This restaurant isn't actually much of an izakaya, but it is a rare Japanese gem on the Danforth! To be honest, my expectations were pretty low, so the authentic food and service here was quite a pleasant surprise. Our group all ordered a variety of noodle dishes - ramen, udon, soba - along with some appetizers. Everything was delicious: flavourful, comforting, and filling. The noodles had a good balance of chewiness, the toppings were generous and nicely presented, the broth well seasoned and savoury. I personally really enjoyed the sansai soba, which was light and refreshing and contained a mix of aromatic vegetables and smooth soba noodles to give a delectable texture and taste. We also had a very classic Japanese service experience here - which is to say that our waitress was extremely polite and amiable, always patient and never lost a smile on her face. Not once did we have to ask for water, the menu, the bill, dishes to be cleared...which all happened efficiently and discretely. We were greeted promptly when coming in and when leaving; we took a long time to decide on our orders and then to leave after the meal, but were never pressured or rushed. What else is there? The restaurant itself was relatively small, but the seating is simultaneously cozy and spacious. A perfect environment for a relaxing lunch or dinner. The place was mostly empty the entire time we were there, which (while we appreciated) is definitely not what it deserves. The location is not known for this type of food, but I would now put it on my list whenever I think about the area. :) read more

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We came here on a Saturday night which wasn't busy for the restaurant (only a couple tables being served). I tried the spicy miso ramen for dinner. The presentation looked nice. The noodles were a tad over cooked though and I wished there was a bit more broth. It was on the saltier side as well (not really spicy). I also ordered the gyoza as an appetizer which came with five pieces. The gyoza came fried, which I didn't expect, as I was thinking it would be the steamed/pan fried dumpling. It was decent tasting but not sure if it's worth the extra $7. Service was friendly and quick though. All in all, decent food priced at the higher end for the east end. read more

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Very good food very good ambiance. Great service as well, always helped. Highly recommended to try Nakayoshi! read more

Top tier ramen, service was chill, prices are a little high but then again ramen is just expensive af for no reason I swear I could pull some noodles too. read more

Im glad that there is a place in the east end for me to just enter and sit and enjoy when I don't feel like lining up for ryus. This is exactly what happened and sitting down, it was comfortable, ambient, 2000s music playing from japan... I felt quite at home. But the nabeyaki udon was not like what I remember it to be, over cooked and congealed. It was too thick and quite unpleasant and I could have made it myself, as I can always ovrcook items. Overall quite disappointing but I loved the comfort- it was like my neighbourhood ramen place where you expect bad food but you can just sit alone and have a bowl. read more

I was skeptical about this restaurant and I should have followed my instincts. Sashimi was very unfresh here, a stick of imitation crab was part of the 5 piece chef nigiri choice, that's just wrong!!! The pork and shiso skewers were so porky and tasteless. Ramen was one of the worst I've ever had, not enough soup and the noodles were over cooked. We ordered about 15 items to share but the only item my family enjoyed was the salmon pizza. The icing on top was that I got food poisoned the next day, can't say for sure that it's from here but the only thing I ate differently from others was the ramen. If you are looking for decent ramen in the neighbourhood, try Tokyo Ramen or Kyouka. read more

A Japanese restaurant on the danforth? Say whaaaaa? This restaurant has been on my list to try and finally last night I got to. It helped that I had a friend that has been here before tell me about it. Last night the weather was crazy and it deserved the help of some good soup. So my friend and I met up around 6:45 pm and it was not busy. The waitresses were good they were attentive and offered me a drink as soon as I sat down. The decor is quite simple and I believe it used to be a store (?) It had that feel to it. Very clean and spacious lots of seating available. My friend ordered gyudon. I ordered tonkatsu ramen and we ordered squid and scallops to share. The prices for their food is moderately priced. It still came to around 30 dollars a person. The ramen was the last to come out and the only disappointing factor to my meal was that they didn't use fresh noodles. I love when ramen has the fresh noodle texture. I'm also not a fan of thin noodles either. But the broth was good. Overall impression is that I would go back. There is another Japanese restaurant that has good ramen on the danforth and it's nice to add another one to my list considering the area it's not bad. If you're in the area or live nearby I would give it a try! read more

