Tensuke Ramen — Restaurant in Columbus

This is to echo off of KK Yang's review in regards to the new management choices of Tensuke Ramen that was previously Tensuke Express. I have visited this establish frequently and was one of my favorite spots in the Japan Marketplace. A few months back my husband and I would come in to get two beef curry plates with chicken katsu that comes with miso, an order of takoyaki, and two drinks. This would cost us about $32 USD and give us portions that would be filling to the point my gut would be out. Today we ordered two beef curry bowls that did not give the option for cutlets with it, did not come with miso soup, they did not have takoyaki, had some gyoza that had the option to be deep fried for some reason, and two drinks. This came to be $43 dollars. It was not the same quality and definitely not the right price point. The first bite of my beef curry was all gristle. I can not stand the texture of soft chewy what feels like didn't even hit the hot surface of a cooking pot type of gristle. I spent three minutes shifting out the beef from my curry to put into my husbands bowl. In the end, I felt so underwhelmed by the quality given in that meal. Almost the place I sat in was an imitation. My husband said it was like a Noodles and Company that was trying to be a ramen restaurant. Originally, I was going to order the soba and when I asked I could sub out the shrimp I was told I can not. Have you heard of a shellfish allergy? The menu has shifted to focus on ramen and udon and not the many other dishes that stood out amongst the other Japanese restaurants. There are over 20+ ramen restaurants in Columbus and counting. If I wanted Ramen I would go to Kyushu or Meshikou, but I came here because it gives me different Japanese cuisine from all these other places. I would happily stand in line for a bowl of curry made with quality ingredients in a noisy packed cafeteria. Now I would not sit in a quiet cafeteria for the mediocre beef served in that bowl. If I wanted that, I would make it at home and be disappointed a little less. People came because they wanted to experience the food the way it was supposed to be made. Overall, I feel this is a bad marketing move on the new management's part. Cutting cost in quality, removing items, and raising prices is a slap in the face to your demographic audience of college students, low income-middle class families, foodies, and road tripping tourists on a budget. I also did not see an increase in social media presence ( Instagram, twitter, tik tok, yelp, Facebook) or advertisements which also does not justify this from a public standpoint. Social media accounts are free and your client base is all word of mouth. I understand you want to get your money back on this change and increase profits but this is not how. Make a few special ramen dishes instead of this build your own, bring back some/all the old menu, and work on your marketing to help with the cost of the transition. I will not come back until a change is made in the food quality and the connection to the customer demographic...

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Tensuke Express for the first time, and it turned out to be a delightful experience. Tensuke Express is a cozy and welcoming Japanese restaurant located in a very nice area, it offers a variety of delectable dishes inspired by authentic Japanese cuisine.

Ambience and Service: Upon entering Tensuke Express, I was greeted with a warm and inviting atmosphere. The restaurant's simple yet elegant decor created a comfortable dining environment. The staff members were friendly, attentive, and eager to assist with any questions or requests. Despite it being my first time, they made me feel welcome and guided me through the menu options.

Food: The menu at Tensuke Express is diverse, featuring a wide range of Japanese favorites. I decided to try their Ramen 🍜 , and I was thoroughly impressed. The freshness of the ingredients was evident in every bite, and the flavors were well-balanced. The broth was rich and flavorful, and the noodles had a perfect texture. The bowl was generously filled with toppings, including tender slices of chicken, seaweed, and a perfectly cooked soft-boiled egg. The portion size was generous, ensuring that I left the restaurant feeling satisfied.

Value for Money: Considering the high quality of the food and the overall dining experience, I found Tensuke Express to be reasonable ( 10/20$ per person) The portions were generous, and the ingredients used were of excellent quality. The prices were comparable to other Japanese restaurants in the area, and I felt that I received good value for my money.

Improvements: While my visit to Tensuke Express was enjoyable, there were a couple of minor areas for improvement. The seating area, although comfortable, felt a bit cramped when the restaurant was busy. Additionally, the menu could benefit from a few more vegetarian or vegan options to cater to a wider range of dietary preferences.

Conclusion: Overall, my first visit to Tensuke Express was a fantastic experience. The welcoming atmosphere, attentive service, and delicious food made it a memorable dining adventure. If you're looking for a Japanese restaurant that offers high-quality ingredients, flavorful ramen, and friendly service, Tensuke Express is definitely worth a visit. I can't wait to return and explore more of their menu offerings. It's nice place for a...

We wanted ramen. We were at Kenny Center for the other Japanese stores anyways, so we killed time until Tensuke Express opened. We were first through the door, and we were enthusiastically welcomed by a lovely older Japanese lady, by older I mean my age.

The interior is cheerful, very clean, modern, spacious, and brightly-lit. We grabbed our Calpicus and ordered identical number 3's, ramen with pork cutlets. All I can say is ORDER NUMBER 3! 🙂

The broth has a tiny hint of bite, but the flavor is exquisitely balanced. There's nothing trying to shout over anything else. The broth is the foundation of good ramen. This was perfect.

The kombu, the scallions, and the spinach were all nestled in happily in with a lovely soft-boiled egg half, and a generous portion of perfectly-cooked noodles. Nothing "instant" here. The pièce de résistance was the pork cutlet. Having had TE's pork cutlet before with their beef curry, I'd talked it up to my friend, who can't stand pork.

I'd mentioned how it is juicy, cooked to perfection, exquisitely crispy, and perfectly seasoned. There it was, exactly as I remembered it, sprawled in glorious perfection in a bath of deliciousness. My friend took a cautious bite. "It's delicious" they exclaimed with wide eyes! Yes, yes it is.

Tensuke Express, you made a crack in the very thick shell of my friend, who didn't believe they'd ever be able to enjoy pork without smothering it in a sauce to hide its taste.

I ate every ounce, every milliliter of my ramen and that amazing broth. My friend got full about 3/4 of the way through their huge bowl, but do you know what they finished? Yes, the pork.

There's so much more on your menu I must try. I, and my friend, will be back. Now I'll have to get them to try something besides the...