“I feel like every city should have a ramen shop,” says Bad Bones co-owner and operator Jasmine Kean. ”Whenever I travel, I end up eating noodles … it seems like something that has been missing here.”

She’s not wrong. St. John’s has been missing out on the joys of having a noodle shop, dishing out cold soba noodles on hot days and steaming bowls of ramen on cold days.

“It’s comfort food in it’s purest form,” says co-owner Chef Adam Gollop. Chef Gollop has honed his craft, working in kitchens downtown for the past 14 years, most recently at Saltwater Restaurant + Bar (284 Duckworth St). With Bad Bones Ramen, he decided to try something new for himself and for St. John’s.

“Most sushi places will have an udon dish on the menu, but it might be just a generic broth,” says Gollop, who hopes to bring his fine dining finesse to the traditionally simple cuisine.

The feel of the restaurant is authentic noodle joint: seating for 12, with stools wrapping around the room. “It’s the kind of place you can come late-night and have a pint and finish off your night, or you can come here for lunch, grab something nice and quick,” says Gollop.

Gollop recommends the Pork Belly Tonkotsu with duck egg noodles, and caramelized onion, cabbage, marinated soft boiled egg, shero dashi, and green onion, in a thick and rich pork broth. “You’ve got to have a little fat,” says Gollop.

“My favourite bowl is the spicy chicken miso with udon,” says Kean. The dish features roasted garlic, veggies, and sweet corn. “I like it mildly spicy … it always makes me feel satisfied when I’m finished, and it feels really good on the stomach.”

For those seeking vegan and gluten-free options, Bad Bones has got you covered with dishes like their Vegetable Shoyu, with sliced King Oyster mushrooms or Enoki, bok choy, and veggies, with flavours of ginger and sesame.

“One thing I really want is the chance to be able to give back to, protect, and enrich our community,” says Kean.“I love this city so much. Serving good food with minimal wastage, protecting the environment and giving back to the community are among our top priorities. Also, we want to have fun. Hopefully, we will provide good food and good vibes. We wanted to be able to offer that to our customers.”

Bad Bones Ramen is opening June 8th at 152 Water Street (same building as Jack Axes), open Monday to Wednesday, 11:30am-10:00pm, Thursday-Saturday 11:30am-3:00am.