Famed Ramen Restaurant Finally Opens in Houston

When Austin favorite Ramen Tatsu-ya revealed it’d be opening its first-ever Houston location last year, we immediately enacted a ramen countdown. The restaurant has garnered legions of loyal fans with its addicting (and famous) 60-hour tonkotsu broth, making the eatery’s impending arrival all the more thrilling.

Of course, the waiting game was brutal — when would we finally get to savor the award-winning Japanese soul food that earned Ramen Tatsu-ya a spot on Bon Appetit‘s coveted Top 50 Best Restaurants list?

The time’s here. Co-owners and executive chefs Tatsu Aikawa and Takuya Matsumoto announced today that the restaurant will officially open its new Houston restaurant on Monday, February 20. Aikawa and Matsumoto, both former hip-hop DJs, birthed Ramen Tatsu-ya in 2012, and currently man two Austin outposts. This marks the restaurant brand’s third location and its first foray outside of Austin.

“One of the best things about Houston is its diversity and how it’s celebrated through the city’s food culture,” Aikawa says. “The number of great ramen shops in the city have really built Houston’s ramen scene into something special and we knew this was a community we wanted to be a part of.”

Ramen meets DJ culture with the help of Austin-based design studio McCray & Co., who is also the brainchild behind Tatsu-ya’s first two restaurants. Custom furniture and lighting melds with vibrant murals from Japanese street artist ESOW and Houston-centric piece created by Texas artist Briks alongside a team of local artists. We’re also expecting Ramen Tatsu-ya’s famous rules to be on display: Chopsticks only. Slurp loudly and shamelessly. Never share your ramen.

If you can’t wait until Monday to get your slurp on, Ramen Tatsu-ya hosts its soft opening starting today through Saturday, February 18. Grab menu favorites for 50 percent off from 11 am to 10 pm each day.

We’ll be in line grabbing the brand’s signature ramen, the Tonkotsu Original, made with pork bone broth, chasu, ajitama, wood ear mushrooms, and scallions. Ramen Tatsu-ya, 1722 California Street.

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