Customize Me

The Pitch

Just as the outside temperature starts to dip below the godforsaken double-digit below-zero mark, our bodies respond by demanding hot, comforting and salty food.  Our invitation to sample a new-ish Mile-End ramen joint on this frigid Monday night could not have come at a more opportune moment.

tagged:  OPEN ON MONDAY

The Mood

The most striking feature of Tsukuyomi's interior is its wrap-around wooden bar eating up most of the space.  Its foot-high, cubicle-style divider gives a sense of privacy while still allowing one to soak up the atmosphere.  Finally, the overly-open kitchen will guarantee that no staff member is hard to reach.

tagged:  SIT AT THE BAR

The Food

The brief one-page menu doubles up as a fill-it-yourself order card.  A handful of affordable ramen variants and small side dishes – with one dessert – round up the food offering.  Drinks comprise of a couple sakes, Sapporo and milk or matcha tea.

Finicky and health-conscious diners will enjoy the multitude of customization options.  From the choice of protein to the broth's salt level and type of noodle – all the way down to extras such as egg, nori and spinach – the ramen combinations are endless.

On a personal note, we found the pork broth to be rich, milky and luscious while the vegan version fell a little flat on flavour – nothing that can't be fixed with a helping of black garlic oil and spicy takana.

Side

Side

$3

$3

Goma-ae

"boiled spinach with sesame paste sauce"

Side

Side

$4

$4

Takowasa

"wasabi-flavored octopus with nori seaweed"

Main

Main

$13

$13

Chashu Tonkotsu Ramen

"pork bone broth, braised pork, egg, nori, spinach"

Main

Main

$13

$13

Vegan Ramen

"vegan broth, egg noodle, tofu, vegetable, spinach"

tagged:  BUDGET-FRIENDLY

The Verdict

Named after a moon god in Shinto mythology – or a less culturally-relevant manga/anime character – Tsukuyomi is riding the wave of Japanese eateries that have recently shifted from sushi shops and izakayas to ramen and sake bars.

Between the inviting ambiance and personalized, budget-friendly fare, this Mile-End newcomer should not face any issues filling its seats.  And while the flavours could have used a minor boost, the warming/comforting factor was there.

So why not grab winter by the chopsticks this season?

Price per person:  $16.50