Top 11 insider tips to build a successful Ramen restaurant
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Singapore is a food paradise, and ramen is one of the most popular dishes here. Ramen is a delicious, hearty dish that originated in Japan. If you're thinking of opening a Ramen restaurant in Singapore, here are 11 tips to help you succeed.
#1: Write a solid business plan
There are many reasons why you should write a business plan to start a Japanese restaurant in Singapore. A business plan is a roadmap that helps you to navigate the early stages of starting a business. It forces you to think through the various aspects of your business, from your concept and target market to your financials and operating costs.
This plan will also help you to secure funding for your restaurant. Many investors and lenders will want to see a well-crafted business plan before they commit to funding your business. And lastly, a business plan can serve as a valuable tool for managing your restaurant once it is up and running.
#2. Plan the menu
First, you will need to create a menu that offers a variety of different Ramen dishes. Be sure to include both traditional and modern dishes to appeal to a wide range of customers.
For traditional dishes, you can offer classic flavors like:
Shoyu Ramen: This type of ramen is made with soy sauce, which gives it a salty and savory flavor.
Miso Ramen: This type of ramen is made with miso, (fermented soybean paste) which gives it a rich and umami flavor.
Shio Ramen: This type of ramen is made with salt, which gives it a light and refreshing flavor.
Tonkotsu Ramen: This type of ramen is made with pork broth, which gives it a rich and hearty flavor.
For modern dishes, you can get creative and offer unique flavors like truffle, pumpkin, and curry. Here are a few unique and modern takes on the classic ramen:
Ramen carbonara: This dish combines the classic flavors of ramen with the rich taste of carbonara. The noodles are cooked in a carbonara sauce made with bacon, eggs, and cheese.
Spicy miso ramen: This dish is made with a spicy miso paste that gives it a kick of flavor. The noodles are cooked in a broth made with chicken, pork, or beef, and the soup is topped with a variety of vegetables.
Ramen noodle salad: This noodle dish is a refreshing and healthy alternative to the classic ramen soup. The noodles are cooked in a broth made with chicken, pork, or beef, and the soup is topped with a variety of vegetables.
Vegetarian ramen: This dish is perfect for those who want a hearty and filling meal without meat. The noodles are cooked in a vegetable broth, and the soup is topped with a variety of vegetables.
Mazesoba ramen: A unique, dry ramen dish that is slightly different than regular ramen
Natsuttei: While it has tonkotsu broth, the roasted garlic oil (black ma-yu) adds a delicious flavor to this version of ramen.
You can experiment with different toppings, such as pork, chicken, eggs, seaweed, vegetables, and flavors to entice your prospects.
Do not forget to also offer sides like rice and gyoza (dumplings). And of course, you will need to have a selection of beverages to wash it all down.
With a well-rounded menu, you'll be sure to please everyone who comes to your restaurant.
#3: Find the right location
Next, you will need to find a location for your restaurant. Here, a number of factors will need to be considered including:
Location and footfall – Ideally, your restaurant should be in a busy area with a lot of foot traffic.
The local competition - If there are already well-established restaurants there, you may find it challenging to build your ramen restaurant.
Costs, revenue, and profits - Is there space to grow your business in the near future?
Square footage - Most experts agree that 1,200 square feet are the minimum requirement for a restaurant.
Car parking facilities – This may not play a major role if the restaurant is close to rail terminals.
Condition of the restaurant – You will need to evaluate the existing furniture, equipment, kitchen, and decor.
Remember that the location will also influence the funding you will need.
You can also explore strata malls (these are malls where tenants are not managed by central management). Strats malls such as Queensway shopping center have lower rental rates that can range from S$5.29 to S$9.33 compared to commercial malls where rentals go up to S$24.77.
#4: Estimate the funding you will need
One of the most important steps to starting a restaurant in Singapore is to estimate how much funding you need to get started. This can be a tricky question to answer, as there are many factors to consider. But with a little bit of planning and research, you can come up with a pretty good estimate.
There are a few key costs to consider when starting a restaurant in Singapore:
Rent: Commercial rental prices in Singapore can be very expensive, especially in popular areas like Orchard Road or Marina Bay. You will need to factor in the cost of rent when estimating your start-up funding. For instance, rental prices in the Core Central Region range between $12 and $18 per square foot. In the RCR (Rest of Central Region), the rental cost per square foot varies between $10 to $12 while the OCR (Outside of Central Region) has the lowest rental cost at $6.
Equipment: From commercial-grade kitchen appliances to dining furniture, factor in the cost of all the necessary equipment for your restaurant.
Licensing and permits: