The interior is consistent with their New York location, simple, minimalist style. The space is small yet well utilized. My review is based on two visits, Ken when they first open and one after a few months. Udon Quality and service are consistent. They check on you and fill the cups regularly. The menu is simple and divides in cold Udon, hot Udon and appetizers. Udon is made to order so it took awhile to arrive. Udon is handmade and very bouncy. You won't find the same quality elsewhere in Toronto. Yamakake (cold udon) with grated mountain yam and quail egg. Very clean and refreshing taste. The udon is super smooth and has al dente texture in mountain yam paste. Great for summer. If you look more stronger flavour, that is not for you. Niku (hot udon) with beef short ribs and honeycomb strip. The broth is very flavourful and beef is so tender. Only complain is the honeycomb strip is so tiny and small portion. Kani Ankake (hot udon) crab in thick egg soup. The thick soup is so flavourful and smooth. The soup reminds me of the Chinese seafood thick soup. Very generous on crab meat. It has hot sauce on one side of the soup, so it gives you a different flavour while finishing half of the bowl. Very nice. Curry with beef (hot udon) in spicy Japanese curry. The beef is very tender and the curry is very spicy and hot. Additional topping Maitake Tempura - first time the tempura batter was very crispy and nice. Second time was too soft and greasy. read more

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NOTE: I would rate this 4.5 stars I was recommended to try out this restaurant by a friend and I am so glad I did! This udon restaurant is relatively small, with most seating being long tables against the wall. I first came to this restaurant between 5-5:30pm and it was relatively empty. When I came back again around 6-6:30pm, there was already a huge waiting list. If you are coming to dine around 6-6:30pm, I suggest you get on the Yelp Waitlist beforehand - it's a 15-20 minute wait. The service was also kind of spotty - the servers were all nice but it was hard to find anyone to flag down when it came time to order or pay the bill. We had: Ankake: egg in thick soup -I was a bit skeptical because this meal doesn't really have meat and seemed pretty simple in general. But I have to say, this meal was AMAZING. I just loved the thick flavourful broth and its chewy noodles. 5/5 Definitely recommend! Gyunan: canadian prime beef, tokyo negi -This was actually my sister's meal. She said the udon had the perfect amount of broth, meat and noodles. Broth is definitely not as thick as Ankake, but a more refreshing taste. 5/5 Overall, I personally liked Ankake better but my sister liked Gyunan better. Either ways, both udons we tried were so good and I definitely recommend Raku. read more

Raku - Ankake - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Perfect food for a cold day! Inarizushiv (three fried bean curd sushi) - Really fresh, sushi rice was still warm - Right amount of sweetness - Best bean curd sushi I have had so far! Niku ( beef short-ribs, honeycomb tripe + spicy nori sansho chili oil) - flavourful, soup base was perfect Bottom: Ankake (egg in thick soup) - This one is also very good! This is one of their most popular dishes. - This was definitely thicker so it was more filling, wish there was a bit more crab meat in it. - Udon was so chewy and delicious Nothing bad to say at all! Will come again to try the other dishes. read more

Raku - Top: Niku ( beef short-ribs, honeycomb tripe + spicy nori sansho chili oil) Bottom: Ankake (egg in thick soup) - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Bouncy and chewy udon!!! Loveeed the texture of the udon here. You can tell they're hand made as the ends of the udon is wider than the body, like flared if you know what I mean. A no frills udon shop. Always guaranteed a delicious hot bowl of soup udon. My only issue is that the broth was a tad salty. Had to drinks loads of water after! The wait list on Yelp was handy and the turnover was faster than anticipated. I couldn't make it in time when my table was ready (something came up and had to arrive 45 mins past my time!) but they were kind enough to put me at the top of the list so when I got there I still got a table right away! read more

Raku - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Restaurant was small, but busy. Lots of options to choose from on the menu and service was great!

