How Li's Buffet Replaced Its Sushi Station with a Self-Serve Ramen Bar

Li's Buffet in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania replaced its sushi station with a self-serve ramen bar built on NEO CUCINA Pro. After a 9-day soft opening, the owner added two more machines. In its first three months, the buffet ordered 1,500 ramen bowls.

"The self-serve ramen station has created a lot of excitement, and we're even adding two more machines this week because of the interest."

Li's Buffet owner, after the 9-day soft opening

At a glance

Why a buffet swapped sushi for ramen

A buffet sells one price at the door, so every station is there to make the visit worth it. A ramen bar gives guests something new to do: they pick a noodle, add toppings and cook their own bowl in a few minutes.

It also changes the work behind the station. Sushi has to be made and refilled through the day. The ramen bar needs a stocked shelf of packaged noodles, a fridge of toppings and fresh bowls. Guests do the cooking.

A local food writer who reviewed the new station summed it up:

"It's one of those additions that just makes sense."

From a food group review on Facebook, July 2026

How the station is set up

Everything in the photo at the top of this page fits on one counter:

• The machine. A NEO CUCINA Pro showing the buffet's own logo on its screen.
• Water. Fed from a standard water jug behind the machine.
• A four-step sign. Place the bowl, add ramen and seasoning, tap the cook button, stir. First-time guests read it before they start.
• A small toppings fridge. Roasted pork, chicken, shrimp, egg, hot dog, and peas and carrots, each in a labeled tray.
• Dry toppings. Labeled jars of fried onion, sesame seeds, green onion, garlic, ginger and cilantro.
• Utensils and a trash bin at the end of the counter.

What happened after opening

Li's Buffet ordered its first machine with a box of 300 bowls in early July and ran a 9-day soft opening. The owner's report afterward: many first-time guests, a lot of excitement at the station, and a decision to add two more machines that same week. In early October, the buffet ordered another 600 bowls.

Tips from Li's first weeks

• Keep the bowl on the plate until the cycle ends. Guests are new to the machine. A line on your sign asking them to wait for the finish screen keeps the station running smoothly.
• Expect people to watch the screen. First-time guests follow every step, so a clear sign next to the machine saves staff from explaining it.
• Put your brand on it. The Pro screen can show your logo, so the station looks like part of your restaurant. See how to brand a ramen station.

Could this work in your restaurant?

If you have a station that needs a person to keep it going, or a corner that guests walk past, a self-serve ramen bar can take its place. You need counter space and a suitable outlet for each machine; if you run several, have an electrician check your circuits. Buffets can include it in the meal price. Restaurants and cafes can charge per bowl. See how much a ramen station can make.

See NEO CUCINA Pro pricing or see more ramen station setups.