Columbus is about to get a new way to slurp noodles. Ramyun EZ, a do-it-yourself ramen café from the owner of Don Pocha Korean BBQ, is moving into Olentangy Plaza on the city’s northwest side. Customers will pick an instant noodle packet, pile on toppings and finish their bowls at on-site boiling stations, turning a quick meal into a hands-on spin on Korean ramyun culture. The unit at 5025 Olentangy River Road, formerly home to Tea Zone Bakery & Cafe, is being converted for the new concept, and there is no opening date on the calendar yet.
As reported by Columbus Business First, the plan is to keep prices low and service casual by centering the menu on packaged instant noodles instead of scratch-made broth. The outlet noted that the owners hope the grab-a-pack, doctor-it-yourself format will appeal to students and neighborhood families who want a cheap, social meal without a lot of fuss.
Where It Will Be
The shop is slated for the former Tea Zone space at 5025 Olentangy River Road, part of the Olentangy Plaza strip, according to WhatNow. Tea Zone announced a sudden closure at the end of December, and local coverage indicates the landlord quickly lined up a new operator to keep the storefront active. 614Now previously documented the bakery café’s shutdown and listed the address.
The Owner Behind The Concept
Ramyun EZ comes from Jo Chong, who operates Don Pocha Korean BBQ in Upper Arlington and has been an active presence in Columbus’ Korean dining scene. The restaurant’s website outlines the ownership and Reed Road location, underscoring the team’s experience with interactive formats that encourage diners to cook and share food at the table. Don Pocha has drawn local attention for its DIY barbecue setup and hearty Korean comfort dishes, which makes a build-your-own ramyun bar a logical next move.
How The DIY Ramyun Trend Fits
The Ramyun EZ model mirrors a small but growing wave of DIY instant-ramen shops and convenience-store-style ramyun bars popping up in other U.S. cities, where guests cook packaged noodles at communal stations. Similar concepts have appeared in the Austin area and in Oakland, showing how ramen-adjacent, low-cost Korean street food is catching on with crowds looking for something quick, filling and a little bit playful. That Austin-area opening was covered as instant noodle innovation in Cedar Park, while Pitt News highlighted a similar draw for students in Oakland.
Ramyun EZ is set to slide into a well-traveled northwest Columbus retail strip that already attracts students, families and late-night diners, with a low price point and hands-on setup meant to lower the barrier to trying Korean ramyun. For now, there is still no official opening date, according to Columbus Business First and other local reporting. The timeline will depend on build-out and permitting, but once the signage goes up in Olentangy Plaza, it should not be hard to spot the new noodle hub.
