Matsudai Ramen to open first restaurant in summer 2022

Cardiff pop-up Matsudai Ramen has announced it will open its first bricks and mortar restaurant in summer 2022.

Taking over the 1700 sq ft former Natwest Bank on Clare Road in Grangetown, Matsudai’s first restaurant site will be situated a 15-minute walk from Cardiff city centre.

Matsudai Ramen was first launched in September 2019 by self-confessed ‘ramen geek’ James Chant. Matsidai Ramen’s successful pop-up events have taken over kitchens in London, Manchester and Bristol.

During Lockdown, Chant delivered freshly prepared DIY ramen kits all over the UK. This element of the business has continued to grow even as hospitality has reopened, and Chant now employs a staff of seven, who ship hundreds of kits to customers around the UK every week – and will continue to do so alongside running the new restaurant.

Once complete, the restaurant said it will hold a maximum of 70 covers, including 10 seats at the bar overlooking a brand-new, open kitchen. The menu will feature a mix of ramen styles which will change with the seasons; a first in the UK.

The opening of the new restaurant will create employment opportunities for a further eight staff.

Chant said: “Thanks to the audience who found us through our kits, we’ve been able to do sell-out pop-ups all over the UK, but the plan was always to open the first permanent Matsudai Ramen shop in my home town of Cardiff.

“It’s where everything began for us, and we’re so excited to have found this amazing space in Grangetown, which feels like the perfect fit.”

He added: “For people who want to support us as we get ready to open, just ordering our kits is a huge help – so we hope people keep doing that! But we’ve been pulling in favours, and now we have some really exciting stuff to announce in the next few weeks, including supper club collaborations, new and limited Matsudai merch, and an incredible opening party.”