A new authentic Japanese restaurant and bar has opened in Swansea’s Uplands in time for the Christmas holidays. Ryugin means “dragon’s roar” and is the latest venture of well-known local businessman Frank Nishimura, owner of the popular Nishimura restaurant which recently relocated from Brynmill to Mumbles.
Ryugin fills an empty unit previously occupied by Maisie’s Streetfood and Bar on Uplands Crescent, which Frank dubs “second Wind Street”. Surrounded by other independent businesses and several restaurants, Frank says his new location is “perfect” and he is looking forward to welcoming new and old customers through his doors.
Whilst regulars of the old Nishimura on Bryn-y-mor Road, Brynmill restaurant may be disappointed to know the restaurant there closed down last month – they’re sure to be pleased to know the new Ryugin restaurant and bar serves the same menu people know and love from Nishimura.
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“It’s the same menu as Nishimura,” Frank said. “Exactly the same! We’ve got a range of authentic Japanese dishes like sushi, sashimi, Bento boxes, King Prawn tempura and our Chef’s Specials as well. And at the bar, we have Japanese sake, Japanese whisky [as well as the more well-known bar drinks].”
Frank opened Nishimura restaurant on Bryn-y-mor Road eight years ago and moved the restaurant to a bigger unit in Mumbles earlier this year to keep up with demand. Whilst he initially planned to keep the Bryn-y-mor Road restaurant open, he recently decided to close it down in order to focus on the new Nishimura in Mumbles and Ryugin in Uplands as they’re in better locations, he said.
“I love it here! Everything is close: there’s Costa, bars, supermarkets, restaurants – it’s like a second Wind Street! There’s people of different ages and we get more students here!” he said. “When we moved to Mumbles, it was great to have a bigger place, but our customers in Brymill said it was too far for them. So we wanted to have somewhere in SA1/SA2 area – this place [39 Uplands Crescent] became available and we spent six weeks refurbishing it.”
“It’s double the size of Nishimura on Bryn-y-mor Road, we’ve got 40 seats here at Ryugin. It’s the same menu as Nishimura Bryn-y-mor Road but in a better location.”
Explaining the appearance of the new restaurant, Frank said he chose a “modern Japanese” look with oak tables and wine-coloured chairs. He’s also put up a large TV screen showing beautiful videos of the Japanese landscape and a pull-down screen that will show some of the larger football and rugby games.
“You don’t have to go to Japan, you just need to come here!” Frank joked. “We’ve got Japanese food, Japanese sake, Japanese whisky. There’s Japanese music playing and Japanese videos on the screen. Come and try our new restaurant, I’m very, very proud!”
Ryugin is located on 39 Uplands Crescent and is open Monday, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5pm to 10pm (closed Tuesdays), and on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 12.30pm to 10pm.
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