A restaurant that helped kick off San Antonio’s mid-2010s ramen obsession is unexpectedly saying goodbye. Nama Ramen X Sushiya announced that it would close at the end of September, should supplies last, ending its 10-year run.
Owner Kevin Chu took to Instagram to share the news, saying the decision was not “made easily or with a light heart.” Chu, who also owns popular ice cream spot Kuma, declined to give further reasoning.
“This little concept has given me so many opportunities in life,” Chu wrote. “It’s time to close this chapter and enter a new. I struggle to find words to express my gratitude to all the guests that have support my dreams and goals this past decade.”
Chu, then only 24, opened Nama Ramen in 2015 at 6565 Babcock Rd, borrowing dish names from pop culture properties from Star Wars to Kill Bill. The tiny 10-seat dining room was not dissimilar to the Yokocho ramen-yas found on Tokyo side streets.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the restaurant became takeout only and later reemerged in 2021 at a larger space down the road at 6526 Babcock Rd. It remained focused on Japanese street food, serving karaage and okonomiyaki fries along with the ramen.
Since the 2010s, ramen has become more common in San Antonio, and the dish has shifted from being a fad to a food staple. Over its decade run, Nama saw increased competition from homegrown restaurants like Kimura and national chains like JINYA Ramen Bar and Yippon Ramen.
Despite the upcoming closure, Chu promised that he was not done with the San Antonio dining scene. Kuma remains popular, and he teased that his entrepreneurial spirit had not been dampened.
“Nama is coming to an end, but I promise this isn’t the last y’all will hear from me,” Chu wrote.