News

Kinton Ramen coming to America

May 21, 2019

Kinton Ramen, a Japanese noodle concept based in Canada, is coming to the U.S. via a location in Chicago's Fulton Market District at 163 N. Sangamon St. A Wicker Park location (1426 N. Milwaukee St.) is also in the works, according to a company press release. Founded in 2012, in Toronto in, the 32-unit chain serves noodle soup, umami-rich bone broths in a minimalist modern interior design reminiscent of homes in Kyoto, Japan.

Chicago specifically topped the Toronto-based company's list of American cities due to its proximity to its headquarters and, more importantly, Chicagoans' love of good food and community, John Tirch, VP of Operations, USA, said in the release.

"We can engage with an educated constituency, who already know and love good ramen," he said. "That plays into the company's plans for expansion in the U.S., including three more locations in Chicago by the end of 2019, with the East Coast up next, and a philosophy of promoting from within. 

"We are planting the seed in the U.S. here in Chicago, hiring the front and back of house staff of today who will become our executives of tomorrow."

Kinka Family, the parent company behind Kinton, also operates Kinka Izakaya, a series of Japanese pubs; JaBistro, a sushi and sashimi bistro; and affiliated Neo Coffee Bar, a coffee lounge offering specialty coffee drinks and Japanese baked goods.