This trendy, laid-back ramen spot serves up flavorful bowls and Japanese snacks with locally sourced ingredients, creating a cozy vibe perfect for a chill night out.
"Otaku was one of the first serious ramen places in town. Now, there are multiple locations, but the Gulch location is typically the busiest. You’ll often find lines for a table here, especially during the winter, when a casual drop-in for a steamy bowl of umami-packed broth and noodles is the perfect antidote to some downright frosty chill. You can’t really go wrong with any of their ramen bowls, but the TN tonkotsu shio is a step above the rest. It’s pork bone broth with a shio salt base, pork confit, woodear mushroom, and a half ramen egg, and you should always make it “monster-style”—the added miso chicken, ground pork, and full-size ramen egg will keep you going through any self-imposed weather-related hibernation. There’s other good stuff on the menu, too, like cool ranch-dusted wontons and plump nuggets of fried boneless chicken thigh with wasabi-yuzu mayo dipping sauce." - Jackie Gutierrez-Jones
"The Gulch’s popular noodle shop offers kids the one thing that’s taboo at so many other restaurants: the ability to loudly slurp a big, steamy bowl of broth. Grab a seat at one of the wooden tables and order up a chocolate boba for your pint-sized partner before pursuing the children’s menu — the kid-size tonkotsu is a winner." - Ellen Fort, Jackie Gutierrez-Jones
"Seeing a ramen bowl-sized gap in the Nashville restaurant scene, Sarah Gavigan debuted Otaku Ramen in East Nashville before it landed permanently in the Gulch. The shoyu tonkotsu with pork confit is heavenly, while the tantanmen is an excellent choice for vegetarians. Those interested in more than noodles should check out the hot chicken buns; the hokkaido milk tea boba is a highlight as well. Otaku also has locations in both East and West Nashville as well as at the Factory in Franklin." - Jackie Gutierrez-Jones, Eater Staff
"With one of the most comprehensive ramen menus in Nashville, the hits at Otaku Ramen (tonkotsu shio, spicy miso) are so beloved that people often forget to try something new. Let this serve as a reminder to do just that. And while you’re at it, add some flavor kicks, protein, and veg to your bowl, like burnt miso butter, whole ramen egg, pork confit, and wood ear mushroom. The East Nashville location has frozen drinks on the menu to help cool things off during the summer months." - Ashley Brantley, Jackie Gutierrez-Jones
"When our plans to stay home and cook fall apart, which truly happens multiple times a week, we usually find ourselves at Otaku Ramen. The small space and warm bowls of ramen give you that “staying in” feeling with much better food than you can make at home—even with that Instantpot your aunt got you and asks about every time you call. This is one of the few dedicated ramen restaurants in the city, and with everything made from scratch and a wide selection of sake, it’s a spot you’ll want to keep coming back to." - Team Infatuation
