Bokujo Ramen: The First Restaurant in Rapid to Be Visited by Fame

By Callie Schull and Lindon Welch

Have you ever wondered what South Dakota’s bison, pork, and buffalo would taste like in ramen? Probably not. But, if you do like ramen and buffalo meat, Bokujo is the place for you. Located on Mt. Rushmore Road in Rapid City, Bokujo was opened by Justin Warner and his wife, Brooke. The restaurant has been open since 2021, serving ramen with a bit of a local twist. Bokujo isn’t just any traditional Japanese restaurant. The noodles at this attraction aren’t made with your typical Japanese ingredients- Instead, it’s forged from entirely local foods! Not only is it flavored with meats of the native animals like bison and beef, but the side ingredients are all local as well. Everything from the vegetables to the eggs was purchased from all-natural farms in South Dakota. 

On the topic of cuisine, I’m sure that you’ve all heard of cooking shows or review shows, right? All of you have probably watched one. But what about this one: “Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives”? DDD is a show on the Food Network, hosted by Guy Fieri. Guy Fieri is an American restaurant owner and television presenter. Since 2007, Guy has been the host of the food network show known as Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. As of 2023, there are 419 episodes- Including an episode on Bokujo!

DDD’s episode covering Bokujo Ramen aired on September 15th, 2023. Quickly following the release of the episode, Bokujo’s popularity went through the roof. Who’d have ever thought that a small ramen house in the middle of South Dakota would get the privilege of being featured on Guy Fieri’s TV show- Let alone be the first restaurant in Rapid City to receive such attention?

As noted, Bokujo is a ramen house- But not a Japanese-style one. I’ve stated before that the ramen at Bokujo is prepared with all-local ingredients. Their flavors range from Beef-Bone ramen to Bison meat ramen- All topped with a soft-boiled egg. What really makes Bokujo unique is the fact that the place mixes Japanese and American cultures flawlessly. The restaurant has notable Japanese decorations, all while laid out like your everyday American restaurant. The place serves not only American-ingredient noodles but also Japanese-style desserts. The entertainment in the restaurant is usually an old film from Japan- Accompanied by recent popular music here in South Dakota.

In any case, the food, composition, theme, and overall feel of the restaurant are definitely unique. So, be sure to free some time in your plans to get your hands on a bowl of Bokujo ramen today- Before the demands are through the roof!