Mihoko Obunai Is Opening a Poncey-Highland Ramen Shop [Updated]

Local ramen expert Mihoko Obunai is opening another restaurant of her own. The chef, who has recently operated her Ramen Freak pop-up at The Sound Table, is partnering with Concentrics Restaurants to open Nexto at 822 Ralph McGill Boulevard NE. The ramen shop is on track to open this spring.

Before Ramen Freak, Obunai served as the lunchtime chef at Southbound in Chamblee, and she's also spent time at Repast, Joli Kobe, and her Mibo Love ramen pop-up at So Ba. In recent weeks she's been in the kitchen at Huge Cafe in Midtown, partnering once again with The Sound Table owner Karl Injex. In 2012, Obunai trained with chef Jack Nakamura at Ramen Lab in New York City, and she was one of five "ramen masters" featured in the Ramen Battle at the StarChefs International Chefs Congress in Brooklyn.

Details on Nexto are scarce at the moment, but more information is expected soon. The restaurant will take up residence in a BeltLine-adjacent space next door to Two Urban Licks, another Concentrics concept.