MITAKA RAMEN – Japanese

On Manatee Avenue West, Mitaka Japanese Ramen House does a brisk trade in bowls that punch above the neighbourhood. Tonkotsu and tantanmen are the anchors, joined by a spicy miso, a chicken tori paitan and a duck ramen that leans as much Chinese as Japanese. Start with the pork belly steamed buns, the karaage or takoyaki. The room is small, warm and lightly anime-decorated, which regulars find part of the charm. Reviewers keep returning to the same points: the broth, the noodle texture, the staff. Good Asian noodles are thin on the ground here - this is where people go.

Cuisine: Japanese

Price range: $