noren

Noren, a snug 10-seater on Rachel Street in the Plateau, is the kind of place that lives or dies by its simplicity. Partners Élyse Garand and Hidenori Tsuda opened this tiny kitchen in 2016, infusing it with bits of Japan they picked up over seven years in Kyoto. It’s named after the traditional split curtains that hang at Japanese doorways—a nod to the neighbourhood family restaurants scattered across Japan that serve one or two specialty dishes.

In Noren’s case, those specialties are takoyaki and okonomiyaki. The former, better known as octopus balls, are served hot with katsuobushi dancing on top. The okonomiyaki, loaded with pork or shiitake, is savoury, crispy, and smoky, layered with sauce. A changing weekly dish adds variety, but this no-frills joint sticks to a few things and nails them every time. It’s cozy, intimate, and utterly unique in the Plateau, with warm, unfussy service and a design that mixes minimalist and eclectic touches—think vintage TVs and chalkboard walls—to create a space that feels like a lived-in gem rather than a showpiece.