The internet has seen its fair share of wild food industry drama, but this? This might take the whole bowl of noodles. A ramen review recently set off an intense controversy in Kyoto, Japan, after the owner of a popular Jiro-style ramen shop, TOYOJIRO, went full vigilante mode. His crime? Offering a bounty—yes, an actual reward—for information about two customers who dared to leave a negative review.
Now, TOYOJIRO isn’t just any ramen joint. It’s one of the highest-rated spots in Kyoto, known for its rich, fatty broth and thick noodles. Yet, even the best spots aren’t immune to criticism. A pair of unhappy diners left a scathing one-star ramen review, and rather than shrug it off, the owner launched a social media tirade that left people stunned.
“I saw your post, and you seem a bit weird,” the owner ranted on Instagram. “We try not to treat people like you as customers, so it’s fine. But you should probably avoid eating out. Someday, someone like you will get screwed.”
Wait—what? It didn’t stop there. He continued:
“We run a planned business, so if you get in our way, we’ll get in the way of yours too.”
And if that sounds a little too intense for, you know, just some noodles, it gets even wilder. He basically gave the reviewers an ultimatum: come back, eat the ramen again, take a nice picture, and leave a good ramen review—or else. Oh, and for anyone willing to snitch? He was offering 100,000 yen (about $662) for useful information on the reviewers’ identities.
The internet, predictably, had a lot to say about this. A post about the situation blew up on X (formerly Twitter), racking up over 33 million views as ramen fans and casual scrollers alike tried to make sense of the situation.
“I like Jiro-style ramen, but I don’t want to go to a place like this and I don’t recommend it,” one user commented, while another pointed out, “The owner’s comments are damaging the store’s dignity and reputation.”
And that’s the irony here—TOYOJIRO was already a beloved spot. If anything, this whole meltdown only made the situation worse for the restaurant. A bad ramen review is one thing, but threatening customers? That’s a next-level PR disaster.
Despite the backlash, though, ramen itself isn’t going anywhere. The dish remains a beloved staple, not just in Japan but worldwide. Even major US convenience stores like 7-Eleven have started selling Japanese-style ramen and other traditional eats, proving that no amount of bizarre restaurant drama can dampen the global ramen craze.
Would you still try TOYOJIRO after this madness? Or is this one ramen shop you’d rather leave off your foodie bucket list?
Enjoy this story? Don’t stop now!