In this episode I chat to James Chant, founder and main noodle man at Matsudai Ramen based out of Cardiff. Matsudai rocketed to nationwide fame through their incredible ramen DIY kits, and they're currently in the middle of their second London pop-up. We talk about James' path into ramen from the music industry and how he was almost put off ramen forever by Wagamama. He also described how he cobbled together his original recipes from blurry whiteboards in the background of YouTube videos from Rajuku ramen school, and how always serving tonkotsu is like Radiohead always playing 'Creep'. We caught up when James was - in his own words - "a little nervous guy from Wales coming to the big city to become a YouTube star with Uncle Roger".
James gives shout outs to Supa Ya ramen, Kanada-Ya, Laksamania and Nanban (Tim Anderson) in London.
He also recommends Brother Thai, Milkwood, Fowl and Fury and Ren Japanese Food around his parts in Cardiff.
@matsudairamen on Instagram.
You can find me at @mikeeatslondon on Instagram and the pod at @mikemeetslondon. Feel free to drop me a line!
The intro and outro music is 'Swinging London 1966' by Lucas PernĂ½ & Miloslav Kollar, under a Creative Commons license.
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