I'm genuinely surprised I haven't caught wind of this restaurant earlier. If you're in the same boat as me, let me tell you that you've been missing out because the udon here is pretty damn amazing - dare I say the best I've ever had! Tucked away on Queen Street West a little past Spadina, Rasu is a hidden gem featuring cozy, modern, and simplistic Japanese aesthetics. For those who have an appreciation for udon or soup noodles, I would highly recommend you check this place out. The udon portions are generous so one order of udon per person should be plenty enough to get you full. Since I rarely come downtown anymore, I wanted to try more on the menu so I ordered two additional appetizers to share between my boyfriend and I. I think one appetizer would've been the perfect touch - two was a bit much and we were very full afterwards. Overall, I would give the two udon dishes that we tried 5/5 and the appetizers a weaker 3/5. Here's why: Chicken Tatsuta-age - Pass. Unsure if their recipe intended to have such a strong roasted flavour but the chicken tasted a little overcooked. The pieces were on the skimpier, drier side and also a tad stringy. Our waitress had recommended this dish out of all the appetizers so I was a bit disappointed. Kaki Furai (deep fried oysters) - Pass. Pieces were quite large in size and flavour was decent but the batter was more of a dense breading and I'm not sure if the oysters were fresh because I wasn't feeling too well afterwards.. Given that the price is a bit steep ($16/4), I'd say it's a nice appetizer to try but it wasn't anything to write home about. Kani Ankake Udon - Delicious! Thoughtfully curated, this udon was the perfect hug on a chilly fall day. A generous portion of high quality ingredients (pea shoots, real crab meat) in a piping hot bowl of perfectly chewy udon noodles and thick egg drop soup, I have never had a better bowl of udon. it was extremely flavourful and filling and it just kept me going back for more. I was also very impressed by the intelligent design of the serving bowl as it kept my udon steaming from the first to the last bite of the meal! Tantan Udon - Delicious! Although there was a bit of a kick, the broth of this udon was not too spicy, instead choosing to highlight the rich, nutty, and sweet flavours of peanut. Interesting to note, this dish was paired with a thinner, but equally chewy, udon noodle which seemed to work better with the dish for the udon-to-ground-pork-ratio per mouthful. All in all, I would gladly come back to try the other udons but I might just pass on the appetizers. read more

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I've never had udon this good. It's always been a noodle that has never held my attention, but Raku has officially changed my mind. The udons are the perfect texture, with a great density but very slurpable in it's softness. I had the vegetable tempura udon, which came with a pile of deep fried veggies. The slight sweet crunch of the tempura helped provide a textural difference to the soft slurpy noodles. My partner had their chicken don and loved it also. The egg as just right and the sauce coated every kernel of rice. Basically a comforting hug for your empty stomach on a cold winter day. Would definitely recommend! read more

Raku - Vegetable tempura udon - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

This place is small enough that it gets very crowded, and we waited almost in hour. But they manage the waitlist well. In any case, I'd been to one of Raku's NYC locations about 4 years ago, and I was blown away by how fresh the noodles were. And it's just as good as I remember. The noodles really are spectacular in the doughy flavor and bite. And while that's the focus of the menu, they do everything else well too: the tempura came out hot with a nice subtle shrimp flavor, the rice was cooked perfectly in the pressed mackerel sushi, and so on. read more

+ yelp waiting list available + quick service + chewy udon - soupbase was greasy for my liking (see my picture) - small tables - no one greeted us upon arrival I only gave this a 3-star because the quality was only so-so. I'd try again but not during their rush hour~ read more

Raku - Duck Udon (soup a little too greasy) - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Still my favourite udon place! I got to try the fried chicken, curry and tan tan flavours this time. I loved all of it and will def have a hard time Deciding what I want next time! My favourite part about eating here is that I never feel bloated, heavy or dehydrated. The flavour is all there without excessive salt! Poached egg was done to perfection. Will def be back! read more

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I have been a big fan of Raku in NY since its opening. It was nice to see them in Toronto, and it makes me feel like I am in a town where I know. Just order whatever appeals to you. My personal favv are Nishin, Niku, and Wakame. You'll like it no matter what. The food quality, service, and interior are much like those in Soho (NYC) but their space is just smaller. The price is reasonable in Toronto for visitors from NY. read more

