So nice to meet you! First off, what’s your name? Tell our readers a bit about yourself—where you’re from originally and where you live now.

My name is Ty, a owner of Tiger Ramen, McKinney, Texas. I’m originally from Japan, where I developed my passion for ramen culture and hospitality. After moving to the United States, I eventually settled in McKinney, where I now operate Tiger Ramen. Living in Texas has given me the opportunity to combine authentic Japanese flavors with the warm, welcoming community spirit I’ve found here. My goal has always been to create a place where people can enjoy not just ramen, but also a memorable dining experience that brings people together

Tell us a little bit more about what your company does and how it started? How does it help your customers?

Tiger Ramen is a Japanese ramen restaurant based in McKinney specializing in authentic ramen, rice bowls, Japanese appetizers, and a welcoming dining experience inspired by Japanese ramen culture. We focus on carefully prepared broths, fresh ingredients, and house-made flavors that bring a taste of Japan to the local community.

The idea for the restaurant started from my passion for ramen and hospitality. I wanted to create a place where people could enjoy authentic Japanese comfort food in a casual and friendly atmosphere. Starting the business was a major challenge, especially opening an independent restaurant from the ground up, but it was also an opportunity to share Japanese food culture with the community here in Texas.

Our goal is not only to serve good food, but also to create a memorable experience for our customers. Many guests come to Tiger Ramen to relax with family and friends, try something new, or enjoy flavors that remind them of Japan. We also try to support the local community by participating in local events, offering seasonal specials, and creating a welcoming environment for both first-time visitors and regular customers.

What was one feedback from a happy customer/client that you won't forget about?

One piece of feedback I’ll never forget came from a customer who told us that eating at Tiger Ramen reminded them of the small ramen shops they visited in Japan. They said the atmosphere, the aroma of the broth, and even the feeling of sitting down with a hot bowl of ramen brought back personal memories from their travels.

As a restaurant owner, comments like that mean a lot to me because our goal has always been to create an authentic and welcoming experience, not just serve food. Hearing that we could recreate that feeling for someone here in McKinney made all the hard work worthwhile. It reminded me that food can connect people to memories, cultures, and experiences in a very meaningful way.

Where do you see your company in the future?

In the future, I hope to continue growing Tiger Ramen into a well-known destination for authentic Japanese ramen and hospitality in McKinney and beyond. Our focus is on building a strong reputation for quality, consistency, and customer experience while continuing to improve our menu and service.

We also want to expand our connection with the local community through special events, collaborations, and seasonal menu items that bring people together. Long term, I would love to see Tiger Ramen grow into multiple locations while still keeping the same attention to detail and welcoming atmosphere that made customers support us from the beginning.

Most importantly, I want the company to continue being a place where people can enjoy authentic Japanese food, create memories with family and friends, and experience a small part of Japanese culture here in Texas.

What is the biggest misconception about your industry?

One of the biggest misconceptions about the restaurant industry is that running a restaurant is simply about cooking and serving food. In reality, it involves much more behind the scenes—managing staff, controlling food costs, maintaining quality, handling customer service, marketing, inventory management, and adapting to constant challenges in the economy and supply chain.

Another misconception is that ramen is “just noodles in soup.” Authentic ramen takes a tremendous amount of preparation and attention to detail. From preparing broth that can take many hours to making sauces, toppings, and balancing flavors, every bowl requires consistency and care. At Tiger Ramen, we put a lot of effort into creating an experience that reflects the craftsmanship and hospitality found in Japanese ramen culture.

I think many people only see the final product on the table, but there is a lot of hard work, teamwork, and passion involved every single day behind the scenes.

What has been one of your biggest struggles building your business and how did you deal with it?

One of the biggest struggles in building Tiger Ramen has been balancing rising operating costs while maintaining the quality and authenticity of our food and service. The restaurant industry can be very challenging, especially for an independent business, because food costs, labor costs, and other expenses continue to increase while customer expectations also remain high.

Another challenge was building awareness as a new restaurant in a competitive market. In the beginning, many people did not know who we were, so we had to work hard to earn trust one customer at a time through consistency, hospitality, and community engagement.

I dealt with these challenges by staying focused on long-term goals, listening carefully to customer feedback, and continuously improving our operations. We also adapted by creating new menu ideas, strengthening our team culture, and becoming more involved in the local community in McKinney. Most importantly, persistence has been key. Running a business always comes with obstacles, but continuing to learn and improve every day has helped us keep moving forward.

What was your favorite music artist and athlete growing up?

Growing up, I always admired Japanese music artists who brought a lot of emotion and energy into their performances, and I enjoyed music that motivated and inspired people. My favorite artist is Motoharu Sano, Original Love, Bob Dylan, Gram Persons, etc.

I also looked up to athletes because of their discipline, teamwork, and dedication to constant improvement. One athlete I respected was Ichiro Suzuki. His work ethic, consistency, and professionalism made a strong impression on me, especially seeing how he succeeded internationally while representing Japan with pride.

I think both music and sports influenced my mindset in business as well. They taught me the importance of passion, discipline, and continuing to improve every day, which is very similar to running a restaurant and building a team.

Any shoutouts you want to make?

I’d like to give a big thank you to our customers, staff, family, and the local community in McKinney for supporting Tiger Ramen since the beginning. Building a restaurant is never something one person can do alone, and we truly appreciate everyone who has helped us grow along the way.

I also want to thank our team members who work hard every day in the kitchen and front of house to create a great experience for our guests. Their dedication and teamwork are a huge part of what makes Tiger Ramen special.

And finally, thank you to everyone who continues to support local small businesses. Independent restaurants are built through community support, and we’re grateful to be part of such a welcoming community here in Texas.

Where can our readers learn more about you and your company?

Readers can learn more about Tiger Ramen by visiting our website and following us on social media, where we share menu updates, special events, promotions, and new dishes.

You can also visit us in person in McKinney to experience our ramen and hospitality firsthand. We always enjoy connecting with customers and being part of the local community.