On our map. We haven't walked through the door yet — here's why it's on the list.
Montreal's first fully vegan ramen-ya, opened in 2019 in Mile-Ex by chef-owner Cédric Charron — an ITHQ graduate who trained for a year in Japan — with partner Dominique Saint-Laurent. Noodles, broths, tsukemono, kombucha and sprouts are all made in-house; after 5 p.m., the izakaya menu adds gyoza, okonomiyaki and "foulet" karaage.
The privately imported sake list includes sparkling bottlings the chef himself calls his revelation of the year. The vegan kitchen reworks Japanese classics without losing their character.
Umami Ramen & Izakaya is on the Regulars map — spotted, not yet visited. Our guides are written on foot, door by door, and no one pays to appear: when we walk through the door, this note will become a portrait. No points. No coupons. Standing is earned.