There’s no stopping it! After just one year on Place de Paris, the Japanese ramen restaurant Kaito is about to open two new Kaito restaurants back-to-back: the first in October at Cloche d’Or (next to Do For Love), and the second in November at Auchan Kirchberg, in the former Exki premises. We met with owner Dali Zhu – who also runs Laotse – to talk ramen in Luxembourg and beyond.
Since its arrival in August 2024 on Place de Paris, Kaito has stood out from other ramen spots thanks to its immersive décor: manga-covered walls and glowing neon lights reminiscent of Asian city streets. “For me, these neon signs mean comfort, and that’s also the essence of ramen – the ultimate comfort food. After a long day at work, you sit at the counter and enjoy a hot, wholesome bowl with everything you need: meat, vegetables, flavour. It’s a comforting feeling.”
Immersive design and counter dining
For his two new locations, Dali has no plans to change the winning formula: interiors worthy of a ramen house straight out of Japan. At Cloche d’Or, which will seat around 55 diners, the décor will mirror that of Place de Paris, with neon lights and wooden panels. “There will still be manga on the walls, but this time it will be Chapter Two of the story,” Dali explains. “In fact, the Kaito manga we created will soon be available to buy in our restaurants,” he adds proudly, as a true manga enthusiast.
At Kirchberg, however, working with the same Taiwan-born, Beijing-based architect who specialises in restaurant design, Dali had to imagine something different. “The ceiling is 8 metres high, with a mezzanine level, so it wasn’t possible to recreate Place de Paris. I’ll keep the surprise, but there will be a spectacular Japanese centrepiece you won’t be able to miss,” he says, with a touch of mystery.
One new feature compared with Place de Paris: both new restaurants will have counter seating facing the kitchen, allowing guests to watch the ramen being freshly prepared. “Eating at the counter in front of the chefs is typical of ramen culture. We couldn’t do it at Place de Paris for logistical reasons, but at Cloche d’Or and Kirchberg this experience will be possible,” Dali says with satisfaction.
Same menu, with 100% Japanese noodles
Behind Kaito’s success lies, of course, the quality of the food: bowls of ramen made with noodles and broth sourced entirely from Japan. “After tasting the noodles from Hokkaidō, I couldn’t possibly offer anything else! To be honest, it’s logistically difficult to import fresh noodles from Japan, but the flavour is incomparable – it allows us to serve the most authentic ramen possible. So we’ll continue using them,” Dali explains. This culinary choice is also one reason why a bowl of ramen starts at €21.
For regulars of Kaito on Place de Paris, the menu in Cloche d’Or and Kirchberg will be the same “at least until the end of the year,” says Dali. From next year, however, the idea is to introduce two or three dishes that differ by location and change regularly – giving each restaurant its own identity and giving ramen lovers a reason to try them all.
The new ramen and donburi recipes are developed by two Japanese chefs and then tested over several months to ensure the most efficient preparation of the bowl on site. “We’re a Japanese street food restaurant, which does mean quick service, but never at the expense of taste. Our bowls must be made fast yet still delicious – that takes time to perfect,” Dali notes.
Kaito’s story goes beyond Luxembourg
In the past two months, Dali has also launched Kaito franchises in Germany. A branch has just opened in Frankfurt, with others to follow, including one in Berlin. Each one carries the same DNA: immersive design, quality ramen, and a manga spirit.
Thrilled with this growth, Dali has not forgotten where it all started: “Even if more franchises open abroad, I’m first and foremost a Luxembourg start-up!
For this passionate entrepreneur, 2025 is already shaping up to be a remarkable year – not least as his other restaurant, Laotse (Chinese cuisine) in Moutfort, has just been listed in the Gault & Millau Luxembourg guide.
Cover picture: @marc_lazzarini-standart
