Who We Are
Takatoshi
Hailing from Japan, Chef Takatoshi's story started in college
when he met Takayuki. Upon realizing his studies did not lead to
his dream of becoming a ramen chef, he dropped out of college
and began traveling all throughout Japan sampling and tasting the different kinds of ramen offered. He worked at three different ramen restaurants as the chief chef , before opening his very first ramen restaurant called Bigiya in 2009, located in Tokyo, Japan.
Takatoshi is very selective about every single ingredient he
uses, perhaps due to his strong sense of care and responsibility.
Bigiya was eventually listed on Michelin Tokyo in 2015. It was the first year for Michelin Tokyo to list ramen restaurants, out of the
5000 ramen restaurants in tokyo, Bigiya was listed as one of the
top 22 ramen restaurants. A true honor and accomplishment for
any chef. The two Taka's reunited and decided that New York was
the best place to bring true japanese ramen cuisine.
5000 ramen restaurants in tokyo, Bigiya was listed as one of the
top 22 ramen restaurants. A true honor and accomplishment for
any chef. The two Taka's reunited and decided that New York was
the best place to bring true japanese ramen cuisine.
Takayuki
Originally born and raised in Japan, Takayuki Watanabe met Takatoshi in Japan during their years in college. After graduating in 1999 he came to New York City to pursue his journalist career and started interning for Andy Warhol’s Interview Magazine. Takayuki Watanabe began working as a fashion journalist at the early age of nineteen. For eleven years, he had regularly contributed to Vogue, Marie Claire, Brutus, PEN, Dazed & Confused and NYLON.
He had traveled all over the world, experienced different cultures and most importantly the different foods. What he realized was that Japan's cuisine was different, but still very delicious and
should be shared with the world. After accomplishing his career goals, there was one left and that was owning a restaurant in New York. With the help and expertise of his friend Takatoshi, the two were able to collaborate their experienced sense of taste and love for Japan's number one comfort food, a steaming bowl of delicious ramen noodle soup.
