Address: | 2713 E 2nd St, Austin, TX 78702, USA |
Phone: | +1 512-893-5561 |
Site: | kemuri-tatsuya.com |
Rating: | 4.6 |
Working: | Closed Closed 5:30–11PM 5:30–11PM 5:30PM–12AM 5:30PM–12AM 5:30–11PM |
SA
Samuel W. Knowlton
Kemuri Tatsu-Ya is a well-executed business plan that is capitalizing on the hordes of people in Austin looking for something new and exciting to do, and by that metric, theyre a huge success. We were lucky to get a table at 5:45 PM on a Friday night (and had there been more than two of us, we wouldve waited with the dozen or so people outside). We spent a couple weeks in Japan recently and enjoyed the Izakaya (aka Japanese Gastropub) we found there. Some were large and corporate but most were very informal or just holes in the wall with a counter and a grumpy chef. Kemuri Tatsu-yas addition of Texas-style smoked meats is an interesting, novel, and mostly successful adaptation. The one big disconnect between Kemuri and every Izakaya we visited in Osaka and Tokyo (hardly budget destinations) is the astounding price Kemuri collects for the experience. You arent getting out of there with dinner and drinks for two for less than $100, and thats for a lot of small plates. Thats fine, and clearly Kemuri hit the mark given how many people are lining up to pay it. But "pub" it aint, and part of the charm of an izakaya is the atmosphere: while excruciating attention was paid to the decor (including the samurai mask on a giant pair of antlers mounted to the wall), Kemuri is a precision operation designed to separate discriminating hipsters from their money and thats fundamentally not an izakaya -- its yet another "scene restaurant." That alone doesnt warrant any reduction in score, since its quite clear that people go bananas for a well-executed concept that isnt like anything else in town. If you want to take some visitors out and show them something very probably unlike anything theyve seen in Texas, Kemuri is a good bet. But as a restaurant where you go to eat a meal, it cant justify the cost of admission on the food alone. $100 will get you a top notch meal at Vespaio or (just down the street) Juniper, or any number of Sushi joints in town; I was even comfortable paying even more than Kemuri prices for the omakase dinner at Kyoten. Places like Kemuri are the Mercedes of restaurants -- the product is great and the people are swell, but youre paying for the "experience," and for my money a 4- or 5- star restaurant needs to offer a first rate meal rather than just tasty novelties.
VA
Vanessa Goldberg
I love Tatsu-Ya Ramen, so when I saw Kemuri opened up, I was pretty excited. The layout of the menu is designed to be worked down - meaning you order some of the small plates from the top first, then middle, then bottom. I went with a group, and we started with some of the munchies and skewers. The pickle plate and the Shrooms and bacon skewer were excellent. I could have eaten 5 of the shrooms and bacon skewers. We moved on to some of the items from the smoked category - the BBQ boat was pretty great. Our boat came with eel, brisket, and pork loin. I would not recommend the pork loin, but the other two were delicious. The brisket completely fell apart in my mouth - excellent. We tried a handful of other things, but my favorite thing of the night was the Classic Karaage Chicken. The chicken was crispy and well seasoned. We tried some weird things too - monk fish liver, a raw pickled octopus... the waitress was very helpful in pointing us in the right direction as far as the odd things to try. It became a tasting adventure. Go in with an open mind and try as many odd things as you can. It is fun!
RO
Robert Cairns
This small asian-inspired restaurant has excellent food and a great atmosphere. Unfortunately, it torpedoes itself with laughably small portions in a restaurant that claims its food is meant to be shared. Patrons will be disappointed when they receive plates that are not even adequate for a single person let alone the table. I do not comprehend how a person can expect to eat an entire meal here. Great food, great atmosphere, unfortunately not enough food. $100 later the three of us received an excellent appetizer, then went and got barbecue at a restaurant that understands what an adult portion is.
KA
karubah
Come for the dining experience. Dont expect to leave full. This is another great gastro pub popup that seems to be becoming a thing in Austin. The decor and setting are great. Drink selection of Japanese beers, sake, and spirits is fitting. Food selection is great for anyone looking for something unique. Check out their exotic side menu for evidence of that. The only downside to me is that the food is not filling, which is to be expected at a small plate bar/restaurant. So come for the dining experience of Japanese cuisine but maybe have a little something waiting at home to munch on just in case.
AN
Andrew King
Kemuri is a welcome addition to the Tatsu-Ya family -- if youre coming here for ramen, youll be let down. Kemuri is a tapas and more "experimental" culinary endeavor, meant to date the palate, take a date, or just decompress after work. The offerings and selection are varied and fantastically obscure, ranging from tried and true sashimi portions (while they last), to the adventurous "Chinmi" menu with exotic items such as "ray jerky" and "shio kara". Nothing here is a miss, but its definitely for the more "audacious of palate", and definitely worth a visit.
RO
Rocia Collins
Disappointed as Hell. I make a reservation for 5 and get there and we wait 30minutes. Then they sit us down in a 4 seat booth. Hostesses were extremely rude. Plus I brought a cake and they prevented me from bringing it inside. And take it from me a place it outside. Outside! Even after ordering a $75 bottle of Soke they treated us like Cattle. So we decided that after all of this just to leave. Dont make a reservation here its pointless...also dont plan on taking anyone special here for any special event.
EM
emily jackson
I liked what I ordered (mackerel, onigiri) however, portions were exasperatingly small. I have always liked the ramen tatsuya restaurants and their selections, but I wont be coming back to kemuri: I left feeling unsatisfied. There was a table of very very loud people in town for a bachelorette weekend which made the experience less than enjoyable. Overpriced for the experience that we had. But still tasty. Just not enough of it and not a lot of non-meat options.
RI
Rico Allan Lajom
This is the best Izakaya Ive been to! Very impressive menu! Amazing atmosphere! The walls are decorated in a Japanese-Texan mashup that actually look good and not tacky. Must try: fried chicken balls, poke bowl, jellyfish, and cucumber w octopus salad! Note that they dont serve warm sake, just cold. Get the grapefruit sour drink! Very good and refreshing. You get to squeeze the grapefruit yourself!
BR
Brandon Parry
Kemuri Tatsu-Ya is a great place based on an Izakaya which is a type of Japanese bar with a variety of small dishes served to accompany the alcoholic drinks with a Texas twist and barbecue smoke stained walls. If youre craving something different, go here! Its delicious and fun with a group! Thank you Shion for bringing us another great place to eat! @divohaute Instagram
AN
Anh Kato
Food and service was great. This place is japanese texas fusion tapas/izakaya joint. Pretty perfect for Texas. We tried so many things and it was all good. I would totally recommend the chicken karage. Its the best Ive had in a long time. Tried both the ramens and they were delicious. Definitely returning to this place to try other items on the menu.