I never require a second invitation to visit a new ramen restaurant — although, in the case of Maki & Ramen, it turns out I actually did. I was invited to the opening party back in April and, somewhat regrettably, was unable to make it. So, a few weeks later, I did the only sensible thing: I turned up anyway for a belated opening party of my own. Well, fellow foodie, sometimes these things are worth the wait.
Maki & Ramen is something of a phenomenon north of the border. Founded in Edinburgh in 2015 by Teddy Lee — who trained at a sushi academy in Tokyo — the brand expanded steadily into Manchester, Leeds, Leicester, Sheffield, Newcastle, Aberdeen and beyond, amassing a loyal following along the way. Named Scotland’s Best Japanese Restaurant by Deliveroo in both 2024 and 2026, it arrives in London with serious credentials and, it must be said, serious ambition. The Soho site — at 9 Old Compton Street, in the former La Bodega Negra premises — is Maki & Ramen’s first standalone London restaurant: 110 covers, open until 1am, seven days a week. Read on to find out if the capital’s newest ramen destination lives up to the hype.
What’s in the Name?
Maki & Ramen does exactly what it says on the tin. Maki refers to maki rolls — those tightly rolled cylinders of sushi wrapped in nori — while ramen, I suspect, needs no introduction to anyone with a pulse and a healthy appetite. The name is, essentially, a love letter to two of Japan’s greatest culinary gifts to the world. Simple, effective, and rather appetising.
About Maki & Ramen
CEO Teddy Lee has made no secret of his London ambitions: “Soho is electric — it’s where food, drink and late nights collide, I agree. This is just the beginning of our London story.” On the evidence of our visit, he may well be right. Soho is Mayfair’s wild teenage sibling. True to the brand’s ethos of supporting local communities, Maki & Ramen will partner with The Felix Project in London, donating £1 from every ramen sold on selected days and times — a gesture that sits well with Soho’s neighbourhood spirit.
The Interior
Stepping inside, you are immediately struck by the energy of the place, it’s fun. The design draws inspiration from traditional Japanese ramen shops: natural wood finishes, warm lighting and neon accents give proceedings a faintly electric, after-dark feel. Booths upholstered in deep burgundy leather are cosy enough to linger in, and the open-plan layout keeps things lively without ever feeling cramped.
But the feature that will stop you in your tracks is the Post-it note wall. Or rather, walls. Every inch of the wooden slat dividers is covered — floor to ceiling — in a technicolour tapestry of sticky notes, each one left by a previous diner. Sketches, doodles, declarations of love for the tonkotsu, questionable jokes and tiny masterpieces of amateur portraiture. It is utterly charming, and very much in keeping with Maki & Ramen’s personality: fun, a little anarchic, and entirely unpretentious. The tradition stretches back to the brand’s Edinburgh roots, and at the Soho site, it is already well underway. I have added my own contribution — somewhere on a blue post-it. I’m not going to tell you what it says. You’ll have to go and find it yourself, good luck.
The Food
On to the main event. If you haven’t been to a ramen restaurant before, it’s, as the name suggests, all about the bowl — noodles submerged in rich, carefully crafted broth, topped with your choice of meat, fish or vegetables. It is, in every sense, a meal in a bowl. That said, the side dishes are very much worth exploring.
For my bowl, I went with their signature Black Garlic Tonkotsu — chashu (braised pork belly), crispy onions, spring onions, bamboo and wakame (dark seaweed), all swimming in a deeply fragrant broth. My guest opted for another classic: Steak Tataki — slices of rare steak, spring onion, bamboo, wakame and the obligatory soft-boiled egg.
We were hungry — no surprise there — so we also ordered chicken gyozas, tempura squid and dynamite prawns. Our waitress suggested the edamame beans too. How could we say no?
Both ramen bowls hit the spot. There is something remarkable about Japanese food — packed with flavour yet feeling so fresh and clean at the same time. The sides were all excellent: I can never resist a gyoza, and these were as good as any I’ve had. The tempura batter on the squid was light and crisp, and the squid cooked to perfection, which is not always the case with squid cookery. As for the dynamite prawns — the name says it all, though the heat was not that immediate, aggressive kind; rather, it crept up on you, leaving a warm, satisfying glow. They were very, very good.
Quick word on the drinks, cocktails and beers are the order of the day, we had two of their very own Japanese Makibiru beer, a refreshing lager that was a perfect complement for the food.
Trust me, our order was more than enough for two hungry people. It’s not hard to see why Maki & Ramen has built such a devoted following. This will not be my last visit.
Conclusion
What I love about Maki & Ramen is that it does not take itself seriously. But strip away the fun — the post-it notes, the neon, the general good-time energy — and at the heart of it, the food is very good. For a mid-range restaurant serving London for the first time, this is a strong debut. If Soho really is just the beginning of their central London story, the capital’s ramen lovers are in for quite a ride.
Where to Find Maki & Ramen Soho
Maki & Ramen Soho
9 Old Compton Street, Soho, London W1D 5JF
Open 7 days a week, 11:30am–1:00am
Nearest Stations:
Tottenham Court Road – Central and Elizabeth lines
Leicester Square – Northern and Piccadilly lines
