UPTOWN — Pad Thai lovers will soon need to travel elsewhere to get their fix, as Thai Uptown transitions into a Japanese restaurant.
At the beginning of October, the restaurant at 4621 N. Broadway began its rebranding, changing its name to Futatski Ramen, according to its owner, who goes by Vee.
The Thai chef has left the restaurant, but it will keep parts of the Uptown Thai menu as customers adjust. It has begun offering some Japanese items on a smaller menu with plans to increase in the coming months, she said.
The restaurant will focus on serving tonkotsu ramen, which can be distinguished from other ramen by its thick and creamy-looking broth that is created from boiling pork bone for long hours. The ramen cost about $10 plus the cost of additional ingredients, she said.
"You don't need additional toppings" though, said her business partner Chaiwat Pattanapong. "You'll leave full."
Pattanapong, who owns several restaurants in San Francisco, was challenged by his soup distributor to try making the tonkotsu ramen. He gave the creation to a customer to try for free, but the customer liked it so much he gave him $20 for it, he said.
"I tried it [then] and it tasted so good.. .. From that day on, I never ordered miso ramen again," he said.
Futatski Ramen will be a small operation open for lunch between noon-3 p.m., and dinner between 5-9:30 p.m. But Vee encouraged customers to come in whenever they see the restaurant open.
The restaurant is BYOB.
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