PORTSMOUTH — A new ramen-focused restaurant, The Ramen Club, opened its doors on Fleet Street this month, bringing Japanese noodle dishes and a curated cocktail menu to downtown Portsmouth. Founded by a team of five Thai-born restaurateurs, the eatery blends culinary research with graphic design and hospitality experience to serve both traditional and inventive dishes.
Co-owner Nuttaya Suriyayanyong said she was inspired to launch the venture following a three-week research trip to Japan in May, where she explored regional styles of ramen and cooking techniques. “As we learned, we found out that there is more and more that we did not know,” she said. The menu was developed after the team — Suriyayanyong, May Chok, Lee Meesamran, Ice Wongkieatkajorn and Jay Raksakul — studied ramen preparation independently in both Japan and Thailand.
The Ramen Club occupies the former site of The Franklin Oyster Bar, which closed in March after eight years in business. Suriyayanyong, who also co-owns 5 Thai Bistro and Bangkok Street Thai Kitchen in Portsmouth, and her partners secured the lease in April with plans to open by the fall. The group’s shared vision emphasized fun, flavorful food served in a creative, inviting space.
Their efforts culminated in a menu featuring classic Japanese ramen using house-made noodles. Offerings include Tonkotsu ramen, made with a pork-based broth simmered for eight hours and seasoned with black garlic, and Tori Paitan, a chicken ramen with red onion, scallions and a soft-cooked Ajitama egg. Other ramen varieties include Miso, Tantan, Shio, Shoyu and a vegetarian option.
Beyond noodles, the restaurant serves Yakitori skewers, pork katsu buns, rice bowls, and vegetable dishes such as avocado and cucumber salad, seaweed salad, crispy eggplant with garlic miso, and steamed edamame.
The Ramen Club plans to roll out a bar menu following the approval of its liquor license. Eight signature cocktails are in development with a nod to Japanese flavors, such as the matcha-based Lost in Koshi with Roku gin and the Kyoto Heat, mixed with vodka and wasabi. Other drinks include the Miyabi, a gin and apple cocktail with miso syrup, and the JR Line, a melon-forward drink with sake and Midori.
Owners Meesamran and Wongkieatkajorn, both former architects from Bangkok, contributed design elements to the restaurant. Meesamran created the restaurant’s logo—a playful Shiba Inu slurping noodles—along with wall graphics and a dining guide encouraging guests to eat their ramen while it is hot.
The Ramen Club officially opened to the public on Monday, November 3. Hours of operation are Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Fridays from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturdays from noon to 11 p.m.; and Sundays from noon to 9 p.m. The restaurant is closed on Wednesdays.
By focusing on quality, technique, and an inviting atmosphere, the owners hope The Ramen Club becomes a lasting addition to Portsmouth’s food scene while introducing customers to the layered experience of a well-made bowl of ramen.
