Machida Shoten brings Yokohama Iekei-style ramen to downtown Toronto, specializing in rich pork broth finished with fragrant chicken oil. We walked into a cozy, energetic space that feels reminiscent of ramen shops in Japan, with a warm, bustling atmosphere that fits the style of food being served. The restaurant is relatively small, but the quick service keeps things moving even when there is a line outside, and the turnover is efficient enough that the wait does not feel excessive. The ramen is the clear standout. The broth is deeply savory, creamy, and packed with umami without feeling overly heavy, and the layer of chicken oil adds another level of richness that sets it apart from more standard tonkotsu bowls. One of the best parts is the ability to customize your bowl by choosing the noodle firmness, broth richness, and salt level to match your preference. We appreciated the flexibility, as it allowed us to dial in the bowl exactly how we wanted it. The noodles have a satisfying chew that holds up well in the hearty soup, and toppings like chashu, spinach, nori, quail eggs, and garlic paste round everything out nicely. The chashu was tender and well seasoned, and the garlic paste added a punch of flavor that brought the whole bowl together. The complimentary rice is also worth taking advantage of, especially for soaking up the remaining broth, and it adds a nice finishing touch to the meal. The crispy gyoza makes a great side, with a thin, crispy exterior and a juicy filling that pairs well with the ramen. Service is friendly and efficient, with staff happy to explain the customization options if it is your first time trying Iekei ramen. They guided us through the choices without pressure, and the pacing of the meal was comfortable. The restaurant has become quite popular, so waits during dinner and weekends are common, but the line generally moves at a reasonable pace. Prices are fair for the portion size and quality, and the generous bowls make for a filling meal that leaves you satisfied without feeling overly heavy. Machida Shoten is one of the strongest ramen additions to Toronto's dining scene. If you enjoy rich, flavorful broths and appreciate being able to customize every aspect of your bowl, it is an easy recommendation and well worth the wait. The combination of a deeply savory broth, chewy noodles, and thoughtful customization options makes it a standout in a city with no shortage of ramen options. read more

Machida Shoten - Ramen Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Went for a Sunday lunch on a long weekend and it was pretty quiet, which was a nice surprise. Walked in and got seated right away. The menu is pretty simple, five ramen options with different combinations of meat, nori, spice, and toppings, plus a few sides. The thing that makes this place unique is the Iekei style: instead of just finishing your broth, you pour what's left over a bowl of rice that comes with your meal. They include a cute little instruction card showing you the recommended toppings, sauces, and even the order to eat it in. Appreciated that. I went with the Original at $14.99. Topping-wise it's pretty minimal, but the broth is thick and creamy, which I was into. It's on the heavier side so fair warning if that's not your thing, but paired with the rice it works really well. The chicken oil they add to every bowl gives it this really cozy, comforting aroma that I loved. There's also garlic paste, bean paste, and pickled cucumbers on the table to play around with, and you can customize your noodle firmness, saltiness, and chicken oil level when you order. For the price, it's a solid and filling meal. Only wish there were a few more vegetables in the bowl, but that's a small complaint. Wouldn't necessarily go out of my way for it, but if I'm in the area and want something warm and satisfying, I'd definitely pop in again. read more

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Located near Kensington market, the restaurant was not too big but we went around 4pm so there was plenty of seating. I really enjoyed the chicken oil they used on top of the ramen and the noodles were very bouncy and delicious. The rice that came with it (to be eaten with ramen or after with sauces and soup), was a bit of a letdown. It was quite soggy and too overcooked. Hope this was a one off issue! The staff was very friendly and helpful. read more

Machida Shoten - Ramen Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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The moment i stepped in, it reminded me of the Japan ramen stores. Its not a big place but the ramen steam warms up the entire place. There might still be a line up outside. But it didnt take too long. The ramens are all the same broth with a little variation. It comes with a bowl of plain rice. And u might wonder what its for. When ure done all the noodles, dump the rice in there or scoop a spoonful full and immerse it in the broth. Its soooo goood. I ate every last drop! read more

