how it works
restaurant ramen out of your freezer, eating in fifteen minutes. here is what actually happens.
1. you choose
single kits, a bundle, or a subscription. one kit is one bowl. bundles work out cheaper per bowl and get you to free delivery quicker.
delivery is £5.75, and free over £60.
2. we pack it frozen
frozen solid, packed with ice, insulated and boxed. tracked next day delivery, tuesday to saturday. order by 2pm the day before.
when it's warm out we put more ice in.
3. it turns up, and this is the bit people worry about
kits can soften on the way. that's normal and it isn't a problem.
what matters is that it arrives cold. if the box is still cold and there are ice crystals in the broth pack, put the lot straight in the freezer and it'll be exactly as it should be.
the standard we work to is 8°C. a kit at or below that is safe to refreeze, and the cold box and the ice crystals are how you tell without owning a thermometer.
if something arrives warm, or you're not sure, don't eat it. email athome@matsudai.co.uk and we'll replace it. we'd much rather send another box than have you take a chance on one.
4. it lives in your freezer
up to three months. we'd eat them inside a month though, they're better for it.
5. fifteen minutes and you're eating
boil the noodles, heat the broth, slice whatever needs slicing. the broth defrosts in the pan while you go, usually sorted by minute three or four. instructions come in the box and they're on the site.
why it's any good
the broth takes twelve hours. we've tried making it faster. it doesn't work.
the noodles are hakata style, thin and straight, made for us rather than bought in. the house rayu picked up three stars at the great taste awards this year, which we're still a bit embarrassed about.
matsudai started as a pop-up in 2019 and spent lockdown in james's dining room. 48,000 boxes since.