Matsudai Ramen in Cardiff

We were so happy to have finally visited here. We first heard of the restaurant because of Uncle Roger and have been ordering the meal kits as a result. The food in the restaurant didn't disappoint. The meals arrived pretty quickly and were delicious. Can't wait to go back again when we're next in Cardiff.

Fantastic Ramen as always! Tried the crispy rice, from the specials board and it was lovely! The curry dip that comes with the Chicken Karaage is to die for! Wish I could buy it!

The decor and layout would appeal to hipsters who have got used to years of overpriced avocados on sour dough so I think I know where their target audience lie. Don’t get me wrong the food is great, just pricy. Service was ok, let down somewhat by when we asked for the bill. After 10 minutes it hadn’t arrived and only then did we notice our waitress sat at the counter happily eating a ramen, texting on her phone. Hipsters would approve, I didn’t so much.

After hearing great things about this place wanted to give it a try. I was apprehensive as not usually the biggest fan of broth based noodles I used to find they got a bit boring after a while. Matsudai changed my view of this completely. Wonderfully decorated with rich, deliciously warming bowls of ramen and the snacks are almost a meal unto themselves. Went as a party of 4 and I opted for the pork belly burnt ends rice bowl as a side, my wife had the fried mushrooms. After eating here I was on a ramen high for the whole night. Fantastic price as well for the amount of food you get. I am already trying to find an excuse to return.

Father's Day, and in we come, a boisterous,happy family group of 15, including children ranged in age from 3 to 11, waiting to be fed. The good staff at Matsudai Ramen didn't turn a hair; we were welcomed, seated and watered in a truce, and then helped to choose our various meals. Bowls of ramen arrived, rich and filling, rice came along, sticky and satisfying, and tasty pickles and wontons helped things along wonderfully. This is a place where the surroundings are very straightforward and where good food and good conversation can be shared. Definitely recommended.

Pretty bad experience tbh - The kits I ordered never arrived, and the restaurant sent out 2 replacements without bothering to check what the original order was. The eggs were missing - I got a refund for the eggs after asking - but if i wanted the money vs no eggs I wouldn't have ordered the eggs! So I ended up without what I ordered. The quality I found to be poor - a couple of slices of pork, VERY salty noodles.

Dinner with friends. Before going I thought it was going to be like wagamama. But it wasn’t nice to have your own table. There is a limited menu but all of us enjoyed our food. The sweet was like a creme brulee made with pistachio and creamy without too much sugar.

I had a great meal at Matsudai about a year ago, so was excited to come again. Straight away was disappointed by the lack of options on the menu- I really like a small menu but there was no choice of meat for a ramen dish this time. I ordered the pork ramen and my husband ordered the ‘soup-less ramen’ (which isn’t ramen!!) - he had to because he doesn’t like pork. Both were bland. My ramen dish had no vegetables, just two slices of meat, noodles and an egg. Noodles in both dishes were under cooked. The snacks we ordered were much better- but as a ramen restaurant and for the price- this should have been much, much better.

Ate at 9pm on a Saturday night. Was a great atmosphere, busy but not overbearingly so. Ordered the two mains, both were delicious. We almost regretted ordering the side of pork.belly as the mains.are so big. However, that was also delicious. Service was also excellent so.thank you Declan.

The food for the most part was lovely which don’t get me wrong, is why we went however, the service we had from our host was horrific. While I was still eating one of the dishes the server asked if she could take plates - making me feel like an inconvenience (which isn’t great considering we payed good money for the food as it is a little on the pricey side). On top of this when my partner wanted another drink the response wasn’t great - it was like the host had to go out of their way to put it through. I had ordered a matcha crème brûlée (I love both matcha and crème brûlée) but the sugar on top was burned rather than caramelised - I understand it’s probably more difficult to get right due to the darker colour of the crème but was a bit disappointing. We had to wait ages to get the bill (I had to end up getting up to ask another server for it because our host had her eyes to the floor when clearing tables etc so was really difficult to try and get their attention). The rest of the food we had was great (besides the server assuming it was okay to take dishes before i was done). Just a real shame the server seemed a bit cold and stand off-ish towards us :( really wanted to enjoy the experience as we travelled just to eat here and had it planned for a while! Food: Karaage Chicke Mini Chashu Don x2 Miso Tonkotsu Gyokai Matcha Crème Brûlée Drinks: x1 Double Roku gin with lemonade x2 Asahi's

So disappointing. We really wanted to love this place but the food was not as good as it should have been. Very small portions of meat in the ramen bowls. If you’re only going to serve a small selection of dishes then they should be outstanding. This is not the case. Lack of depth to the broth too.

