.
He’s known to dissect a dish down to its individual components, using only what’s necessary. But each component is taken to the next level to elevate the entire dish. And the ramen at Momofuku is relatively simple, but with all the best toppings.
Ramen in Toronto
And that, really, is the way I would describe the Pork Ramen ($16) at Momofuku. Somewhat simple, as far as ramen goes, with broth that was thinner than I’m used to, but without lacking the slightest bit of flavor.
(Besides the Pork Ramen, Momofuku also serves several other types of ramen, fried chicken, chicken wings, rice cakes, and a drool-worthy pork side rib with chili sauce.)
David Chang’s Famous Pork Belly Buns
In David Chang’s quest to perfect ramen and swoon diners with Asian inspired food, he became famous for his pork belly buns. (Although he considers his cuisine American, not Asian.)
We also tried the Chilled Shrimp buns ($12) with spicy mayo but the BBQ Pork Belly Buns ($12) stole the show. It was all about balance: the right amount of Korean barbecue sauce, which had the right amount of sweetness, plus a little bit of slaw and sweet pickles. A good bun-to-pork ratio. Charred pork balanced by the melt-in-the-mouth fattiness.
Thoughts & Info
My parents, who were traveling with me in Toronto, recently became fans of David Chang for his Netflix series Ugly Delicious. So they were pretty excited for Momofuku and to have ramen in Toronto. And not only did Momofuku — and David Chang — not disappoint, our dinner set the stage for what would be one great meal after another in Toronto.
Go to Momofuku for :: an excellent bowl of ramen in Toronto. Don’t forget a pork belly bun! Notes :: Open 11:30 am – 3 pm every day for lunch. Dinner is 5-10:30 pm Sunday – Monday, 5-11 pm Tuesday – Saturday. Reservations accepted.
Related :: An Amazing Dinner in Toronto, Where to Eat in Toronto, And Ramen in Chicago, London, Zurich, Vienna, Paris, New York, Salt Lake City, and Japan.