Had been to Raku in New York a few years ago. Ordered the Niku Udon with Chawanmushi at that time - pretty good. This time ordered Kani Ankake, I don't like it that the soup base is too sweet, too gluey and thick. And the yuzu skin (flavor) is way too strong that it overshadows the taste of crabmeat. Clear soup base should be much better. Don't follow my footstep. Expensive and not good. Eggplant is topped with grounded pork and a lit spice. Better then the udon. read more

Raku - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Raku immediately felt very welcoming with its charming, minimal decor. I came here with two girlfriends for dinner on a Sunday, and it was reasonably busy. We were initially seated at the bar next to the wall as no tables were available. We noticed that there was an empty booth behind us, and asked to be seated there. We were told that it was meant for two people, but we didn't mind squishing a little. I opted for the 'kamonan' with duck breast, while my friends ordered the 'ebiten'. Udon is my favourite type of noodle, so I always have quite high expectations. The noodles were great and chewy, but the meat did not blow me away. Overall, the meal was decent, but I think it's a little pricier than I would normally pay for a bowl of noodles. Service was good, and I love the cozy atmosphere. I think I would return to try the 'kani ankake' or one of the cold udons. read more

Raku - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I find that good udon is hard to come by and Raku definitely scratches that itch for me! Udon is supposed to have thick, chewy noodles, and that's what Raku does perfectly! I haven't had anything close since I was in Japan! The udon bowls are fairly large and there is a hearty supply of noodles under the well-seasoned broth. It's been a week and I still can't get over how good this was! We also got the gyoza, which were pretty good. They had a bit of an earthy taste and lacked a bit of saltiness, but I found the sauce helped make up for that. There are a couple downsides that bumps my review down to a 4 star. First is the size of the restaurant. It's extremely small and tight. I went at 4pm on a Saturday and the restaurant was already 90% full. We had to sit directly beside others, so don't expect to have private conversations. The service was a bit slow since the restaurant was full. Super friendly, but slow to get to us to put in an order and to get the bill Finally, the prices are a bit high for udon. I'm ok with this since I absolutely loved them but a bowl of udon with tempura was $17. Overall, I love Raku. If my objective is to have delicious udon then this is the place to go! If I'm looking for a social or full dining experience then I might look elsewhere. read more

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I highly recommend getting on the waitlist if you plan on eating here after 6 or basically there's no chance of getting in. My friend and I did see empty seats towards the end of our dinner around 7 pm. Not sure if other people were on the waitlist or not. We did hear the hostess telling potential customers that it'd be an hour or longer wait. It's a small venue with banquette seating along one wall and high tops along the other. It seemed a bit more comfortable sitting at a regular table versus the high tops since it was less cramped with people walking by. The menu isn't extensive but it still took some time to decide what to order. I ended up with the chikara udon and my friend got the chicken curry udon. Our orders came out pretty quick after ordering. It could be because we got the udon and not something else like fried chicken. The curry was a good consistency and not too watery. There was a slight kick but it wasn't too spicy (for someone that can't handle spice). It was a clear soup with my udon and quite delicious. Perfect for warming you up from the inside. The udon had 2 large pieces of mochi along with bite sized pieces of chicken. Our bowls of udon were steaming hot even more than halfway through the meal and we appreciated this since a lot of time it has cooled down significantly. The only things we were dismayed with were the prices and that it felt drafty inside. read more

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A real treat for Toronto, Raku ushers in a NYC-inspired udon noodle bar. It was hidden but we were so intrigued by the entrance that we stopped by. It's literally steps from the Augusta and Queen streetcar stop when going westward. The Niku was a delicious hot udon noodle soup with lots of beef and tripe bits and very savoury. The noodles are their money maker though- perfectly chewy and gives a tickle to the tastebuds, a very unique texture that will leave you spiritually satisfied. The Tantan was also nice too but is more spicy. Hints of sesame seed oil and the poached egg was a nice touch. The decor is minimal, clean, and lots of reclaimed wood-I loved it. The design of the front door is odd though, where only one person can awkwardly fit behind the cover while opening the door. This needs to be fixed although gold stars for wheelchair access and large clean washrooms. Although pricey, it's well worth the experience and we will be coming back to try out the rest of the menu. The experience was very immersive and felt like you were really in Foodie Mecca NYC. There will need to be some organization with respect to seating or reservations. It appeared chaotic with groups of people huddling at the front. I'm sure this will be sorted out eventually. I never thought I'd love udon noodles so much-thanks Raku! read more

