Longtime lovers of endless bowls of soupy Japanese goodness will be in their element from this weekend as Matsudai, the pop-up and mail-order ramen chiefs finally opens the doors of their first permanent home in Grangetown, Cardiff.
The new bricks and mortar space for Matsudai - which opens on Saturday, August 6 to customers - sees the former Natwest Bank building on Clare Road, previously Lufkin Coffee, transformed into an industrial-looking space but punctuated with bright Japanese pop-art and prints from local artists and a noodle bar overlooking the open kitchen where the cooking will be done.
The brains behind Matsudai, James Chant, was after a venue in a neighbourhood with a similar vibe to where he started the pop-up, on City Road, the other side of Cardiff. After a potential home popped up in one of the arcades in town turned out not to be, the Grangetown spot appeared on the horizon.
