The site will be located on High Street and mark the brand’s debut in Wales.
Founded in Soho in 2012 by Ken Yamada and Emma Reynolds, Tonkotsu was among the first brands to popularise ramen in the UK.
As with all Tonkotsu restaurants, the Cardiff site will centre on the brand’s house-made ramen. Fresh noodles will be produced daily using mid-century noodle machines imported from Tokyo and cooked to order for 32 seconds, and bone broths cooked in-house over a two-day process.
The menu will feature Tonkotsu’s signature pork bone-broth ramen, topped with roast pork belly, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, spring onions, burnt garlic oil and a seasoned free-range egg. Other options include chilli chicken ramen with chicken and sea salt broth and Tonkotsu’s Eat the Bits chilli oil, alongside a vegan mushroom miso ramen.
All ramen can be customised with additional toppings, including kimchi and scotch bonnet ‘hot shot’.
Starters will include homemade gyoza with pork, shiitake and bamboo shoot; and king prawn varieties, alongside chicken kara-age; Eat the Bits chilli chicken wings; and vegan cauliflower ‘wings’.
The Cardiff restaurant will also offer Tonkotsu’s smaller-sized ramen range. Smaller portions, of which a limited range has been available as part of the lunch deal, have now been expanded to include all ramen on the menu and are available throughout the day and evening.
Drinks will include Tonkotsu’s own sake produced by the Tsuji Brewery in Okayama, an exclusive Mikan Shimoda Pale Ale created with Thornbridge, and the brand’s small-batch gin, alongside Japanese whiskies, wines, cocktails, soft drinks and teas.
The interior will feature a large-scale mural by Cardiff-based illustrator Suzanne Carpenter.
In addition to dine-in, Tonkotsu Cardiff will offer delivery and takeaway via the brand’s Click and Collect service.
The Cardiff location will be Tonkotsu’s 19th site, joining 15 venues across London as well as additional restaurants in Brighton, Bristol and Birmingham.