Meet The Japanese Noodle Billionaire Taking On McDonald’s And KFC

Takaya Awata parlayed a tiny local diner into quick-service giant Toridoll Holdings. Now he wants to taste global success.
Read the full story on Forbes: www.forbes.com...
Subscribe to FORBES: www.youtube.co...
Fuel your success with Forbes. Gain unlimited access to premium journalism, including breaking news, groundbreaking in-depth reported stories, daily digests and more. Plus, members get a front-row seat at members-only events with leading thinkers and doers, access to premium video that can help you get ahead, an ad-light experience, early access to select products including NFT drops and more:
account.forbes...
Stay Connected
Forbes newsletters: newsletters.ed...
Forbes on Facebook: forbes
Forbes Video on Twitter: / forbes
Forbes Video on Instagram: / forbes
More From Forbes: forbes.com
Forbes covers the intersection of entrepreneurship, wealth, technology, business and lifestyle with a focus on people and success.

[@P.90.603]

We need a noodle like place like Chipotle, Subway, and Blaze Pizza. Most noodle shop are too formal.

[@tetsuoshima2314]

Keep an eye out for Miyu Ramen (or Mi & Yu Noodle Bar?), something like that, it's what you describe.

[@Nainara32]

We've been getting a few ramen places in the Midwest in the last few years, but so far they're quite expensive (on the order of +$18/bowl) and the quality is very low relative to anything in Japan. I'd really like to see an udon/tempura chain or a yoshinoya-style beef bowl chain expand here with reliable quality.

[@wed3k]

Ichiran was the closest to being affordable, it was around 10 bucks precovid. Now a saimen from l&l is 9.30

[@zibbitybibbitybop]

Fast food in general in the US is no longer cheap, so the price point is less of a concern. I just wonder how they're supposed to keep the quality level up as a chain.

[@P.90.603]

@@zibbitybibbitybop The beauty of business is that those that can provide a quality product and a fair price do well. Let the business figure it out!

[@iraqlobster7678]

A Marugame opening within walking distance from my house is one of the best things to happen to me.

[@spiderliliez]

Don't be too confident. Tourists prefer to eat at your restaurant while they are IN JAPAN, not outside.

[@cxluan2]

Marugame is amazing! Would love to have one in Ohio…

[@sharpmom1737]

Please, please, please open Marugame in NC. Pretty please 🙏

[@atomicforever6931]

If you saw behind the counter of any kfc you wouldn’t eat there. They should all be shut down. Pizza Hut too

[@nueat6]

lmao. they are not all the same. different fanchise owner ya du mb a ss

[@peternguyen7515]

Please open in Vietnam. I can’t wait

[@tonyk7ng1803]

They already did long ago. Marugame udon for example is one of their flagship stores

[@jacktran7024]

u cant best PHO and BBH.

[@jdmkIII]

way more healthier options

[@roddizon2242]

Please Open Marugame Ugan restaurant in Las vegas, nevada.

[@Janus1000]

Open one up in Ann Arbor, Michigan please 😋

[@adomokhaija-momoh1954]

Noodle power 🔋

[@salteveline]

Arizona pleeeaasee !

[@fransisco5748]

2:30 whoa I instantly recognize this iconic two stores. It's in Kudanshita, the area where I work 😂

[@DrRichardMarques]

Very cool!

[@acslater017]

Dang 2.5% margins, no wonder the restaurant business is so brutal. They need $40 million in revenue for every $1 million in profit.

[@julianongpin1336]

Yeah but it is almost a staple for japanese i think

[@Stephanie-vn6ir]

No, thank you!

[@brewwatchco]

He needs a BREW watch 😎

[@itsalltakenup]

This entire clip looks like it was made and voiced by AI

[@MrKrtek00]

yeah, very generic info, no real take

[@TenzaBurabura]

I had to check the playback speed, so slow

[@2twony]

it feels illegal to be this early

[@infini.tesimo]

If he can manage to make something like the fast food style places tailored to Western tastes, he could easily put it in all cities as a "general Asian place" to eat as it can be considered exotic to many who don't eat food enough by the country from the Asian region of the world.

[@ismaelhall3990]

not bad

[@YouGotTheCob]

narrator sounds ai generated lmfao

[@jlee104]

seriously is Forbes doing AI content now too?

[@w6341]

Asian casual fast food franchises would decimate western brands.

[@Katcom111]

I support the mom and pop. But Yoshinoya in the U.S isn't like anything in Japan.

[@thunderdemonlover]

Clean & Health Food Will Come But A little Expensive Normal Fast Foods ❤😂🎉😊

[@codylim1]

Finished watching 5:16

[@worgenfreemanms5645]

no thanks, Asian food put too much effort into msg

[@adamsaciid4919]

that's racism

[@tonyk7ng1803]

In case that you have been living under a rock, msg is much higher in tomato to spaghetti sauce and even in cheese like Parmesan. Go take a class in food science in university first then your bias will be humble. Msg is the agent to make you feel satisfaction and satiated without addiction tolerance then why would you not enjoy the food with it more than be depressed with bland salt and pepper? Think about it.

[@lqfr8813]

you got brain dmg even before consuming msg lol

[@wanceterence835]

@@tonyk7ng1803then add protein powder to your steak as well, and "feel" the taste. If you eat Cheetos for snacks you deserve to eat your food with msg

[@8ettieP46e]

MSG is natural and found in lots of food not asian.