A fast-casual ramen franchise founded more than a decade ago here is opening its first “express” version of itself at 40 Gold between Fulton and John in the next few weeks. And this one will be kind of a mini fast-food hall as well.

Kyuramen Express will bring its “Japanese comfort food to guests in a faster, more convenient format.” It’s a spinoff of the original Kyuramen, founded in 2014 by Chinese-American and New Yorker Gary Lin. There are now more than 120 locations of Kyuramen across the country and 11 in the city. (Lin also founded the bubble tea chain Tbaar in Brooklyn in 2006.)

And wait, there’s more: this same spot will have a branch of Aokō Matcha, the gelato shop that opened in the West Village last year and has lines around the block, and a new concept called Bao Dumplings, offering dumplings, steamed buns and rice bowls inspired by Chinese comfort foods.

The original Kyuramens set out to offer styles ramen from a variety of regions of Japan. Lin said in 2020 that he hoped the company would become “Starbucks of ramen in the U.S.” The menu here will include ramen, of course, as well as rice bowls, sushi and combo meals.

A bit of explanation: kyū is the Japanese word for nine, and the original restaurants offered nine ramen flavors. The booths in those restaurants are shaped like honeycombs, though I am not sure the Express locations will have room for that…