The World’s First Michelin-Starred Ramen Restaurant Sets Its SF Opening Date

A ramen restaurant with Michelin Guide bona fides will soon join the never-quite-fully-saturated Bay Area ramen scene. Tsuta’s original Tokyo location earned a Michelin star in 2016, and will open its first US location in the Metreon next month, a project in the works since last summer. The first night of service is October 20, according to a representative for the business.

On opening day, and every day after, the new Tsuta will serve 300 bowls maximum of its ramen: That’s double the number of bowls customers can get per day at Tsuta’s original nine-seat establishment. The Metreon outpost, of course, is also quite a bit larger, with 50 seats across 2,400 square feet.

As in Tokyo, the Metreon Tsuta will serve chef Yuki Onishi’s signature shoyu soba, made with black truffle oil, and two other options: shio, a chicken-seafood stock blend with white truffle oil, and a miso version with thicker noodles. The whole menu is below.

The fact that the Bay Area has become something of a proving ground for Japanese ramen businesses expanding stateside — see the new Taishoken in San Mateo — didn’t deter Tsuta, but instead encouraged chef Onishi. “There are many delicious, noteworthy ramen shops in the Bay Area, so I felt that this was the natural choice for our first U.S. eatery,” Onishi said according to a press release. “I’m inspired by the local culinary talent and the energy of this city.”

Chef Onishi has already expanded to Singapore, and more U.S. locations could be next: LA, Seattle, and Portland Tsuta locations are reportedly on the horizon. Stay tuned for more as Tsuta’s big SF debut draws near. Hours starting October 20 will be 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., with last orders to be placed by 9:30 p.m.

• Tokyo’s First Michelin-Starred Ramen Restaurant Expected to Open in SF [ESF]