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Here on Saturday lunch time (12:50?). Expected a long line-up but luckily, there was no line up and we (2 of us) were seated immediately. (15 mins after we were seated, a line up grew and there were several groups waiting outside of the front door). We both got Negi-ramen. My hubby got an Ajitama as a topping. Asked for salt level, chicken oil level, and noodle firmness with all "Normal". They have a small bowl of steamed rice for free - my hubby got one, I skipped it. I liked the Negi ramen, plenty of fresh shredded negi on top, adding fresh, crispy and succulent texture. The soup was rich, savory and creamy - creamy to the point where it is almost felt like "sauce" than "soup". I also expected soy sauce flavor as much as tonkotu's (which I was used to in Japan) but it was super tonkotsu forward, so I was a bit disappointed. Well, the disappointment is solely due to my personal preference - the flavor itself was well rounded and decent. I liked the thick noodle. It intertwined very well with the thick creamy soup. Next time I will order the noodle firmness as "Firm" because it gets flabby quickly in the hot soup. Satisfying, and very comforting :) Good! read more

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Loved the ramen here and would come again soon. The broth was flavourful and just perfect for what I was craving. It also came with a bowl of rice which is a nice touch as the rice goes well with the soup base. I'm also a fan of quail eggs so that was perfect for me. Came here for lunch where service was quick and got in early to miss the main lunch crowd. read more

Machida Shoten - Original ramen - Ramen Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Machida Shoten is a new ramen restaurant located in downtown Toronto near College and Spadina. I attended for the grand opening and it was really busy as they were offering 50% off ramens! I waited an hour but I imagine during regular hours it would not be as crazy. The interior decoration is very lively and definitely makes it seem as if you are right in Japan They specialize in Iekei style ramen, with rich broth and is served with a side of rice. I tried the Chashu Ramen which was $20 at regular price. It has a good variety of the toppings like nori/seaweed, quail egg, and spinach along with 5 pieces of chashu. I also added an ajitama/egg for $2 to complete the aesthetic. The chashu is a kind of thick cut compared to some other versions, but it was very hearty and filling, and went well with the rice as well. Everything was cooked perfectly, and the broth did not disappoint as it was rich and full of umami! There were also various toppings like onions and chili bean paste that I used to go along with the rice and ramen for a change in textures and flavours. I tried a bit of the broth with the rice as the porridge as recommended and it was alright but I prefer it separate. I had a minor inconvenience during my visit as I was seated at the window bar, and it was very cold with the draft from the windows. After being in the cold for so long I was hoping to warm up some more but it was a bit uncomfortable there. Overall super delicious and is instantly one of my top picks for ramen in Toronto! read more

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Machida Shoten located along College St. near Major St. is a ramen chain that originated from Yokohama, Japan. This famous chain is known for their iekei style of ramen. iekei refers to the rich style of ramen broth, characterized by rich pork marrow and tonkotsu-shoyu sauce. It is also characterized by thick, straight noodles with toppings like nori, char siu and spinach. This style of ramen is also served with rice as well (for dipping or creating rice porridge). Having 900 locations in Japan, this ramen chain has expanded internationally to South Korea, China, HK, Thailand, Vietnam, Switzerland, as well as Australia and the U.S. Now, this particular location of Machida Shoten is the first location ever opened in Canada! Currently in their soft opening phase, Machida Shoten is open daily from 11am to 2pm and then 5-9pm. I think it has been popular with lines so I made my way to the ramen shop on a Monday morning right when they opened at 11am (was their first customer of the day!). Their official grand opening is on Dec 12th! Upon arrival at the restaurant, I was able to sit at the ramen bar towards the back of the space. The place isn't big, however, there is seating for around 25 customers. There are menus already placed at the table where you can either order with the staff or through a QR code. There is also a little sheet at each setting explaining how you could eat iekei ramen as a bowl of rice is also included with your bowl of ramen. The menu is simple with 5 different types of iekei style ramen available, depending on how hungry you are. You are also able to customize your ramen by choosing the noodle firmness, saltiness level, as well as chicken oil level. There are additional toppings you can add for an additional cost. Side dishes include gyoza, karaage, edamame, as well as an aburi chashu don. They also have a non-alcoholic drink menu where you can get green tea, soft drinks, ramune, and Sapporo 0.0%. There is also green tea ice cream for dessert as well. I decided to order the original ramen (includes one piece of chashu, one quail egg, three small sheets of seaweed, and some spinach) - price is $14.99. I also decided to add an ajitama (seasoned egg) as well for an extra $2. My order came at a reasonable time and staff also provided me with some onions in case I wanted to add it to my ramen or rice. With the rice, I added some ramen broth to it along with some garlic paste as well as chili paste and ate it with the seaweed provided, as shown in the information sheet on the table. The rice was pretty good! The ramen broth itself was rich and heavy - perfect for a cold day. The noodles were made well and they were slightly thicker than what I'm used to. Both the quail egg and seasoned egg were cooked perfectly and the chashu was tender. Overall, a hearty, filling, and warm bowl of ramen. The rice on the side was an extra bonus. Service was friendly and all staff greet you together when you walk in. Staff were able to answer any questions I had and as I was leaving, one staff walked me to the door and opened the door for me, despite it being super cold today. Overall, a great new place to try iekei style ramen in Toronto. Will definitely be popular in the upcoming winter months! read more