A promising start as the place has a good vibe and was nice and busy. Friendly service from the start. We had booked a table and checked before booking that they would have a gluten free dish. Were clear it’s an intolerance not celiac. When we ordered the waiter already knew one of us was gluten free (great) and said ‘a rice dish was already being prepped’ (great). Then it all got a little odd. All the food arrived except the gluten free dish which took a long long time. Karrage chicken was tasty and gluten free so we shared that. Staff were so so friendly and offered drinks on the house while we waited. When the gluten free dish finally arrived, sad to say it was so salty we both agreed it was inedible. The mushroom karrage we also found too strong/salty to eat. Usually we’d try and eat a little so as not to offend but it was just not possible. We asked for the bill and they apologised that ‘the food hadn’t been their usual standard’. The meal was given on the house which we felt was fair. We appreciated the service and vibe but won’t return.

Recommended by friends and I have to say: An absolutely stunning meal from start to finish. The flavours were sensational. It was so busy, you definitely need to book.

After hearing such great things about Matsudai, I have to say I left the restaurant rather disappointed. I’d like to start by saying that the food I did receive, was very nice and full of flavour. However, for a restaurant that prides itself on a small menu that receives full care and attention, I was very let down by how many key ingredients were unavailable to me. We went on a Saturday evening at 8pm, so a very usual time to be eating. 3 of the things we tried to order were unavailable. Including kimchi, eggs (???? At a ramen place???) and the only dessert they had on the menu was also not available. The food I had was lovely but I didn’t receive the full experience

Excellent tasting ramen restaurant. Great menu choice, fast service, friendly and helpful staff. Must visit highly recommended.

Really nice atmosphere, great service and delicious food. It arrived quickly after ordering, which was a delight! I ordered the vegetarian ramen with thin noodles - so full of flavour, and so filling! Ordered shiitake mushrooms on the side, also very tasty and generous portions. Good value for money. Will definitely be returning soon.

We have been coming here from when it first opened and we loved it but sadly the standards have really slipped. Like all restaurants that taste success, instead of building on it, Matsudai are cutting portion size, quality and increasing the price. We went there on Saturday night and took friends, we bigged it up to them and we were left red faced and all disappointed. When we first went the chicken Karrage for example were lovely succulent large pieces of chicken, now for the same money you get given tiny pieces of popcorn style chicken that are over cooked and dry. The classic Shouyu used to to be in a large bowl with plenty of chicken great taste half an egg etc, this time it had a weird taste to it, two tiny piece of chicken and lacked the quality that Matsudai first produced. Matsudai have taken their eye off the ball and are now ripping off their customer providing less food, poorer quality and charging more….how is that a business model that has longevity. My only advice to the owners is think back to what you were producing when you first opened and look at things now and if you don’t pull it back you will just be another failed restaurant that receives terrible reviews like the one I have sadly and reluctantly had to write.

Without a doubt the best meal out that I have eaten in Cardiff this year . The three of us shared different dishes from the small plates and mains. All were simply delicious. My personal favourite was the Karage Chicken. Service was excellent. All that we ate was recommended by our waitress. She also suggested to come earlier. Some of the specials had completely sold out by the time (20.30) that we arrived. Will certainly be returning.

Terrible food, noodles weren’t properly cooked, the sauce tasted very strange. Very overpriced. Please don’t eat there especially if you’re hungry. No wine atall only beer.

Didn’t know what to expect… No complaints from me! Food was amazing. Completely different! Delicious starters and mains. Friendly staff.

