A popular Baltimore ramen bar is coming to Hampden this fall.
Mi & Yu Noodle Bar owner Edward Kim plans to open a third location of his fast-casual restaurant at the Rotunda shopping center on 40th Street in northern Hampden. He announced the news on Facebook Monday night, as first reported by City Paper’s Brandon Weigel.
According to the Facebook post, Kim just signed a lease for the space and is projecting an October 2017 opening.
In a phone interview, Kim said the new store will be the same concept as his other locations in Federal Hill and Mt. Vernon. Both have been profitable enough to expand to Hampden, he said.
“There’s a demand for that brand in Hampden,” Kim said. He added that “as soon as we get situated,” he will target Charles Village and the Fells Point-Harbor East area for other expansions.
Mi & Yu has earned rave reviews since it first opened its original storefront on S. Charles Street in Federal Hill in 2015. The restaurant specializes in made-to-order ramen bowls with some special twists on the traditional offerings, including buttermilk-brined fried chicken, short rib meatballs, roast duck carnitas and spiced barbecue pork belly.
Last May, Kim capitalized on his ramen bar’s success in South Baltimore by opening up his second location at a stall in Mt. Vernon Marketplace.
The Rotunda’s commercial spaces are starting to fill up. Its anchor store, MOM’s Organic Market, opened last spring, and has been joined by Starbuck’s, PetValu, Message Envy, Rite Aid and Floyd’s Barber Shop. CorePower Yoga also held its grand opening this week, and luxury dining-cinema chain CinéBistro is set to open its doors early this year.
