Bioluminescent Ramen Illuminates the Old Fourth Ward This Winter

Atlanta is about to reportedly become the first city in the world to offer an artist-driven, glow-in-the-dark ramen pop-up experience — complete with black lights, edible luminescence, and tales from the dark side. The theatrical, mobile food pop-up — known as Nakamura.ke — runs nightly in the parking lot of the Sound Table and neighboring Space2 in the Old Fourth Ward from January 30 through February 16, 2019.

Tickets for one of the nightly slots inside the six-seat, mobile kitchen sold out quickly, following the publication of a story on Wednesday written by Gray Chapman for Atlanta Magazine. And there’s a reason for that.

The 30-minute, intimate dining experience includes glow-in-the-dark ramen, luminous shochu, and sake cocktails “against a fantastical backdrop populated by [Japanese] mythical spirit creatures” from the underworld “sharing tales of their travels.” It’s an immersive, edible art installation, created by Atlanta artist Ami Sueki of avant-garde design studio Zoo as Zoo.

For those not lucky enough to snag a seat at the bioluminescent table, Space2, at the corner of Edgewood Avenue and Boulevard, will serve as Nakamura.ke’s “living room,” where people can walk in off the street and order a la carte, glow-in-the-dark dumplings and cocktails. The living room is first come, first served. Karl Injex, co-owner of the Sound Table, is lining up DJs to spin music in the Nakamura.ke living room.

Nakamura.ke is based upon shapeshifting Japanese mythical spirits called yōkai. For the pop-up’s purposes, these Nakamuras serve “bioluminescent ramen in the underworld.” All of the luminescent food served during Nakamura.ke is safe to eat and is all-natural — they use ingredients like quinine and natural food coloring, which glow under a black light.

Dashboard

Nakamura.Ke is also planning to bring its theatrics and glow-in-the-dark ramen to Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and London.

• The world’s first glow-in-the-dark ramen pop-up is debuting in Atlanta [ATLMag]
• All The Sound Table coverage [EATL]

Space2, 485 Edgewood Ave SE, Atlanta.