K10 to trial ramen concept before launching permanent site
From the end of October to the end of February next year, diners at K10 will be able to order ramen alongside existing sushi and sashimi dishes.
Kamakura Ramen, as the concept will be known, will focus on the use of four types of noodles eaten in Japan - Tonkotsu, Shoyu, Shio and Miso - and will use imported products from Japan to retain authenticity.
London ramen
K10's founder and operations director Christopher Kemper, said the idea was to tap into the growing interest in ramen in the capital, but also provide a point of difference and give the business a chance to evolve.
"We will trial the Kamakura menu for about three to four months and by March will look to open a standalone restaurant specialising in ramen," he said.
"We are fairly confident the product is good and does differentiate itself from other restaurants in the marketplace currently. We are working with traditional Japanese chefs to devise the menu and everything is imported from Japan, but we know we'll have to adapt the food to the market.
"Kamakura is a geographical area in Japan which was the de facto capital during the establishment of feudal Japan in the late 12th century and more recently has become known as a laid-back surfing town, so like the area it is named after Kamakura Ramen will be a mixture of old and new."
Expansion plans
Kemper, who founded the first K10 in Copthall Avenue in the city in 2001, said work had already started on finding a suitable site in central London and the city for Kamakura Ramen. He said because it was a simpler concept than the kaiten-style restaurants of K10, Kamakura Ramen could fit into smaller, cheaper sites than its sister brand.
Nevertheless, he said the company, which gained investment from Chrysalis VCT and former Wagamama chief executive and chairman Ian Neill last year, was pushing forward with plans for more K10 restaurants.
"Business at our latest K10 at Appold Street is going really well and we are in the process of securing our third site for K10. We are still on track for our one new site per year, but will " he said.
