Eight Years and Three Locations Later…

The Pitch

In what would (inadvertently) be my third back-to-back review of a restaurant situated in a Shaughnessy Village greystone, today we're talking ramen soups and izakaya-adjacent fare.  More so than a food critique, the focus here is on survival, resiliency and reinvention.  I was invited to the first Tsukuyomi location in Mile-End back when it opened in 2017 (reviewed here).

Since then, the folks behind both this ramen banner and its sister Kinoya izaka have gone through ups and downs.  A pre-COVID expansion phase to Bishop Street was then halted when pandemic measures forced restaurants to shut their doors.  Water damages ensued, followed by a consolidation/reinvention chapter, which saw the group reduced to two Tsukuyomi locations and no more Kinoya.

An additional branch would open in 2024 in Bois Franc, bringing the total to its current count of three.  With the kids away at my in-laws on this Saturday, my wife and I strolled over to the Concordia-area location for a late lunch.

tagged:  WEEKEND LUNCH

The Mood

Whereas the Mile-End location employs a toned-down design and color palette, the opposite is true for the Shaughnessy Village location.  Japanese iconography is dispersed all over the intricate interior which features three-dimensional triangular wood panels and yellow cages too hard to describe in words.

The crowd was minimal at around 2PM; a handful of two-tops occupied tables both inside and on the small streetside patio in front.

tagged:  EYE FOR DESIGN

The Food

Tsukuyomi's menu centers around ramen available in four broths – pork, pork/miso, clam and vegan – with customizations available for choice of protein and level of saltiness.  Rounding up the food options are small izakaya classics, mazemen (brothless ramen) and donburi (rice bowls).

A summer pamphlet suggests a cold ramen, but given my recent experience with something similar nearby, I looked the other way.  Drink options also abound, from cocktails and juices to beer, sake and soju.  We went for a matcha/honey concoction which was green, refreshing and heavy on the matcha, and a Ramune Japanese cream soda with a fun mechanism to maximize fizziness.

Starter

Starter

$5.95

$5.95

Goma Ae

Wilted – in a good way – spinach leaves and stalks for a dose of leafy/crunchy greenery in a light sesame dressing and a handful of white and black sesame seeds.

Starter

Starter

$7.95

$7.95

Ebi Fry

Three shrimp fingers in a batter with medium crisp are served lightly topped with a mayo/mustard sauce.  A crowd pleaser, fun to eat with your hands or chop sticks.

Main

Main

$18.50

$18.50

Asari Shio Ramen

The clam broth is light as advertised.  You may not get that rich umami kick from regular ramen, but the fishy flavour makes up for that.  A good option for summer.

Main

Main

$17.95

$17.95

Karaage Don

A bowl of steamed rice topped with cucumber, lettuce and super-crispy karaage chicken; the whole thing sprinkled with sesame seeds and a (not really) spicy sauce.

The Verdict

Not many restaurant concepts who ride the wave of a food trend survive beyond a handful of years.  Many of the bubbles such as cup cakes, Korean fried chicken and French tacos have burst just as fast as they grew.

Despite difficult times and setbacks, the Tsukuyomi brand is still here and serving a popular item in abundant supply.  Three locations in, there may be more surprises down the line; I was told a return to the izakaya form is being considered…  Let's wait and see…

Price per person:  $25.18