New ramen restaurant to replace Wild Ginger in the Highlands. Here's what to know
Wild Ginger Sushi Bistro, an Asian fusion restaurant in Deer Park, has permanently closed and will be replaced by Kiwami Ramen, which is expected to open sometime this winter.
Duy Tran, Kiwami's managing partner, said Wild Ginger closed in May 2023 after the restaurant's owner retired.
Tran told the Courier Journal via email he decided on the Bardstown Road location because he and his brother, Duc Tran, wanted the ramen restaurant to be situated in the heart of Louisville, making it a centralized spot easily accessible for everyone in the city. The location will allow him and his team to "share (their) authentic Japanese ramen experience with the entire community," he said.
The Tran brothers, Louisville natives, teamed up with chef Ame Tani, who has made ramen for over 20 years and runs successful Japanese restaurants in Japan and New York.
"The Louisville food scene has grown so much, and we love to be a part of something that adds to that," Tran said. "We want to bring culture and experiences to our customers."
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Customers will find a variety of ramen dishes including Tonkotsu, Spicy Curry Tonkotsu, Miso, Shoyu, or soy sauce, and Tsukemen selections. Additionally, a vegan-friendly ramen base broth will be available with kale noodles. However, people will find more than ramen, as appetizers like Chicken Karage, Grilled BBQ Squid and Salmon Carpaccio will be served in addition to bowls with tuna, char sui, beef and salmon poke flavors.
Each ramen broth will be slow-cooked for over 20 hours until deemed perfect, Tran told the Courier Journal, and the menu's price point will range between $13 and $15. Japanese beers and a selection of sake, a traditional Japanese rice wine, will also be available, along with other non-alcoholic drinks.
Tran said the Kiwami Ramen team will be transforming the Bardstown Road location into a "new and inviting space."
"Our aim is to create an atmosphere that transports our customers to Japan, where they can gather and enjoy cocktails, beers and ramen, all within a modern Japanese architectural design," he said.
Tran said after Kiwami Ramen opens, the team hopes to expand and bring more diverse, exciting dining experiences to Louisville.
"We are incredibly excited to share our passion for authentic, Japanese ramen with the Louisville community," Tran told the Courier Journal. "Our team, led by Master Chef Tani, has put a lot of effort into crafting a menu that we believe will delight our customers. We look forward to welcoming everyone to Kiwami Ramen and hope they will have an unforgettable dining experience with us."
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Kiwami Ramen, which also has an outdoor patio, will be open Sunday through Thursday, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Features reporter Leah Hunter can be reached via email at lhunter@gannett.com or on Twitter @theleahhunter.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kiwami Ramen restaurant to open in the Highlands winter 2023