I don't normally write reviews for Ramen restaurants but honestly this place really exceeded my expectations. Came with a family of four and the broth was just out of this world. Having been to Japan in the past and tasted Ramen there, I couldn't believe a Ramen restaurant right in the heart of Wales could do such a great job replicating such a world renowned dish. They even do these side dishes like the chicken karage and fried mushroom strips which I believe are vegan. The quality of food was kept at such a high standard, real complements to the chef. The other highlight for us was how friendly and welcoming the staff were. Everyone was so helpful in guiding us on how to order and we certainly weren't rushed at all despite how busy the place was. Would definitely recommend anyone come here if you're travelling around Wales it's not every day that you get such amazing Japanese food in the U.K.

BEST RAMEN SHOP I HAVE EVER BEEN TO!!! The ramen and staff are really nice. Would 100% Recommend mmmmmm...

Matsudai Ramen is my favourite restaurant, has been for a while. Normally my partner and I love attending, the service and the food is usually incredible. I have always told the staff this (usual server is Joe, absolute legend) But today (30/6/23 @ 6:30pm) was a different story. It feels like the care and attention given to the standards of the food have slipped. And that’s a big shame, the pork was of poor quality, not cooked as well as usual, the broth for the ramen was very bland and didn’t have as much soul and passion in it as I’ve come to expect. Not only that, the portion of broth was very small. The burnt end pork over rice was very mushy and unappetising, the texture of the meat was very poor and the rice wasn’t great either. My partner didn’t enjoy her food either, the noodles were clumped together and that meant there was raw noodles in the ramen. Similar situation with the mushrooms over rice, very disappointing. We always attended this restaurant for a high quality, attentively staffed and great experience. And that’s the standard that wasn’t met today. Which is a shame as we always use Matsudai as a celebratory meal. I would have voiced my opinions and concerns to my server today, but when my partner and I deceived to leave without finishing our meals. The server (a young tall blonde lady) passed us the card machine and the bill and walked off, without asking if we enjoyed or if there was an issue. So I paid and left. Very disheartening considering I have always rated this venue as one of the best meals I’ve ever had, with the best staff. I always recommended this place to friends and family. Now. I’m not so sure … or if I’ll return. Very disappointed. Alyn.

Absolutely beautiful food, lovely staff and atmosphere fully recommend this place, hope they open more venues, perhaps roath?

Had a lovely meal here back in May. What a unique atmosphere, a bustling venue. I had the Karaage chicken, which with the curry mayo, is without doubt some of the best fried chicken I've ever tasted. The Mazesoba Ramen was equally good and both portions satisfied a very healthy appetite, you definitely don't leave hungry!! Highly recommend it and will be visiting again soon...probably for 3 portions of the Karaage!!

I am absolutely obsessed with this place. Everything on the menu is delicious and I love the fact that it changes regularly which is one of the reasons I keep coming back for more, I never get bored of it. I could eat their food for breakfast lunch and dinner, it is addictive. And it's ot just the restaurant, I am well and truly on their meal kit bandwagon. I don't know what I would do without them. The food is just outstanding, and it is ridiculously good value for money when you consider authentic and quality ingredients they use. You can taste the love and care that has gone into every dish. The atmosphere in the restaurant is casual and laid back and the decor is very relaxed and urban. I love the mural, and the little details that make you truly know you are dining somewhere unique. The staff are so welcoming too. If you haven't tried it already you must have been living under a rock! IT WILL NOT DISSAPPOINT. It's no wonder that it caught the attention of Jay Rayner. What an absolute gem of a place. I love supporting local businesses, so a massive shout out to team Matsudai... you make me very happy! Thanks for all your hard work and I can't wait for my next visit.

I recently visited at lunch time on a Saturday, I tried the vegan tantanmen from the new menu and can't stop thinking about it. It was deeply savoury and satisfying, I will be revisiting for another bowl for sure. Also, special shout out to the...

Food AMAZING, service FANTASTIC! Absolutely loved the atmosphere in Matsudai at the bank. Can’t wait to go again. The waitress that served us was so helpful at explaining all the dishes. Can’t wait to book and go back!

