New Noodle Spot

Popular Austin ramen restaurant opening new walk-up window on The Drag

Ramen Tatsu-ya's Takuya Matsumoto and Tatsu Aikawa in their new space.

Photo by Carla Gomez

Local favorite ramen shop Ramen Tatsu-ya is opening a new location on The Drag near the University of Texas. The new location at 2416 Guadalupe St. is the smallest for the group yet, solely serving bowls out of a walk-up window. It's expected to open in fall 2025, in time for the new semester.

This will be Ramen Tatsu-ya's eighth location. Its seventh location opened in Round Rock in June of 2024.

The new location will just have a kitchen inside, with exterior windows to serve food and some seating outside on a covered bar and patio.

Fans of full-sized Ramen Tatsu-ya restaurants can rest assured that the full menu will still be available despite the small space. That includes ramen with pork, chicken, and vegetable bases, plus sides and beverages.

The narrow building was previously occupied by Left Wing Bar, a Korean fried chicken chain with a handful of U.S. locations. A press release about the new ramen shop promises it will "amp-up the exterior energy," including colorful art themed for the neighborhood.

Kim Lewis Designs, Michael Sieben, Show Goal Mural Works, and Ion Art are all working on the new location — the same group of pros that tackled the Round Rock project. Gary Green is tasked with hand-painted signage.

“It's really cool to be opening up a location on The Drag,” says Ramen Tatsy-ya chef and founder Tatsu Aikawa in the release. “It was a special place for me as a kid, I would go skate and hang out with the skaters, go to arcades, and dig the crates at record shops; It will bring back a lot of memories to be there and will be kind of like coming full circle."

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OPENING ALERT

Topgolf tees up first New Braunfels location for December opening

Topgolf/Facebook

Topgolf will make its New Braunfels debut on December 5.

Rapidly growing New Braunfels is taking another big swing. Topgolf will open its newest golf venue at 427 Creekside Way on December 5, adding to a growing list of national chains settling in the once-sleepy Hill Country town.

The two-level complex marks a milestone 100th U.S. opening for the brand and the 112th worldwide. The 38,000 square foot location is a bit smaller than its big city counterparts, but will still offer the chain's signature blend of sports and entertainment.

The centerpiece is 62 outdoor, climate-controlled hitting bays across two levels. Golfers of all skill levels can play virtual courses or interactive games that test their swing or aim. To amp up the competitive spirit, each bay is outfitted with Toptracer technology, which traces each golf ball's flight path, distance, and other metrics guests can lord over their friends.

Less accomplished linksters can join Topgolf's exclusive golf club, The Sure Thing. The company says the program "is designed to make golf less hard for beginners or those whose game just isn't that great."

Those who don't know the difference between a birdie and an eagle can trash-talk their friends from lounge seating or high-tops scattered across the bays. Topgolf also offers a full-service bar and restaurant, fire pit areas, a nine-hole mini golf course, and 40 HDTVs — although the latter are more likely to be tuned into the latest Spurs game than a Vanderpump Rules reunion.

"Opening our 100th U.S. venue in New Braunfels is more than a milestone; it's a celebration of the fun, energy, and innovation that makes Topgolf unlike any other entertainment experience out there," boasted Erin Chamberlin, Topgolf Chief Operating Officer and Interim President, in a release.

The new Topgolf facility will be a centerpiece of the massive The Town Center at Creekside development, which will also bring a new outpost of budget-minded gym Eōs Fitness, Texas Roadhouse, Jeremiah's Ice, and a Chick-fil-A drive-thru.

"The grand opening of Topgolf is a significant milestone that we have eagerly anticipated for many years," said Austin Alvis, President & Chief Development Officer of developer NewQuest. "With this addition, Creekside's development is reaching its final development stages, and we are confident that it will greatly benefit our community for years to come."

Topgolf New Braunfels will be open from 9 am to midnight Sundays through Fridays, and 9 am to 1 am Saturdays. From December 5–19, any player who books and completes a one- or two-bay reservation will be automatically entered to win one year of free game play.

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