Ginza Kagari’s Tokyo store is often accompanied by snaking queues. Now, the popular ramen shop is coming to Adelaide with the chain’s second Australian store opening in the new Adelaide Central Market development.
When Makoto Iwata opened the first store in Tokyo in 2013, Ginza Kagari was a welcome anomaly serving its tori paitan ramen in what was – at the time – a pork tonkotsu-heavy scene. It earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2016 and 2017.
William Foo, an Adelaide-based ramen lover, visited the Japan store and was hooked from his first bowl.
“I first tried Ginza Kagari three years ago while travelling in Japan, and that bowl really stayed with me,” Foo told Broadsheet in February. “It wasn’t just rich, it was balanced and thoughtful. When I came back to Australia, I couldn’t stop thinking about it.”
In 2024, Foo and Iwata met to discuss bringing the brand to Australia and the first Australian store opened in Melbourne this February.
Ginza Kagari’s second Australian shop is joining the new vendors opening in Adelaide Central Market’s new expanded market hall as one of the first 16 vendors announced.
“Bringing Ginza Kagari to Adelaide is an exciting next chapter for us. Adelaide Central Market’s strong connection to food, culture and community makes it a natural home for the brand,” Foo said in a statement. “At the heart of Ginza Kagari is our signature broth, which will be imported directly from Japan to ensure guests in Adelaide experience the same depth of flavour and quality that defines our ramen in Japan.”
The soup base is produced in Japan using soft mountain spring water and fresh chicken that is processed within 24 hours. Like in the Melbourne shop, the base will be shipped from Japan under strict quality control.
Read more about the new Adelaide Central Market vendors.
Additional reporting by Harvard Wang.