Nakayoshi Izakaya - Tonkatsu ramen - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Friends from Vancouver came for a visit and so we had to go to a ramen restaurant like we used to back before I moved back to Toronto. They suggested going to Nakayoshi and it ended up being the hottest day of the year. Totally worth it. The seaweed salad at Nakayoshi is not just a good seaweed salad, it has an extra fantastic sesame dressing that was drizzled over the top taking it, well, over the top delicious. I want to go again just so I can have that salad. The Agedashi Tofu is deep fried tofu but I believe those are also bonito flakes on top which added depth of flavour to the tofu and the sauce. We spun the tofu around in the dark flavourful liquid and it was absolutely delightful. I love it when a restaurant impresses me with tofu. One friend got the Spicy Miso Ramen which was hotter than the last one we had when we went out but she said it was not crazy-hot. The other got the Tonkotsu Ramen which looked so rich and creamy... They also remembered NOT to garnish with green onions which she appreciated. I ordered the Miso Ramen. I really wanted that extra special something that I get with miso. It is like receiving a foodie hug. This was a total winner. Rich but not too heavy. It was a work of foodie art. I enjoyed every slurp and every noodle. Our service was excellent, the food was great but it was more expensive than other places I have been to. That said, ramen in this area is not as common and easy to come by as the neighbourhood I lived in when I was in Vancouver. Still, it was a fantastic lunch out despite the crazy heat. I give this foodie restaurant experience four and a half out of five wooden spoons. ~ Suzie the Foodie Read full review and story here: http://www.suziethefoodie.com/nakayoshi-on-the-danforth/ read more

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Nakayoshi Izakaya has a good set up and really roomy. Maybe because there were only 2 tables including us on a Saturday prime dinner hour. We shared an order of Udon ($12) and a Sushi Platter ($23). The udon was well cooked with just the right bite. Love the fish selection for our Sushi Platter but the nigiri has too much rice and packed too loosely. So they just fell apart when I tried to dip them in the soy sauce. Service was attentive and friendly. Not a bad choice if you have craving for Japanese food when you in the area. Especially after having a few beers at The Only Cafe! read more

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Wanted to give this place a try since it was in my neighbourhood and I wouldn't have to go far. Came here for a late lunch on a Friday - there was a few tables, but nothing crazy. We had ordered: - Spicy Miso Ramen - Salt Broth Ramen They were ok - can't say there were great and can't say it was terrible. The noodles had a nice texture to it, a bit chewy and not too soft. But the broth was a bit bland - definitely lacking some depth to it like another reviewer had said. Looking at the menu, they definitely did have quite a few ramen options - perhaps too many options and they should try to narrow it down to make them better. Perhaps next time we should try the other menu items and not the ramen. read more

Nakayoshi Izakaya - Shio ramen - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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18$ for sushi pizza that is extremely small and it's so hard and crunchy I can't even chew it properly. Dinner set was 28$ and super tiny amount. If it was really tasty I'd be okay with paying that much but the food was extremely mediocre and definitely not worth. The prices went up a lot in 2 months, which I understand Toronto prices are becoming unaffordable but I'm super shocked by how much it went up in such a small amount of time. Not like other places though, they are still good prices so I don't even think it's because of the prices going up I'm just coping I guess lmao idk never coming back for sure. read more

I'm so sad to be making this update. I've gone a few times since my initial review and I feel like each time the quality and taste of the ramen declined heavily. The broth is no longer rich and delicious, instead it's just salty and tastes like it came from a powder pack. The meat is tough. The toppings have gone down the toilet. The quality over all is just..... Bad. The eggs are still perfectly cooked... But I can make eggs at home instead of fishing them out of sub par ramen. read more

