In case you’ve been living under a rock, the little critters from Chiikawa are arguably the most popular animated characters of the moment, due to their adorable looks and quirky personalities. From their large-scale exhibition at K11 Musea to their collaboration with McDonald’s, these animated characters have taken the city by storm.
If you’ve ever wanted to just chomp into Chiikawa and his friends due to cute aggression, well, the good news is you’ll soon be able to do just that, because we finally have an opening date and location for the Hong Kong debut of Japan’s massively popular Chiikawa Ramen Buta – a Chiikawa-themed ramen restaurant. August 16 is the big day, and fans of this charming fictional character have lots to look forward to.
Head to Langham Place in Mong Kok for the first overseas location of this beloved ramen restaurant, which takes inspiration from the Chiikawa manga to create an immersive dining experience lifted straight from the page. From life-size sculptures of Chiikawa, Hachiware, and Usagi to illustrations and decorative elements echoing the Chiikawa story, Chiikawa Ramen Buta Hong Kong has teamed up with local hospitality group Flames Concepts to allow diners to step into a whimsical world while noshing on authentic Japanese ramen. With 87 seats, this opening marks the largest Chiikawa Ramen Buta outlet in the world – larger even than the four branches in Japan!
Choose from three sizes – Chiikawa (mini), Hachiware (small), and Usagi (large) – for your ramen order. Each ramen bowl comes topped with chashu, garlic, and a character-shaped piece of fish cake. Plus, diners will receive a sticker of the character based on their bowl size. Chiikawa-themed merchandise will be up for grabs as well, so get ready to walk away with a bunch of goodies, ranging from ramen bowls, glassware, and face towels to apparel, stickers, and more. Bottled drinks can be taken home as souvenirs, and beverages also come with a randomised collectible transparent character card.
Unsurprisingly, the restaurant anticipates a high volume of customers for this exciting debut, so reservations are a must. Bookings for August 16 to September 15 are now open exclusively on KKDAY, and customers have to put down a ‘tea deposit’ by pre-purchasing one bottle of Black Oolong Tea to secure their admission to Chiikawa Ramen Buta – the drink can then be redeemed on the day of visit.
One reservation can accommodate up to four customers, but all members of the party must complete the pre-purchase requirement as well so their seats are secured. Successful bookings will receive an email confirmation, and do note that reservations are non-cancellable, non-refundable, and non-changeable, so best clear your calendar for this experience and arrive early to leave plenty of time for merch shopping and dish selection! Each customer is also required to make a minimum order of one ramen dish.
If you’ve missed out on the first round of reservations, keep your eyes peeled for the next round, which will be announced on the KKDAY event page and on @flamesconcepts’ social media. Chiikawa Ramen Buta Hong Kong does not accept walk-ins – good luck!
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