For a while, we've been wanting to try out a ramen house. But our attempts to avoid the anger-inducing Austin traffic that come with venturing North, have kept us away. But as luck, or the ever-growing restaurant scene would have it, Austin's first Japanese brick & mortar ramen house, Ramen Tatsu-Ya, has opened a second location much closer to our corner of Austin, on South Lamar. Just a couple doors down from one of my favorite music spots, The Saxon Pub, right next to a convenience store, sits this tiny shop of deliciousness.
On a random Tuesday, we decided to forgo cooking & try out Ramern Tatsu-Ya. We arrived around 6pm to a short, but fast-moving line. Greeted by a friendly staff member & quickly served drinks while waiting to step inside, we surveyed the menu, conveniently to the building's pillars. Since Andrew & I were both pretty unfamiliar with ramen that doesn't come in a package, we chatted with the hostess, who gave us a run-down of the basics & recommended 'starter' bowls.
After deciding on a couple of Munchie Katsu Sliders to start (I'm so glad we got one for each of us instead of sharing!) I ordered the #1 (Tonkotsu Original) & Andrew got the #2 (Tonkotsu Sho-Yu).
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| Japanese Beer (!) |
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| Munchie Katsu Slider & Japanese Potato Salad. Can you see the 'stop taking photos & let me EAT!' anticipation in Andrew's hands? P.S. This happens often...I take way too many photos. |
Ramen Tatsu-Ya on South Lamar is a fun mix of bright bold red & black, with natural plywood elements. It's a tiny venue, but has a lively vibe, with an open kitchen & friendly staff. After grabbing a couple of seats at the giant communal table in the center of the restaurant, we were swiftly served our appetizers.
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| Munchie Katsu Slider with Japanese Potato Salad. And that authentic green tea pictured was good. Real good. |
These sliders & potato salad were a tasty twist on backyard BBQ favorites. The crispy breaded burgers paired well with the sweet little Hawaiian rolls & that Japanese Potato Salad was a tangy, pickly treat. A great first bite.
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| Tonkotsu Original |
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| Tonkotsu Original |
The broth was full of robust flavor. My bowl had a creamy pork bone base with mushrooms & scallions. The vegetables blended with the ample soup to create a complex & tasty sauce for the delicious & delicate ramen noodles.
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| Ramen Face |
The rich, buttery ajitama egg that accompanied the bowl was a decadent touch that added some character to the meal. And in my opinion, an egg almost always makes a dish better.
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| Ajitama Egg |
We really enjoyed our experience at Ramen Tatsu-Ya & are already planning our second trip back!
