Columbus Short North Lands Tonchin, a Tokyo Ramen Brand, on High Street

Tonchin, a ramen brand born in Tokyo, is coming to the Short North. The restaurant will open its first Ohio location at 965 N. High Street. It takes over the old Mecha Noodle Bar space, which had sat empty on the busy High Street strip.

Signs are already up in the window. The team has not shared an exact opening date yet, as 614NOW and WhatNow Columbus reported this month. But the buildout is moving, and the space is being fixed up for diners.

Who is Tonchin?

Tonchin started in Tokyo in 1992. Two brothers, Katsuhiro and Motohiro Sugeno, opened the first shop. The name means "a place to come together." The brand came to the United States in 2017 with a flagship in Manhattan. Today it also has shops in Brooklyn, Los Angeles, and Mexico City. Columbus will be its first store in Ohio.

The kitchen is known for rich pork broth, called tonkotsu, and noodles made fresh each day. Signature bowls include the Classic Tokyo Tonkotsu, Smoked Dashi, Spicy Tan Tan, and Miso Ginger. The menu also has dipping noodles, mazemen (ramen served without soup), and small Japanese starters.

Why it matters for the Short North

A national brand picking the Short North is a good sign for the neighborhood. The Short North is one of the busiest retail strips in Columbus. Foot traffic is high. Rents are high, too. When a brand from New York and Tokyo bets on High Street, it tells you demand is strong.

It also fills an empty storefront. Mecha Noodle Bar left the space earlier. An empty restaurant on a prime block can drag down a strip. A new tenant keeps the block full and busy. That helps nearby shops and helps landlords keep the corridor healthy.

For people who want to live near this energy, the trade-off is cost. Short North homes and apartments carry some of the highest prices in the city. If you are weighing a move to the area, you can start your home search here.

What to watch next

Watch for an opening date. The brand says to follow its Instagram (@tonchinus) for news. Once it opens, expect lines early. New ramen shops in Columbus often draw a crowd in the first week.

The bigger story is High Street itself. Each new opening adds to the case that the Short North is still Columbus's top spot for food and retail. That matters for renters, owners, and small landlords who count on steady demand.

Takeaway: Tonchin's arrival is one more sign that Short North storefronts stay in demand — good news for anyone who owns, rents, or invests along High Street.