We arrived at matsudai the other evening and we were delighted with both the service and the food. The broth in my pork ramen was the best I’ve tasted and my husband very much enjoyed his. We had the chicken to start and this was...

The best ramen I’ve had in a long time, you won’t be disappointed when you come here. Lovely bright venue with an easy to read menu, ramen is outstanding with many options for every guest. Quick and easy service. Definitely a go to stop if you’re in the Cardiff area for an amazing bowl of ramen!

Disappointed with the Ramen i ordered which is the Tantamen ramen, it was really salty! Not worth the price, it was all just noodles! My friend’s ramen has a strand of hair on it but fortunately they immediately replaced it.

Another visit to Matsudai and as always it was nice but not great. The food was really good, I was so glad to see a soup-less option back on the menu as someone who doesn’t love broth! It was super tasty but I was surprised...

I was really looking forward to visiting Matsudai Ramen as I love Ramen and often make it myself. When we arrived we felt the restaurant was cold so we kept our coats on. We ordered a beer, no glass.l was offered. We then ordered our...

Wasn't sure I'd like Ramen as I've never tried it before, but I got caught up in the buzz from the Jay Rayner review of this place and went.......and I'm glad to say I loved it. Beautiful food with small plates as side options. Relaxed...

Book in advance! This place is busy, and rightly so. We made a special trip and we were not disappointed. Starting with the chicken is a must! Tender thighs, crispy coating and curry mayo - amazing. We both had the tonkotsu ramen, delicious. Intense depth...

Went with my partner for Ramen on Friday. Food was really good, staff were friendly and it was a good atmosphere. The place was full and it isn't hard to understand why. A must visit for Cardiff foodies.

Went here with my sister as we both developed a love for Ramen during our visit to Japan a few years ago and have found it very difficult to find really good Ramen in the UK. Had the Karaage Mushroom and the Shoyu Ramen -...

I booked this restaurant after reading the great reviews, including by the food critic Jay Rayner, but I was really disappointed. Firstly, the restaurant itself was really quite noisy and it was pretty chilly. I thought I'd order a hot drink to warm up but...

First visit and will definitely visit again Lovely food fresh ingredients Had veggie options which was great Great atmosphere Good front house service Maya who served us was very helpful and knowledgeable about the menu and ingredients

We visited last night after reading the Guardian review & was not disappointed! We each had a ramen (with pork belly) and ordered the chicken & burnt ends as sides. It really was gorgeous!

We visited Matsudai Ramen this week after making a reservation a few weeks ago. It was busy when we went on a Friday evening but the staff were very attentive and saw to us quite quickly. We were seated on a shared bench which was...

Lots of publicity around the restaurant at present. Small menu but enough to showcase ramen noodle dishes. The spicy version has a modest kick and lots of flavours. It wound be nice to have some hot green tea.

Been thinking about trying this new ramen place for a while and was greatly encouraged by the latest reviews. What a disappointment last night’s meal was!! The food was well below par especially when compared to other similar food outlets! The staters were good but...

We love Ramen so was excited when this establishment opened. The menu is small but the food is perfection. Super tasty small plates the shiitake mushrooms & chicken were a taste sensation and the dip served with them divine. Ramen bowls were full of delicious...

Great Ramen choices and some tasty additions. If you like Ramen this is the place to go. Worth visiting. We had traditional Tokyo Ramen and mushroom starter.

Absolutely banging food, good wholesome japanese food. The vibe is great, buzzing. The staff were super friendly, knowlegable and experienced. Cant wait for another visit

I took my 15 year old daughter here today. It is a short walk away and she has been nagging me to try it since it opened. I am so glad we finally did it. The service was amazing, explaining the menu and how to...

I really fancied dinner at my favourite Chinese restaurant In Cardiff this evening (The Riverside) but it was closed. So I went for a drive not so far away and found a relatively new Ramen restaurant. It was really busy on a Tuesday evening and...

Ordered two of the home ramen kits for a weekend treat and was honestly blown away. Very simple and quick to make, great quality ingredients and tasted amazing. Will definitely need to visit the restaurant in-person on my next trip to Cardiff.

