Husbands, Co-Owners, and Co-Chefs Paponake MacIntosh and Alan MacIntosh first met in 2015 at an intimate Thai dinner hosted by Alan and held at the local restaurant where Paponake was working. Their shared passion for authentic Asian cuisine sparked not only a personal relationship but a culinary journey that would soon reshape the local food scene.

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Together, they partnered with fellow restaurateur Mayra Ramirez to open Noodle City, the first truly authentic Asian noodlery in Massachusetts built around the principles of the farm-to-table movement. The menu celebrated traditional noodle dishes from Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam, with a focus on seasonal updates, locally sourced ingredients, and a strict no-freezer, no-microwave policy. Alan championed a sustainable kitchen model, believing that the best food comes from the freshest ingredients — grown, raised, and crafted with care.

 

Chef Paponake, originally from Thailand, brings a lifetime of culinary experience to the table. He spent years working in kitchens across Asia — including Japan, China, and Vietnam — before moving to the United States. Many of his recipes are inspired by his early days cooking over charcoal fires with his mother, where every dish was made from scratch with patience and soul. He now blends these time-honored traditions with modern creativity to deliver deeply personal and flavor-packed dishes.

 

Just before Noodle City’s first anniversary, Alan and Paponake acquired full ownership of the restaurant, purchasing Mayra’s share. As part of that transition, the restaurant was rebranded as Doragon Ramen, highlighting their commitment to authentic Japanese noodle dishes. In 2024, the restaurant evolved once again, rebranding as Doragon Eatery to reflect a broader menu that now includes a full range of house-made Asian comfort foods — from ramen and gyoza to Thai-inspired specials and more.