Momoyama Ramen & Hawaiian BBQ, a family-run restaurant at 101 E Moreland Rd Ste #F in Willow Grove, has been going strong since February 2021.

The restaurant and its sister location in Havertown were founded by Michael Suen and Don Chen. Chen has run Momoyama Havertown since it opened in 2023.

Suen’s son and marketing director, Carter, came to Willow Grove from Honolulu—the family’s hometown—four months ago to help with his parents’ business. He says his mom “is more or less the manager. She’s like the mom of the whole restaurant. She’ll take care of you.”

“My main focus is to help my parents out. My dad’s been in the restaurant industry for 40 years. He was one of the original chefs for a Hawaii restaurant chain, L&L Hawaiian BBQ. They branched out to the west coast, and even Japan,” Carter told Glenside Local.

Carter said the idea for Momoyama’s ramen came while his father was running a food truck in Oahu.

“He’d been serving the community in Hawaii before he came to Pennsylvania eight years ago. One day someone approached him and offered him a business opportunity to open a restaurant together outside of Hawaii,” he said. “That’s how the ramen part came in.”

In November 2023, Momoyama was featured in an episode of PBS’ “Check Please”. Check out the segment below:

Carter said the restaurant has also been visited by a member of the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad (shown in the feature image) and foodie JL Jupiter.

“JL Jupiter went into one of our sister companies and loved the food. He wanted to try Momoyama since there’s no other place that offers ramen and Hawaiian barbecue,” Carter said.

You can check out his review below:

“People love the food. We have an extensive menu and it’s all fresh. Everyone from the community comes in,” Carter said. “It’s a melting pot, just like Hawaii. It’s really nice to see.”

Carter highlighted Momoyama’s signature homemade chili oil, barbecue mix with chicken and ribs, and ribeye steak ramen.

“I always tell people to try our chili oil. You can put it in anything on our menu. It’s versatile. Some of our menu items are tough to find elsewhere,” he said.

A third Momoyama location may be opening in Pennsylvania down the road “but nothing’s been confirmed,” Carter said.

For more on Momoyama Ramen & Hawaiian BBQ, you can visit their website and Facebook page.

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Photos: Carter Suen