Matsudai Ramen opening date confirmed

Cardiff-based noodle brand Matsudai Ramen has confirmed an early August opening date for its first bricks-and-mortar ramen restaurant, Matsudai Ramen at the Bank. 

Following a five-month refurbishment of the former NatWest bank site in Grangetown, Cardiff, Matsudai founder James Chant will open the doors to his 70-cover ramen bar at 6pm on Saturday 6 August.

Since launching in late 2019, Matsudai Ramen's pop-up events have taken over kitchens in London, Manchester and Bristol. During the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, the business shifted to delivering freshly prepared ramen kits all over the UK. While the kits remain a part of the brand's offering, Matsudai Ramen at the Bank will give guests the chance to try an eclectic range of ramen styles served straight from the open plan kitchen. 

Available ramen styles will change with the seasons, with side dishes including Chant's signature karaage (a Japanese method of deep frying) chicken and mushrooms. 

"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 hometime of Cardiff no less," says Chant. 

"The feedback from the local community in Grangetown has been overwhelmingly warm – we feel truly welcomed and can't waut 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."

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