Raku

Such an amazing meal. Felt like I was transported back to Japan, their attention to detail here is very rare at restaurants here in Toronto. Noodles were bouncy and just perfect, definitely one of the best Japanese restaurants you’ll find in this city. I can’t recommend this place enough, I’d even go as far as to say it’s one of my new favourite spots. Can’t wait to try more of the menu

As good as I remember it to be when I tried it many years ago. The vegetable tempura is cooked to perfection. I loved the different options I had. I asked for my udon broth to be vegetarian instead of fish stock. Udon is chewy and thick and everything I love. You can really tell the difference between this handmade one and regular frozen udon. Our server was really kind and explained the menu to us when we had queries. She also took lots of pictures for us. Wholeheartedly recommend trying Raku!

Undoubtedly the best udon you can get in Toronto. Texture is amazing and they capture each udon dish they offer with fresh and unique ingredients. This is where I take people when I want to get udon. Beware - there is always a wait. Go on off times for best success. Their appetizers are decent - the fried chicken is my favourite. But this is an udon place for a reason. Have tried both hot & cold - they don’t miss!

Even though the price of a bowl of udon is a bit expensive, it is worth it. The udon was soft, smooth, and chewy. The toppings on the Kani Ankake complimented the thick soup and I would recommend it to those who enjoy Chinese Egg Drop Soup. Gyunan Udon ($21) Kani Ankake ($29) Shrimp Tempura ($7) Matcha Panna Cotta ($11) The interior was small and cozy, service was amazing as well. Frozen grapes are offered for free as a small dessert.

A great downtown Toronto spot for a simple but delicious meal. Be warned there will almost always be a wait here - and a long one at that. We waited an hour and a half on a Friday night for a table of 6 - not sure if that decreases based on party size. Once we were seated, everything went smoothly. The service was great and the ambiance was bright and great for a chat with friends. Everything on the menu looks amazing so I'd recommend taking a look before hand and narrowing it down - even during my hour and a half wait I didn't fully decide on what I wanted. We ended up ordering a few appetizers to share, of which the Monkfish Liver / ankimo ($9) was a star item - this is so much cheaper than other places as well! For my main, I ordered the chikara udon ($21). It was good, but not as good as the crab udon I ordered last time. I wasn't the biggest fan of the mochi, as the texture threw me off. The soup was delicious and the noodles were the perfect texture so I still enjoyed. Overall, great dining experience. Definitely will be back to try some of the cold udons!

The atmosphere is warm and inviting, blending traditional Japanese decor with modern touches. Every dish is beautifully presented, showcasing fresh, high-quality ingredients. The place is quite busy during peak hours, so be prepared to wait. My estimated waiting time was 45 minutes, but our table was ready in about 30 mins.

Delicious udon, great variety of different types of udon (ie. some flavourful, some simpler, cold ones, etc). Udon noodles were chewy, broth was flavorful while soothing. Great spot for comfort food. Food is fairly priced for what it is. I’d recommend coming at opening as a line up builds up fast. Nice decor but seating is slightly cramped. Update: came back to try more of their menu items, additional pics added.

I’m a big fan of udon over ramen and saw plenty of hype for Raku and so was really excited to try. Both of the udon bowls were quite good though very salty. The crab soup (kani ankake) was more interesting texturally whereas the other one (chikara) feels simple though nevertheless fulfilling. They also have cold udon so I’d be interested to try those in warmer weathers. The place gets packed quickly and doesn’t take reservations so do come early.