Is it “normal” to have one bowl of ramen per person? Restaurant owner criticizes couple who share “Jiro-style” ramen, sparking controversy online | encount 2024.12.19 Author: encount editorial department/cross media team A popular Jiro-style ramen restaurant has made its trouble with a customer public on social media, sparking controversy. A couple of customers came to the restaurant but only ordered one bowl of ramen, and the restaurant staff got into an argument, saying, “Adults are limited to one bowl per person,” and “It’s a reasonable request.” What on earth happened? We spoke to the owner of Menya Kiriryu Higashi Kawaguchi Main Branch, located in Kawaguchi City, Saitama, to learn more about the restaurant. A popular Jiro-style ramen shop has sparked controversy after a dispute with a customer was made public on social media after two customers came to the shop and asked for one bowl of ramen, leading to an argument when the shop asked adults to limit it to one bowl per person. A couple of customers came to the restaurant but only ordered one bowl of ramen, and the restaurant staff got into an argument, saying, “Adults are limited to one bowl per person,” and “It’s a reasonable request.” What on earth happened? We spoke to the owner of Menya Kiriryu Higashi Kawaguchi Main Branch, located in Kawaguchi City, Saitama, to learn more about the restaurant. “The couple in their 30s who came in earlier at 1:41pm will be ordering one drink per adult. I was upset that this simple request was not heard. We do not offer refunds, but they did not listen to my request and just gave me a refund and sent me home. You don’t need to come to the store again.” A post on the store’s official SNS on the 18th of this month detailed the exchange with a couple who visited at lunchtime. In the series of posts, the customer mentioned the names of former employees and appeared to pressure them with comments such as, “You could do it at ____ time,” but added, “We’ve never been able to do it until now. We appreciate your understanding. It seems like you’ve visited us many times, but it’s okay if you don’t come again. It has also been captured on camera and can be confirmed. I apologize to the customers who were present at the time for any discomfort caused.” (Omitted) The owner of the ramen shop told Encount, “We are a Jiro-style restaurant with only a counter, so turnover is key. The mini ramen costs 890 yen, but contains far more noodles and meat than you would get at a regular restaurant, and it’s served buffet-style, with additional toppings available for free. We offer free ramen to elementary school students, but for adults, one bowl per person is the norm,” he explained. The customer who caused the trouble said, “I just ate, so I’m not hungry,” and only purchased a ticket for one bowl.In the end, the restaurant refunded the amount of the ticket and asked him to leave without serving him any ramen. “I knew the names of some of the employees who worked part-time there as high school students about 10 years ago, so I think they were customers who had been coming for a long time, but I have never served multiple people one bowl of ramen. “I don’t know if they wanted to look cool in front of the girls this time, but as long as they order one drink each, I don’t mind if they come again.” (Omitted) *See source for full text.
Why would a ramen shop in Saitama want to post such irrelevant things on social media? Is it something that should just be discussed between the people involved and spread on social media?
A couple I saw recently were sharing the dumplings they had bought. Three dumplings on one skewer. They were freshly baked, delicious looking dumplings, so I was jealous of the woman who got to try them.
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