Ordered the tofu spicy ramen meal kit, and it was awesome. I'm a repeat customer of the meal kits and each time I have one I think it's the best one ever! Ramen bowls at the restaurant are fabulous too. 10 out of 10!

Exceptional food, best ramen I’ve had. However, I felt like a sheep being rushed through a race, I barely had time to slurp up my half an egg before I was shepherded to the door for the next sheep to get its helpings.

Superb! Kit arrived on time and cool packs kept the contents cold. The instructions were easy to follow and ramen was quick to cook. The broth was delicious, meat tender and the eggs were perfect. This was a birthday gift and I'd definitely recommend!

Delicious as always! The mushroom karage and veggie sunset ramen are amazing. Can’t wait to come back again.

The food was amazing, with a couple of vegetarian/vegan options, and plenty of vegan sides available. All the food was delicious and came very quickly. The small plates (especially the karaage mushrooms) were all so good we had to order more. The service was excellent...

We’ve been to Matsudai plenty of times and we’ve always had a great experience! Highly recommend visiting for sake and noodles

Visited in August just after opening. Food and service were fantastic. Looking forward to returning.

people who come here are not looking for a fine dining experience of Michelin but for very fine food of a kind not available elsewhere, a friendly and expert atmosphere from staff, and this is certainly on offer. e erything is very good and Cardiff...

Absolutely amazing food and drink. Could not fault at all. I had the vampire slayer ramen with tofu which was outstanding and full of flavour. I will definitely be a frequent visitor!

We discovered Matsudai through their meal kits originally. There are many ramen offers out there but this is among the best and certainly the tastiest. When they opened the restaurant in our neighbourhood we couldn’t believe our luck. It’s a cosy spot with great opportunities...

I had an amazing experience trying out Matsudai for the first time. The food was absolutely delicious and the staff were awesome (especially the owner who took the time to chat with us and was so passionate.) Definitely a new favourite!

We came here as a group after ordering the ramen kits online (which are amazing) there are good vegetarian/vegan options and the staff were accommodating to our requests. The karaage mushrooms are a must have! We enjoyed so much we came again the following week

With matsudai’s ramen kits basically getting us through lockdown we were super excited to visit the new restaurant, and it didn’t disappoint! Speedy service, absolutely delicious ramen and miso corn to die for! Lots of cool Japanese prints adorning the walls too and a great...

I've been following Matsudai since they were doing home delivery ramen kits during covid lockdowns, and have had many delivery kits and several meals at the restaurant. The ramen is absolutely incredible, the depth of flavour is unbelievable. The chicken karaage is also excellent. Thoroughly...

The best ramen I have EVER had - an absolute must try if you're in Cardiff. They make veggie/vegan versions of most of the ramen too which are just as tasty!

I had never really had ramen before eating here, but now I love it! Very tasty dishes and good sized portions. Would definitely recommend!

Dined in at Matsudai Ramen for the second time in November. Was already a fan after visiting one of the pop-ups they had before getting this permanent premises. If I'm honest, I was worried it wouldn't live up to the hype I'd set in my...

Can’t fault the food in this place. If you like ramen - there’s a pretty good chance you’ll like Matsudai. I wish they’d kept a broth less ramen on the menu as that’s my preference but I was pleasantly surprised at how much I actually...

The best restaurant in Cardiff. Possibly the best ramen in the world. I’d not tried ramen before their incredible home kits launched, but I have become obsessed since. So pleased they’ve opened a restaurant, it’s a great place with friendly service. Highly recommend a visit...

Matsudai create the best ramen I've ever eaten. I'm a long term fan of their ramen kits, which are a fail safe method of creating delicious bowls of ramen at home, so I was excited to visit their restaurant in the Bank. It was supposed...

My dad and I noted a news article about a new ramen place in cardiff, and since I’m a Uni student here, he figured we give it a try and I’m grateful! The servers were so quick and friendly, the atmosphere was great with the...

Visited here with a friend, the ramen was amazing, very reasonably priced and service was quick. Will definitely be visiting again!

