Hai Hai

Hai Hai is a ramen and izakaya restaurant in Paddington, Brisbane, built around Japanese noodle soup and a broader menu of small dishes. The kitchen focuses on lighter-style broths rather than a single house formula, with a delicate 24-hour tonkotsu alongside clear shio and shoyu soups. The result is a useful spread of ramen styles for diners who prefer different levels of richness and seasoning.

Vegetarian and vegan diners are catered for with bowls described as full of flavour, while the izakaya and small-dish menu gives the meal another direction beyond ramen. Hai Hai says it combines Japanese flavours with Western techniques, and Western influences with Japanese ones, using the side-dish menu as a place to experiment. That makes it suitable for someone after a full bowl of noodles, as well as for a lighter snack and a drink. The website does not provide enough detail about the dining room to describe its layout or atmosphere accurately.

The restaurant’s story is tied to a long-standing interest in the variety of ramen found across Japan. Its team was drawn to the care involved in making each component, but also to the individuality of different shops and chefs. Rather than following one strict version of ramen, Hai Hai takes inspiration from regional styles, including the rich Sapporo approach, Tokyo-style soy-based broth and Kyushu tonkotsu. That outlook is reflected in a menu intended to offer different flavours and techniques rather than one fixed interpretation.

Hai Hai began in 2016 and is run by people who are passionate about ramen, while remaining open to interpretations beyond strict tradition. For Paddington locals and visitors, it suits ramen enthusiasts wanting to compare broth styles, vegetarians and vegans looking for a noodle bowl, and diners who prefer sharing or grazing from izakaya dishes. The restaurant also offers online ordering, with the site noting that some dishes, deals and options vary between its Paddington and West End stores.