Shoryu Ramen to open two more restaurants
The Shoryu Ramen Restaurant Group is to open two more restaurants, in London's Covent Garden and in Manchester, both in early summer 2016.
The Covent Garden venue will have 54 covers, is located on Great Queen Street and will be the company's fifth in the capital. The Manchester site, at One Piccadilly Gardens, will be its first outside London and will have 55 covers.
Both restaurants will offer their signature hakata tonkotsu ramen, Shoryu buns and Gekkeikan Royal Warrant sake.
Covent Garden will feature a relaxed bar area, and a sake-lined dining area, decorated with white tiles and brickwork creating a light, welcoming and relaxed atmosphere. Manchester will also feature an alfresco dining area, an open kitchen and mini dining pods for smaller groups. All interiors will be designed by Blenheim.
Launched in 2012 and owned by the Japan Centre's CEO Tak Tokumine, Shoryu Ramen already have four sites located in Regent Street, Broadgate Circle, Soho and Kingly Court, as well as Shoryu Go, a dedicated tonkotsu ramen take-out bar on Air Street.
Tokumine said: "UK noodle culture has really become more sophisticated in recent years. As the British market has become more accustomed to noodles, we're able to introduce very specific dishes, such as Hakata tonkotsu ramen, for those looking for the real deal. I want to make sure everyone can experience real flavours, real dishes on their doorstep. It was also important for me to create restaurants with authenticity, which is why many of the key staff are family members and are originally from Japan."
There are also 'testunabe' gyoza - a Hakatan version of gyoza, filled with pork and served in a tetsunabe cast-iron skillet, as well as a range of tempura and sashimi.
Shoryu's sake sommelier, Mimi Tokumine (Tak Tokumine's niece) is one of only a handful of sake sommeliers in Britain and has helped shape the Shoryu sake offering.
Shoryu Ramen Restaurant Group to launch fourth London site >>
