When it comes to West Midlands cities, we’ll always say that Birmingham has the best. But we’ll admit that Worcester has one thing over the Second City and that’s the best Japanese restaurant in the region – or at least it did… The award-winning Maneki Ramen is opening a second site in the Jewellery Quarter – with your help!
The Worchester-based restaurant has been serving up authentic Japanese fare since 2020 but won ‘Japanese Restaurant of the Year’ at the Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards 2023. Just some of its popular dishes include Tebasaki Wings, Roast Duck Ramen, Katsu Curry, and Sesame Miso Shoyu. It’ll bring all that and plenty more to Birmingham, hopefully, early next Spring.
A new menu, featuring most of the popular classics, will also add a few upgrades exclusive to Birmingham. Plus, a carefully curated drinks menu will include Suntory Haku Vodka, natural wines, and cocktails such as the popular tipple ‘East & West’, which contains Gin, Yuzu, Hibiscus, Lime and Orange.
Having already secured a 2,000-square-foot, Jewellery Quarter location on Ludgate Hill – a Victorian red-brick venue with room for 70 covers upstairs, plus an additional 45 seats downstairs, and 30 outdoors along the canal – it has most of the £350,000 needed to make Birmingham its new home. But Maneki Ramen still needs the final £95,000, which is why it’s launched a Crowdfunder.
Rewards in return for your donation range from a limited edition branded Maneki Ramen T-shirt (£30) to a signed first edition Maneki Recipe Book (£35), VIP tickets to the opening night (£75), and a Japanese cooking masterclass (£150). All pledges will directly support building a unique open-kitchen ramen bar complete with chef’s tables, custom lighting, and a bar that channels Tokyo’s backstreets.
“Birmingham has a vibrant foodie scene, so opening a new restaurant in the city has been one of our business aspirations for some time,” said head chef Pate 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.”
Known for its stylish, laid-back environment, Maneki Ramen’s menus will utilise locally sourced ingredients to keep the dishes seasonal and fresh – offering a fusion of traditional Japanese flavours with modern techniques. We’re probably most excited for the arrival of its monthly Omakase tasting menu showcasing Pete’s authentic, experimental and refined take on Japanese cuisine.
Maneki Ramen’s Crowdfunder ends on December 23, so to pledge before then you should head here.