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This fairly new udon joint from NYC is on the pricey side, but the minimalistic Japanese decor and delicious udon is not to be missed! That said, although the food is good, I don't necessarily believe that it's worth the $20 price point - particularly as you can get comparable quality in Japan for only roughly $10! We came on a Saturday lunch, arriving at around 11:45PM only to find a couple lining up already. And what impeccable timing from our end! Shortly after we arrived, a much longer line formed behind us. The outside of Raku is quite inconspicuous when the restaurant is closed - the simple opening is shut up behind a graffitied garage door. The inside of the restaurant is quite tiny, but being second in line, we were fortunately able to get a seat. We shared the highly recommended yaki nasu, a deep fried eggplant topped with a minced pork cake and a quail egg. It had a very interesting presentation - the skin of the eggplant was stiff and held its shape extremely well. We were able to use the spoon to scoop out the caramelized and gooey eggplant. However, I wasn't that big a fan. I felt it lacked flavour and don't believe it was worth the $8 price point. I got the yasai kakiage udon, a hot, thick, chewy udon in a clear broth with spinach and scallions. There was also a generous side of tempura vegetables, ranging from onions, carrots, and peppers. I particularly enjoyed the deep fried onions and burdock roots; they had a far greater umami taste that simply out rivalled the carrots and peppers. Soaking the tempura in the soup made it even better, as the batter absorbed the saltiness of the broth. My friends got the tan tan, a hot udon in a spicy Szechuan peanut based sauce, as well as the yamakake. Both dishes used a different udon from mine; while mine was round and thick, theirs was flatter and thinner. Mine was also much chewier and held its bite even after being in the hot broth. The tan tan had a much stronger flavour - the nuttiness and spicyness really shone through. It's a bit richer in taste, and has minced pork, some peanuts, a fried egg, as well as spinach as toppings. The yamakake is a cold udon topped with grated mountain yam and bonito flakes. The bonito flakes added great texture and umami flavours, and the cold udon retained its al dente bite as a result. The service was also very quite good - the waitresses checked in at the right times and weren't too pushy otherwise. Raku is a good restaurant with a great vibe, though I question whether I'd come again due to the fairly high price point. read more

This place definitely lives up to the hype. Make sure to be ready 34-90 min if you come late. Easiest way is to sign up on the waitlist through Yelp. This place is definitely known for their udon. We ended up getting the Niku hot udon. Niku and Gyunan are their most popular and were suggested to us. The broth is nice and clean, very beefy and overall gives a nice warming feeling. Short ribs were cooked to perfection, fall apart, melt in your mouth. The chicken tatsuta-age was just average, as well as the oyako donburi. I don't like donburis in general since there's too much rice, but even then I gave it a try because I wanted to try multiple things on the menu. The atsugiri bacon though, is next level. It made me close my eyes and have a literal foodgasm. Honestly I wouldn't bother with the donburis and just go for the udons. I'd definitely come again just to try their other udons. read more

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OVERALL: Solid Udon joint in the heart of Queen West. Didn't live up to the hype for me as I found the food on both my visits mediocre and not memorable, specifically for the price. Good to try but won't be lining up regularly to get this. VENUE: Located in a small shop on Queen West, the store front isn't the most obvious. There is no waiting room inside so be prepared to wait outside. There is usually a wait. FOOD: Udon is the go-to dish here. I found the Udon solid. Soups were okay, the noodles were okay, and the condiments were okay. Nothing particularly impressive but also nothing negative. There are a bunch of great sides. I particularily liked the Chicken Karage. SERVICE: Definitely a slightly more premium feel compared to cheaper noodle type joints. VALUE: A bit pricey for me for what you get. read more

