Noodle Pig, a fast-casual ramen restaurant, is expected to open in July or August at 601 Bond Ave. NW in Grand Rapids' Monroe North neighborhood. (Brian McVicar | MLive.com)

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Noodle Pig, a ramen restaurant featuring homemade noodles, custom and signature ramen bowls, boba tea and more, is expected to open in Grand Rapids’ Monroe North neighborhood in July or August.

Created by Chris Wessely, an East Grand Rapids City Commissioner and Grand Rapids Community College culinary graduate, the restaurant is a fast-casual concept, where customers can create their own ramen bowl or choose from seven signature options.

“All food will be made in-house, from the noodles to the bone broth,” he said Wednesday, speaking at the Grand Rapids Downtown Development Authority meeting.

Noodle Pig will be on the first floor of 601 Bond Ave. NW, a 16-story apartment building completed in 2019 in the city’s Monroe North neighborhood. It’s next door to Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea, which is also located on the first floor of 601 Bond.

The restaurant also boasts an authentic noodle-making machine, imported from Japan. Wessely said the machine will be placed by the window, likening it to the storefront fudge making displays on Mackinac Island.

“People will actually see us producing it,” he said.

During Wednesay’s DDA meeting, board members recommended a liquor license request for Noodle Pig. The restaurant wants to sell beer, wine, and boozy boba drinks.

One example is the Pau Hana, which includes white Hawaiian rum, orange and pineapple juice, coconut cream and sakura-jelly boba. Boba, as explained by eater.com, is a “bouncy, rubbery, chewy consistency” that is “treasured in Taiwan” and has become popular through non-alcoholic Boba tea.

Another element of Noodle Pig is a focus on charity.

Wessely said he plans to donate part of his sales to charities focused on feeding hungry children.

“For every bowl of ramen purchased, 3 starving children are fed: one locally, one nationally, and one abroad,” according to materials he provided to the DDA. “So as our patrons slurp away to ramen-bliss, they’ll know that they have also made a significant impact in three children’s lives.”

He said between 50 cents and $1 from each ramen bowl sold will be provided to the charities.

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