Tokyo-based ramen favorite Tonchin is gearing up for its first Columbus location in the Short North, with fresh signage now up on the former Mecha Noodle Bar space. The move would drop the brand's signature tonkotsu bowls right onto High Street, adding yet another contender to a neighborhood already rich in noodles. For now, though, the owners are keeping quiet on an official opening date.
Signs for Tonchin are posted at 965 N. High St., and local outlets report the company is taking over the former Mecha address. As reported by WhatNow Columbus, the chain has not given a firm launch date, and the storefront still shows remnants of Mecha's old signage.
What Tonchin Brings
Tonchin began in Tokyo in 1992 and is run by the Sugeno family, which brought the first U.S. restaurant to Manhattan in 2017, according to the brand's U.S. site. A recent BusinessWire release details the chain's growth to Brooklyn, Los Angeles and Mexico City as it expands its U.S. footprint. The restaurants are known for long-simmered broths, house-made noodles and a compact neighborhood ramen-bar format that leans more cozy than sprawling.
Menu Highlights
Local reporting points to Tonchin staples like the Tonchin Classic Tokyo Tonkotsu, Smoked Dashi, Spicy Tan Tan, Miso Ginger, dipping noodles and mazemen as likely menu anchors. Columbus Underground notes that each Tonchin location tweaks part of its menu for the market it enters, so Columbus diners should see a mix of core bowls and location-specific dishes. That balance of signature items and local one-offs has helped the brand build followings in other U.S. cities.
Permits and Local Approvals
City meeting records and filings show activity tied to Tonchin at 965 N. High St., including permit and liquor-transfer paperwork submitted to the Columbus City Council. The city agenda and meeting materials list Tonchin and a related permit transfer to L&L Hospitality Group, suggesting the project is moving through formal approvals, Columbus City Council records show. Those filings line up neatly with the new signage at the Short North storefront.
Short North Space's Past
The High Street address has a long restaurant history, spending decades as a White Castle before its run as Mecha Noodle Bar, which underscores how often storefronts on this strip reinvent themselves. Columbus Underground reports Mecha operated from April 2024 through December 2025 and notes that some of its signage still hangs on the facade as Tonchin work continues. For neighbors, Tonchin's arrival is shaping up to be the next chapter in a long line of eateries cycling through the block.
Neither Tonchin nor city officials have confirmed a grand opening date. WhatNow Columbus reports it has reached out for comment and plans to update when more details surface. In the meantime, expect gradual exterior changes and ongoing permit activity as the space is readied for service, while Short North diners watch to see how Tonchin's Tokyo-style ramen stakes out its place in High Street's already crowded dining scene.
