A taste of northern Japan arrives in Coorparoo at Pompoko Ramen

Before he moved to Australia 25 years ago, Koji Numata was in the ramen game. Prior to embarking on a career in architecture (and relocating to our sunny shores to start a family), Koji ran a ramen franchise from his home in northern Japan.

Twenty years later, he found himself making ramen once more, this time as part of the two-man team behind Gentlemen Noodle – a pop-up ramen restaurant operating in the Byron Bay hinterland.

From its inception in September 2020 to its closure last year, Gentlemen Noodle lured locals and noodle enthusiasts in droves to Coorabell Hall, where the team became famous for its bowls of umami-rich, fish-based broth.

“Ramen in Japan, each region has a different broth and different style – there’s such a variety,” explains Koji. “I come from the north of Japan, which has many fishing towns. A lot of them use dried fish in their ramen broth.”

When the pop-up closed, Koji decided to evolve the concept into something more permanent – a place for folks to get acquainted with the fish-based ramen variant, which is still a relatively uncommon sight across Brisbane.

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“When I eat ramen in Australia, most places serve a pork broth or sometimes chicken broth,” says Koji. “I wanted to introduce a different style to Australia, not only Brisbane – proper fish-broth ramen.”

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After scouting around town, Koji snagged a bricks-and-mortar space (formerly home to Maude, just up the road from Snug) on Eva Street in Coorparoo. Putting his architecture skills to use, Koji has transformed the site into Pompoko Ramen – a restaurant and bar presenting a menu designed to nourish body and soul.

The space has been given a makeover, with a large mural (applied by Koji’s daughter) and old timbers that give the venue a lived-in warmth. The two-tiered space is equipped with a bar and small seating area near the entrance (including a strip of counter seats) and a larger dining space at the rear.

Pompoko Ramen’s menu is succinct but packed with quality. Maintaining Gentlemen Noodle’s culinary philosophy – which prioritises balance, comfort and respect for ingredients – Koji has fashioned an offering that is honest, thoughtful and made from scratch.

It all starts with Pompoko’s signature ramen, which is built around the kaeshi (a base ingredient for soups) – a mixture made using a combination of dried fish, kombu, dried shiitake mushrooms and vegetables. The broth is made over a 36-hour period, with Koji utilising traditional cooking methods to extract umami and craft a depth of flavour. The broth is then enhanced by the addition of shoyu, chashu pork, menma (bamboo shoot), egg, bean sprouts, shallots and nori.

“We start making the broth the day before,” Koji reveals. “We then start to cook four hours before opening time.”

Pompoko’s fish broth also forms the foundation for its miso, spicy miso and yuzu shio ramen. There’s also a vegetarian ramen (boasting its own special broth crafted from kombu, beans, house-dried mushrooms and seasonal vegetables) and a chicken-chintan ramen – a dinner-only exclusive with a lighter, clear broth.

Koji is sourcing his ramen noodles from Rocklea’s Noodle Farmers, with fresh noodles crafted daily to his specifications. Guests are able to build their own bowl too – with shoyu, miso and shio broth options upgraded with their choice of toppings.

For sides, Pompoko Ramen is serving house-made gyoza (both pork and vegetarian varieties), edamame and teriyaki chicken and tofu.

On the drinks front, Koji has stocked Pompoko’s bar with eight kinds of sake (including fruit-flavoured sakes), shochu, wine and beer (the Okinawa-born brand Orion is on tap), with plans to add a cocktail selection in the near future.

Now with a permanent home, Koji is excited to turn Pompoko Ramen into an all-are-welcome space – not just to enjoy great food but other aspects of Japanese culture as well.

“I want people to enjoy our food, but also I want them to enjoy the space as well,” says Koji. “It’s a total design, so I want to connect it to fashion or music, everything that is important, served together.”

Pompoko Ramen is now open to the public – head to The Directory for operating hours and contact details.