ARIDO Award: Misoya Ramen Shop
Misoya Ramen, a culinary time capsule spanning 552 square feet, opened within CIBC Square's upscale food hall in Toronto's financial district. This intimate eatery seats 13 patrons, offering an authentic Japanese dining experience.
Category: SHOP
Interior Designers: Tracy Ho, ARIDO; Joanne Chan, ARIDO; Glenn Cheng, ARIDO
Design Firm: SDI Design
Photographer: Mike Black
The design strategy aimed to authentically capture the essence of Japanese culinary artistry, specifically
focusing on the traditional Ramen shop experience.
The design brief centered on ambitious directives: transporting guests to Japan's Edo Era, ensuring accessibility and respect for all diners, creating a scalable kiosk prototype for future expansion, and championing sustainability while nurturing culinary talent. These pillars formed a strategy transforming the modest space into a portal to Japan's rich culinary heritage.
Our design solution for this Ramen shop effectively addresses the client’s goals and objectives through various strategic choices and features. It was important to provide cultural immersion through integration of environmental graphics to detail the ramen shop experience, alongside the use of iconic Japanese elements such as the "Noren" fabric divider (traditional Japanese fabric dividers hung between rooms, on walls, in doorways, or in windows) and authentic Japanese uniforms. The wood countertop further enhances the ambiance and provides a tactile connection to Japanese craftsmanship.
Creating an engaging dining experience was another of our client's objectives, achieved through the strategic placement of the ‘wok’ that ensures guests have optimal sightlines to the captivating "fire show" during food preparation. This aligns with the tradition of open kitchen designs in Japanese ramen shops, enhancing transparency and authenticity while offering a dynamic dining experience.
The design of the dining counter considers accessibility requirements, ensuring all patrons can enjoy the ramen experience without feeling excluded or singled out, promoting a welcoming and inclusive environment.
The overall design aesthetic of Misoya Ramen transcends trends, providing a sustainable long-term investment, as shown through the material selection such as the roof cladding, wood and the Japanese artisan-style tiles.
Our design solution accommodates both dine-in and take-away options, offering versatility for various settings such as standalone kiosks or within food court environments; maximizing operational flexibility and overall customer convenience.
By blending cultural authenticity with modern values of inclusivity and sustainability, Misoya Ramen aims to provide an unparalleled dining experience that honors tradition while embracing contemporary ideals.
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