sweet and spicy yodas

Austin ramen institution steams into Memorial with new location

Ramen Tatsu-ya is coming to Town & Country.

Photo by Carla Gomez

Memorial’s already red-hot dining scene will soon be home to another inner loop favorite. Ramen Tatsu-ya will open its second Houston-area location in Town & Country Village (600 West Sam Houston Pkwy North, #605).

Scheduled to open in "winter 2025," the new Ramen Tatsu-ya will build on the success of the restaurant’s Montrose location that opened in 2017. Ever since, Houstonians have lined up for steaming bowls of noodles built around the restaurant’s signature tonkotsu broth, which takes up to three days to prepare, according to a release.

The menu also includes small plates such as sweet and spicy Brussels sprouts, karaage, and gyoza. Tatsu-ya recently upgraded the beverage options in Montrose with Maine Root sodas, non-alcoholic sips such as lemongrass-cucumber limeade and strawberry-yuzu lemonade, and new frozen drinks.

“Almost immediately after joining the team in January 2021, I knew there was enough demand to expand the Ramen Tatsu-Ya footprint in Houston,” Houston general manager Todd Patterson said in a statement. “We’re stoked to have found a place to make our ramen accessible to more Houstonians while we continue to bring enhancements to our Montrose location.”

Founded in 2012 by chefs Tatsu Aikawa and Takuya Matsumoto, Ramen Tatsu-ya took Austin by storm. Fans lined up an hour or more to get a bowl of soup, and the restaurant earned a spot on Bon Appetit’s 2013 list of the country’s best new restaurants. Currently, the restaurant has seven locations, including a Round Rock outpost that opened last year. “Many more” will follow in the years to come, according to a release.

The last year or so has been a busy time for new restaurants opening in the Memorial area. Ramen Tatsu-ya will join new eateries such as Bar Bludorn, Credence, Relish Restaurant & Bar, and a second location of Montrose barbecue favorite The Pit Room.

news-you-can-eat openings ramen tatsu-ya

where to drink on margarita day

7 Houston bars and restaurants shaking up National Margarita Day deals

Courtesy of Mexican Sugar

Mexican Sugar invites patrons to mix a margarita tableside for National Margarita Day.

Not every special food or drink day needs to be celebrated. While National Quiche Lorraine Day (May 20) might be easily skipped, National Margarita Day (Saturday, February 22) is a must — especially here in Houston. Restaurants and bars across the city are raising a glass to this beloved cocktail with specials, and we’ve gathered a few of the most interesting options. Take a look and then take a shot of Mexican candy before washing it down with a marg on the rocks.

Best Regards
The stylish patio bar in the Heights is elevating the day’s festivities with a $100 margarita flight crafted with Don Julio 1942. The upscale flight features a mezcal margarita with cucumber, a reposado margarita with spicy blood orange, and an añejo margarita with honey and saffron, each finished with a unique rim of gold salt, black salt, or Tajín. Those looking for a less expensive option may opt for Best Regards’ original and spicy margaritas that are available for $10.

Jethro's Cocktail Lounge
The retro-inspired Montrose bar will celebrate with $12 margaritas, including a cilantro-cucumber Margarita, the plum margarita, and the guava margarita. Even better, it's open from 1 pm to 1:30 am.

Courtesy of Mexican Sugar

Mexican Sugar invites patrons to mix a margarita tableside for National Margarita Day.

Kazzan Ramen and Bar
Located near the Heights, the restaurant is offering two Japanese-style margaritas for $8 each on National Margarita Day. Their matcha margarita combines silver tequila, lime juice, Domaine de Canton, coconut cream, and matcha powder to create a cocktail that is creamy, bright, and spicy. For those looking for a more complex flavor profile, the ume margarita blends tequila, Brandy Umeshu, lemon, yuzu, umeboshi, agave, and Shichimi Togarashi into a drink that is simultaneously citrusy, earthy, sweet, and salty.

Local Table
Get a spicy pineapple margarita for $12 all day at each of the restaurant's five locations. The Cypress and Katy locations will offer $5 margaritas on the rocks for $5, $5 Mexican candy shots, $7 frozen mango and strawberry margaritas, and $8 coconut and spicy pineapple margaritas.

Mexican Sugar
Patrons can choose their own margarita adventure on Friday, February 21, and Saturday, February 22, from 4 pm to close. Here, custom margaritas will be mixed tableside, allowing diners to select their preferred premium tequila, fruit infusions, specialty salts, and rim garnish. If that’s too many decisions to make under the influence, opt for a $22 flight that offers three of the restaurant’s specialty margaritas.

Monkey’s Tail
The bar will celebrate the day with a mariachi band entertaining from 5-6 pm and a DJ spinning tunes from 9 pm to midnight. The bar’s drink specials include Tommy’s margarita made with Hornitos tequila, priced at $5 for the first order and $7 thereafter, along with happy hour prices on other cocktails and $5 Mexican candy shots.

Trattoria Sofia
Ben Berg's restaurant in the Heights puts an Italian twist on Texas’ favorite beverage with its bergamot margarita — a drink that combines Italicus Bergamot Liqueur with Patrón Silver Tequila and fresh lime juice to deliver a citrus-focused drink that is both sweet and bitter.

cocktails where to drink