Naman Shrestha
Shalom Japan is a New York City-based fusion restaurant owned by Sawako “Sawa” Okochi and Aaron Israel, who created a Matzoh Ball Ramen kit, making it possible for people to prepare restaurant-style Matzoh Ball Ramen in the comfort of their home. In the sixth episode of ABC’s ‘Shark Tank’ season 17, the married owners of the restaurant and founders of the ramen kits pitch their business to the Sharks in front of them, hoping to seal a deal with at least one of them so that they could take the Matzoh Ball Ramen kits to new heights.
Matzoh Ball Ramen: Who Are They and What Do They Do?
When Sawako “Sawa” Okochi and Aaron Israel met in 2011, they were working as chefs. While the former attended college in North Texas before moving to New York, Aaron was raised in Great Neck, New York, and went on to work with several chefs across multiple restaurants in New York City. After they started dating, Sawa introduced Aaron to Japanese culture while he introduced her to the Jewish delis in the Big Apple. As they immersed themselves in each other’s traditions and cultures, they also noticed several similarities and differences. It was at at the Brooklyn Public Library, where they first got the idea of opening a restaurant together.
During a conversation with Green Pointers, Aaron explained, “The idea for the restaurant started at the Brooklyn Library when I pulled a guidebook from 1983. It was a walking tour of the Jewish Lower East Side, and I was interested in the books’s food recommendations. One of the restaurants was called Shalom Japan. The description was ridiculous and hilarious. It was run by a Japanese women who was Jewish and partnered with a rabbi. Shalom Japan was also part night club, and sometimes the Japanese owner would get up and tell jokes. So Sawa and I joked that if we were to open a restaurant, we would call it Shalom Japan. The joke stuck with us.”
It wasn’t until 2013 that the couple opened Shalom Japan on the Southside of the Williamsburg neighborhood in Brooklyn. One of the many dishes that became a favorite amongst the people is the Matzoh Ball Ramen. Noticing that it had become the menu staple, the owners of Shalom Japan decided to make the most of it and create Shalom at Home Matzoh Ball Ramen kits. They allow one to enjoy the namesake dish in their house without having to compromise on the quality of the dish. The process of making from the kit is easy and straightforward — heat up the soup, cook the noodles, and add the toppings. With each kit serving two people, the Matzoh Ball Ramen kits make for a perfect dinner for two.
Related
Matzoh Ball Ramen: Where Are They Now?
The Matzoh Ball Ramen kits are available for purchase at Shalom Japan during restaurant hours. They can also be purchased nationwide on Goldbelly. For instant delivery, people can buy the kits from Grubhub and Uber Eats. While the Classic Matzoh Ball Ramen kit for 2 is available for $79.95, the Spicy Matzoh Ball Ramen Kit for 2 is priced at $84.95. The Classic + Spicy Matzoh Ball Ramen Combo Kit, which serves 4, can be purchased for $129.95.
The James Beard Award-winning chefs Aaron Israel and Sawako Okochi continue to push the boundaries with their Michelin-recognized restaurant, which was recognized by NYT Cooking for their sando. As described by them, “These kits bring together the cozy comfort of traditional matzoh ball soup with the bold, savory flavors of ramen. It’s a delicious mashup that’s perfect for a celebration, a care package or a well earned post-ceremony slurp!”
