Imagine a world where eating ramen is an everyday ritual, like ordering pizza or going out for a great burger.

This is the daily reality that JINYA Ramen Bar founder Tomo Takahashi came from when he arrived in the United States in 2010. But when he searched for his favorite Japanese food, he quickly realized that enjoying the traditional taste and flavor of ramen wasn’t possible – unless he made it himself.

The son of a successful restaurateur in Japan, Tomo knew what it would take to build a great restaurant. His father had owned an Isakaya-style restaurant named Jinya, where he focused on three values: Delicious food at reasonable prices that’s accessible to all.

Wanting to revive his father’s dream, Tomo opened his first JINYA in Tokyo in 2000. Named for a Samurai soldier that was close to the community and owned a small property, JINYA was an appropriate name that embodied the ideals of Tomonori’s new restaurant. When he saw the need for authentic ramen in the United States, he decided to set up shop in California and continue his family’s legacy. JINYA Ramen Bar was born.