Maki & Ramen to open flagship Soho restaurant, bringing late-night Japanese dining to London

Maki & Ramen, a UK-based Japanese restaurant group, will open its first permanent London location in Soho on the 6^th of March. The new restaurant will occupy the former La Bodega Negra site at 9 Old Compton Street, offering a mid-range Japanese dining experience in the heart of the capital. The launch marks a significant step in the brand’s expansion across the UK, following openings in cities including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, and a recent franchise at The O2 Arena in London.

Founded in Edinburgh in 2015 by Teddy Lee, Maki & Ramen has grown to operate multiple sites across England and Scotland. The Soho branch will seat 110 diners and is designed to reflect the area’s vibrant nightlife, with interiors inspired by traditional Japanese ramen shops but featuring contemporary details such as natural wood finishes, neon signage, and Japanese-inspired décor.

The menu at Maki & Ramen Soho will include a range of Japanese dishes, catering to vegetarian, vegan, and halal diets. Popular items from the chain’s existing restaurants, such as Black Garlic Tonkotsu Ramen, Hell Ramen, Halal Steak Tataki Ramen, Salmon Teriyaki Roll, and Chicken Katsu Curry, will be available. The drinks offering will comprise both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options, including Japanese beers, tea-based cocktails, and exclusive soft drinks such as XOXO Drinks’ custom sodas.

The Soho restaurant will also feature a late-night bar in the basement, reviving the downstairs area of the former La Bodega Negra. The bar, which will operate under a 1am alcohol licence, is aimed at Soho’s nightlife scene and will serve a curated selection of drinks, including cocktails like Cherry Blossom, Japanese Elixir, and Hanami. The menu will also present Geisha’s Kiss, the most immersive cocktail on the list, combining rich colour and theatrical smoke adding a sense of spectacle to the drinking experience.

Teddy Lee, CEO of Maki & Ramen, commented: “We’ve been preparing for a London opening for a long time, and finally bringing Maki & Ramen to Soho feels incredibly special. Soho is electric – it’s where food, drink and late nights collide. Our Soho site has its own energy, designed for long dinners that turn into late nights. This is just the beginning of our London story, and we’re so excited to bring Maki & Ramen to even more neighbourhoods across the city very soon.”

Maki & Ramen has received several accolades, including being named Scotland’s Best Japanese Restaurant by Deliveroo in 2024 and 2026. The company is also involved in charitable initiatives, partnering with local organisations in each city. In London, Maki & Ramen will work with The Felix Project, donating £1 from every ramen sold on selected days and times.

To mark the opening, the restaurant will offer £5 ramen to the first 100 customers between the 6^th and the 8^th March. 

Food Desk

For further information and reservations, visit Maki&Ramen’s website here.