Michelin-approved noodle chain opening first Canadian location in Toronto this fall
An international Japanese food chain known for its handmade noodles is finally about to open its first Canadian location in Toronto.
Toronto loves our noodles — that much cannot be argued. Whether served in a soup, stir-fried or, heck, even dripping in bolognese, there’s something about a tubular, starch-based creation that speaks to the soul every time.
Lucky for us, Toronto is about to get its very own location of a noodle shop that’s already made waves across the globe: Kajiken.
The noodle dish in the spotlight at Kajiken? It’s none other than aburasoba, a dish similar to ramen but served without broth. Instead, the noodles, which are made by hand in the shop, are coated in the restaurant’s legendary secret sauce for a sip-free experience.
The chain may be landing in North York this fall, but Kajiken brings with it a 15-year history that spans the globe.
Kajiken was first born in 2010 when founder Kenichi Kaji fell in love with aburasoba. He opened the chain’s first location in Nagoya, Japan. By 2012, there were 25 locations in Japan.
A decade later, in 2022, Kajiken operated 100 locations in Japan, Singapore, China, and the United States. Its location in San Mateo, California, has even earned a spot on the city’s Michelin Guide, praised for its visible noodle kitchen and variety of flavours.
Now, it’s finally making its first venture into Canada, and while we’re a little bitter that Australia and New Zealand got locations before us, we’re pretty jazzed nonetheless.
On the menu, you can expect to slurp back your choice of nine different aburasoba dishes, including the all-popular Homura, with spicy minced pork, bamboo shoots, seaweed, fish powder and a raw egg yolk centrepiece, or Wagyu Roast Beef, which comes topped with exactly what you might guess based on its name, plus crispy onions, butter onion sauce, yogurt sauce and raw egg yolk.
Don’t worry if raw egg gives you the ick: you can also opt to sub yours for a soy (ajitama) or poached egg instead.
The menu also includes two vegetarian options and a small selection of other Japanese street food favourites, including karaage, takoyaki, and gyoza, to round out the fleet.
Kajiken is set to soft-open on the weekend of Oct. 4 and 5, and, to celebrate, it’s giving out 100 free bowls of aburasoba to the first 100 customers each day.
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Being that this is Kajiken’s first location in Canada, we already feel like this is the start of a beautiful friendship.
Maybe, when it comes time to open your second, Kajiken, consider one a little closer to the Dished Toronto office?
Kajiken
Address:Â 4850 Yonge St.
Opening:Â October 2025
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