Ramenhead, the beloved Cape Town restaurant known for its slow-simmered bone broth and house-made noodles, is expanding its reach with a new location on Kloof Street. This move marks a significant shift for the FYN Group's casual Japanese eatery, which has quickly become a favorite among locals since its opening in 2022. The new venue, located at 75 Kloof Street, will feature a dedicated sushi counter, fire-cooked izakaya dishes, and a sake-and-cocktail courtyard bar, offering a more extensive dining experience than its previous Parliament Street location.
At the heart of this expansion is Chef Julia du Toit, a decade-long collaborator with Chef Peter Tempelhoff, who founded Ramenhead. Du Toit, who has worked with Tempelhoff at various restaurants, including Greenhouse and Beyond, will take the reins as executive chef and partner, bringing her expertise to the new venture. This partnership symbolizes a natural progression for the brand, as Tempelhoff and Du Toit share a similar vision for Ramenhead's future.
Tempelhoff, who is also the founder of FYN Group, has a unique culinary journey. His path to becoming one of South Africa's most acclaimed chefs began unconventionally. After working in construction and carpentry in the United States, he studied economics but ultimately found his calling in the kitchen. A trip to Japan further shaped his culinary voice, but he never aimed to replicate Japanese cooking techniques; instead, he wanted to let them speak through African ingredients.
The new Ramenhead location on Kloof Street is a perfect match for the restaurant's craft ethos, according to Tempelhoff. The street's fast, unpretentious energy aligns with Ramenhead's philosophy of serious craftsmanship without pretension. This expansion reflects the restaurant's commitment to its core values while offering a more expansive dining experience.
The FYN Group's success is evident in its other ventures, including FYN, an Afro-Japanese fine-dining restaurant, and Sushiya at Time Out Market at the V&A Waterfront, in partnership with Michelin-starred chef Shin Takagi. The group's ability to create unique dining experiences has put it on the global map, and the new Ramenhead location will undoubtedly continue this trend, offering a fresh and exciting culinary adventure to Cape Town's bustling dining scene.
