A new Japanese restaurant is bringing excellent ramen and more to Haltom City: Called Yoichi Ramen & Donburi, it's a new mom-and-pop specializing in ramen and rice bowls, now open in a former Thai restaurant space at 4613 Denton Hwy. # 35, near Hoffbrau Steakhouse.

Yoichi comes from chef Han Choi and his wife Jessie, who handles front of house duties. The couple moved to Texas from the West Coast, where Han worked in ramen shops and other restaurants in California and Oregon.

Han grew up in South Korea, where he developed a passion for Japanese and South Korean food. His interest grew after moving to California to attend college.

“I started as a server and later moved on to back of house, which ignited my curiosity,” Han says. “I learned the fundamentals in California, then worked at restaurants in Oregon, both in the kitchen and the front of the house as general manager."

The specialty at Yoichi is ramen, especially the tori shoyu, which uses a creamy chicken broth called tori paitan. Han also offers a vegetable broth, which is less common and more widely popular since it can be used in vegetarian dishes.

Han says he wanted to create a kind of authentic ramen and rice bowls they couldn't find elsewhere.

“Ramen restaurants typically tend to sell tonkotsu (pork) broth or a mixture of pork and chicken broth," he says. "I focus on chicken broth, which is a popular category in Japan, too."

Gyoza dumplings at YoichiYoichi

The other foundation of their menu is donburi: bowls of rice bowls topped with vegetables and protein. At Yoichi, the options include grilled chicken, fried shrimp, pork belly, and fried chicken done in two styles: Katsu with a panko crust, and karaage with a more traditional flour-based crust.

There are tempting appetizers including gyoza dumplings, veggie tempura, and French fries dusted in chili powder. Alcohol is also available, including cocktails and Japanese beer and spirits.

Prices are a bargain, from $5.50 for edamame appetizer to $15 for ramen.

It only took the couple a few weeks to get the restaurant open, and they plan to make some fun expansions including a night market with different Japanese-inspired food stalls.