Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya (Tacoma Mall)

Kizuki Ramen and Izakaya Opens a Tacoma Restaurant | Eater Seattle

"I note that a respected Japanese chain, Kizuki Ramen and Izakaya, has opened another Puget Sound–area restaurant in the Tacoma Mall, officially opening yesterday at 4502 S. Steele St, Suite 501A (next to Jamba Juice). It carries the same menu as the company’s other locations, with a variety of ramen styles and izakaya options like chicken wings, edamame, agedeshi tofu, gyoza, and more. Despite being a large chain, Kizuki does ramen well—it's earned a place on Eater Seattle’s list of 8 Elite Ramen Restaurants in the area—and standouts at the Tacoma spot include the garlic tonkotsu shoyu and yuzu shio. The chain founded its first area location in Bellevue in 2012 and expanded quickly to Northgate, Capitol Hill, and beyond; it was founded as Kukai Ramen and Izakaya but changed its name in 2016 in part because “kukai” means “poop” in Hawaiian." - Megan Hill