A string of popular restaurants in Melbourne have been forced to close with just 24 hours’ notice after a bitter feud between landlords hit breaking point.
Kikanbo Ramen, which opened just three months ago on La Trobe Street, was sent a legal email stating their lease would be terminated within hours on Friday night.
The viral ramen restaurant was forced to shut mid-service, with staff having to discard hundreds of kilos of fresh produce.
‘We act for your landlord, 260 Latrobe Mercator Pty Ltd. As you are aware, you are occupying the premises pursuant to a sub-lease with our client,’ the email, seen by news.com.au, read.
‘As you may also be aware, the head landlord changed in February 2025 when the building was sold. We regret to inform you that our client has been having issues with the head landlord of the building.
‘Unfortunately, we expect that this is going to result in the head landlord unilaterally terminating our client’s lease, as early as tomorrow. The result of this would be that your sub-lease with our client will also be terminated.’
Kikanbo Ramen is now listed as ‘permanently closed’ online.
Chavalit ‘Top’ Piyaphanee, the co-owner of Thai restaurant R Harn next-door, said the locks were changed at his venue just hours after he received the legal notice.
Kikanbo (pictured) has been a big hit after opening three months ago in Melbourne
R Harn – a Thai restaurant impacted by the closures – issued a statement on social media
Kikanbo (pictured) has been very popular with diners in Melbourne but is now closed
‘It was shocking. We’re pretty screwed. Like watching a movie. We just don’t understand why it’s happening,’ he said.
‘We can’t afford to close, I can’t just accept this.’
The head landlord sent Mr Piyaphanee an email offering to provide him with a new licence, on the condition that he agreed to the new terms.
The licence terms include monthly fees of almost $25,000 and the condition that the licensee ‘may not use any musical instrument, radio, television, public address system or other device likely to be heard or seen outside the venue’.
‘Despite any other provision of this licence, this licence may be terminated at any time by the licensor giving 14 days’ written notice,’ it reads.
Mr Piyaphanee was advised not to accept the new licence by his lawyer.
Machi Machi, Katta Kit and Luke’s Vietnamese, which is yet to open, will also be unable to operate due to the dispute between landlords.
Daily Mail has contacted Mr Piyaphanee and Kikanbo Ramen for further comment.