Um... HI MY NEW FAVOURITE UDON PLACE. Wow okay psa to everyone on here, if you're planning to come during busy hours, I highly recommend popping on to yelp to make sure you check if there is a waitlist, and to get on it ASAP! I came here at around 6 today on a Tuesday, and it was roughly a 15 minute wait (seriously. The ability to get onto the waitlist before you are close to getting there is a blessing). Anyways. The food!! We started off with the gyoza, and I was impressed with how they were nice and hot, with an adequate amount of filling inside. I got the cold udon Zaru, while my partner ordered the Tantan hot udon. I loved the dipping sauce it came with - there was so much flavour but not over powering. They provided a quail egg, scallions, wasabi, and mushrooms to mix with the sauce (I highly recommend mixing all of it in; so much flavour). The tantan on the other hand, was just as tasty. The broth was not too spicy, but extremely flavourful with a variety of ingredients in it. There are times after ramen/udon where I just get uncomfortably full afterwards, but nope! I thought they provided proper portion sizes that were filling, and worth it in value! The restaurant IS small, with limited seating. Perhaps not the best place for large groups, but once again, the waitlist system they have in place seems to be extremely convenient for both ends. I will absolutely be back to try other items on the menu, and I hope you guys do too! read more

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Finally got to try Raku on a Saturday night with a friend. I placed myself on the Yelp waitlist (so grateful for this function!) at around 7 and was annoyed to see that though the restaurant had shorter than 5 min wait times shortly before 7, when I put myself on the waitlist, the wait time jumped to 20 mins. It got really busy real quick, and unfortunately they only seat you when everyone in your party is present. In my case, my friend was running a little late, but luckily the hostess was nice enough to hold my seat for 15 mins before she arrived. I ordered the Niku udon with beef short-ribs and honeycomb tripe and it was AMAZING. I was a little apprehensive about how expensive the bowl of udon was (20 bucks?!) but man, there was a whole lot of meat and the soup base was amazing. I don't think I've ever tried udon noodle soup with a beef broth base. I would definitely recommend coming to Raku for fancy japanese udon. The noodles have a nice texture and the type of udon the serve stands apart from your regular Japanese udon place. read more

Raku - Niku udon - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

This is definitely a hidden gem, you could walk right past it and not even notice the store entrance! I have heard many raves about this small but mighty udon house, and I finally had the chance to come try it out. We walked in on a Saturday evening and it was packed already, so we joined the wait list. The staff informed us it would be a 45 min wait for a table for 4, and that they kindly reminded us to have our proof of vaccinations ready upon being seated. We received the text at exactly the expected time that our table was ready and we were lucky to have a booth to ourselves. We studied the menu while we were waiting so we already knew what we wanted to order when we sat down. To start, we ordered the Atsugiri Bacon (MUST try), the Yaki Nasu (deep fried stuffed eggplant) and the chawanmushi (steamed egg, good portion for sharing). I honestly have nothing bad to say about these items, except the steamed egg would require 20 mins preparation wait time. UDON-wise....we ordered 4 different udons and they were all amazing. The texture of their noodles is so chewy, not like the frozen type you get at other places. All the different soup bases were on point as well! Plus, each udon bowl portion was huge! Definitely worth checking it out! We had the Toriten (chicken karragae), the Gyunan (Canadian prime beef) the Kamonan (duck breast), and the TanTan (spicy miso pork with peanuts sauce)! My favourite was the Tantan soup base, it was unique and flavourful! Definitely would come back to try the rest of the menu! I'm not sure if they take reservations but there aren't a lot of tables for big groups. If you come on a weekend you may want to call ahead or come earlier! read more

