Fujiya Ramen Sushi Bar — Restaurant in Round Rock

Edit: I'm rewriting my review to talk about how their lunch special worked for us price-wise.

TLDR on prices 3/5: The lunch special does not have any really attractive deals price-wise, and in the end we weren't actually priced by the lunch specials anyways. They might have charged for refills. This stuff was never explicitly mentioned, which seemed pretty shady to me.

TLDR on food, 4/5: I got the spicy beef ramen. It was pretty good. The ingredients didn't strike me as totally fresh, which isn't too shocking nor is it a dealbreaker for ramen that tries to use authentic Japanese components in Texas. It did taste good, though.

TLDR on atmosphere, 5/5: The place is darker with warm low-lighting. You can clearly see from the pictures. I'll say it was also nice and quiet. Our waiter also had a pretty tender voice which just overall made for a serene experience.

TLDR on service, 4/5: I had previously given five stars here, as the waiter was kind, agreeable, and patient. He was not too intrusive yet did a good job to keep our table satisfied. However, due to the price shenanigans, I feel suspicious that certain added costs were levied that he added either knowingly or not--either way warranting a lower review imo. The staff are very kind though.

LONG REVIEW

When we sat down to eat, our waiter kindly informed us that the lunch special menu would be accessible for the next 10 minutes, so he'd check back in 5 to see if we'd want anything from there.

On inspection, there was no price difference for anything on the lunch special menu, nor was there an item difference. It appeared to be the exact same menu just with a different presentation. My buddies had heard that the drinks were free of charge for lunch specials, and this was confirmed by our waiter later when we were ordering.

However, after getting our food and paying at the end of the meal, my friends were both charged full price anyways for their orders including their drinks. I had a friend pay $20 for a $17 menu item due to the added drink cost.

It is also possible that they charge for refills, but this was never explicitly laid out by the waiter if it is true.

This was not such a big deal, but I only realized a day later what had happened because their staff never told us point blank how that stuff worked out price-wise.

It is totally possible that these things were unintended. As a reviewer, I can't necessarily afford to give the benefit of the doubt, so I have to say that the consequences of how it went down for us left a shady aftertaste in my mouth, which is why I'm leaving three stars overall.

It ultimately ended up more expensive than we anticipated, and we already anticipated typical higher prices for Japanese food that tries to use authentic Japanese ingredients (bamboo shoots, dried seaweed, certain Asian mushrooms, etc.) in the US.

The food itself was fine. I got the spicy beef ramen, which to me did not taste like the ingredients were very fresh. Some of the ingredients were pretty pungent (beyond what I've seen as someone who has eaten ramen in the US and Japan) as if they had only recently been unpackaged. The beef was fairly rubbery and lacked tenderness, which is my biggest criticism of the dish overall. You really expect tender meat with ramen. But the flavors were still nice, and the broth was pretty good. For a spicy beef, it wasn't all that spicy (which is fine).

I'm not sure how ramen is in the Round Rock area, and I heard my friends' food was pretty good, so I am giving four stars on that front. I wasn't outright overwhelmed by high quality, but it was a simple good meal.

Our waiter was very kind. His voice was quiet and gentle, and really worked well with the atmosphere of the store. There isn't much to say here. Except when it comes to the final pricing.

We had been told that our drinks would be free with the lunch special, when this never happened. Either the drinks were charged anyways, or the refills were charged. Either way, this was never explained to us to be how things would work out. Which I find to...

Fujiya Ramen Sushi Bar shows great potential, but as of now, we're only giving it 3 stars due to some service issues that need ironing out. With a bit more polish, Fujiya could easily earn a solid 4 stars, and it currently deserves around 3.5 stars. Hopefully, they’ll address these details as they transition from their extended soft opening into regular operations.

Fujiya’s menu offers a solid selection of Japanese staples, with a focus on sushi, ramen, and Japanese comfort plates. We tried the tonkatsu ramen, tri-colored sashimi, and the half-and-half plate featuring tonkatsu, BBQ chicken, rice, and macaroni salad.

Food Review:

The tri-colored sashimi was well-executed, featuring thick-cut pieces that were fresh and clean-tasting. Priced at around $22 for nine pieces, it’s on the higher end, but the quality and cut make it worthwhile. While I enjoyed the texture, my wife found the thick slices less appealing, though none of the fish was tough or overly chewy.

The tonkatsu ramen was a highlight and demonstrated Fujiya’s potential. The chashu was outstanding, rich with flavor and perfectly tender. The broth was also a standout, with a smoky depth that likely came from charring the bones, adding complexity. Though it doesn’t quite match the boldness of Ramen Tatsuya’s, Fujiya’s ramen is certainly among the better options available in the area. The noodles, though probably packaged, were good quality with a pleasant chewiness that we both enjoyed. The ramen egg was well-cooked but could have benefited from a longer marinade to develop more flavor.

On the half-and-half plate, the tonkatsu was the star, perfectly crispy and juicy despite being slightly overcooked. The BBQ chicken, made with dark meat, was also flavorful and likely grilled over an open flame, providing a smoky taste that complemented the meal. The rice had a good texture and seasoning, though a bit more would have elevated it. The macaroni salad had a decent flavor balance, though the noodles were slightly overcooked and had more mayonnaise than I’d prefer, making it a bit too creamy.

Atmosphere:

Fujiya Ramen Sushi Bar has a modern yet cozy vibe with decor that adds an authentic touch to the space. The ambiance is inviting, and the staff is friendly and eager to improve, though a more organized approach to service would enhance the experience.

Portions and Value:

Portions were good, though the half-and-half plate could use a little more meat to feel complete. With continued improvements, Fujiya could quickly become a go-to spot in Round Rock for quality Japanese dishes. For now, we’re giving it 3 stars with hopes that as they work out the service details, Fujiya will reach its...

The food was delicious! Good portion sizes too. Our family had the Tempura shrimp, Miso soup, Spring rolls, Fujiya special fried rice, BBQ beef, Yaki Soba with chicken, Tonkatsu Ramen with beef, and California Rolls. Everything was flavorful, the beef was seared perfectly and everything that needed to have crunch had the perfect crunch. We did take out and everything was packed nicely, condiments and utensils included, food was hot and fresh. Online ordering was easy as well. The atmosphere inside was darker and quaint-a very nice setting for a date or business lunch/dinner, but casual enough for a nice get together with friends. Service was really good too. I was greeted at the door by the staff and they explained that they were getting my order together and that I can have a seat. The owner came out and checked on me and my order a bit later and helped to get it packed. What I thought was really amazing was that I left and was in my car ready to leave and I see the owner come out looking around-(I parked on the side not in front of their restaurant)- to give me one of the sauces they forgot to pack. He didn't have to waste his time on one small sauce, but he wanted to make sure I got it. It was much appreciated. We will definitely be back and highly...