Oji Seichi – 354 Broadview Ave, Toronto, ON M4M 2G9
Country: Japan    
Seating: Indoor seating only. 
Must-try dish: Ramen 
The high: The menu is small so it’s easy to pick what to order. 
The low: Oji Seichi usually has terrific specials but didn’t the night we went for dinner. 

It’s no secret that Mandrea Bike and friends adore ramen, even in the warmer summer months. Oji Seichi on the outskirts of East End Chinatown specializes in Japan’s delicious soup among a few other dishes. Similar to many Japanese restaurants, it’s set up for smaller groups with tables that can easily accompany two people. The space itself is stunning with leafy plants dropping from the ceiling, and a pristine aesthetic. Note that the menu is constantly evolving and changing, so some of the dishes we ate may not be available when dining at Oji Seichi.

The menu is small so it’s a quick decision when picking what to order. For starters, the Seaweed and Cucumber salad is a must order because it’s fresh and cleanses the palate before the heavier dishes that are to come. It’s a twist on a classic that doesn’t only emphasize the seaweed but instead on a range of other flavours: cucumber, radish, jalapeno, sesame seeds, and a sesame seed oil dressing. 

Another strongly recommended snack are the Curry Pork Korokke as they compliment the lightness of the salad with stronger flavours and a warmer temperature. These croquette-style bites are fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside with a strong curry flavour that isn’t at all spicy. The kewpie mayo and tonkatsu sauces that accompany the korokke are epic whether you’re a condiment lover or not. 

As far as the ramens go, there are four that regularly live on the menu. We opted to skip the lighter one with chicken and pork, and the vegetarian one in a miso broth. The two obvious picks were the Classic Shoyu Ramen and the Classic Shio Ramen. Both have the same cuts of meat, hard boiled egg, and vegetables but with different broths. There’s also a list of add-ons for the soups that include additional add-ons of noodles, eggs, meat, bamboo, vegetables, and chili oil. So you can make it your own depending on your hunger level and cravings. 

The Classic Shoyu Ramen has a soy sauce based broth that has a grilled meat and smokey flavour. It tasted as though there was barbecue cooked with it, while the Classic Shio Ramen is lighter with a salt based broth that can easily be doctored up with chili sauce. Both ramen choices are great and will be on the menu whenever you visit. If there’s a special of the day, it’s worth trying it as Oji is famous for its specialty ramens. 

Toronto has a lot of ramen places, and it’s difficult to identify where to go. Our recommendation is going by word of mouth, online reviews, or by how busy the restaurant is. The more ramen you enjoy, the better you are at picking what you like in this Japanese soup. 

Eat with you soon, 

Mandrea Bike
(Mat & Andrea)