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I'm normally not a fan of 'cold udon', but Raku definitely changed my thoughts about it. This is definitely one of the best places I've ever been for udon. Got the 'Ja Ja' cold udon, curry beef udon, kamonan udon & chawanmushi. The texture of the udon is perfect, the chewiness is how I like it done. The spicy 'kick' to the ja ja udon and curry udon was perfect! The duck and beef was very tender and the broths were all very yummy and it came out nice and hot. The ja ja udon comes with a poached egg as well. I am a huuuge fan of chawanmushi, so if you like it, you HAVE to order it. It takes about 20 minutes and it's a big one (not those tiny ones you would normally get in a small 'cup'), and there are so many ingredients inside, the more I ate, the more surprised I was. I'm definitely gonna come back to try other things on the menu. No reservations, so it's a first come first serve. I was lucky I didn't have to wait on a Saturday evening around 7ish. read more

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Raku is a specialty Japanese restaurant serving udon from NYC. Their first Toronto location is at the intersection of Queen West and Augusta (near Spadina). Raku recently opened at the end of March where it has been drawing lineups and crowds ever since. The exterior of the restaurant is visibly simplistic and stands out along the busy stretch of Queen West when the restaurant is open. Inside, the interior is simplistic as well with limited bar and table seating for about 20-25 people. The wood interior feels minimalistic and zen with a Japanese feel to it. I decided to drop by Raku on a Sunday to see what the hype was all about. And was the hype real. I decided to line up earlier at around 11:30am before Raku opened at noon. I might have been too early since other people started lining up around 11:50am. Once seated, I was handed a menu and given water. There are many menu options listed where there is mainly udon as it is their specialty. I decided to order a pork gyoza, zaru udon (cold dipping udon), and an iced hojicha tea. The tea was refreshing and had the hojicha flavor I was craving for. The portion for the gyoza came in 6 per order. The gyoza itself was delicious where the wrapper was thin and the filling inside the gyoza was filled to the brim. The zaru udon was simple but delicious as well. The noodles had a great texture to them, chewy and bouncy at the same time without being too soft. The dipping sauce and accompaniments (green onions, wasabi, quail egg) works perfectly together as the dipping sauce coated each strand of udon every time I dipped my noodles into the broth. Overall, Raku is definitely worth the hype. I decided to try the simplest item on the menu (the zaru cold udon), and I thought that Raku executed it really well as, oftentimes, the simplest items are the hardest to master. I am sure that when I return to Raku to try the other udon dishes that they will be just as good. If you do not want to wait in line I suggest you come to Raku right when it opens at noon. They also have a Yelp waitlist which I have heard is quite useful as well. Overall, good service and udon! read more

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Raku is a beautiful, minimalistic udon spot. And I mean minimalistic in the good, not cheap way. I came in for dinner Friday evening and thankfully didn't have to wait. A line started to form at about 7pm-ish. I tried the beef short rib udon. It was okay, but I'm frankly more of a ramen or pho dan. Salt was the primary flavour that emerged in the slightly tangy and umami broth. The noodles were thick and chewy - almost too chewy buy I've never really been much of an udon fanbto be fair. The beef was good, though some leaner pieces were a bit dry, while the fattier pieces were too fatty. At $20 for a bowl of this stuff, it was good to try once but won't make it into my regular rotation. read more

Raku - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Perfect udon noodles, but a bit pricey. Service: The staff was very friendly, and I was seated immediately. The service was also pretty quick and efficient, but the place wasn't too busy during lunch time. Food: The highlight of the restaurant was obviously the udon noodles. The texture was nice and springy, and perfect for slurping. The shrimp tempura was also fried lightly and complimented the udon soup well, but had a bit too much batter for my liking. Given the minimal ingredients of the dish, it was fairly expensive (when compared to ramen, for example). Overall: Aesthetically pleasing udon restaurant, definitely worth paying a visit. read more

Raku - Place setting - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Such delicious broth and noodles at this NYC udon noodle chain that's made it's way to Toronto. I tried the beef ribs and tripe udon noodles soup. The beef was tender and flavourful, the broth was rich and tasty. I ordered a side of shrimp tempura and the shrimp was soft, not overcooked but the batter being light and crispy. The tan tan bowl Was also delicious with sesame and peanut flavours. We arrived at 5:20pm on a weekday and was able to get a table for two right away. By 6pm there was a lineup out the door. Super happy that this place is pretty close to where we live and so I look forward to going back to trying their other noodles like the crab and egg, chicken curry and tofu options. Can't wait! read more

