Tucked between furniture stores and other retail shops, Hana Ramen is the kind of place you’d never stumble upon by accident. If a friend hadn’t tipped me off, I would’ve completely missed the narrow but cozy little restaurant.

Walking in feels like stepping outside of Toronto altogether. It’s a tiny operation - just two people working the kitchen and not a host in sight. After a minute of unsuccessfully trying to catch one of the chefs’ attention, I grabbed my own menus and claimed one of the seven tables in the place.

Despite its size, Hana Ramen boasts a surprisingly extensive menu. Their tonkotsu ($15.99) seemed like the right place to start, the tried-and-true ramen staple you’ll find at nearly every ramen shop. The star of the bowl is the chashu: thick slices of deep-fried pork with a crispy crackling exterior that gives way to rich, fatty meat that melts on the tongue. These honking slabs put the flimsy chashu at other spots to shame.

The soft-boiled egg was equally impressive… jammy, well-seasoned, and deeply satisfying. I enjoyed all the garnishes too, from the pickled carrots that add a pop of brightness to the heart-adorned fish cake that’s guaranteed to make you smile.

Where the bowl falls short is consistency in the noodles. On my first visit, they were overly soft with a faint alkaline aftertaste. On a follow-up visit, though, they had more chew and no lingering finish. The tonkotsu broth is solid and not overly oily, which helps balance the fatty pork, and flavourful without being overly salty. It’s a good option for those who don’t want an aggressive bowl.

You can order the ramen on its own or as part of a combo ($22.99), which includes karaage to start and cheesecake to finish. For rice lovers, the pork chashu don ($13.99) arrives with three thick slices of pork, a soft-boiled egg, caramelized onions, pickled vegetables, and broccoli over a generous portion of sticky rice. I appreciated that the sauce was layered into the rice, so even the bottom bites were full of flavour. There’s also a plant-based chashu ramen for those leaning vegetarian.

If you’re a fan of Shanghainese beef noodles, Hana Ramen’s braised beef ramen ($16.99) hits a similar note. Large chunks of tender braised beef are joined by egg, black fungus, bamboo shoots, and vegetables for a hearty, well-rounded bowl. The pork bone broth carries a gentle spiciness here, leaving a pleasant tingle on the tongue. And a nice bonus: all Hana Ramen noodle bowls come with a free noodle refill if the first serving doesn’t quite do the trick.

Hana Ramen isn’t trying to be flashy or trendy, and that’s exactly its charm. It’s a small, no-frills spot doing some things, like the chashu and eggs, well. Since it’s never too busy, it’s also a great place to linger over a bowl and talk without feeling rushed.