Got to love this cuisine; fresh, interesting flavors and plenty to satisfy Wonderful little gem of a place in our capital city Perfect for an alternative Christmas meal with friends or family Look forward to coming back and seeing this new business go from strength...

40 minute wait for food, people who came in after us served before us, mediocre ramen, staff are nice

We had a great evening at Matsudai. The food was incredibly tasty and the staff were very friendly. Can't wait to go back!

I've been here twice, once during their soft-opening, and once since officially opening, and I can honestly say the food I've eaten here are the best meals I've ever had. They have plenty of vegetarian options, and the umami flavour of the vegetarian/vegan broths are...

It's proper ramen, the broths are all cooked down for hours and you can taste it. You could have the broth as a soup it's so good but the toppings elevate things even more. The karaage chicken and curry mayo is nuts too. Cool restaurant,...

A great new addition to the Cardiff food scene. Restaurant has a really cool vibe, and we loved the "communal" tables. We were lucky enough to be sat on the stools near the kitchen, so it was great to see all the food coming out....

Best ramen I’ve ever tasted and possibly the best fried chicken. Very cool set up. Left very full and satisfied. Downside of it being so popular is that we had a time limit for the table so I didn’t feel very relaxed. Can’t begrudge a...

Cool and relaxed atmosphere and friendly, quick service. The food was great. A little bit spicy, lovely fresh onions, the pickled cucumber was amazing, a good sized portion of battered chicken thigh. It looked great as well but we started eating before I took the...

Three visits in and every one impeccable. Service, food, everything. A lovely addition to the area, I can't recommend MR highly enough.

The service at Matsudai was great, but the food was just outstanding. Top job by James and the whole team.

One of my passions is to visit ramen restaurants across countries in Europe. Until I moved to Cardiff, my favourite ones were in Paris and Amsterdam. Since I tried Matsudai ramen noodles, I can say it's probably the best I tried in the UK, and...

I had been waiting a long time for this restaurant to open and it did not disappoint! The food was bursting with flavour and I loved every bit! Staff were lovely also, I would 100% recommend this place and will be going back. I would...

We’ve been lucky enough to enjoy Matsudai Ramen at multiple pop ups and their amazing home delivery subscription but seeing the guys at their own restaurant makes it an extra special experience. It’s both mine and my partners death row meal! Amazing vegan and vegetarian...

We were so lucky to come across this restaurant and on opening week too! My partner and I had Tantanmen ramen with a couple of side dishes. We were absolutely blown away with the quality - something we kept mentioning out loud after every mouthful!...

Well I don’t usually do reviews I leave that for the likes of Gourmet Gorro but I have just got home after sampling Matsudai Ramen & man oh man was that a winner. So we are greeted and seated on the bar which was soooo...

Went during their soft opening. Really very impressed. Early in the evening and the restaurant had a good buzz about it. We spoke with 3 or 4 different members of the team and they were all very helpful and knowledgeable. Food was great. I think...

We’ve been excited for Matsudai Ramen to open for a long time, and it did not disappoint. The vegan ramen was hands down the best I’ve ever tasted and the sides were great too. Friendly staff and great vibe to the whole restaurant. Highly recommended!

Amazing food and service experience. I already buy the kit online, as I live in Cambridge, but when I heard of the restaurant launch, I had to visit. It is definitely worth the journey. The menu is different than the kits delivered which gives a...

After reading a couple of these reviews, I’m absolutely baffled (Heinz Chicken Soup 😂). These guys know what they’re doing!! The home kits come with instructions on how to prepare everything in quick time. The lengths the guys have gone to to prepare the broth...

home kits not so good i ordered 45 quids worth was basically watered down heinz chicken soup in a bag tasted exactly like it, the pork was good i ordered extra couldnt tell which was the extra as one packet had 4 slices the other...

Due to the fact that there was very little detail on the the website about what the kit contained and that they were using the uncle roger video in which he made ramen from scratch to advertise their iekei style tonkotsu ramen, I was expecting...

I was recommended Matsudi home freezer kits. I was excited to try the dishes as I hadnt had the opportunity to visit the City Road premises before lockdown. Online ordering was easy. There was a technical glitch where my delivery information hadnt uploaded so my...