Matsudai opens first permanent restaurant in Cardiff
MUCH-LOVED Welsh ramen joint Matsudai Ramen was born from a place of love in 2019, beginning as a creative outlet for self confessed “ramen geek” James Chant, whose career had been in the music industry.
Now after operating as a successful pop-up, the opening date for the first permanent restaurant has been announced.
Despite having never set foot in a professional kitchen, James turned his hand to cooking after whipping up a bowl of ramen – a Japanesestyle noodle soup served in a broth and topped with items such as sliced pork and nori – one day while figuring out where his life would take him next.
Starting out serving his ramen through popular restaurant pop-ups, after less than a year James and his “cult ramen crew” were hit with Covid and forced to get creative in the kitchen. They began making DIY ramen kits for those who were missing
Matsudai’s renowned delicious bowls to make for themselves at home.
The team soon began delivering kits up and down the UK, receiving praise from the likes of Jay Rayner and Tom Parker Bowles.
Now James is set to open the doors of his first permanent “proper, no-corners-cut ramen” restaurant in his home city of Cardiff, for people to try his delicious bowls straight from Matsudai Ramen’s brand-new open-plan kitchen.
After a five- month refurbishment, decking out what used to be NatWest bank on Clare Road in Grangetown, Matsudai Ramen at the Bank – Wales’ first ramen shop – will open to the pubic on August 6. It will be serving seasonal ramen dishes and side plates that will include some of founder and chef James’ signature recipes including karaage (a Japanese method of deep frying) chicken and mushrooms.
Speaking about this new venture, which has space to house 70 people, James said: “I’m so excited to have this opening date in the diary. It’s mind-boggling to me that we’re about to open a restaurant – Wales’ first ramen shop – and in my home town no less.”
He added: “The feedback from the local community in Grangetown has been overwhelmingly warm – we feel truly welcomed and can’t wait to fill the Bank with ramen lovers. I’m very proud of what we’ve done to the space over the last few months and can’t wait to get it open now.”
Visit https://matsudai.co.uk for more information on how to book a place in the restaurant or order a DIY kit.