« True Deliciousness Knows No Cultural Boundaries »
Today, we are fortunate to welcome many customers, but our journey was far from smooth. In the beginning, we were a typical « foreign ramen shop ». Overly conscious of local preferences, we served thin soup, soft noodles, and kept the bowl temperatures low. As a result, while we initially attracted curiosity, customers gradually drifted away.
A conversation with our kitchen staff became a pivotal turning point.
« Let’s abandon our preconceived notions about Europeans. Let’s offer only what we genuinely believe is delicious. »
That conversation rekindled our forgotten core purpose. Being a ‘bridge between Japan and Belgium’ was more than just a slogan—it meant connecting cultures through authentic flavor.
With renewed determination, we revisited everything. We first returned to Japan for noodle-making training, repeatedly reviewing and adjusting our original wheat flour blend, meticulously fine-tuning every detail including resting time for the dough.
For the soup, while maintaining traditional techniques, we pursued deeper umami. We repeatedly tested and refined our recipe, from cooking time to final touches, until we could confidently serve a truly exceptional taste.
By completely abandoning the concept of « localization » and returning to our original philosophy of « delivering Japanese flavor exactly as it is, » we experienced a welcome transformation.
Customers began saying:
« A depth of flavor I’ve never experienced before »
« So this is authentic Japanese ramen »
We started receiving praise from local customers, while Japanese patrons appreciated the « comforting taste » that felt « unchanged from Japan ».
Currently, approximately 90% of our customers are local residents. By pursuing authentic flavor, we’ve elevated our reputation in the local market.
We acknowledge that sourcing all ingredients from Japan is challenging, with limited options even for those we can import. However, we refuse to use this as an excuse. We approach local ingredients earnestly, leveraging their unique characteristics to ultimately realize Japanese taste. The ingenuity and effort required in this process have become our pride.
The phrase « because we’re overseas » does not exist in our dictionary. We want to provide consistent flavor for everyone, anytime. Without being satisfied with the current state, we aim to continue improving, pursuing an even more delicious bowl with each passing day.
Lastly, we are deeply grateful to each and every customer who visits us. Moving forward, our entire staff will continue to dedicate ourselves to delivering increasingly better ramen, pouring our hearts into every single bowl.