HiroNori Craft Ramen, a Michelin-recognized Japanese ramen brand known for its authentic tonkotsu broth and scratch-made noodles, is opening a second location in Long Beach at 5718 E. 7th Street.
The new restaurant will be located in Bixby Village Plaza, occupying the space formerly held by Mad Dumplings, according to LongBeachize. This dumpling-focused concept, which gained popularity for its handmade dumplings, rice bowls, and student-friendly combos, closed after a brief run since its 2023 opening. Its closure clears the way for HiroNori, which has become a staple in Long Beach’s ramen scene, praised for its 24-hour simmered pork bone broth and menu options including shoyu and vegan ramen.
Founded in 2017 by longtime friends Hiro Igarashi and Nori Akasaka, HiroNori emphasizes quality and craftsmanship in every bowl. Their tonkotsu broth is simmered for 24 hours to develop a rich flavor, paired with noodles made from premium Japanese flour. The shoyu ramen uses soy sauce barrels aged for over two years from a historic Japanese soy sauce factory. Their vegan ramen features a complex, miso-based broth crafted from five types of miso imported from Japan.
HiroNori currently operates locations in Irvine, San Diego, Santa Clara, and Long Beach at 610 E Carson Street. Although the business license for the Bixby Village Plaza site has been approved, an official opening date has not been announced yet. The new restaurant will join a growing list of eateries and retailers coming to Bixby Village Plaza, including The Melt, California Fish Grill, Urbane Cafe, and Luna Grill, as the shopping center continues to evolve as a vibrant dining destination in East Long Beach.
