Aloha Ramen moving into King Falafel space

April 5th, 2009 · 11 Comments

We got a note that King Falafel had closed. Stopped by this morning and saw that the signs were gone and the furniture and equipment was stacked up for moving.

Came by a couple hours later and met Lorenzo, the owner of Aloha Ramen, who was cleaning out the old equipment. He says King Falafel’s owner decided to move back to his home country of Egypt, opening up the space.

Lorenzo, who was born in Hawaii and raised in Okinawa, Japan, has been in the restaurant business for 30 years, including a long stint as a sous chef at the Halekulani Hotel on Waikiki Beach in Oahu. He says he’ll be serving many types of ramen, as well as beef curry.

He’s hoping to open in the beginning of May, but it’s a bit early to nail down a date at this point, he said.

Thanks, Coral, for tipping us on this.

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11 responses so far ↓

1 Aka // Apr 5, 2009 at 10:46 am

As much as we’ll miss the falafel, this is good news. The Halekulani is a five star place. We had the pleasure of dining there for my brother-in-law’s rehearsal dinner AND at his wedding reception. Delicious. Welcome to the neighborhood.
2 sezdog // Apr 5, 2009 at 10:50 am

This sounds WONDERFUL!! Can’t wait for them to open.
3 The Boss of You // Apr 5, 2009 at 2:56 pm

I’ve been saying for a while this neighborhood needs a noodle house.
4 May // Apr 5, 2009 at 8:10 pm

yay! I’m happy a new ramen place is opening in Seattle, let alone in my neighborhood!
5 Mary // Apr 6, 2009 at 8:35 am

Exciting to have a little more diversity in the neighborhood offerings! A ramen joint will fill a void that I didn’t know we had until now. I wonder if the inside will be dressed up a bit for the dine-in folks.
6 Cheryl // Apr 6, 2009 at 12:45 pm

Oh no! King Falafel was the best falafel house in all Seattle!
7 Cedar // Apr 6, 2009 at 1:05 pm

NOOOooooooooooooo! While I’m excited to have a ramen house, I loved King Falafel! This is so sad! I knew he was going home to visit, but not to pack up! Wahhhhhh.
8 Joe // Apr 6, 2009 at 1:53 pm

Well I for one welcome our new ramen overlords and hope that they bring delicious, delicious tonkotsu to our neighborhood. [Currently I have to head down to Samurai Noodle in the ID to get my ramen fix... mmmm porky goodness.... excuse me, I think I need to go find some ramen...]
9 etta // Apr 7, 2009 at 7:45 am

I’m sad about the loss of Alex, too. A major loss.

Hopefully the new ramen place will satisfy the many rameniacs out there.
10 Lembond // Apr 7, 2009 at 12:32 pm

I tried to like King Falafel but I didn’t think it was that great (based upon the falafel and schwarma).

Hope the ramen house is better.
11 Win Harrison // Apr 10, 2009 at 12:16 pm

Ahmed Asfour was a wonderful host, and I loved his shawarma. And the baklava especially. I am very disappointed in the loss, and I wish him the very best.