I think I cannot find a better place for ramen in the East York area for its reasonable price and good quality ramen. The restaurant is very spacious and clean with tidy and simple interior decoration. There's always only one female server during day time, but her service is always friendly. The BBQ pork is made thicker than other ramen place and the portion is generous. Meat is very tender. There are various types of soup base and different combo to choose from. I like that the soup base is never too salty but not bland. However, the waiting time for food is a bit long and sometimes longer than expected even though the lunch hour is never full. Other than this, I love to come here whenever I am craving for a bowl of ramen on my work days:) read more

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Hidden gem! Tonkotsu ramen is awesome! The bamboo is chewy and sweet, and the meat is juicy and tender. The pork bone broth is delicious. A popular dish here. Shio ramen wasn't was good. Very garlicky. I didn't like it very much. Chicken karaage - crispy and nicely seasoned. Tofu cheese cake - very smooth and creamy. My first tofu cheesecake. I didn't really like the flavour, but if I judged this on the texture, it would be a 5! The dishes are reasonably priced! Accepts credit card. Only complaint: Drinks and food took awhile to come. It was pretty packed a Monday night. Take out is available. If you check in on Yelp, you get 10% off on any ramen dish! read more

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I really enjoyed my dining experience at Nakayoshi. I arrived shortly after it opened at 5pm, when it was still empty, and was able to score the 4-person table at the window alcove - there are two other 2-person tables there but since I had a toddler with me, I don't think anyone wanted to sit near us lol. The restaurant did slowly fill up over the next hour and a half with most people ordering ramen (I wanted to get one to share but the table vetoed it). They have an extensive menu, though not particularly cheap, but many interesting things to try out. I especially loved the spider roll - though it was a very wide/fat maki, and was only 4 pieces, it was with a big piece of soft-shelled crab inside that was perfectly deep fried, no oiliness, and just tasting of sweet crab. My toddler loved it! The grilled salmon collar was wonderful as well, a large half head of fatty salmon with that wonderful smoky char from the grill. The sashimi meal comes with a side of rice, miso soup, and salad - the fish was fresh and tasty - in particular the surf clam wasn't chewy. Chicken kaarage was lightly battered, crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. I didn't love the takoyaki balls (too much batter for my liking, though I did like the shaved bonito flakes) because I didn't know what to expect - however my friend who was recently in Japan said it was a pretty good approximation of the ones he'd eaten there. The only thing that was a bit boring was the dragon roll. Nothing wrong with it but it was just plain. There are two very clean washrooms at the back of the restaurant. Pretty sure the staff are actually Japanese which is refreshing to see in a Japanese restaurant. I am taking off a star because it was still expensive even when split among three people. However the menu really interests me and I would come back to try more things. read more

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I really enjoyed the entire experience here. The food was amazing and the service was excellent. I had the Sandi Soba Ramen and the Nakayoshi cheesecake. The Ramen was amazing, considering it was all vegan. I also loved the cheesecake, not too sweet. The service was excellent. The wait staff are so pleasant and kind. read more

Nakayoshi Izakaya - Nakayoshi cheesecake - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I am not impressed. I ordered a spicy salmon and spicy tuna hand roll as well as dynamite rolls to go and was provided with the wrong total twice. I was over charged, quality of the sushi was mediocre and the quantity was subpar. I am including an image of my order so everyone sees how much sushi $20+ gets you here. read more

Nakayoshi Izakaya - Spicy salmon and spicy tuna hand rolls with dynamite roll. - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

