Michi Ramen — Restaurant in Austin

Ramen Tatsu Ya (South Lamar): First, let me say that this review comes a little late - almost 3 weeks. But, I have never forgotten the phenomenal service and food there.

My sister and I went there on a Thursday evening around 5:45 p.m., and there were very few people there. We were PROMOTLY greeted by a wonderful manager. I THINK her name was Allison. She was a small blonde with an AMAZING attitude and smile.

I had a number of questions, and this manager KNEW the menu (so refreshing!) and explained everything thoroughly.

My sister and I both got the The OG with the corn bomb. We also ordered the asparagus appetizer. (You order at the entrance, and THEN find a table. European-style.)

The place is a bit dark and seating is at long picnic-style tables.

The roasted asparagus appetizer was a BIG surprise. The asparagus texture was like shredded paper (really), but the flavor was so good - light and airy. My sister said she could've had the appetizer by itself.

The OG ramen bowl was plentiful and delicious. There was enough for two servings, but I finished mine off. My sister took home leftovers.

The one whole egg in the ramen absorbed all the flavor of the broth, which was a nice treat. Most ramen places slice up the egg. I liked the idea of a whole one.

We had a lovely, relaxing, first time experience and want to go back.

The CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS EXCEPTIONAL - WARM AND WELCOMING.

The only thing I didn't care for was the dark ambience. Maybe they keep it dark so one one will notice how old the building is. Hmmm...

Interestingly, they have a Take Out window.

Anyway, by the time we left, it was almost packed with people.

If you enjoy ramen, I encourage you to try Ramen Tatsu-Ya on South Lamar. Wonderful staff....

I am writing this review in hopes that it will help this location in the future.

Management needs to step it up, or the owner needs to intervene. The guys who work there everyday are getting exhausted. Can see it in there posture, can hear it in there voices. Food quality is diminishing. I'm going to take a guess manager is friends with owner and that's why he hasn't been fired yet.

Months ago I didn't blast them for there issues with MAVN, nor did I blast them for there phones being off random days (or random hours such as lunch) I'm not going to blast them for closing random days with absolutely no notice, nor will I call them out for taking away lunch specials. I also won't make fun of them for relying on a bell in 2017 when door chimes on Amazon are less then $20.

I've been coming here for the last 5 months and the quality of this specific store keeps going down hill. Also, for perspective, I've been coming here 2-3 times a week, buying food either for myself, or my employees

The meat portions recently have astonished me, in my last 5 orders only once was it correct- Last week I ordered chasu don (8$) and michi (10$) and had to share my pork from my rice bowl because they skimped the ramen so hard. This is also true if you order two of the same things with different proteins (had half the chicken as the pork the time before).

On multiple occasions they've had to swap me eggs because the ones I ordered weren't cooked properly. Wish they would have done that last night as the runny egg I ordered proceeded to get me sicker then I have been all year.

Manager must be friends with the owner, otherwise I don't know how he...

High prices and mediocre ramen should not go hand in hand. I gave this place a shot yesterday after revisiting the movie Tampopo - perhaps I shouldn't hold a chain take out ramen shop in Texas to the high standards of Ramen brought up in the movie, but unfortunately Michi just didn't hold a candle to even the other ramen shops here in Austin.

Bland lukewarm broth made me recall the point brought up multiple times in the movie, you must have hot steaming broth. The noodles reminded me of the packaged variety. In any case charging extra to just get pork added ($2.50) on their base michi ramen sets you back $15~ way too much... Zagat's review using the terms (in quotes) inexpensive and large portions makes me laugh in hindsight.

Like other users have mentioned they want you to tip on takeout which has gotten pretty obnoxious here in Austin, they suggested options starting at 17%. 10 to 15% should be the options frankly, but why not just cut out the semi-absent front cashier and drop the tipping? Take a cue from Japan and have a machine do it. (See meal ticket restaurants - which would charge around $8-10 for the equivalent $15...