EK FOOD SERVICE INC.

The next world for lovers of the food and beverage industry

Our Brand

EK FOOD SERVICES operates authentic Japanese food brands such as ramen, shabu-shabu, and udon in more than 20 restaurants throughout the United States.

Ramen

Ramen

When talking about Japanese food in America, ramen cannot be left out. Japanese flavors are fused with American food culture and continue to evolve in their own unique way. We currently have five brands, and more than a dozen stores across the United States.

  • MARUFUKU RAMEN
  • RAMEN IZAKAYA YU-GEN
  • Ramen Izakaya Goku
  • RAMEN DINING WARAKU
  • Men Oh Ramen
Udon

Udon

We make our noodles in-store, and after years of research with our udon chefs, we have achieved the ultimate firmness and texture. We are always in pursuit of a taste loved by Americans, paying particular attention to dashi (Japanese soup stock) and flavors. Udon Mugizo is a leader in udon, which will become a new American noodle culture.

  • UDON MUGIZO
Shabu-shabu

Shabu-shabu

EK FOOD SERVICES began as a single shabu-shabu restaurant. Thinly sliced beef is cooked in a style that allows the guests to prepare it themselves with vegetables. The taste and uniqueness of the experience won over local fans. “Shabu-shabu” is now widely known among many people.

  • SHABUWAY
  • SHABUSEN
Yakitori

Yakitori

With a century of history and the thoughts of our predecessors in mind, we are proud to introduce Edomasa, a historic Japanese yakitori brand and yakitori culture from San Francisco in the United States. This feeling has been conveyed to everyone, and many customers enjoy our yakitori every day.

  • YAKITORI EDOMASA

CEO MESSAGE

Cultivating Japanese food that can only be found here. The challenge of creating a new food culture.

EK Food Services, Inc. CEO (Joint representative) Eiichi Mochizuki

EK Food Services, Inc. CEO
(Joint representative)
Eiichi Mochizuki

EK Food Services, Inc. CEO (Joint representative) Eiichi Mochizuki

We believe that we are currently in a very advantageous position in the American food business industry.
These days, Japanese food has become a more popular genre than Chinese food, and ramen in particular has become ingrained in the American diet.

This is just like Shabu-shabu once became widely known in the United States. Fifteen years ago in America, people asked, “why do I have to cook Shabu-shabu myself?” Now, however, gathering around the pot has become a popular pastime. I think this is one example of how Japanese culinary culture has taken root in the United States over the past 15 years. Like Shabu-shabu, ramen has been able to reach a position where it is attracting attention. Our business certainly still has room to develop even more than it does now.

The potential of the business can be seen in the way each staff member works. We want to create an environment where people who are serious about what they do can obtain a salary and position that ensure they do not have to worry about their future. We also feel we have come to a point where we can achieve this.

Meanwhile, we believe it is important not to be complacent about the advantageous position we currently feel and the success we have achieved. We may have simply been lucky enough to be founded a little earlier in the US than other Japanese food companies. We are not satisfied with the status quo, and are always planting seeds for the future.

We want to grow our existing ramen business, of course, but not simply as Japanese ramen or udon. We want to develop it in a uniquely American way. One example is how Japanese sushi has evolved into the California roll. There are many examples in Japan as well, such as Western food and Chinese noodles (called Shina soba in Japan), which have developed in their own unique way. In this way, we want to create food that people will eat for decades and that will evolve as they become more familiar within American food culture. Let’s work to make a restaurant where children in generations to come will be able to eat.

About Us

Company name
EK Food Services, Inc.
Address
1072 Saratoga Ave, San Jose, California 95129 USA
Details of business
Full Service Japanese Restaurant
Employees
620 (As of January 2025)