Black Dynasty Secret Ramen House — Restaurant in Nashville-Davidson

SUMMARY. The food quality is VERY good, and the bowls are LARGE. That being said, the price tag is massive, which you have to be aware of going in. They also have a mandatory 20% gratuity, which I can't stand because I have no idea what the service will be like before I commit.

RESERVATION. No reservations. Walk-ins only. I went with my girlfriend and we had no issue getting seated. However, this was on a weekday evening and I've heard that it can be difficult to get seated at peak hours.

AMBIENCE. Ambience was enjoyable. Not too loud, but still lively enough to induce a fun atmosphere. It didn't wow me like some other places, but it was nevertheless an enjoyable experience.

LOCATION. Located in Sylvan Park in Sylvan Supply off Charlotte. We parked in the lot, which was relatively empty. Again, this was a weekday evening so parking may be more difficult during peak hours.

QUALITY. The quality of the food is phenomenal. My girlfriend and I split the shishito peppers, which were absolutely delicious. We each got our own bowl of ramen and were both very happy with the taste. The size of the bowls is also worth noting, as they were quite large. I was stuffed!

SERVICE. The service was disappointing. The server himself was adequate, but it doesn't even matter because you have to do everything yourself. You find your own table, scan your own menu, and grab your own beers from the bar. This last part is bizarre, as I'm not sure why they can't serve beer at the table. I imagine it's because the bar is separately run by Bearded Iris, which is also located in Sylvan Supply. Whatever the reason, it definitely degraded the experience. In addition, there is a mandatory 20% gratuity, which I think is ridiculous. Besides the fact it's not even a "full service" restaurant, I don't like the fact that the floor is 20% even if the service is garbage. Personally, I start at 20% and deviate up or down depending on how the service is. This is a decision that's only possible AFTER the meal has already been eaten.

VALUE. Despite the superior quality of the food, I was disappointed by the value. I get that you "get what you pay for," but even knowing that I still felt the prices were exorbitant. My girlfriend and I spent $72 all-in just on food (remember, alcohol is a separate bill at the bar). This included 1 appetizer, 2 bowls of ramen, and no alcohol. Typically, I pay about $25 for the same at other ramen places in Nashville, which usually includes a beer or two.

TAKEAWAYS. GREAT food quality, which is why I still gave 4 stars despite my other qualms, but service is lacking. With the exception of the food delivery and cleanup, everything else is self-service (seating, menu, alcohol). Even though it's not full service, they still hit you with a mandatory 20% tip regardless of how good or bad the service actually is—and this is on top of already inflated prices. If the prices come down and the mandatory gratuity is jettisoned, I'll surely be back. If not, there are several other Nashville ramen establishments that offer great quality ramen at a 30% discount to Black...

First and foremost, the food here is absolutely delicious, the portions are large, and appropriately priced for the Nashville market. I too wish eating out was cheaper—but in this city and this economy, it’s simply not. All said, this is a MUST-try ramen joint.

Now, I want to speak to two groups of people: Restaurant Guests Restaurant Owners

RESTAURANT GUESTS If you’re looking for full table service, this isn’t it. Come here when you want a casual hang at a self-serve taproom with exceptional food. Think food hall, not traditional restaurant. Two businesses share this space: a brewery and a ramen kitchen. You order food via QR code and drinks at the bar. If that suits your vibe, you’ll have a great time.

Service Fee Clarified The “service fee” can be confusing. Since there’s someone who may bring water or clear dishes, guests assume traditional service—but this isn’t table service. That fee goes to support the kitchen crew, not waitstaff. Real ramen takes days of prep, and the price tag + service fee helps offset those labor costs. It’s less of a tip and more of a shared investment in excellent food. We can debate tipping systems all day (and how broken they are), but that doesn’t change the reality: it’s how restaurants make it work right now. So take the fee at face value—it supports the kitchen team. If you’re down with that and don’t need handholding service, you’ll love this spot. Don’t let the label stop you from enjoying ramen this good.

RESTAURANT OWNERS Your food is phenomenal—authentic, deeply flavorful, clearly handcrafted. As a fellow restaurant owner, I’m sad to see the review rating not reflect the quality. I believe the issue isn’t food or even service—it’s confusion.

Service Fee Confusion The term “service fee” implies full-service dining. When guests don’t receive that, they feel misled. A better term—like “kitchen gratuity” or “prep team tip”—would better reflect what the fee actually supports.

Service Model Clarity It’s also unclear who the “server” works for. Guests don’t know whether to expect drinks delivered, water refilled, or service check-ins. That ambiguity creates frustration. Honestly, a totally self-service model might work better than the current approach. Clear roles = clearer expectations = happier guests.

That said, if I’m way off, feel free to ignore this. I still support what you’re doing. Keep making great ramen—your team has my respect and repeat business. I wish you nothing but...

So, if I were judging strictly on the food, the service and the atmosphere, I would give this place 5 stars hands down. Best ramen I have had in Nashville. So why 4 stars? When you pay the bill, the menu prompts to get the receipt by text or email. Fair enough. But then, below that, it states you will, in the case of phone numbers, receive texts unless you opt out as you get them, or will email you, unless you go unsubscribe. Um...no. I used the email option and anything you send me other than the receipt will be reported as spam. It is one thing to have the box checked, that unless I uncheck it, will send me notifications. It is another thing entirely to say I have to go through an opt out process after I start receiving your emails. I NEVER OPTED IN. You forced that on me. I don't live in Nashville. I visit my son in college occasionally and it will be months before I am here again. I am sure you get many out-of-town visitors. And honestly, although you were easily the best of the 3 ramen places I have tried, that simple little issue will most likely cause me to chose one of the other 2 next time. Lest you think I am just picky, internet marketing has been my job since 2005. Forcing actions on customers is never a good option. Here is a suggestion: adopt the checked box. Most people will probably leave it and you are good, no hard feelings and you get your email marketing campaigns. If you want out-of-towners like me to come when we are in town again, then AT THE TIME, offer a digital coupon good for 6 months or a year, for out of state residents visiting. Or offer a discount if you opt in to receive emails. But when the default choice, out of the gate is "We are doing this and you have to go to the effort to stop us.", that is the wrong approach. And for the business, this could hurt you, because if enough people do what I do, by marking those emails as spam, you will quickly find your email being blacklisted by Google.

Again, wonderful food, friendly staff, great atmosphere...and that one little issue creates that little bit of sourness in the experience that makes it less...