Japanese dual-concept ramen and handroll bar to open tomorrow in Soho

A two-floor Japanese restaurant concept opens tomorrow in Soho at the former La Bodega Negra site. Chef and founder Teddy Lee will bring both casual Japanese comfort food and premium handroll dining under one roof, with an entrance for each.

The development splits the 170-seat space across two distinct concepts. Maki & Ramen Soho is on the ground floor, accessible by the Old Compton Street entrance, while Maki Nori occupies the upper floor, entered from Moor Street. The redesign for the site incorporates warm wood finishes, neon accents and open counter-style seating, drawing on traditional Japanese ramen shop aesthetics with a more contemporary Soho sensibility.

Maki & Ramen Soho, downstairs, serves Japanese comfort food such as tonkotsu ramen, sushi rolls and chicken katsu curry, complemented by matcha drinks and a cocktail menu. The venue holds a late licence and is open daily from 11.30am until 1am, with the bar-led space accommodating late-night diners and drinkers throughout the evening.

Upstairs, Maki Nori centres on a 20-seat handroll counter in a 60-cover restaurant. The concept is built around what the group describes as a “15-second roll”, whereby chefs slice and assemble handrolls to order while diners watch. The menu features premium seafood including scallops, sea urchin and bluefin tuna. Maki Nori is open Sunday to Thursday from 11.30am till midnight, and on Fridays and Saturdays from 11.30am until 1am.

Lee said: “My approach to Japanese food has always been rooted in discipline, precision and respect for ingredients – values that were shaped early in my career and deepened during my training in Tokyo. With Maki Nori, we wanted to create a concept that puts those principles into a format that feels focused, energetic and accessible: premium seafood, handrolls made to order and an experience that lets guests see the craft up close. While Maki & Ramen introduced our broader take on Japanese comfort food, Maki Nori is much more specific in its focus, built around freshness, speed and the theatre of handroll dining in the heart of Soho.”

Food Desk

Maki & Ramen and Maki Nori Soho opens on 3^rd April 2026 at 9 Old Compton Street, London W1D 5JF. For further information, vist the group’s website here.