Ramen by Uzu, renowned for being one of the best ramen restaurants in the area according to The Washington Post, has expanded from its original location inside Union Market to include an additional location at 3210 Grace St NW in Georgetown. Chef Hiro Mitsui, the culinary mind behind Uzu and a resident of Silver Spring, has expressed his ambition to open a location in Montgomery County soon.
Chef Hiro Mitsui was born in Nagoya City, Japan, and moved to Osaka at the age of 21, where he learned to cook Japanese comfort food, particularly okonomiyaki, from his mother. In 2011, Mitsui relocated to the United States to pursue a career in basketball with the EBA semi-pro league. However, after two seasons, a knee injury prematurely ended his sports career.
Settling in Silver Spring, Mitsui began his culinary journey as a line cook at Aoi and later worked at Toki Underground in Washington, DC, driven by his love for ramen. It was there that he learned the ins and outs of the restaurant business, gaining valuable experience from the original Toki team, especially Erik. Mitsui further honed his skills at Maketto as a line cook while simultaneously launching Uzu. The name “Uzu,” meaning “vortex” in Japanese, reflects the swirling flavors and creativity Mitsui brings to his dishes.
Uzu’s journey began at Honeycomb Grocer in Union Market, with Mitsui later managing Paperhorse Ramen in Pentagon City. Each of these experiences contributed to his vision for what Uzu would become. Following a successful pop-up, Conbini by Uzu, at Shopkeepers Gallery, Mitsui established Ramen by Uzu inside Union Market, where it has thrived ever since.
With the expansion to Georgetown, Chef Mitsui is embarking on a new chapter, eager to share his personal take on Japanese comfort food with a wider audience. His story is a testament to resilience and passion, as he continues to bring the flavors of his childhood to the Washington, DC area, with hopes of reaching Montgomery County in the near future.