Hana Ramen 一花ラーメン — Restaurant in Toronto

Dishonourable service with no compensation.

I decided to try this place out on a whim and ordered a ramen for my initial visit back in November. I was served by two ladies who were very friendly. Although I felt that the food was below average, I enjoyed the atmosphere. I was offered a coupon that read $4.99 as I was leaving so I asked to clarify since there was no minus sign and it didn't mention $4.99 off if this meant the meal would be $5 to which they responded with yes. I was surprised so I prompted again and asked if it was for any meal to which they said yes. I originally wasn't going to come back due to the food but I couldn't pass up on the $4.99 meal offer I was given that expires on Jan 31.

Coming back on Jan 30, I was served by a male. Looking through the menu I asked the presented coupon worked for the combo sets to which he replied yes. The ramen again wasn't great, the crab salad was alright, but the cheesecake was pretty good. After my meal, I was charged full price -$4.99. I advised to my server regarding my previous visit and what I was told regarding the coupon. They made a call, punched in the same numbers and printed an identical receipt to show my charge and told me that this is the price. I again clarified the situation and what I was told. The server told me the person who previously served me no longer works here or might've been new. I clarified with the server that they didn't seem new; I asked my previous server how long they have been open for to which they replied around 7 months at the time. Nothing was offered to me as compensation so I just paid full price.

TLDR: I was either scammed or given incorrect information with no compensation offered for my meal that didn't taste that great.

Edit: Response to owner's reply (01/30/24) Thank you for your prompt response and acknowledgement regarding my English. I had thoroughly examined the coupon prior to asking my initial two servers what kind of coupon it was as there was no fine print stating that it was cash value or how to use it. Yes, the "card" I brought had COUPON written on it. That does not automatically mean it has cash value but that it offers a discount of some sort. Because it was not written and very unclear even with my proficient English, I asked the two servers who gave me the coupon to confirm for me how it worked. They told me my meal would be $4.99 because I was also very surprised since that's too good a deal to be true. Let's say you can argue whatever is mentioned on the coupon, at the end of the day your employees gave me incorrect information and I was not given any kind of compensation from your employee or the person he called. I would much prefer a cash refund at this point in time.

"Hello boy! I'm very sorry and surprised to see your feedback. First of all, we will have a trial operation on October 3, 2023, and will officially open on November 3, 2023. We are sorry that we are not able to let you eat the food you hoped for for free this time. The card you brought has "COUPON" written on it. Judging from the English you wrote, it's hard to imagine that you don't recognize the English coupon of COUPON indicated on the card. Our card states that the $4.99 voucher can be used as cash of $4.99 for a one-time use. If you eat $10, you can use the $4.99 voucher to save $4.99. I'm sorry for the misunderstanding and the fact that you don't understand the English COUPON $4.99 on the card. I'm very sorry that you didn't get the free lunch this time. You can come over at any time and have a free meal of noodles to satisfy your needs. You entered the store as soon as it opened this morning and spent a total of $29.37. After deducting the $4.99 voucher you brought, the actual total payment plus tax and tip was $28.04. The set meal you want is $25.99 a piece. I am very pleased that your comments when you are unhappy can make you feel that happiness is the happiest thing for us, and let the gospel of kindness bring more happiness to everyone. You are always welcome to try our healthy food for free. Thank you for...

If I could give Hana Ramen more than five ⭐️s, I would! This gem on Gerrard Street East is an absolute knockout when it comes to authentic flavor, hospitality, and overall experience.

From the moment we walked in, the staff greeted us with genuine warmth and attentiveness that set the tone for the entire visit. You can tell they take pride in what they do — not just serving food, but crafting a complete dining experience. The service was fast, friendly, and seamless, with perfect timing between courses and thoughtful check-ins that never felt intrusive.

Now let’s talk about the star of the show: the RAMEN… Wow! Every bite was a flavor bomb. The broth was rich, perfectly balanced, and simmered to soulful perfection — not too salty, not too greasy, just pure umami heaven. The noodles were bouncy and fresh, cooked to that elusive “just right” texture. I tried the Tonkotsu and it was easily one of the best I’ve ever had in the city. Toppings were generous and high-quality — the pork belly was melt-in-your-mouth tender, and the soft-boiled egg was a thing of beauty.

Beyond the ramen, the sides and apps (we had the karaage and gyoza) were equally top tier — crispy, juicy, and packed with flavor.

Hana Ramen doesn’t just serve food, they elevate the whole experience. It’s clear this place is run by people who care deeply about quality and hospitality. Whether you’re a ramen enthusiast or a first-timer, do yourself a favor and eat here. It’s not just a meal —...

I stopped by to check out this newly opened restaurant, the place has been decorated with slightly tacky but charming maneki-neko posters, colourful umbrellas (like something a geisha might carry?) and a large mural of Mount Fuji reminiscent of the murals you see in Japanese sentō.

The place appears to be run by Chinese people and they were friendly, but maybe a bit shy (I wasn’t asked how the meal was).

I will come back to try their ramen, but I was curious to give their chashu rice bowl (don) a try as they had a pretty large section of their menu devoted to rice bowls, and also even offered the choice of rice noodles for soup, for those who may be gluten sensitive.

The chashu was well cooked and visually pleasing but the bowl was a barebones affair, with not much more than the broccoli, chashu and a small amount of sweet seasoning with sautéed onions underneath. The rice was standard jasmine rice rather than Japanese rice which was a bit disappointing. It came with some daikon on the side, and also pickled ginger which was a bit odd.

They were also advertising their “okonomiyaki fries” out front on a signboard, and for less than $2 so I gave those a shot and they weren’t anything special but I think literally anything would taste good if you throw katsuobushi, mayo and okonomi sauce on it.

Overall, I am interested to give their tonkotsu broth a try when I come back for my next visit, and I may increase my star rating based on my...