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Machida Shoten has been gaining popularity since its recent opening, so we had to stop by and try it out! We arrived early for a Friday evening around 6pm and were seated about 10 mins in. The line grew quite a lot during dinner hours after we sat down. The menu consists of a single broth and noodle type with variations on the toppings. I got the Kara (includes a spicy bomb) with an added ajitama (seasoned egg) while my partner had the Chashu (comes with 5x pork chashu). We could specify the level of chicken oil on top of the ramen and whether we wanted a complimentary bowl of rice (of course)! There is a guide on every table with recommendations on how to have the rice - mixed with condiments offered on the side, with an egg and wrapped in nori, or mixed into the ramen broth. They offer a nice selection of complimentary sides including pickled cucumbers, garlic paste, chilli bean sauce, and onions which really elevated the rice bowl! The broth was rich and full of umami, while the chashu was thick and fatty. The spicy bomb came as a paste on top so you had control of how much to mix in. We were very full at the end and would definitely return! read more

Machida Shoten - Kara - Ramen Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Came here dining solo and had a great experience sitting at the bar. The ramen noodles had a really good texture, and the chashu was flavorful and well done. Service was attentive and friendly as well. My only complaint was that the soup was a bit too salty for my taste. Overall, still a solid spot and a good option for solo dining. read more

Machida Shoten - Ramen Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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We came here because it was the first in Canada. We are always on the hunt for good ramen, and we really missed the creaminess of ramen from Japan. We came here around 11:30, and there was 1 to 2 tables being clear up, so the wait wasn't long. But as we are eating our meal, there's groups of people constantly lining up. The ramen itself is really creamy. One thing that I was slightly disappointed by is how fatty the chashu were. Usually they don't feel greasy at other ramen places, but here felt like eating a pork belly that has a layer of lean meat and a top layer of really grease and fatty meat. The place itself is small, so definitely come during its opening. Another down side was in the restaurant itself, it felt like there's no heating. It was pretty cold, and we saw a few customers wearing jackets. read more

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Our boys wanted some good ramen on our trip to Toronto. Nancy took great care of us, didn't shame us for needing forks, and was super helpful explaining the menu! The food was SO good, and the dining room was very clean! read more

Machida Shoten - Ramen Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Another great visit with delicious ramen! We absolutely love the rice on the side and toppings tray (pastes/onions) - here's a pro tip: if you order the max [or any bowl w.seaweed] take ot out of the ramen broth and eat it w.your savoyry rice bowl! Our friend from OKC loved it! Thank you MS Team! read more

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Went here for dinner and it wasnt busy at all which was a surprise because its a delicious ramen place! I got the kara lekei ramen - i enjoyed evrything about this ramen, although I wish they included more protein. However, the broth was so creamy and rich that I was 100% satisfied. Every ramen comes with a bowl of rice with instructions on how to eat it properly read more

I always find myself coming back to this spot. I've been here several times since they first opened, and their ramen has been consistently delicious every time. My go-to order is the Max ramen with less oil--it's rich and flavorful without feeling too heavy, which I really appreciate. The broth is well-balanced, and the overall quality keeps me coming back. Definitely a reliable place if you're craving a satisfying bowl of ramen! read more

