Ramen restaurants are abundant in Ottawa’s downtown core, yet Jinsei Ramen has undoubtedly raised the standards to a new level. There’s a depth of flavour in a broth that can only be achieved through exceptional skill, and that is what the Lee family delivers time and time again at Jinsei Ramen. Speaking with Stella, who co-owns the restaurant with her mother Angela, it’s clear that the two have built a restaurant that prides itself oin their culinary expertise. 

 

After immigrating with her family from South Korea, Stella shares how a ramen restaurant had not initially been in her plans for the future. Stella herself completed a degree in nursing, but she decided to dedicate a year to helping her mother achieve her dreams of opening a restaurant in Canada. Back in South Korea, Angela had earned several national culinary certificates for both Japanese and Chinese cuisine and was determined to not let those skills go to waste.

 

So Angela asked for Stella’s support in getting the business started, and the two started their extensive research process for the best location to open a ramen restaurant in Ottawa. Alongside Stella’s brother, who is a professional ramen chef in Toronto, the family finally settled on the L'Esplanade Laurier complex, but when they were finally ready to make Angela’s dream a reality, the COVID-19 pandemic abruptly brought everything to a screeching halt. 

 

During those three years of uncertainty, Stella and Angela did not let that time go to waste. They spent it meticulously planning the layout of the restaurant, perfecting dishes, and securing the staff they needed to make it happen. Fast forward to March 2023 when Jinsei finally opened its doors, and this mother-daughter duo hit the ground running. The rapid growth of their business has been astounding, and in just one year, Jinsei has added a dinner service, expanded their menu, and enshrined Angela as one of the city’s greatest ramen chefs. 

 

When asking Stella about whether she will return to nursing now that the restaurant has made it through its first year, she remarks how owning a restaurant has surprisingly become fulfilling in ways that nursing couldn’t offer. Comparing both careers, she shares how the restaurant allows her to see people in a happier state, and that she’s able to nourish and care for the public in a way that’s uniquely important to her family and her culture. 

 

Most importantly, seeing her mother happy and getting to build something together in Canada has been the most joyful part of this journey, making the struggles, late nights, and lessons learned all the more worthwhile.