Maneki Ramen chooses Birmingham for second site

Worcester-based Japanese-inspired restaurant Maneki Ramen will launch its second restaurant in Birmingham next spring.

The 2,000sq ft restaurant will be based in the city’s Jewellery Quarter and will have space for 70 covers on the ground floor dining room, plus an additional 40 seats downstairs.

It will be led in the kitchen by head chef Pete Dovaston, who has spent time living in Tokyo, New York and China.

His menu will include popular Maneki Ramen dishes including tebasaki wings with ginger and furikake; roast duck ramen with sesame bean sprouts and pak choi; katsu curry with sushi rice and a choice of protein; and sesame miso shoyu with charred sweetcorn and nori, as well as some new creations.

The drinks menu will include Suntory Haku Vodka, natural wines, and cocktails such as the popular tipple East & West, made with gin, yuzu, hibiscus, lime and orange.

“Birmingham has a vibrant foodie scene, so opening a new restaurant in the city has been one of our business aspirations for some time” says Dovaston.

“The new restaurant will be in the heart of the Jewellery Quarter, we can’t wait to become part of the community and bring all the Maneki dishes people know and love, as well as introducing some extra new and exciting ones.”

Maneki Ramen is part of the ART Hospitality group, led by brothers Dorian and Edwin Kirk and Rupert Davidson, which operates brands including The Yard, Burger Shop, Leaven Pizza, and The Pelican.

Launched in November 2020, the restaurant hit the headlines the following year when it was forced to change its name​​ from Lucky Cat Noodle following a complaint of trademark infringement from Gordon Ramsay Holdings, which owns the Lucky Cat by Gordon Ramsay brand.