Sokyo's Chase Kojima Is Opening an Omakase Ramen Restaurant in Chatswood

A new omakase ramen restaurant from one of Sydney's most renowned Japanese chefs is coming to Chatswood. Chase Kojima (Sokyo, Gojima, Chuuka) is opening Senpai Ramen in Sydney's lower north shore. The 25-seat restaurant will open in February 2022 with a focus on presenting ramen in a new and exciting way.

Senpai Ramen will be based around a series of ever-changing set menus. Omakase is a Japanese dining tradition that translates to 'leave it to the chef'. Diners at the Chatswood restaurant will be offered five, six or seven-course meals that begin with smaller plates and build towards the signature ramen varieties. Ramen on offer will include a tonkotsu ramen with seasonal flavours and unexpected toppings such as 13-hour cooked abalone and A5-grade charcoal wagyu.

The initial smaller dishes will also be paired with cocktails created in collaboration with PS40 bartender Michael Chiem. The feast will set patrons back between $69 and $109 depending on how many courses you choose.

"The concept of the restaurant will be comforting, relaxing service but very professional," Kojima says. "I want to help take our guests a little bit out of their comfort zone and let them try something they have never had before: an entirely new ramen experience."

Senpai Ramen will run as a sister venue to Kojima's new sushi and sashimi venue Simulation Senpai which opened in Haymarket earlier this year. A centralised kitchen has been set up in Artarmon that will support both venues once Senpai Ramen opens up. The kitchen contains a new machine designed to make ramen-making safer and less labour intensive.

"Making ramen, and particularly tonkotsu ramen, is very labour intensive. Traditionally to make the broth, the pork bones must be boiled and stirred by hand for eight hours. A lot of chefs get injured during this process," Kojima says.

Sokyo

Senpai Ramen will open at G05, 88 Archer Street, Chatswood in February 2022.

Top image: Alan Richardson