Ramen Isshin’s Plateau outpost may have a fast-casual setup—QR code menus, counter service, 30 tight seats—but the bowls tell a different story. Executive chef Koji Zenimaru, originally from Osaka, brings decades of experience and a deep affinity for miso, starting his ramen in the wok for layered depth. Open since May 2022, this is the Montreal link in a small Canadian chain with roots in Toronto and Ottawa. The Mont-Royal Avenue address sticks close to the Isshin playbook: bold broths, chewy noodles, and consistency that’s no accident. Miso and tonkotsu are the signatures, but there’s a solid range of vegetarian and vegan options too. While the space leans more lunch-stop than linger-long, the attention to quality—from the broth to the service—is dialled in. For a reliable, flavour-heavy bowl that doesn’t mess around, Isshin earns its place in the city’s ramen rotation.
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