Matsudai Ramen Announces New Autumn Collaborations With Fuku Ramen, Kanada-Ya And Bab Haus

Wales’ trailblazing ramen restaurant, Matsudai Ramen, has announced its Autumn schedule of pop-up events and ramen kit collabs.

Originally starting as a pop-up in 2019, Matsudai Ramen is the brainchild of James Chant – a self-confessed ‘ramen geek’ who launched the project without any prior professional kitchen experience. Since 2021, James and his team have shipped tens of thousands of home ramen kits across the UK and earned acclaim from top food writers including Tim Anderson, Tom Parker Bowles, and Jay Rayner; in 2022, they opened Wales’ first dedicated ramen shop in Cardiff.

Matsudai thrives on bringing exciting chefs and producers to its Cardiff ramen shop, and to ramen geeks across the country via home-delivered ramen kits. This summer has seen collaborations with Bristolian Korean canteen Bokman, incredible Anglesey sea salt company Halen Môn, and fermentation expert and creator, Kenji Morimoto. 

Autumn at Matsudai sees yet more exciting and innovative partnerships:

Matsudai x Fuku Ramen (21 August, Cardiff)

Fuku Ramen is not just Amsterdam’s best ramen shop, but one of the best in the whole of Europe. This will be a very special evening, serving an à la carte menu; expect the house Fuku shoyu ramen, a plant-based Fuku bowl and a Matsudai collab, alongside a range of incredible small plates. Book here.

Matsudai x Kanada Ya (7 September, Cardiff; 14 September, London)

Yuzu & Seafood Tonkotsu Ramen Kit, nationwide delivery (5 Sept – 18 Oct)

Founded in Kyushu in 2008, Kanada Ya is one of the most acclaimed ramen shops in the UK. Back in 2019, before Matsudai even had a name, James reached out to them for advice; within hours, the head honcho Aaron had replied with generous guidance, contacts, and the philosophy that ‘a rising tide lifts all boats.’ That spirit of collaboration has shaped Matsudai’s approach ever since, and now the two are joining forces for a rare ‘ramen swap shop’. On 7th September, the Kanada Ya team will take over Matsudai’s Cardiff kitchen, and on 14th September, Matsudai heads to Kanada Ya’s Ealing branch. Book here.

Alongside both events, Matsudai have also released a special Yuzu + Seafood Tonkotsu Ramen Kit for nationwide delivery.

Matsudai x Bab Haus (12 October, Cardiff)

Birria Ramen Kit, nationwide delivery (19 Sept – 18 Oct)

Bab Haus is an award-winning Modern BBQ food brand based in South Wales. Rooted in a passion for authentic Mexican cuisine, infused with inspiration from the LA street food scene, Bab Haus was founded by Leyli Homayoonfar alongside Rebecca Goad, and Leyli’s sisters Sophia and Soraya Homayoonfar – a dynamic family team of women.

Bab Haus’ signature Birria Queso Tacos are beloved by Welsh foodies, and for good reason. The tacos feature slow-braised beef with deep, spiced richness, seasoned with 24+ ingredients and crafted over more than 24 hours of dedicated preparation. This fall-apart Babhaus birria is the star of the Matsudai x Babhaus Birria Ramen Kit, a limited-edition collaboration available for nationwide delivery in very limited numbers from 19 September to 18 October. 

To complete the collaboration, on Sunday 12^th October, Matsudai will host the Bab Haus team in Grangetown for a one-off supper club featuring the birria ramen and more. Book here.

Changes at Matsudai Ramen at the Bank

From mid-August, Matsudai will also make some changes behind the scenes, welcoming guests to a smaller, more intimate dining room, open fewer days each week, with a stronger focus on incredible Welsh produce, fire cooking, and, most importantly, the pursuit of the perfect bowl of ramen.

Founder James Chant says the aim is to bring “more focus, more creativity, and a bit more joy” to every service; the changes will give James and his team more opportunity to cook creatively and respond each day and week to the best ingredients in season, with noodles made in-house at the restaurant. “Matsudai has always been about experimenting and responding in the moment – it’s how we were born,” says Chant. “We’re really excited to try new things and refine what we do. These tweaks are about making every bowl as good as it can possibly be.”

With a smaller, dedicated team, Matsudai aims to cement itself as a destination ramen shop and an exceptional neighbourhood restaurant.

For more information about pop-ups, collabs and new menus launching at Matsudai Ramen over the coming months, sign up to the mailing list by clicking here, or visit matsudai.co.uk to book a table, or order a ramen kit for home delivery.