Satori Ramen Bar
About Satori Ramen Bar:
Born and raised in Japan and a chef trained in traditional Japanese culinary arts, Satori Ramen Bar founder Seigo Nishimura is proud to bring the nostalgic, comforting flavors of his childhood and lesser known, innovative Japanese dishes to central Ohio, the North Market and Convention Center visitors from around the world. Satori Ramen Bar offers an extensive ramen menu ranging from creamy pork broth Tonkotsu and lighter soy sauce- and fish-based Shoyu ramen to brothless, vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free options. Satori also has a Japanese curry rice bowl served with chicken or tofu, chashu-don braised pork belly rice bowl, and a variety of small plates, including kara-age fried chicken, gyoza dumplings, onigiri rice balls, and edamame. Whether you enjoy your meal at its 12-seat counter to see the team in action or you get a take-home kit with uncooked noodles to make fresh later, you’ll certainly enjoy the labor of love that is Satori Ramen Bar.
How did the idea come about?
When he came to Columbus, Seigo originally was looking to open a sushi bar, building on his experience at the Tokyo Sushi Academy and as a sous chef and sushi chef at a Michelin-starred restaurant in New York’s East Village. He soon began to really miss the ramen that he grew up with in western Tokyo, but found nowhere in Columbus offering the ramen styles he craved. . . So, he pivoted. Seigo began developing ramen recipes after work on an industrial-sized propane grill in the backyard and taste-testing with an eager group of family and friends. As this was his first restaurant, he knew right away that North Market’s success as a small business incubator and tight-knit community was the way to go. He gathered inspiration from traditional Japanese architecture to design a stall featuring simplicity and natural wood, created a logo based on his family crest, and even hand-carved the live-edge sign that hangs above the counter.
What’s your favorite thing about being a part of the North Market?
“It’s the place to be whether you’re visiting Columbus or live here,” Seigo says. The North Market offers a tight-knit food community in an iconic location that has been around almost as long as the city itself. This, along with the proximity to the Convention Center, is just one of the many reasons Seigo loves being a part of the North Market. He has also enjoyed being able to learn about different cuisines from around the world while building relationships with fellow North Market merchants, even sharing a commissary kitchen with one. The sense of community North Market provides for merchants and customers is unlike anywhere else. It’s a very welcoming and supportive place to be. Instead of borrowing a cup of sugar from a neighbor, it’s usually a roll of pennies or pack of to-go bags on an unexpectedly busy day, but the mutual support among the merchants is what drew Seigo to the North Market and has kept him here ever since.
What are MUST ORDER items on the menu?
- Shoyu & Miso Ramen
- Onigiri-rice balls- Seigo’s go-to snack (only available on weekends)
Story of Satori Ramen Bar:
Seigo is a food visionary and chef with skills rooted deeply in Japanese tradition. He is a chef trained in traditional Japanese cuisine and graduated from the Tokyo Sushi Academy in 2013. Following his graduation Seigo found himself in New York’s East Village working in a Michelin Star rated restaurant as a sushi chef and sous chef. In 2016, he made his way to Columbus, Ohio intending to open a sushi restaurant, but, realizing there was nowhere offering the ramen styles he craved, he seized the opportunity to create new demand. Seigo pitched his idea to North Market’s board, showing painstakingly researched market gaps, thoroughly researched financial projections, and serving a few menu items. Despite the very small, quickly extinguished fire that occurred when a plastic container scooted too close to a portable burner, the meeting was a resounding success. One of the board members even pockets the leftover Japanese chimichurri-style dipping sauce for the kara-age fried chicken.
Satori started off with a bang – literally. The day before the grand opening a transformer blew at the North Market and there was no power market-wide. Contractors had to dig up the floor and replace the transformer, which took until 2 am. Seigo and the team then worked through the night to replace ingredients lost without refrigeration. To compound the issue, the annual ComFest was also that weekend, driving even more demand. With limited inventory and lines winding through the market, Satori sold out in just an hour and a half..
Despite considerable hiccups, the team persevered, going on to break the North Market record for a merchant’s opening month and continuing to be the top seller at the Market every month until North Market shut down temporarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Make sure to stop by Satori for good food and good company.
Special thanks to videographer Matchbox Ltd!
Phone:
(614) 914-8799
Website:
Merchant's operating hours:
Sunday & Monday: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday - Friday: 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
