Udon Nomi restaurant in downtown Elgin continues family legacy

It's a new name and concept. But the recently opened Udon Nomi restaurant in downtown Elgin is the continuation of a family legacy.

Udon Nomi fully opened last week in the former location of longtime Elgin favorite Toom Toom Thai, a restaurant that owner Akkarapol Champ had taken over from his mother, Uthatwan "Toom" Wiitanen, in 2019.

The space at 23 S. Grove Ave. sat empty after Toom Toom Thai closed during the pandemic in late 2020.

"I have a strong belief in this location. That's why I never let it go," Champ said. "This place creates that sense of home for a lot of my customers who grew up with my mom's food and who have had my cooking."

The restaurant, which fuses the cuisines of Japan, Korea and Thailand, had been operating on a limited schedule a couple of days a week since late last year as Champ assembled his staff. They officially opened last Wednesday.

"I know my food can really bring everybody together to explore these cultures, these flavors," he said.

Champ says udon is traditional Japanese comfort food generally made at home.

"It's something your mom makes for you in Japan," he said.

Champ infuses traditional Japanese dishes with flavors from Korea and his birth country of Thailand.

"My cooking technique is about flavor layering," he says. "When you taste my food, every bite you take, you taste a different layer or place."

While the menu also offers a variety of ramen dishes, rice bowls and house specialties made fresh to order, it's the udon that Champ is most excited about bringing to the market.

"I can't tell you how much I love udon noodles," said Champ, who learned how to make the noodles from his former Japanese bosses. "And when you love to eat something so much, you start practicing and developing recipes."

Champ, who also owns Thai Neighbor in Oak Park, took over Toom Toom Thai from his mom in 2019 after she retired following 10 years at the location.

But their goal of another generation taking Toom Toom Thai forward was thwarted by COVID. Champ closed the restaurant at the end of 2020 because of the lack of staff.

"A lot of restaurant workers decided they didn't want to be around lots of people anymore," he said. "But I still love what I do, so I stuck around."

Staffing has been difficult even as the pandemic has waned. But after a few months of only being open on Mondays and Tuesdays, he's ready to go full-time. Now the restaurant is open from noon to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

"I believe in the community, and Elgin has a lot to offer," Champ said. "My mom has been here, so it's kind of like continuing the legacy. Now we are making it better in the modern day."