International ramen chain Ippudo eyes further UK expansion

The group, which made its debut in the capital in 2014,​​ has taken on the 1,500 sq ft former Kua’aina Hawaiian Burger Joint site on London’s Goodge Street for its next restaurant.

It follows Ippudo sites opening in London’s Central Saint Giles, Canary Wharf and Villiers Street.

The new restaurant will offer Ippudo’s classic ramen menu based on a tonkotsu broth developed by Ippudo founder Shigemi Kawahara. The group has previously created bespoke dishes, including salads and vegetarian bibimbap, for each London location.

Property firm CDG Leisure acted on behalf of Ippudo and says the chain has plans to continue expanding if the right sites become available.

“[Goodge Street] has a vibrancy very close to Ippudo's heart and we look forward to expressing our Japanese food culture here,” says Satoshi Matsuoka, director at Ippudo London Co Ltd.

Ippudo was founded Fukuoka City in 1985 and expanded across Japan, before launching its first international restaurant in New York in 2008.

It now has restaurants in 15 regions worldwide.