Known as "The Warehouse Town of Tohoku," Kitakata is home to over 4,000 traditional warehouses, from its main streets to back alleys, outer villages, and deep mountain communities. In a town with a population of just 51,000, there are a astonishing 120 ramen restaurants. Among them, "Ban-nai Shokudo" stands as one of Kitakata's Three Great Ramen Houses, consistently featured in magazines and TV programs.
By chance, I found myself in Kitakata and encountered the uniquely firm and chewy texture of hand-kneaded, high-hydration noodles with a rich and robust, umami flavor profile. Captivated by the taste of Ban-nai Shokudo, I humbly requested an apprenticeship, but was repeatedly turned down. Undeterred, I visited the restaurant every day, and finally, I was given the opportunity to learn from the founder of Ban-nai Shokudo, Master Shingo Bannai, and his wife, Hisa-san, leading to a deep culinary understanding. It was my goal to learn their craft and share Ban-nai's delicious ramen with the world.
Our aspirations is to make the "Ban-nai" name widely recognized. Driven by this goal, we participated in numerous department store and event exhibitions.
Then, in 1984, we decided to launch "Kura," the predecessor to Kitakata Ramen Ban-nai, under the railway overpass in Uchisaiwaicho. Following that, in December 1988, we opened the first "Kitakata Ramen Ban-nai" restaurant in Tomi City in Nagano Prefecture.
Moving forward, we remain committed to
Creating flavors you'll never tire of even if
you frequented us daily.
We want our customers to leave with a smile
on their faces after having our delicious food.
We will continue to convey the taste and sentiments inherited
from Ban-nai Shokudo.
Our international expansion has allowed more people to experience our authentic flavors. In every location, our dedicated team members proudly share the "Taste of Kitakata."
Whether you visit us, expect handcrafted, fresh flavors and a
welcoming space where you can truly relax. We will continue
passing forward this torch of tradition, carrying with it the
hopes and appreciation of countless patrons.
