Ramen fans will rejoice to hear that international noodle sensation Ippudo is planning to open at 757 Market St. near Third Street, in same building as the Four Seasons Hotel. The new location was confirmed by a spokesperson with Havas Formula public relations, who said more details will be forthcoming.

The ramen chain is also coming to Berkeley (2011 Shattuck Ave.), as Berkeleyside reported back in January. The expansion is part of Ippudo’s recent partnership with Panda Express, which is aiming to "develop and expand the brand in the US."



The Market Street Ippudo will have a full liquor license, which it's taking over from Lark Creek Steak, which closed in the nearby Westfield San Francisco Centre in January.

Ippudo, which got its start in Japan in 1985, is incredibly popular in the Big Apple, with fans from all over Yelping its praises and enduring nearly interminable lines to slurp the silky soup. The restaurant also has locations in London, Paris, Sydney and throughout Asia.

Though we were sure ramen was passing the baton to poke as the "it" food of the mid-2010s, this might fuel a new ramen revolution. We'll give you more details as we get them from the PR firm.

Update, 6/13: Havas Formula emailed us with information from a representative from Panda Express, who says Ippudo is leasing space from a different landlord than that of the Four Seasons, and it is not affiliated with the hotel. The estimated opening date is March 2017.

The representative also provided the following details: This location will serve lunch and dinner, and "The menu will have traditional and signature items that we traditionally serve at the original Ippudo restaurants in Japan. It will also have additional regional and local dishes to reflect and showcase the taste and ingredients of our local community.” The concept will be similar to the Ippudo slated for Berkeley, "but will have some features unique to the space available."