One of Adelaide’s best hidden and much-loved ramen pop-ups is set to become a permanent fixture on Eliza Street.
The team at Toriok, “Ginza Duo” chef Hugh Ok and head chef Terukazu Mukai, are long-time collaborators, first crossing paths nearly two decades ago at Unley’s Ginza.
“This permanent move is only possible because of the incredible support from our customers — we truly wouldn’t be here without it,” they said.
While both have moved through Adelaide kitchens since, ramen has remained the shared obsession, and their “pursuit of the perfect bowl” eventually demanded its own space. The duo serves a 20-hour simmered chicken broth, with only 16 seats and 100 bowls served daily.
Now the pop-up, which had recently started serving seven days a week, is making its current venue a permanent spot for the mouth watering noodles, and speaking of, there may be a few changes to come.
“One of the biggest changes that we have, is that we will be making our own noodles.”
“I’ve devoted myself to creating ramen in new ways, continuously experimenting with recipes with Teru, and searching for the perfect taste,” Hugh told us back in October before they first opened.
The focus of Toriok is chicken. Fresh, clean and balanced, it’s a deliberate shift away from the heavy pork-based ramens that dominate most menus. The name Toriok translates loosely to “chicken place,” and the menu sticks closely to that brief.
“We wanted to create something lighter – something you could eat every day that’s healthy. That’s why we focused on chicken. It has so many health benefits,” Hugh said.
There are five bowls in total. A signature cloudy Tori Paipan with medium-to-full body and Toriok’s tare tare (concentrated seasoning sauce), a spicy version lifted by house-made chilli oil and wagyu mince, a clear Shoyu, and a rich Mazesoba served without broth, tossed with chicken, beef mince, egg and vegetables. A Creaming Miso Soy vegetarian option with truffle tare and Japanese tofu rounds it out.
“With our ramen, we focus on quality ingredients and sodium levels. We haven’t really seen anything like that here.”
Their last day as a pop-up will be June 14, and the team will be working behind the scenes to get the venue at it’s best for its grand reopening on July 1.
Together both chefs still share one simple goal they first set out to achieve: to serve Adelaide “one damn good bowl of ramen.”
Toriok
Where: 14 Eliza St, Adelaide
When: Closed from 15 June – 30 June
@toriok_adl
