Situated just off Kingsland Road, Tonkotsu at the Arch will again focus on offering authentic ramen (a Japanese noodle dish usually containing pork and chicken stock) as well as a range of London and Japanese beers and sakes.
Founders Emma Reynolds and Ken Yamada, who are also behind Japanese restaurant chain Tsuru Sushi, told BigHospitality that they had identified a lack of restaurants offering authentic ramen, and Tonkotsu was the answer.
“We wanted to open a restaurant serving authentic ramen, the kind you get in ramen shops in Tokyo,” said Reynolds. The look and atmosphere will be totally different from any of our Tsuru Sushi sites and there will be other exciting new dishes as well as a simple ramen menu.
“The aim is very much to develop and expand the ramen concept as we find the right locations. We'll expand slowly to give the restaurants the attention they need. “
Octopus pancakes
The new restaurant is built within a railway arch which was formerly a mechanic’s yard. It will have an open kitchen counter clad in reclaimed doors, with a large window of the noodle-making room, giving customers an insight into the process of creating ramen.
Maja Myall, director of Blenheim Design, which has fitted out the restaurant, added: “The biggest challenge was to make every single brick accessible for any future inspections. Fixing any structure to the existing wall was out of the question and we had to think outside of the box.”
As well as the ramen dishes, Tonkotsu at the Arch will offer the likes of karaage (meat and fish deep-fried in oil), gyoza (dumplings) and Japanese octopus pancakes.
Earlier this year, Tonkotsu launched the Hiyashi Ramen– a soy-based cool stock topped with marinated chicken breast, fresh noodles, tomatoes, cucumber, pea shoots and marinated egg. A vegetarian version is also available.
Reynolds and Yamada’s original Tsuru Sushi concept has three sites in London – in Bishopsgate, Bankside and Mansion House, which continue to trade as normal.
Tonkotsu at the Arch will open in Acton Mews this autumn. A specific opening date has not yet been confirmed.