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Manila Bulletin devider Lifestyle devider Food devider Yuki Onishi, founder of Michelin-starred ramen restaurant Tsuta, passed away

Yuki Onishi, founder of Michelin-starred ramen restaurant Tsuta, passed away

Published Sep 25, 2022 04:45 pm

Japanese Soba Noodles Tsuta is the first ramen restaurant to get a Michelin star

Yuki Onishi, the global executive chef and director of beloved ramen shop Tsuta, passed away at the age of 43. News about his demise was confirmed by the company through a tribute posted on social media.

Yuki Onishi and his well-loved Miso Soba (Photos from Tsuta website and @tsutaphilippines on Instagram)

“He was a meticulous and talented chef who enhanced the popularity of ramen across borders beyond Japan,” the post read. “While mourning with his relatives and friends, Tsuta staff worldwide will strive to continue his legacy.”

Growing up in a family that ran a ramen shop, it was natural for Onishi to take the same path. While he spent time working in the fashion industry, he returned to his family's roots and put up a business with the mission of “making ramen a world-class noodle dish that Japan can boast of.”

In 2012, Onishi established Japanese Soba Noodles Tsuta, simply called Tsuta, in Tokyo’s Sugamo district. Its name was hailed from a design of the family crest of the Onishi Family. What started out as a nine-seater restaurant, Tsuta became the hotspot for the best ramen in 2016 after becoming the first ramen restaurant to gain a Michelin star.

What diners love about the restaurant are its signature dishes like soya sauce ramen with a chicken and seafood dashi (stock) base infused with black truffle oil and the salt ramen paired with pork and egg.

“Mr. Onishi is particular about quality rather than type of ramen, and he is proud of it,” the company tells Forbes Japan. “At Tsuta, we aim to offer our customers the most historical yet simplest flavor of our ramen, so we focus on two ramens: soy sauce soba and salt soba. The first ramen in Japan was soy sauce flavored.”

Since then, Tsuta has launched stores in different countries such as Singapore, Hong Kong, and the US. The brand also made its way to the Philippines, opening its first store in Bonifacio Global City, with the help of Foodee Global Concepts. The local store also offered the Sang La Tan Tan soba, which is inspired by Philippine flavors.

“Chef Yuki dedicated his life in pursuit of ramen excellence, as he constantly thought of ways to improve the taste of his ramen. I remember him telling me that his aim was always to create the one and only original taste that differentiates him from the rest,” Brian Chua, chief executive of Tsuta Global, said to The Sunday Times. “Our team is focused on preserving Chef Yuki’s legacy, serving his signature ramen to the world.”

Rest in peace, Chef Yuki.

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