One Of America's Best New Restaurants Is Right Here In Texas
By Katie Lawrence|Published January 06, 2018
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Katie Lawrence
Author
Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. She attended college in the Houston area and began writing for OnlyInYourState in 2015.
Today, Katie writes, edits, and performs several other tasks for OnlyInYourState and has never been more passionate about a job before. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on with a hot cup of coffee, practicing yoga, baking, or exploring the beautiful Lone Star State (in particular, the vast and mystical West Texas desert).
Admit it, we Texans can get a bit stuck in our ways when it comes to food. We tend to eat the same things over and over again — barbecue, chili, burgers, etc. But what if we made 2018 the year that we branch out and try new things? Ramen Tatsu-ya in Austin is a great place to start. It’s a Japanese sushi and meat bar with an interesting twist, and it was voted Restaurant of the Year last year by Eater Austin.
It's a Texas-Japanese fusion restaurant located in a former barbecue restaurant in East Austin. The building is pretty unassuming, so be on the lookout or else you might miss it.
Once you step inside, the party starts. The chefs live double lives as hip-hop DJs, so you know the choice of music will be good. Look around at the walls covered in maps of Japan, beer advertisements, Texas license plates, and plenty of other odd juxtapositions to pass time as you wait for a table.
As far as food goes, they have some of the most interesting menu items you've ever seen. These are several different kinds of skewers — beef tongue, miso-marinated scallop, pork belly, and more.
You'll also find plenty of smoked meats to choose from. We're used to that in Texas, but not quite like this. BBQ eel, duck breast with orange sauce, brisket with Japanese BBQ sauce, and pork ribs with a Gochujang pepper rub are just a few of the options.
Other selections include "Guaca-poke," a bowl full of tuna, wasabi, avocado, pickled red onion, and sprouts, chili-cheese octopus fritters, sticky rice tamales, and more.
And last but certainly not least, the ramen is probably the most popular dish. It has brisket in it! That's easily one of the most genius mash-ups we've ever seen.
Kemuri Tatsu-ya is also the only restaurant in Austin that serves shochu, a specialty Japanese liquor. Three different types are offered: barley, buckwheat, and potato. It's worth a try, for sure!
The address is 8557 Research Blvd, Ste 126, Austin, TX 78758. Have you ever been to Ramen Tatsu-Ya? Are there any other interesting fusion restaurants in Texas worth a try?
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