“The Daikaya Group is the first non-Japanese and American ramen shop ever to be invited to participate in this high-profile ramen pop-up in Japan.”

Courtesy Daikaya Group

This is awesome – represent!!

Ed. Note: PR Peeps if you send me anything that has the remotest connection to the Beastie Boys, I will post it. RIP MCA. Side Note: Here’s a Beastie Boys | Sabotage | Sesame Street Mashup and here’s an earlier, and even better one of Beastie Boys | So What’cha Want | Muppets Version.

From a press release:

“Open to the public, and beginning this month and lasting for three full months through late September 2017, critically-acclaimed Daikaya Group including Daikaya Ramen and Izakaya, Bantam King, and Haikan in Washington DC from partners Katsuya Fukushima, Yama Jewayni, and Daisuke Utagawa will be taking up residence at one of the most celebrated ramen pop-up venues located in Hokkaido, Japan. The Daikaya Group is the first non-Japanese and American ramen shop ever to be invited to participate in this high-profile ramen pop-up in Japan. The ramen pop-up space is located within the Pole Star Shopping Center; Japan, Yubinbango041-0821 Hokkaidō, Hakodate-shi, Minatochō, 1 Chome-2; 1 +81 138-62-7300.

The Daikaya Group was personally invited to participate and to be featured at this prestigious ramen pop-up space by Sapporo-based noodle master Takashi Nishiyama of Nishiyama Seimen Co. LTD, who also supplies the award-winning restaurant group with exclusive noodles and tare’s for each of their eateries in Washington, DC. Executive Chef Katsuya Fukushima and team will be offering up an assortment of their signature Sapporo-style ramen (Daikaya & Haikan) and Japanese chicken ramen (Bantam King) at the ramen pop-up, and will also eventually be debuting a creative line-up of ramen options with American twists via weekly ramen specials including French Onion Soup Ramen, New England Clam Chowder Ramen, and a Yuzu Foam Ramen. After Chef Fukushima and team have had a chance to settle into their temporary three-month venue and experience in Hokkaido – which also happens to be known for their world-class seafood including uni, squid, scallops, ikura, king and hairy crab, hokke, and more – there’s a chance some of these hyper local ingredients might also be making their way into some of the new ramen options and menu items created by the team.

“When we were first approached by Nishiyama-san about doing the ramen pop-up in Hokkaido, Japan, we immediately said yes out of excitement and were so very honored, but that instant confirmation quickly evolved into a bit of nervousness realizing that as a result of accepting this once in a lifetime opportunity, that our ramen would now be judged by scores of ramen-loving Japanese people and literally within a well known ramen mecca – Hokkaido”, said Daikaya Group partner Daisuke Utagawa. “We truly pride ourselves in serving authentic ramen, and this is the ultimate test. We have many Japanese customers in our DC stores who support us because we remind them of Japan, but that’s in DC context, so doing ramen in Japan and being accepted is a whole another thing and we are truly looking forward to this rewarding challenge, while also sharing a touch of Daikaya’s edge and vibe with the lovely people of Japan. In addition, this is going to be a fantastic opportunity for Chef Fukushima and members of our back of the house team to truly experience Japan and become inspired by their time in one of the country’s most celebrated ramen mecca’s.”

In true Daikaya style, the ramen pop-up space is decorated with Daikaya kitty, a Michael Jordan poster, a giant poster of The Notorious B.I.G., the Beastie Boys, a rainbow flag, and more. Each month the ramen pop-up starts on the first of the month and ends on the 25th, unless the 25th lands on Saturday or Sunday, then, Sunday is the last day. The ramen pop-up will be completely open to the public 7 days a week from 11:00 to 20:00 with the last order at 19:30. Executive Chef Katsuya Fukushima is the starting chef, and the pop-up will feature rotating chefs from each Daikaya restaurant – Daikaya, Bantam King, and Haikan – moving forward. The idea is for all of Daikaya Group’s chefs and sous chefs to go there.”