THEY DELIVER RAMEN!!! And they do it properly too! The broth arrived steaming hot in its own container, the noodles with the veggies / egg / meat in another, and if you order the Karaage ramen - the Kara-age comes on its own in a Styrofoam container with a noticeable hole poked in it so that the hot steam can escape from the container, preserving the crispiness of the Kara-age. I had the Tonkotsu and Kara-age ramen and they give you about four pieces of protein for each and they provide a generous portion of noodles. Their noodles are a bit chewier than the rest of the ramen places I've been to (not that it's a bad thing). They provide lots of broth, seasoned well and not overly salty. Overall, I loved the Tonkotsu and the Kara-age was delicious as well. Will definitely be coming back in the future! read more

Nakayoshi Izakaya - Kara-age Ramen - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I really do not enjoy giving bad reviews but there is no way I can bite my tongue regarding the meal I just encountered. I have been here once before but it was year ago. Decided to come here because I was meeting a friend for lunch and he wanted sushi while I wanted ramen. My go-to ramen joint on the east side is Ryu's but the reviews for this place were pretty good and I was interested in seeing how it would stack up. We each ordered the spicy miso ramen and shared a roll. I forget which roll it was but it was $19.50 and used a number of different fish like salmon, butter and tuna. It was ok but nothing to write home about and certainly not worth the price of admission. The spicy miso was horrendous. It was so salty that didn't take a sip of the broth, just eating the noodles was tough. My friend was the same but since I picked the restaurant he was gracious not to make a big fuss. The server was quiet and nice but she wasn't at all curious why two full grown men were asking for the bill with a lot of uneaten food. Did I mention the salt? As I write this, I feel wonky, I feel like my body is potentially going to fight back. I have no idea how this place had a 4/5 with 60 reviews. Maybe I caught the cook on a bad day. Whatever the reason, it doesn't matter now because I'll never be back. read more

Very pleasantly surprised. I pretty much eat ramen any chance I get. However, as most Torontonians know, finding good ramen on the East end isn't easy. The top spots are all West of DVP. With that said, we finally tried this place and we were not dissapointed. It's not the best ramen in the city, but it's definitely the best ramen we've found on the East side. Obviously, go for the Tonkatsu broth, spicy is delish. They also were able to make make a veggie only one in the Tonkatsu broth for my wife. Take out is also a breeze, as the noodles and broth are properly packaged in easy to use containers, not the cheap stuff. This is definitely our new go to spot on Danforth. read more

Nakayoshi Izakaya - #takeout - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

This place looks like any other Japanese spot but after walking by it so many times, we gave it a try. It's nothing special inside but the ramen is very good with freshly made noodles. We had the spicy beef miso, a green dragon sushi roll, and takoyaki balls. The miso's bouillon was slurp-worthy and not as salty as it usually would be. The takoyaki balls were unreal and could eat a dozen if it was socially acceptable. The sushi was also quite good for a ramen place and would actually go here for the sushi alone as well. Will return. read more

Definitely one of the nicer Japanese restaurants on the danforth in recent memory. Love the big wooden tables and booths! Good selection of ramen, udon, sushi, hot dishes, and dessert. The mochi ice cream was definitely a unique option. Staff were super nice and helpful - they definitely created a memorable experience for us :). read more

Nakayoshi Izakaya - Mochi ice cream! - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Clean, cute, friendly space. Had no idea it served ramen there until recently as I thought it was just another sushi joint, which are pretty plentiful in this city. It's great to have a place you can get ramen at and not have to go downtown and wait in a huge line to get it. I like ramen, but to wait in line for it? Crazy. I had the miso ramen and the broth was delicious. I preferred it over the soy broth. They even provide little wooden spoons to eat it with. Also, they were playing Japanese pop music when I was there, which I appreciated and made the experience more authentic. The last thing I want to hear in a Japanese restaurant is Justin Bieber. Ya know? I can't speak about their sushi, but I will be back for ramen. They also do it as takeout which I'd like to try. read more

Nakayoshi Izakaya - Miso Ramen - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Great service, OK food, good prices. The most disappointing thing so far was the Ebi Fry, which was from frozen breaded shrimp you can buy in the supermarket. I get the sense the non-mainstream menu items are better, so maybe skip the ramen and try some of the other noodle soups. Haven't tried the sushi yet, as I would rather go across the street to Aji Sai. read more

