Business is booming at Tonkotsu – and it’s not just the ramen that’s heating up. Between new restaurant openings, award-winning chilli oil and an ever-growing team, it’s clear this brand’s secret sauce is more than broth. We sat down with the Tonkotsu team to chat about growth, recruitment, and why Candid has become part of their journey.

💡 The Challenge: Growing without using losing the soul

“It’s because we try to keep it simple and focus on the right things: great authentic food and happy team members. We’re lucky to have great leaders in the business, starting from Emma and Ken who ensure that Tonkotsu maintains its identity whilst growing – it’s a family. And let’s face it, who doesn’t enjoy a steaming bowl of homemade ramen?”

With so much positive momentum, keeping up with growth naturally means bringing new people into the Tonkotsu family. But recruitment, as many hospitality leaders know, can be tricky.

“There is only so much we can find out during the recruitment process. Even when taking all the steps to assess somebody’s skills and whether they are a culture fit, we can sometimes get it wrong. As we grow, the culture piece remains at the forefront of what we do, recruiting around that is essential for us.”

Trieu, Head Of People @ Tonkotsu

🚀The Switch: why Candid?

When asked what drew them to Candid, the team’s response was clear:

📈 The result: A match worth slurping over

Enter Deeksha, now Assistant Manager in Birmingham.

Interestingly, Deeksha also applied directly via Indeed but didn’t make it through to an interview. Through Candid, however, Tonkotsu saw her application in a different light.

⚙️Why it worked?

For Tonkotsu, the recipe for success goes far beyond a great CV:

Kindness first. “We want people that care about people – is the candidate a genuinely nice person? We believe kindness goes a long way.”

Culture over credentials. “Experience is relevant, of course, but always secondary. As we grow, recruitment is the key to keeping hold of our culture.”

A family mindset. “Our GMs set the tone in their restaurant and create that atmosphere. We also take time to listen – with feedback groups and GM lunches with the owners – because our teams’ views on developing Tonkotsu are vital.”

👋Welcoming the new crew

When it comes to onboarding, Tonkotsu puts as much care into people as they do their noodles.

“Our managers or head chefs dedicate two to three hours to onboard new team members on their first day, giving them an overview of Tonkotsu – and of course, the unavoidable health and safety bit before training begins. We also run a monthly induction where new hires meet Ken and Emma and hear the story of how Tonkotsu was born.”

And there’s more to come: “We’re also devising another element for before managers start – watch this space!”

✨Looking ahead

Tonkotsu continues to thrive with new openings and exciting innovations on the horizon:

“We’re opening a new restaurant in Birmingham Grand Central in November – our biggest yet in terms of covers – and then Cardiff early next year! We’ve also got a calendar of seasonal specials, including a very exciting Christmas special.”

But through it all, the essence remains the same – ramen made with love, by people who love what they do.

“It’s about homemade ramen, comforting broths, and an incredible team of people who make it happen. We make our noodles fresh every day – you can even watch them being made in our Noodle Room at Tonkotsu East. Emma and Ken are still the heart of the business, keeping our values front and centre: serving real ramen with heart and soul in every bowl.”

💬Final thoughts

For Tonkotsu, Candid isn’t just a recruitment tool – it’s a way to keep culture at the heart of growth.

Candid only serves roles to candidates who are a match on Culture, Competencies and Compensation (The Three C’s). Ensuring minimal wasted time and a sky high conversion rate. Only two candidates match with this particular role, meaning a 50% conversion from applicants to hire – the stuff of dreams. 

As the team continues to grow and innovate, one thing’s clear: at Tonkotsu, the people are as warm and genuine as the ramen.