Came here after work with some coworkers and as I was really hungry, I got the "Ja Ja" dry noodles and the unatama don. Overall the udon noodles itself were very chewy but the broth and the "meatball" like thing ontop were okay. The unatam don was just okay. The Ja Ja is a dry noodle with a meatball of spicy miso pork and miscellaneous vegetables. After mixing the noodles with the broth, the noodles were delicious and chewy, but the flavoring from the pork and broth was just average. Nothing exciting, and actually a little bland. The unatama don was good, however seemed like a simple fried rice of mixed eggs with bits of unagi sprinkled in. read more

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Great dining experience! The place is chic, minimal, and welcoming. They do not take resoervations but had open tables at 430pm on a Saturday, so we did not have to wait. Started with their hojicha as it was a rainy day, and really warmed us up. The appetizers we had were the gyoza and edamame - so well done, perfectly seasoned and the dipping sauce was a perfect accompaniment. We had the yakiudon which was a little over seasoned in my opinion, the udon soaked up the sauces very easily and the veggies were a little on the greasy side. We had the maitake udon from their hot udon list. The broth was so warming and cosy, and the udon the perfect chewiness. The maitake tempura was a giant mushroom and quickly soaked in the broth flavours. The broth was definitely the star of the night. It was perfectly clean, flavourful, and refreshing. Absolutely reccommend. We loved it and can't wait to return to try their other dishes! read more

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It's been over 2 years since my last visit here and it's still as great as I remember it. Since indoor dining is closed in Toronto I ended up getting take out through UberEats. My order arrived fast and I was able to enjoy the Gyunan hot udon bowl I usually get without having to warm it up (I was impressed that it was still pretty hot upon opening, great packaging and it looks recyclable/reusable too) I got the Gyunan hot udon (my favorite!) I usually don't crave meat as much as I used to but having this today was such a treat! The meat in this soup is Canadian prime beef and it complimented the light-weight broth so well, it didn't feel heavy at all. I also really appreciated the extra details provided in my take out order with instructions on the best method to reheat. read more

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I saw the BlogTO video for this new udon shop and figured I have to try it out. I absolutely love udon! My friend and I decided to visit this restaurant last minute on an early Saturday evening. Luckily, they took online reservations. We made the reservation half an hour before our dinner time at 7pm. When we arrived, we were seated immediately, but the customers behind us weren't as lucky. The restaurant is very petite with simple decors. I really like the touch with a fresh flower in a small vase at each table. Between my friend and I, we ordered a gyoza to share and an udon each. My friend went for the tempura udon while I went for the Nishin Udon. The gyoza was great. the dough wrapping was thin and the stuffing was delicious. They were done just the way I like them. The Nishin udon I ordered was really delicious! I loved the broth and the fish was very flavourful. I loved the texture of the udon! I definitely recommend this restaurants. Staff are really friendly and wait time for food was reasonable. read more

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Great service. Very hot food when it comes out. Would recommended the egg drop one. The place was crowded, but quick service. read more

Raku - Front bar - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

got the fried chicken w/ udon, the broth and noodles were both pretty good, chicken was ok. cute spot but not really worth a lineup

Best udon I had in Toronto. The quality of the udon is very high - fresh and chewy. The soup base is clean but flavourful. Exceeded my expectation. Go early to avoid the line tho. read more

The fried chicken is a popular order here and I can see why. It's a safe option to start your meal with. The deep fried oysters were delicious & tastier than I imagined. One of my favorites for sure. The liver monkfish is another good appetizer to start with. The udon is very delicious I totally loved the texture of the udon, the broth, and all the veggies that came with it. Overall great experience and the service was wonderful. read more

