Momoyama Ramen & Hawaiian BBQ is opening at 2615 George Busbee Pkwy NW #1 in Kennesaw, taking over the former Sushi Yu space near Town Center. The sign is already up, the buildout is underway, and the restaurant will soon be serving ramen, Hawaiian BBQ, curry, katsu, rice plates, buns, dumplings, boba, and more.
The Kennesaw restaurant is the newest location from the Momoyama group, a Pennsylvania-based restaurant brand with locations in Willow Grove, Havertown, and Northeast Philadelphia. Momoyama comes from co-owners Michael Suen and Don Chen, whose backgrounds explain the restaurant concept. Suen grew up in Honolulu and was one of the original chefs for L&L Hawaiian BBQ, one of the best-known names in Hawaiian plate lunch. He later spent nearly two decades in Waimānalo as the “manapua man,” selling steamed buns in Hawai‘i to a steady line of regulars.
Chen was originally from Vietnam and brings the ramen side of the operation. He also manages Rai Rai Ramen locations in Mount Laurel and West Chester, Pennsylvania. Momoyama places serious emphasis on homemade broth, which is the correct thing to do in the ramen business. The noodle can have swagger, the toppings can look pretty, but the broth is what people remember.
The ramen menu includes shoyu charsiu, shio charsiu, miso charsiu, curry ramen, spicy curry ramen, tan tan ramen, kimchi ramen, seafood ramen, hot and spicy seafood ramen, wonton ramen, vegetable ramen, butter corn ramen, Hakata ramen, mayo ramen, and Akamaru Modern Ramen. The Akamaru bowl uses tonkotsu broth with charsiu, seasoned soft-boiled egg, bamboo shoots, woodear mushrooms, scallions, house-made chili paste, and black garlic sauce. Momoyama also goes well beyond the basic ramen playbook. There is rib eye steak ramen, shabu shabu beef ramen with mala sauce, mapo tofu ramen, crispy fried shrimp ramen, chicken katsu curry ramen, chicken katsu shoyu ramen, and oyster katsu ramen.
The Hawaiian BBQ side is built around plate lunch, the great Hawaiian format of protein, rice, cabbage, and mac salad. The lineup includes BBQ chicken, BBQ short ribs, BBQ mix, kalua pork and cabbage, garlic shrimp, rib eye steak, and steak with shrimp. The rest of the menu includes chicken katsu curry rice, crispy shrimp curry rice, Japanese fried rice, kimchi fried rice, mapo tofu rice, fried noodles, Japanese fried udon, seafood crispy fried noodles, mini ramen combos, pork buns, BBQ chicken buns, gyoza, shumai, wasabi shumai, takoyaki, oyster katsu, shrimp katsu, mochiko chicken, kimchi, miso soup, and mac salad. Drinks include Aloha Maid, bubble tea, canned sodas, and Japanese creamy soda.
Though it is a new brand for most of us in Kennesaw, two other Momoyama restaurants were included in Yelp’s 2025 Top 100 Ramen Spots in America. Momoyama Ramen & Hawaiian BBQ II in Havertown ranked No. 49, and Momoyama Ramen & Hawaiian BBQ in Willow Grove ranked No. 61. That recognition gives the Kennesaw opening a bit more excitement. Ramen is not an easy category to fake. Diners judge the broth, the noodles, the egg, the meat, the heat, the texture, and the timing. One weak piece can drag the whole bowl down. Momoyama has already earned national attention in that field before its first Kennesaw bowl is served.
Philadelphia Magazine also reviewed the Havertown location in 2023, writing about its Japanese ramen and Hawaiian plate lunches, including kalua pork, char siu buns, katsu, shumai, gyoza, curry, mac salad, and rice. The review described the restaurant as a place built for big portions and direct comfort.
No opening date has been announced, but the sign is up and work on the space is currently underway.
Address:
Momoyama 6 Ramen & Hawaiian BBQ
2615 George Busbee Pkwy NW #1
Kennesaw, GA 30144
Online:
MomoyamaRamen.com | Menu | Instagram