Ramen has become pretty popular in recent years – so much so that restaurants are popping up all over the state. But have you gone to a hotspot where the menu is created by a teen?
Matthew Cheung, who is going into his senior year at Millburn High School, has lit up downtown Westfield at Sum Ramen. He has always enjoyed cooking and trying new things in the kitchen. He learned much of his skill through self-teaching, YouTube videos, and help from his mom. He’s worked most Fridays and Saturdays from middle to high school, and plans to continue his cooking despite a rigorous schedule in high school, including 12 AP classes.
Matthew is supported by his mom Sum Yueng, and together she approves what’s on the menu while he inspires the dishes. Sum opened her first restaurant with her husband Kwan, a Chinese restaurant in Denville. She then moved to Millburn where she’s run Sakura Japanese Restaurant for 18 years. After being taught by Japanese Michelin star chefs, she used her knowledge to open Sum Ramen, which is based on traditional ramen culture and includes parts of her Chinese background.
The family opened their first location in Millburn in 2020, while Westfield opened last last year.
Some of Matthew’s creations include matcha panna cotta, Korean cold noodles, cold mixed ramen, coffee-rubbed steak, and a seared cod with pea lime purer and endives. His favorite things to cook include anything within East Asian cuisine but he also likes to challenge himself with fine dining dishes.
The newest summer item is Dan-Dan Mazeman, a summer chilled brothless ramen adapted from the famous Chinese Szechuan dan dan mian, with spicy spiced ground pork, scallions, sesame and soy garlic sauce, bonito nori flakes, bok choy, and fried lotus root. Also on the menu is Zaru Soba, cold buckwheat soba noodles with Mentsuyu dipping sauce.
Recently, Sum and Kwan have been asking Matthew and his two brothers for their opinions and advice on family business matters. “This allowed us to express our creative business ideas which we knew would better our business. We brothers feel appreciated and grateful that our family business has connected the family bond,” Matthew said.
Working together as a family has brought them closer in many ways. “Growing up as kids, Sum and Kwan were always busy with the restaurant and we spent a lot of time with our grandparents. As we grew up and became more involved in the family business, it became a blessing; it allowed everybody to spend more time with each other. For instance, we have been having dinner at Sakura or Sum Ramen with our family and friends every Friday night for over 7 or 8 years. The satisfaction of sitting down knowing after a busy shift with your family at work is unmatched,” Matthew said.
Sum Ramen is located at 9 Elm St. in Westfield and 188 Essex St. in Millburn.
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