Photograph supplied by Downtown Ramen

A new ramen noodle bar is set to open in Harrington Street, Cape Town, in early August 2014. Named Downtown Ramen, the new eatery is the latest venture by the folks behind Lefty’s, and will be located in the space upstairs from the dive bar.

Chef and co-owner Ryan McDonagh told Eat Out that the newly furbished wooden-clad hall will be doing a few different styles of the traditional Japanese broth-and-noodle dish (such as the shōyu ramen bowl they recently posted onto their Facebook page) and some sides and smalls to complement. “We’re also catering quite nicely for vegetarians/vegans and gluten-free customers,” says Ryan, promising more details once the menu has been finalised. “As far as booze goes, we’ll have the usual suspects, as well as some sake and a Japanese beer and whisky here and there.”

Downtown Ramen’s separate entrance from the street “up a shady little back-alley staircase” promises a venue as full of character as its cult-followed sibling, Lefty’s. “We’re very excited to have everyone down here slurping noodles,” Ryan says.

Eat Out will keep you posted with news and reviews in the next few weeks.