Later this year, the group will open at Birmingham’s Grand Central shopping centre.
The launch will replace Tonkotsu’s existing smaller-format site in the centre, which first opened in 2016 and will close in November.
In early 2026, Tonkotsu will make its debut in Wales with a restaurant in the heart of Cardiff city centre, taking the group to 20 UK locations.
Founded in Soho in 2012 by Ken Yamada and Emma Reynolds, Tonkotsu was an early pioneer of London’s ramen scene.
The brand now operates 15 sites in the capital and further locations in Bristol and Brighton.
Reynolds and Yamada said: “We are delighted to be joining such vibrant food scenes and deeply honoured to be opening in these iconic cities.”
Alongside the expansion, Tonkotsu has promoted Trieu Luu to head of people. Luu, who joined from Gourmet Burger Kitchen in 2018, became people and culture manager in 2023 and now steps up to the senior role.
As with all its restaurants, the new Birmingham and Cardiff sites will centre on bowls of ramen made with fresh noodles produced in-house daily on mid-century machines imported from Tokyo.
Menu highlights include the signature Tonkotsu ramen – a rich pork bone broth with thin-cut noodles, roast pork belly, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, spring onions, burnt garlic oil and an egg – alongside gyoza, vegan-friendly cauliflower ‘wings’, and customisable toppings such as kimchi and the spicy Scotch bonnet ‘hot shot’.