Wing Chan, owner and operator of Noodle Bar by Nomiya, has been cooking and serving Japanese food for most of her life. Her father started his first restaurant after emigrating to Canada in 1988. In 2011, the Chan family opened Noyima, a Japanese restaurant that now has two locations. Wing grew up working at both restaurants, gaining firsthand experience from her family. “Nomiya is a family business. My mom, my dad, my brother and I all run our businesses together,” says Wing. “I’ve been working in this industry my whole life and I love it.”
The Chan family’s restaurants are widely known for their ramen noodle soup, which they’ve been making since they first opened. They take the meal very seriously, regularly taking trips to Japan to learn new recipes and techniques. “Going to Asia to learn about the latest in Japanese cuisine is always exciting,” says Wing. “We’re constantly thinking about how we can bring it back here and tailor it to our customers’ tastes. It’s a fun challenge coming up with new spins on this very old meal.”
For those who’ve never tried ramen, Wing is happy to introduce them to her family’s signature meal. Ramen is traditionally made with pork bone and uses wheat-based Chinese noodles. Toppings like sliced pork, seaweed and green onions are usually added for flavour. Wing describes her restaurant’s ramen as having “a rich, deep flavour,” enhanced by the house-made sauces and toppings. “We make everything in-house for a better, more authentic flavour,” boasts Wing. “Nothing in here is pre-packaged; it’s freshly made.”
