Little bit about myself and my shop
Hi everyone, I’m Payesone M. Hakamata, and this shop is where I get to share my ramen dream with you.
I was born in Tokyo, where my dad worked at a ramen shop. My very first bowl at age four left such an impression on me that ramen has been my favorite food ever since. Growing up, a small neighborhood shop inspired me even more, and that passion never left.
When I moved to the U.S. as a teenager, I realized ramen here felt different from what I knew back home. That’s when I promised myself: one day, I’d share the kind of ramen that’s warm, nostalgic, and made with care—the way I grew up loving it.
After years in kitchens and The Culinary Institute of America, a friend once asked me, “Have you ever truly made your own ramen?” That simple question set me on the path of creating bowls from scratch, chasing the flavors I remembered from Tokyo.
It’s been a long journey—and it’s still ongoing—but now I’m here in Bethesda, serving you the ramen that shaped my life. I hope every bowl brings you the same comfort and joy it once brought me.
People often ask me, “What does ZAO mean?”
Let me share the story with you.
The first kanji, “蔵”, represents a place where traditions are carefully kept. The second, “王”, means “the best” or “the strongest of its kind.” Together, they capture what we strive for here at ZAO: honoring the wisdom passed down from the incredible people I’ve learned from, while adding touches of modern culinary techniques to create something uniquely ours.
That’s why every bowl we serve is built from scratch—homemade noodles, broths, carefully crafted tare, and toppings sourced from both local farms and Japan.
Our menu is designed to be both familiar and personal, shaped by years of study, testing, and tasting. From the style of noodles to the way we prepare each chashu or egg, every detail matters. And while we’re proud of what we’ve built, we’re always learning, growing, and working to make each bowl even better—because at the end of the day, our goal is simple: to make you happy through ramen.
At the bottom of our ramen bowls, you’ll find the word ‘Gratitude’ written by my wife Shiho.
It appears only when you finish the noodles and savor the last drop of soup—a quiet message from us to you.
It carries our gratitude for the ingredients, for you, and for being able to serve ramen every day.