Toronto has been building a long list of ramen restaurants, most of them noisy and over-hyped. This one is a refreshing surprise: creamy tonkotsu broth *without* a horde of hipsters screaming at each other over Ramune and vodka. The noodles, broth, and toppings here are the real deal. The noodles are bouncy, chewy, and curly (the Holy Trinity of Ramen), and the broths have silken body without being too sticky or cloying. The tonkotsu broth was amazingly milky and rich but smooth, without any annoying globules of fat. The shoyu broth was tangy, with an underlying fermented funk that stood up to the saltiness of the broth. And the portion size was just right: big enough to turn a late lunch into a supper, but not such a boatload of noodles that things got mushy by the end. I've been to Kinton, and Kenzo, and Guu, and I can honestly say Nakayoshi's ramen is better. It's not gimmicky, it's not crowded, and they do Japanese home-cooking classics like curry rice, oyako-don, and yakiniku. The prices are reasonable, the ingredients are quality, and the technique is on point. I really hope they stick around. read more

I was in the mood for ramen this evening and very few places are open after 10pm. It was surprising to step into such an inviting space as the outside isn't the most alluring. The staff here seem authentically Japanese so I was quite stoked as I sat down. Could this be the hidden Japanese gem on Danforth? I must admit I was pleasantly distracted by the Olympics on the TV; something about beach volleyball and beautiful ladies :P Anyhow, this is equivalent to Japanese homey fast food. Their menu is quite large and mostly focused on cooked items; ramen, curry, tempura, rice dishes...etc. There's tremendous value here with quite a number of affordable combos for under $15 to get you full. Since, I was craving ramen, ramen with chicken karage it is. The broth was mediocre but not necessarily bad. The noodles have the right consistency but lacked the freshness of the handmade stuff (that distinctive chew!). The chicken karage was quite miserable; bland, batter is a bit hard and chicken was tender but void of any juices. I wouldn't hesitate to come back and give them another try. I do like the casual yet warm atmosphere but above all I love the value! If you're looking for a quick and affordable Japanese fix of homey items then this is your calling. read more

My mommy friend and I ventured to this place nestled between Pape and Donlands subway station to try out their Ramen. We ventured in with our two strollers to find the place very spacious and the waitress very accomodating. They are very kid friendly and had a few high chairs on hand. So we decided to order two Ramens - the Katsu Ramen and the Fried Chicken Ramen. Both came with the breaded cutlet and fried chicken served on the side. The Ramen was very good served with some seaweed, half an egg, some Japanese type of processed seafood, and some sparse veggies. The consistency of the noodles were good, the broth was hot and savory, and it was served with a side of chili flakes if more hot-ness was required. They brought a separate cup with a straw for my toddler and did not give us scathing looks when he flung his entire lunch onto the ground. The service was great. The waitress was very pleasant and polite. Water and tea re-fills were plenty. The cost was also quite reasonable. $32 for a lunch for 2. It is a 4 star for me as I have had better Ramen in HK (not yet anywhere else in Toronto that compares). I have not tried any of their sushi/sashimi dishes or Izakaya type of dishes so cannot compare. Overall, we were very satisfied with the place and would definitely go back. read more

