It sells out almost instantly and was only founded a little over two years ago, now Cardiff pop-up and ramen kit producer has announced it will open its first bricks and mortar restaurant this summer. Self-confessed 'ramen geek' James Chant will take over the 1700 sq ft former Natwest Bank on Clare Road in Grangetown, just a 15-minute walk from Cardiff city centre.
The site, which will be subtitled Matsudai Ramen at The Bank, still has the original vaults in the basement, and has most recently been used as a coffee shop and co-working space operated by Lufkin Coffee, who will rent a room and continue to operate a part-time roastery.
Before September 2019 James had never set foot in a professional kitchen but was so disillusioned with the music industry work he had been doing all his life that his mental health had reached an all-time low. When offered the chance of a pop-up, he grabbed at it with both hands - designing the logo, creating the dishes, building the website - relishing the chance to make something from scratch. He assumed it'd be a fun one-off.
