Tonkotsu Cardiff: What to Expect from the City's New Ramen Restaurant
I’ll admit it right up front, I had never tried ramen before. I know, I know. Living under a rock, right? But after spending an afternoon at Tonkotsu in London. I feel officially enlightened, converted, and strangely a little obsessed with what’s coming to Cardiff on March 18th.
Tonkotsu Ramen
Saying I have never tried ramen almost feels like admitting you’ve never seen a Bond film or tried coffee. It almost feels taboo. But it’s true. Somehow, despite eating my way around Cardiff, ramen had somehow passed me by.
Honestly, I am not usually reduced to actual excitement by a new launch in Cardiff but Tonkotsu did that to me. I was invited to their Haggerston store in London to meet the co-founders and watch the kitchen at work, and I can say, hand on heart, I have never left a meal more convinced that the city is about to get a very good thing.
The arrival date for Cardiff is March 18th, and if the Cardiff version is even half as meticulous as what I ate, we are in for a treat.
It was really nice to be able to meet co-founders Ken Yamada and Emma Reynolds. There was no big performance about it, no hard sell or gimmicks, we just sat and talked, and honestly, the food did most of the talking anyway.
Yes, Tonkotsu has multiple sites. Yes, it began in London and now has restaurants across the UK. On paper, it fits the profile of a brand expanding westward. But standing in Haggerston, watching noodles being made fresh, and listening to Ken and Emma discuss their passion, it didn’t feel like a faceless chain in the traditional sense. There’s a difference. Chains scale, but Tonkotsu’s entire identity revolves around doing one thing really well. Ramen. Broths are simmered slowly, noodles are made fresh every day, cooked to the exact second, and every dish is there for a reason.
It is not just talk either. The Cardiff restaurant at 7 High Street will feature a large mural by local illustrator Suzanne Carpenter. That feels like a very local-minded gesture. And to us shows they want to belong here as opposed to just open an outlet.
Tonkotsu Appetisers
After chatting for a while, we were shown the noodle machine. And I’ll be honest, that was the moment it clicked for me. Watching noodles being made fresh, right there in front of you, changes how you think about the bowl you’re about to eat. The dough is rolled and cut into thin strands, portioned, then dropped into boiling water for exactly 32 seconds. It sounds minor, but it tells you everything about the approach. Nothing is rushed and nothing is approximate.
Then came the food.
To start, we had cucumber and mustard seed pickles, £3.95, I’m a huge pickle lover so these were always going to go down well. Sharp, refreshing, always necessary.
the shiitake and bamboo shoot gyozas, £6.95, were crisp on the bottom and soft on top and clearly not just an afterthought or an extra. When the sides are this good I’m really going to struggle going to Tonkotsu and just getting a bowl of ramen.
The Tonkotsu ramen itself (Their original and still bestseller) is £15.95, which I felt was extremely reasonable especially in London. Pork broth enriched with lardo and sea salt, simmered overnight, with thin homemade noodles, roast Dingley Dell pork belly, bamboo shoots, beansprouts, half a Clarence Court egg and burnt garlic oil. It arrived steaming and a generous portion too. The broth was rich. Not heavy. Not greasy. Just deep and savoury in a way that words can’t quite describe.
Chicken Thigh Katsu Curry
I also tried the chicken thigh katsu curry, which was £14.95. Fresh panko breadcrumbs, fried crisp, served with Japanese vegetable curry, rice and mizuna. It was exactly what you want from a katsu. Crunchy on the outside, tender inside, curry that’s sweet, savoury and super comforting. The kind of plate you could order on a crap day and feel instantly better about life.
The chicken karaage at £8.50 was one of the surprises for me. Marinated thigh meat fried to crisp perfection, served with Tonkotsu mayo. So simple on paper. Excellent in reality. perfectly crisp shell, juicy centre and dangerously easy to keep picking at. This feels like a must-order every time.
The drinks felt well considered too, I tried a non alcoholic Cherry Blossom Martini, £6.75, with grenadine, pineapple and Everleaf Mountain which was floral and refreshing without being syrupy. There is also Japanese whisky on the menu. I sampled Nikka from the Barrel, 25ml for £6.95, which offered a cosy, warming spice and felt like the right tidy finish to a robust meal.
And then came desserts.
The Chocolate & Miso Salted Caramel, £6.50, was my favourite. Salted caramel miso ice cream in Guinness chocolate cake. It sounds bold and it is, but it works. Sweet but also slightly bitter from the stout. It felt like grown up flavours without being pretentious.
The Eastside, corn and cashew vegan ice cream with smoky salted caramel in a miso and corn cookie, also £6.50, was clever and textured. And the Sorbet Pot at £5.50 was light and surprisingly creamy for a vegan option. I have no idea how these are Vegan.
What stood out to me throughout the evening was the consistency. Nothing felt like filler and even the small sides had purpose. The prices were probably what surprised me the most, and I mean that in the best way. Say what you will but for central London, bowls in the mid-teens and starters under a tenner feel reasonable, especially for food made this carefully. If Cardiff sees similar pricing, I won’t be mad.
Noodles are made fresh daily
As someone who eats out in Cardiff regularly, I think this will be a really strong addition. You could argue that this is just another London name coming to Cardiff. I completely understand that skepticism and I do not dismiss it. Cardiff has had outside names arrive and not all land well. But Tonkotsu feels different. It is not expanding with a scattergun approach. It has doubled down on craft and a single offering. The menu itself is spread across just a double page, including drinks and desserts, which tells you everything you need to know about their focus. That attention to detail shows not only in the food but also in the way the founders talk about their work.
For someone who had never tried ramen, this was an instructive and very pleasant conversion. I left the Haggerston shop thinking two things. One, I should have tried this years ago. And two, if the Cardiff kitchen delivers even 80 percent of what I ate, we are getting something genuinely worthwhile on our High Street.
Mark the date. 18 March 2026. I will be there on opening day, bowl in hand. I will be slurping, so bring an umbrella. Bring friends. Bring an appetite.