Korean/Chinese-run so-called 'Japanese' restaurants are as hip as a Porsche SUV and as useful as a crucifix hanging from the rear view mirror of a car. These are things that only those who don't know any better and have no clue entertain. Here the owner and chef is Chinese, but he has spent time in Japan and even speaks some Japanese. That is why it was a surprise that the food followed actual Japanese recipe and was not watered down or Canadianized or served with hot sauce like Korean food like they do at Kushi. The items were actually prepared with care, marinated in advance correctly and did not try to innovate or to be creative. Great... No short cuts here! Truth be told their main items are sushi and ramen and my friends and I had tempura, nabeyaki udon and katsudon and they were both great, but I cannot write about their main features. There are so many terrible and fake sushi and ramen restaurants in town that probably whatever Nakayoshi serves is better than the average. Nabeyaki udon was rich, the noodles were tasty and the broth was flavourful. Certainly the chicken was marinated in advance and the vegetables were mushrooms were exactly the Japanese way. The katsudon was tasty too and perfectly Japanese. The cut of meat and batter was perfect. This was like eating it in Japan. Tempura came with a crisp and fresh batter and was not thick or oily. The beer was cheap. To be precise Nakayoshi has a couple of fake Japanese or trendy items like teriyaki this and teriyaki that including teriyaki poutine. They have a wide menu, which is why they call themselves an izakaya, and there are some items only in Japanese on the wall (the embarrassing 'dumpings' is on the menu... eeewwww). They have a wide range of drinks and appetizers. The restaurant was mostly empty, which we appreciated (I am sure unlike the owner). There is a good Japanese-style decoration and attempt at atmosphere and to their credit play Japanese music on the PA. Unfortunately, they have two TVs which are on CP24, which is not my idea of a classy restaurant or izakaya or Japanese restaurant. Still, the TVs are far and one could instead focus on the nice Japanese dolls in the cases on the wall. The sole Japanese waitress was very friendly (or nakayoshi) and efficient. She did make a mistake in our order and quickly tried to rectify it and make up for it. She was very service-oriented. The restaurant is very clean. Keep it up. read more

A Japanese run restaurant with an extensive menu but it seems to be a case of spreading themselves too thin. We tried many Japanese izakaya classics like shishamo, cod cheek, goma-ae and shoyu and tonkatsu ramen. None of these dishes was above a 5/10 sadly. The amaeebi was ok. There is however a very good shochu and sake menu. Decor is overly bright and a bit cheap. TVs seem like a holdover from whatever it was before and in general there is no true izakaya vibe at all. This could be easily fixed by turning half the lights off, the TVs and some rock n roll instead of jazz. I know the chef is trying to provide all the choices of a big Japanese restaurant but this area cannot support a restaurant of this style. I hope for his and our sake that he reduces the menu by 2/3rds and focusses on his very best dishes. I will go back in 2 months to do a follow up. All this said, the food is still better than Guu. read more

Nakayoshi Izakaya - Shishamo, goma-ae - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I love Nakayoshi! This is my favourite spot for Japanese food on the Danforth. THE GOOD: - I've tried several different items on the menu, and everything I've ordered has been delicious. We usually stick to the ramen bowls (~$9.50 plus tax), which are awesome value and the foodie equivalent of a big, warm hug. We've also tried their tonkatsu entrée (~$13.50 plus tax), which comes with rice and and the most scrumptious curry sauce. There's also sushi, Japanese-style seafood "pizzas" and more. - As a starter, I also love their veggie spring rolls - and they're just $3! - Service is quick and pleasant - I've never waited more than 15 minutes for our food to come out. - The inside is nothing to write home about, but warm and pleasant with Japanese-inspired decor and paintings on the walls. THE BAD: - I'm docking one star because while Nakayoshi is surely a hit with East York residents, I'm not convinced that it's the best ramen in the city. If I could give half-stars, I'd give Nakayoshi 4.5/5. To conclude, I'm definitely a Nakayoshi fan and I will continue to come back when my ramen cravings strike and I don't want to venture too far from home. Danforth folks, be sure to check it out. read more

Nakayoshi Izakaya - Katsu Ramen - Bowl of ramen - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I've been here twice. I really like the ramen here. It's delicious. They also have a variety of foods including tempura and teriyaki and some interesting rolls. The sushi pizza is great and worth a try. The pizza base is great. Really crispy and not too thick. The topping choices include vegetarian, salmon or tuna. They also make a great vegetarian dragon roll ~ and it's delish! Highly recommended. read more

