Food Review: Kenzo Japanese Noodle House

What's your first thought about this restaurant? 

Kenzo. Franchise. Well, I'm here to tell you, not this location. Opened 5 years ago, this original Kenzo is privately owned apart from the Kenzo franchise chain. 

Kenzo Japanese Noodle House is located one street south of Steeles on Yonge Street @ 6180 Yonge St.

Interior of Kenzo

They have many wall displays to feature their regular and specials. I love it when I'm able to see see what the food looks like. I order more with my eyes than with the descriptive words because you never know what you're reading/getting. =0)

We ordered a bundle of fun foods

Tonkotsu Ramen (Pork bone soup)

I loved loved loved the soup, it was not too salty and very creamy! The egg was just raw enough for me to enjoy it's gooey form and the fresh noodles (made by the owner himself) was perfect -al dente. But the most impressive thing about this ramen was the delicious bamboo. The slices of bamboo (between the egg and the fish) was tender, meaty and very edible to eat!

 Japanese Omelette 

This was a very tasty omelette. I've never had it in this way, but it was quite delicious (and super filling). Inside it's filled with the freshly made ramen noodles. They don't skimp out at all! Loved it!

Gyoza (Japanese dumplings)

Something I always enjoy about Japanese restaurants are their presentation. And Kenzo doesn't not disappoint!

Overall, I must say, the friendly staff, the quick service and the taste of the food all adds up "great" in my book!

4.5/5 stars

So if you're having a hankering for some GOOD tasting ramen, go to Kenzo at 6180 Yonge Street (one street south of Steeles on Yonge Street). 

*There's free parking in the front.

Sooooooooooooo good!

Food Review: Memories of Japan

In Toronto and around the GTA there are just a million Japan type restaurants. But who's to know which one are the good ones?

Well, like most, they offer very similar entrees and similar medium priced food. I was actually very surprised to see Memories of Japan (located on Don Mills Road between Lawrence and Eglinton Avenue East).

From first glance, you can tell that this is a much older restaurant. Inside is the same. One thing that brought me back to my childhood in Windsor was this paper place mat (photo below).

Memoirs of Japan has 2 dining areas, 1) regular dining area and 2) Teppanyaki

At first, the manager sat us down in the Teppanyaki without even asking where we wanted. First strike!

However, we did get to have a look at what was on the Teppanyaki menu. I haven't been to one in a while, so I had always assumed it would be pricey due to the 'extra' show they do for the customers. 

Turns out it can be as low as $9.95 for a show and a tasty teppanyaki meal. But as it was, we decided to go to the other dining area to eat.

For lunch, their set menus were not too shabby. For myself, I ordered a chicken terriyaki bento box. But unlike most bento box orders, this also includes ice cream. 

For $8.95, you get:

3 pieces of salmon sushi

3 pieces of  cucumber sushi

miso soup

Bento box (salad w/ dressing, fried tofu, chicken  terriyaki, steamed rice, steamed broccoli)

ice cream (choice from vanilla, green tea, red bean, mango)

Overall, the food was good. Nothing out of the ordinary. The salmon sushi seemed pretty fresh.  But it was the amount of food (and dessert included in most bento sets) for that price made it well worth it. The atmosphere was pretty nice as well, with our party we had 7 people, so we sat in one of their more private rooms. 

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Here's a view of other food items they offer with the prices, if you're interested and in the area (photos below).

Overall, the experience was okay. The service there was not too great though. Some of the waitresses were really hard to understand and the manager there (who sat us without asking where we wanted to eat) had no customer service whatsoever... not even a smile. 

Price .................. 3.8/5

Taste ....... 2.9/5 (good, normal)

Location ............... Lots of parking

Atmosphere .............2.5/5 (still very old fashion, but clean)

Service .................. 1.5/5

Maybe next time I'll come here for their Teppanyaki. =0)