Kajiken is a popular Japanese noodle chain with roots in Nagoya that's now taking over Toronto.

Founder Kenichi Kaji — after whom the franchise was named — began his cooking career in 2010 with a simple noodle shop in Aichi Prefecture.

The shop's specialty was aburasoba, a dry noodle dish made with soy sauce and oil. Though superficially similar to dishes like ramen and udon, its intense flavour and slippery texture helped to distinguish it from other types of noodles.

Within two years of opening, Kenichi's original shop had grown into a full-blown franchise, with twenty-five locations across the country.

In 2014, Kajiken opened its first international location in Singapore, followed by a second location in mainland China. By 2022, the franchise consisted of over a hundred stores, including a Michelin-recommended location in San Mateo, California.

Kajiken's first Canadian location opened its doors in 2025, to the delight of foodies throughout the GTA. Though fairly small compared to some of the franchise's other storefronts, the North York location still managed to make a splash.

In fact, the restaurant had made such a splash that a second location was opened less than a year later.Kajiken's Queen Street location held its soft opening on September 5, 2026. Though slightly larger than the North York location, both restaurants share the franchise's signature aesthetic, with wood-panelled walls covered in print-outs and posters.

Instead of paper menus, each table comes equipped with a QR code, allowing visitors to order directly from their phones.

The tables also come loaded with an array of different toppings. Chili oil and vinegar are among the most popular, but fried garlic, crushed sesame seeds and cracked pepper are also available.

Original aburasoba ($15.99) consists of thick, chewy soba noodles, topped with thin slices of chashu pork. Green onions, bamboo shoots and nori are added to give the dish a more robust flavour.Roast beef aburasoba ($17.99) offers a slightly creamier flavour profile, thanks to an addictive mix of roast beef, onion sauce, yogurt and scallions. 

Raw, poached or soft-boiled eggs can be added at no extra charge.

Spicy tonkotsu ramen ($16.99) is one of the few soup-based dishes on the menu. Made from a pork bone broth, the soup is seasoned with garlic and onions, then left to simmer for ten hours.

Once the broth is finished, ramen noodles are added, along with bok choy, nori and spicy minced pork. The result is a spicy yet sippable soup that will keep you coming back for more.Unagi don ($14.99) combines soy sauce-glazed eel, pickled daikon, green onions, nori and egg to create a delicious rice dish with a unique umami aftertaste.Last but not least is the meat-topped pork gyoza ($7.99), a savoury appetizer whose name says it all. Served in sets of five, each piece is fried to golden perfection, then garnished with minced pork and green onions.

Kajiken also serves a wide selection of Japanese soft drinks, including Ramune and Gold-Pak Mikan.

Kajiken is located at 214 Queen Street West.