Hot Soup Cools Down

BBQ Ramen Tatsu-ya closes unexpectedly while the team noodles with an evolving concept

There's still two-and-a-half more days to try BBQ Ramen Tatsu-ya before it closes.

Photo courtesy of BBQ Ramen Tatsu-ya

One Austin restaurant known for its slow cooked foods had a very quick run. BBQ Ramen Tatsu-ya, a combination of the Ramen Tatsu-ya model and a Texas barbecue joint, is shuttering on June 18.

Fans will be glad to hear that the restaurant isn't being poured down the drain, just stirred up; The Tatsu-ya Group said in a release that it will be "allowing it to evolve into a forthcoming future iteration at a different location." The team does not have any immediate plans for the Anchor Lane location.

The Tatsu-Ya group has undergone lots of change recently, opening this new restaurant in the former space of beloved local restaurant Contigo, as well as adding two more locations: one far down South Congress near Slaughter Lane, and one in Cedar Park as recent as this March. The barbecue spin-off was one of CultureMap's Best New Restaurant nominees at the 2023 Tastemaker Awards.

“We’re incredibly thankful to the community that came out to support BBQ Ramen," said the statement. "Our team is proud of the hard work and creative energy we’ve put into the concept and we’re excited to share its new form with you soon. The past eight months allowed us to expand and explore the ramen multiverse, and to develop new items that taught us new techniques.”

Starting with four types of ramen and expanding to eight, this venture gave ramen a creative twist that definitely departed from what can be found around town — potentially anywhere, really.

It makes sense to combine the two cuisines, which focus on minimal ingredients, a lot of concentrated savory players, and unctuous slices of pork or brisket. Perhaps 80 hours of smoking and cooking the ingredients of each bowl just wasn't paying off.

“Stay tuned for forthcoming announcements about our plans for the next iteration of BBQ Ramen Tatsu-Ya,” the statement said. “We have some exciting blueprints in the works.”

BBQ Ramen Tatsu-Ya is still open for a few more days, from 11 am to 10 pm. The final day of service is Sunday, June 18. More information about BBQ Ramen Tatsu-Ya is available at bbqramen-tatsuya.com. Updates will appear when available at tatsu-ya.com. (And let's be honest; CultureMap will jump on those, too.)

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Grocery news haul

Grocery service Farmhouse Delivery returns to Austin with fun surprise

Courtesy photo

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After suddenly halting its operations in May, grocery service Farmhouse Delivery is on its way back, with an extra surprise for Austin: a new storefront.

Known for offering locally prepared foods and produce from small Central Texas farms, the subscription-based service emailed its loyal customers on Monday, November 18, to share the relaunch news and outline its plans for the future.

“We’ve missed you and are beyond grateful for your patience as we’ve been hard at work planning the next chapter of Farmhouse Delivery,” the newsletter reads. “Soon, you’ll once again have fresh, local food delivered straight to your doorstep[.]”

Farmhouse Delivery is aiming for a December date to resume deliveries, they say. They've used the intervening six months to not only revamp their existing business model, but to expand their offerings.

The biggest surprise in the newsletter was a revelation of plans for a new storefront in Austin, blending a cozy farmer’s market vibe with what they call “the best parts of your favorite grocer — where you can discover fresh foods, refill on essentials, connect with other members on sustainable living, and, of course, [shop] our best local products — all in innovative, reusable packaging.”

The email did not divulge details for the location or timing of the storefront project.

The company also plans to introduce a new membership model with exclusive benefits such as sneak peeks of new products and promotions.

Underscoring its commitment to sustainability, Farmhouse also announced that it’s working toward a completely plastic-free delivery:

“Expect to see your favorite items in sustainable packaging, with rewards for returning and reusing Farmhouse materials. Together, let’s reduce waste and make sustainable choices the coolest thing to do.”

The newsletter invited customers to complete a survey to help shape the ongoing Farmhouse experience. There, customers can indicate their desired delivery day (or days) and the factors that influence that preference (meal planning, work schedule, etc.), as well as specific products they would like to see in future deliveries.

Survey participants can also designate their preferred price point for memberships and the most appealing benefits from a long list, including free deliveries, additional delivery days, free products, members-only cooking classes, exclusive content, and more.

Neither the newsletter nor the Farmhouse website announced a specific date for relaunching, but returning and new customers can keep an eye on the website and social media for further details.

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