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For those seeking an authentic taste of Japan without leaving the UK, Maki & Ramen offers a dining experience rooted in tradition, craftsmanship, and quality. Inspired by the ramen-yas of Japan, the restaurant chain has built its reputation on an unwavering dedication to proper ramen, combining time-honored techniques with carefully sourced ingredients to create dishes bursting with flavor. At the heart of Maki & Ramen’ s success is a commitment to authenticity. Every noodle is handcrafted, while the restaurant’ s signature broth is simmered for eight hours at its Edinburgh factory to develop the rich depth and complexity that defines a truly exceptional bowl of ramen. Founded in 2015 by Teddy Lee, who studied the art of Japanese cuisine while training as a chef in Tokyo, the brand continues to honor traditional preparation methods across its menu, with every dish reflecting the company’ s passion for delivering an authentic, vibrant Japanese dining experience.
Food Chain last sat down with Teddy Lee in June 2025, when we discussed the business’ origins and growth, as well as how its commitment to authenticity translates into every facet of its operations. In that conversation, Teddy also unveiled Maki & Ramen’ s latest creation – its chicken-based Tori Paitan ramen, which was developed to accommodate Muslim customers who do not eat pork.
Since then, Maki & Ramen has continued to grow and flourish. The company has already opened six additional locations in the first half of 2026 alone, with its brandnew Birmingham restaurant, situated on New Street, set to open later in the year. In addition, the business has continued to innovate, exciting customers with new product ranges and more tantalizing flavors. Now, Teddy rejoins us to share insight into Maki & Ramen’ s latest developments.
“ We now have 20 locations, three of which are franchises. In terms of products, we’ ve also recently launched our frozen ramen, which we created with young professionals in mind, who like to have a restaurant-quality, nutritious product that’ s quick and efficient. It’ s a fullbodied product with broth, protein, and vegetables that can be microwaved for eight minutes or cooked in a pot in one,” he reveals.
Maki & Ramen’ s new frozen ramen range offers the perfect balance of affordability, efficiency, and, most importantly, great taste.
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