Matthew W.
Yelp
Easily one of my favorite Japanese spots in Dallas!
So far, I've tasted the gyoza, Waya buns, mackerel, Spicy Dan Dan, spicy black garlic tonkotsu ramen, and spicy curry ramen.
The Waya buns were filled sweet and tender meat (pulled pork). Buns were a little stale, but the sauce and texture of the meat more than made up for it.
The mackerel was tangy, yet sweet and full of flavor. Fishy in a good way. Would've been good with rice, however. If you want a show, your server toasts/cooks it in person, which is really cool (as you can see by the picture), and confirms you'll have it as fresh and warm as possible.
The gyoza is standard fare, but comes with a crispy skin (likely the oiled batter from the pan) to cover it, which is aesthetically neat.
The Spicy Dan Dan broth was thick and oily, very heavy and has enough of a kick to make you drink your water (but I'd pair it with a asahi beer, cold sake, or even a ramune). Noodles were soft rather than chewy but had substantial texture. Would strongly recommend mixing thoroughly before eating. The chef also knows ramen well; I judge good ramen places by how they can make their soft boiled eggs, and while mine was very slightly overboiled, I think it was near perfect.
The Black garlic tonkotsu ramen was much lighter with a more liquid broth than the other ramen I've tried here. The flavor was smoky, almost bitter and concentrated at the bottom. Still scrumptious but again, make sure to stir well!
The Spicy curry ramen was very hearty and heavy, almost thick enough to be considered a stew rather than a soup. It's not overly spicy, so even those sensitive to spice can probably stomach it, but obviously, it does have a kick. You can also ask for the spice on the side for most of their spice dishes.
Staff were very friendly and helpful; you'll notice that the chef and host(ess) will both greet you when you come in and their attitudes are much more welcoming than other establishments. Their staff is very attentive and whenever I've asked for a takeout container (I've even asked for a container for a single gyoza), it's done with a smile, a napkin/utensil, and bag. Their plastic containers are reusable and fairly good quality too. Their customer service should not be overlooked.
The food has always come out quickly whenever we visit. Parking was plentiful, since there's street parking at the front and rear of the restaurant. As an izakaya, it doesn't have much seating, so it's not ideal for parties larger than 4.
Overall, if you're tired of reading, don't take my word for it. Just go and try it out for yourself. You'll find that, like me, you'll be a regular after a visit or two here!
