Review: Dining at Tonkotsu, Cardiff

Read more about the author: Helen

I visited Tonkotsu Ramen Bar with the school-mum crew to try out its signature dish - tonkotsu ramen. This successful London-based chain recently extended to the Welsh Capital and sits in a prime spot on Cardiff’s High Street. 

Tonkotsu is a rich, milky-white Japanese pork broth that’s the base for tonkotsu ramen. It’s a labour of love - pork bones are simmered for hours to break down the marrow and collagen, which makes the broth rich and white. 

Tonkotsu is also a small chain of around 20 restaurants, mainly in London, that specialises in ramen. Founded by friends Ken Yamada and Emma Reynolds in 2012, it’s managed to hold on to its independent spirit, slow-cooking its ramen broths from scratch and making its own fresh noodles every day. Tonkotsu Cardiff is the pair’s fourth restaurant outside of the British capital. 

Tonkotsu Cardiff

Tonkotsu Cariff is in a super, central location on High Street, not far from Cardiff Castle. It was bright and light inside on a sunny May evening, which made the colourful wall mural pop. Couples cosied up in the small, open booths, and friends chatted along the long, padded dining benches in the front. Our table was tucked in the back, alongside the open kitchen area, which was half-hidden by minimalist shelves lined with empty sake bottles. 

The staff were friendly without being pushy - happy to make recommendations, and explain the intricacies of each dish to the uninitiated (or indecisive). And they were super patient with our table of ten as we caught up on exam-day stress stories and plans post-revision misery. The team were somehow always there when you needed them, but we never once felt rushed. 

Small plates to start

Before we went full-ramen, we piled up the small plates to share. At this early stage, I could’ve skipped the main event in favour of a plate of succulent but crispy deep-fried chicken kara-age with a side of zingy rainbow salad. Or perhaps the chilli cauliflower wings (spicy, but not too spicy) and a whole dish of the crispy squid to myself. But the best thing about being in a big group is being able to try so many things. The homemade gyoza were glorious too, dipped into Tonkotsu’s own chilli oil.  

The proof is in the ramen

Ten bowls of steaming hot ramen were served in quick succession - each with noodles cooked for exactly 32 seconds (according to the website). These chefs must work fast. It was an impressive turnout, and there’s no waiting around while everyone else tucks in (as can be the case elsewhere!)

My steaming bowl of chilli king prawn tonkotsu came with delicate slices of melt-in-the-mouth pork belly and 1/2 an egg with a jammy, tangerine-coloured yolk. It was a decent-sized portion - I only learnt afterwards that you can opt for a smaller bowl (note to self, if you want to leave space for all those delicious sides next time). 

The tonkotsu broth was rich but not heavy, and the prawns were not overly spicy (there’s always plenty of chilli oil on the table, if you need an extra kick). The whole dish was quite delicate but delicious, without being overpowering.  

There are a lot of pork dishes on the menu, but there are chicken and vegan options, too. The special lemon chicken ramen was a hit - with chicken broth and crispy, fried chicken. And the chilli tofu, with a konbu and shiitake broth, was tasty and warming.

What else is on the menu?

As well as ramen, Tonkotsu does katsu curries, colourful rainbow salads (the crispy squid rainbow salad is on my radar for a light bite next time), and summer’s answer to ramen - hiyashi noodle salads. For kids, you can order a bento box with all the ramen staples, so they can put it together themselves, or a mini katsu curry. 

The deserts are limited, but we were so full no one noticed. 

The food is reasonably priced for the portion size - £14-19 for a regular ramen, less if you ask for a small portion. And the set lunch menu looks like a steal - £10.50 for a smaller, lunch-sized ramen or hiyashi noodle salad, plus a small side. 

It’s a great addition to Cardiff’s dining scene, filling the ramen gap between Matsudai’s authentic, local vibes in Grangetown and Wagamama's convenience. 

If you’re visiting with a big group, it’s best to book. But they do keep tables for walk-ins, too.