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For my first visit, I kept it simple with the nameko ($16) where it arrives with a clear refreshing broth that's still richly flavoured so it's like you're sipping on consommé. The bits of delicate Nagasaki nameko mushrooms were perfectly paired with the soup and I finished it to the last drop. Adding on a poached egg ($2), it arrives on the side to keep it from cooking more but also means it's absolutely cold. I threw it back into the hot soup to attempt to warm it up a bit, but at least it was done quite nicely where the insides were solid but still has a bit of runniness to it. But, it's the noodles... oh that udon ... that makes me realize I should have added an extra serving to the bowl ($3). While most udon is cylindrical, these are oval. Maybe it's something to do with this slightly flattened shape, but it has such a lovely silky texture while still incorporating a chewiness that's retained to the last bite. The broth is also amazing and what makes Raku different is that with so many options, the soup actually varies as well. Having a sip of my friend's bowl, the niku ($20) is salty and beefy complementing the short ribs and tripe. It's one you'll like if you enjoy Shanghai braised beef noodles. On a follow-up visit, I went completely in the other direction with the kani ankake ($26) where the broth is made of a thickened egg drop soup with pieces of crab strewn throughout. It's a bowl for those who are sensitive to salt as I found it much blander than the other soups. I was really hoping for something savoury but all the toppings - spinach, scallions, and even the crab - were also rather tepidly flavoured. Maybe it was the mochi ($4) I added to the bowl... it just sounded so intriguing that I had to try it! The two large rectangles of rice cake were soft and sticky, but really doesn't go with this soup. I can see it working really well with the tan tan noodles: topping one of the cubes with my friend's spicy miso pork really helped to give it a much needed saltiness. Raku also offers a great selection of appetizers to tide you over as the noodles arrive. Of course, there's the traditional gyozas ($8). The wrapper is nice and thin and arrives with a lovely crust. However, both the vegetable and pork ones are too delicate for my liking. The vegetable filling is made from micro finely shredded vegetables that would be better if they incorporated some meaty mushrooms. Meanwhile, the pork was forgettable and needed something (chives or scallions) to give it pizzazz. read more

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Food was so delicious! Perfect for the cold weather! I got the seafood udon and my gf got The duck udon! With the side of shrimp tempura read more

There's not many udon noodle bars in Toronto and I'm glad we have one here and it's delicious!! The noodles are super bouncy with the perfect texture, and the soup base is super rich and flavourful! Definitely good quality food. It's a small shop with limited seating so it's better to go on off hours! Otherwise, be prepared to line up. read more

I am a frequent repeat customer of RAKU, because I very much enjoy their food and service. The range of Japanese food is extensive- ranging from sushi to teriyaki, so it is easy for sushi and non sushi fans to both find a variety of meals they will enjoy. I am a huge fan of Crispy Oshi, Gyoza , and Mango Mango Roll. read more

We love soup especially Udon so we decided to try Raku since we want to find out what the hype is about. Went on Sunday around 4 pm and there was no lineup. We were seated close to where the servers congregate so it's like a busy and noisy area. The place is tiny and poorly designed imo. There was a divider kinda wall in the middle and not open concept so the place was cramped and feels crowded because of the small enclosed space. This is a place that you just want to eat, pay and get the hell out. For appetizer we ordered the Chicken Tatsuta-Age (small) which consists of 5 deep fried chicken. It resembles Chicken Karaage but with thinner coating and is served with karashi (Japanese mustard). It's just okay and I find the price ($8) for 5 tiny fried chicken a lit bit steep. For the Hot Udon, we ordered Gyunan Udon with Canadian Prime Beef ($17) and Ebiten Udon wih Shrimp Tempura ($15). The Gyunan Udon is packed with tons of flavours from the savory dashi broth, beef and scallions. The beef was also tender and thinly sliced and my SO really enjoyed this soup. The Ebiten Udon on the other hand tasted like a regular udon with two medium sized shrimp tempura and nothing special about it. What I liked about this soup is the thick chewy udon noodles which you don't find in other places offering udon noodles. But would I come back again to Raku albeit the high price ... not really. Maybe when I feel like it . But this is not really a regular place that you can go anytime. Other than that I would still take Manpuku any time of the day over Raku!!! read more

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