Umami's Chef Roger Li Brings Pop-Up Ramen Events to Pittsburgh

By Matthew Hacke | Photographs from Bruce Damonte, Fine Humans

There’s no stopping Roger Li. The executive chef and owner of the popular Lawrenceville eatery, Umami, is already cooking up his next dish: ramen! Although we may have to wait until summer for his new brick-and-mortar restaurant, Ki Ramen, to open its doors in Lawrenceville, the chef has been promoting the concept with a monthly pop-up until the grand opening. The idea for Ki Ramen came about last year, when Li and Piccolo Forno Chef Domenic Branduzzi discussed their interest in ramen and decided to come together and test out a ramen eatery in the city. To keep things fresh, Li continually changes up the menu and the location. “We usually like to approach our peers that have an open kitchen, are closed on Mondays, and are large enough to accommodate our customers,” says Li, whose most recent pop-up took place at DiAnoia’s Eatery in the Strip District. Hungry for the next one? While there’s no official website yet, Li suggests keeping an eye on Ki Ramen’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more details!         

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