This is my favourite restaurant, the scallops coins are to die for. The flavour of each dish is unique. The atmosphere is great. Did I mention, this location has a lunch menu!!! It's delicious! There's one that allow us to try all kind of item on their menu. Love love love read more

Nakayoshi Izakaya - Tonkotsu Ramen - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Good for the family to have an early dinner. Nice assortment of ramen and their sushi is well made. Friendly staff. Great place for a casual dinner read more

We came in last minute on a Wednesday to get our ramen noodle fix on , we had a very cranky baby We were on edge hoping we wouldn't Disturb any of the other patrons The waitress was ever so sweet with her Japanese accent and accommodating towards our child food was great and the ice team Was awesome read more

I love this place. I'm almost here every week. I'm here for the ramen as I see this restaurant as more of a ramen shop than an Izakaya. Service is so good. The ladies do speak English but I can always practice my japanese here. I recommend the spicy miso ramen. It perfectly seasoned not too salty. If you're not in the mood for ramen, the karaage, kaki fry, nabeyaki and Zaru soba were very good. Shouga icecream is recommended too. I always watch Japanese TV there too which is a plus. read more

Nakayoshi Izakaya - Spicy Miso ramen - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Still maintaining it's quality after about 4 years. This is still our favourite place in the area for more quality or authentic Japanese food. Have tried more of the extensive menu now and it is quite consistent. Over the years have had various ramen, udon, soba, black cod, grilled eggplant, sushi, ohitashi (spinach), and more. Had the Katsu Curry Rice today and really enjoyed it. Steady clientele but not so packed that you have to be reserving or lining up which is a relief with kids. And they get free ice cream! read more

Went to Greek Town for Greek, ended up eating Japanese. How does that even happen? The old, "I'm hungry, spin around and point at the nearest restaurant" game. I'm pleasantly surprised to find this little gem. We were the only people in there which made me a little nervous and skeptical but I suppose a 4 o'clock dinner is a little early. My skepticism was taken away with the food. I love ramen and Tonkotsu is my go to. It was brilliant here. From the presentation to the flavor, it stood up well to any specialized ramen restaurants I've been to, and I've been to lots. The katsu (a Japanese schnitzel) curry rice was pretty bomb too. Service was very accommodating and decor was very interesting and quaint. If you sit in the booths, the figurines and ornamentation on the wall and shelves are a great conversation topic. read more

Well, they advertise themselves as an Izakaya and ramen place so we tried deep fried Saba and karaage ramen. The Saba was good, nice and fishy. The karaage pieces were small and more crunchy than crispy. The ramen was almost indistinguishable from packaged ramen, although not as salty. It lacked depth of flavor and umami. read more

Not sure why it's so empty during lunch time, but I hope they will survive. A small place on the Danforth, they serve less Izakaya stuff, but more hot japanese food like rice bowls and ramen. Despite the growing ramen trend, there haven't been much in the East side of town. I like their ramen, the noodles dense and bouncy, with lots of different flavours $8-12. It's not mind blowing, but if you're in the area worth a try. read more

As far as Japanese food on the Danforth goes, Nakayoshi is pretty good; they offer options beyond the typical tempura/bento/teriyaki fare found in places further west along the Danforth. I saw okonomiyaki and takoyaki on the menu! However, when compared to ramen/izakayas downtown, Nakayoshi is lacking a bit. While the ramen was not bad, it lacked the depth of flavour and richness Ive come to associate with a hearty bowl of miso ramen (perhaps Im just used to the oiliness of Kinton). The noodles were alright; could have been a bit thicker and chewier for my taste. The chicken karaage was mediocre; although crisp, the chicken was on the drier side and the batter was thick. Tonight, service was slow, even though the dining room was not busy. The servers didnt seem knowledgable about menu items; when we asked whether certain items were vegetarian or dairy free, the servers hesitated and seemed to guess about the contents of the dishes. read more