Los Angeles-based Silverlake Ramen is partnering with Naruto for a nationwide restaurant collaboration, beginning on March 30. Slated to run through July 7, the collaboration is the first of its kind for the wildly popular anime series. The partnership between Naruto and Silverlake was curated by experiential restaurateur Andy Nguyen of Happy Hours Group, the creative director of the project, who is overseeing the integration of the anime brand and ramen restaurant across the United States.
All locations of Silverlake Ramen in California, Nevada, Georgia, North Carolina, Washington, Arizona and Texas will feature Naruto-themed decor and menu items. Silverlake’s flagship store in Los Angeles (2927 Sunset Blvd.) will create an immersive Naruto experience, bringing the series’ Ichiraku Ramen restaurant to life through exterior graphics and interior decorations. The themed menu will feature Silverlake’s popular item, The “Classic” Ramen (pork, creamy pork stock, bean sprouts, spinach, green onion, seaweed, black garlic oil and a seasoned egg) with a Narutomaki Fishcake. The “Classic” Ramen will be available in two combos. Combo one will include a Naruto and Silverlake Ramen collaboration headband; combo two will include a T-shirt with original Naruto artwork. Visitors also will be able to purchase exclusive Naruto merchandise including T-shirts, hoodies, bags, hats and headbands, as well as themed dishware.
“Working with a series as iconic as Naruto, I knew we would need to find an equally high-caliber restaurant group to build a successful partnership,” Nguyen says. “Silverlake Ramen is the perfect partner to help bring Ichiraku Ramen to life. Ramen is such an important part of telling the Naruto story, and this team is the best in the business.”
Silverlake Ramen will host a Grand Opening celebration on March 30 at its flagship store in Los Angeles (2927 Sunset Blvd.) from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with Nguyen and Naruto executives in attendance. Silverlake Ramen will create a limited number of Naruto Onigiri (Japanese rice balls) for customers in attendance that will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Additional information on Silverlake Ramen’s locations can be found at silverlakeramen.com.