Machida Shoten - Ramen Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

My family and I came here on a Sunday afternoon for their grand opening, the interior is very cozy for being in the previous corner of Fancy Franks space, and because it was a Friday-Saturday-Sunday with 50% off, we expected a big lineup for the afternoon. The average wait time was about one hour, which wasn't too bad. Parking in the area was limited unless you know the spots where you won't get a ticket. Since it was the grand opening, my family and I decided to try their signature original ramen and two Max bowls. I really liked that you can choose the destiny of the noodle, oil level, and amount of salt. The ramen came out fairly quickly, the presentation was stellar, and the broth was very tasty. I honestly wished I had more, especially since I chose a lower sodium level, making it less salty. My only gripe was that the gyoza came out a bit late, but a staff member mentioned it wasn't presentable in its initial state. The chicken karaage was quite large--I had to use my chopsticks to break it up so it could be shared. It was deliciously tender and well seasoned. Overall, it was a great grand opening. I'd definitely come back when it's less hectic and the wait time isn't as long (around one hour). I did speak with an associate and hope they eventually offer more options, such as chicken or vegetarian dishes. I have friends who would have loved to come by but don't eat pork (chashu). read more

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My dining experience at Machida Shoten was very pleasant. The ramen broth was rich and smooth, with a complex and layered flavor from the tonkotsu soy sauce. The noodles were chewy, and the toppings, such as the chashu pork and soft-boiled egg, were all perfectly placed. The staff were friendly, quick to take orders and serve food, and patiently explained the characteristics of different ramen styles, which was very thoughtful. The restaurant was clean and modern, with an open kitchen that allowed you to see the ramen making process. The atmosphere was lively yet comfortable, perfect for dining with friends. Overall, I was very satisfied with the experience and would definitely recommend this ramen restaurant. I will definitely come back again. read more

Came here recently and was curious to try their Yokohama-style ramen since it's not something you see everywhere in Toronto. The place has a pretty energetic vibe, and you can tell it's popular--there was a bit of a wait when we went. The ramen itself is definitely on the richer side. The broth is thick, creamy, and very savory, with that mix of pork bone and soy sauce flavor that really stands out. You can customize things like salt level, oil, and noodle firmness, which I actually really liked--it makes a difference depending on how heavy you want your bowl. Toppings were generous, especially the chashu and seaweed, and I liked that they give you rice on the side, which makes it feel like a more complete meal. That said, the broth can be a bit heavy if you're not used to this style, so it might not be for everyone. It's definitely more of a "comfort food" kind of ramen rather than something light. Service was friendly, and the overall experience felt pretty authentic for a chain that started in Japan. Overall, a solid spot if you're into rich, hearty ramen and want something a little different from the usual options in the city. read more

The wait is finally over - Machida Shoten's very first location in the heart of Toronto. We ordered the chasiu ramen, aburi chasiu don, karaage and gyoza. I love how you can customize the ramen to your own liking. The saltiness and noodle texture was exactly how I wanted it. The authentic taste makes you feel like you're in Japan. Service was very attentive and not overwhelming at all. Location is convenient by commute and by car. I'd highly recommend if you're craving some authentic Japanese ramen. read more

Machida Shoten just opened their first location in Toronto serving lekei ramen from Yokohama. It features a rich pork bone broth and customizable levels of noodle firmness, saltiness and chicken oil. You can further customize your meal with the onions, pickled cucumbers, garlic and chili bean pastes on the table. It is also served with a bowl of rice that you can add broth or sauces to to enjoy along side or at the end of your meal. I got the Max bowl which includes chashu pork belly, quail egg, seasoned egg, Nori seaweed and spinach and thoroughly enjoyed it. I got all regular levels of firmness, salt and chicken oil. The broth was rich and very flavourful on its own and honestly doesn't need the extra toppings but I did add some to the ramen and rice bowl to make it my own. I went in hungry and came out full and happy! I went during their opening weekend and despite it being incredibly busy for them, the staff were very friendly and helpful and all had smiles on their faces. Congratulations on a successful opening! I'll definitely be back for more! read more

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One of the best Ramen in Toronto. Fresh ingredients and soup plus tare tastes really good. Chicken oil is very unique. Can customize saltiness, oil level, and noodles firmness. Also comes with complimentary rice and condiments so you can further customize every bite! Definitely a must try. read more

Minus one star for not being able to book or join a waitlist and having to wait in the cold for a while but the food was amazing and the staff was very nice. Definitely recommend read more

classic ramen is $15, you can customize firmness salt and oil level and there are 4 free toppings which was awesome.