Gomen Ramen’s Story

First, let me tell you about our restaurant. For more than seven decades, a ramen tradition that began on the streets of Wakayama, Japan, has quietly lived on in Orange County. My name is Noah Kim, and I am the owner of Gomen Ramen in Stanton, California. While many people know us simply as a local ramen restaurant, few realize that our story traces back to one of Japan’s most celebrated ramen institutions: Ide Shoten. Founded in 1953 in Wakayama City, Japan, Ide Shoten began as a humble family business. The founder, the mother of Mr. Norio Ide, sold ramen from a pushcart, carrying her broth through the streets of Wakayama. Over the decades, that small operation evolved into one of Japan’s most respected ramen destinations. Ide Shoten gained national recognition after winning TV Tokyo’s prestigious TV Champion National Ramen Championship, helping introduce Wakayama-style ramen to audiences throughout Japan. Today, the restaurant remains a destination for ramen enthusiasts and continues to be operated by the third generation of the Ide family. Furthermore, they were named "World's Best Ramen" by the BBC in the UK and subsequently received awards from numerous broadcasting stations and newspapers. The connection between Wakayama and Stanton began in 2001. During a visit to Japan, Mr. Koji Takeda, founder of Gomen Ramen, sought out Mr. Norio Ide and received direct instruction in the preparation methods and recipes that had made Ide Shoten famous. Inspired by the experience, he returned to California and opened Gomen Ramen in Stanton in 2002. For the past 24 years, Gomen Ramen has continued to preserve the spirit and techniques passed down from Ide Shoten. While Orange County has seen countless restaurants open and close, Gomen Ramen has remained committed to the same style of ramen that originated in Wakayama 73 years ago. Our story is not only about ramen. It is about cultural preservation, immigration, family tradition, and the enduring connection between two communities separated by thousands of miles. At a time when many independent restaurants struggle to survive, we believe there is something meaningful about a small family-operated ramen shop in Stanton continuing a tradition that began in post-war Japan and remains alive today. We hope that by sharing this story, more people will discover not only the flavors of Wakayama ramen, but also the history, craftsmanship, and generations of dedication behind every bowl. While many independent restaurants have disappeared in recent years due to rising costs and changing consumer habits, Gomen Ramen has remained in Stanton for 24 years, continuing to serve a style of ramen that traces directly back to Wakayama, Japan. In an era when culinary traditions are often commercialized or reinvented, preserving an authentic ramen lineage has become increasingly rare. Thank you for your consideration. - Gomen Ramen -