Ramen Tatsu-Ya’s Opening a Japanese Curry Patio Bar Restaurant

Beloved Austin noodle soup shop Ramen Tatsu-ya is charging forward with its next restaurant: a patio bar and restaurant serving Japanese curries and highball cocktails called Domo Alley-Gato, found right next door to the East Austin shop on 1600 East 6th Street starting on Saturday, December 8.

The patio’s kitchen, dubbed Karē Ban Ban, is found in a food truck hidden behind a storefront facade. The main star of the menu is the Japanese curry, made with 23 spices. Curry options include beef, katsu, vegetables, and even the giant kitchen sink option; a curry chili hot dog (Ban Ban Dog); chicken wings, and some vegetable items.

The Japanese-inspired cocktail menu, from beverage director Michael Phillips, focuses on highballs and mix-and-match Chu-Hi drinks (house tonics and spirits). There are fun flavored frozen beer foam boilermakers, sakes, and more too.

The space, designed by McCray & Co., is meant to feel like a yokocho (Tokyo alley) with a Japanese tachinomiya (standing bars found in Japan). There are some tables underneath the covered patio entrance, plus booths and the standing bar outside, as well as a second-floor area.

Julia Keim

There’s a major cat theme throughout Domo, from the giant maneki-neko holding the state of Texas at the entrance (designed by Blue Genie), walls lined with smaller maneki-nekos designed by local Austin artist Teruko Nimura, black cat wallpaper behind the bar, and more.

Co-owners and co-chefs Tatsu Aikawa and Takuya Matsumoto, and the rest of the team created a third Ramen Tatsu-ya from what had been the former Kuneho/Qui restaurant space. The team teased that they were doing something with the patio earlier, but nothing had been revealed until now.

Initially, Domo will open with food discounts on Saturday, December 8, Sunday, December 9, and Wednesday, December 12. Full hours will be from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

Next up for the team is that South Lamar tiki bar, and the potential-though-officially-unconfirmed hot pot restaurant for Burnet Road.

Julia Keim

• Domo Alley-Gato [Official]
• Domo Alley-Gato [Facebook]
• Domo Alley-Gato [Instagram]
• Domo Alley-Gato [Twitter]
• All Coverage of Ramen Tatsu-ya [EATX]