Ramen Tatsu — Restaurant in Spring Valley

This used to be our go to din din place for tonkatsu ramen cravings but over the past years the quality of their food has gradually declined maybe they changed cooks, recipes? Ok here's a review today 26.05.2025 Memorial Day.

Food - F for failed and frustrating- too oily, too pricey, too spicy- even mild spice is intolerable. And what's even frustrating is they offer you a remedy but they charge you for it eventually. No excuse, no complementary customer care. Service- friendly, sweet young lady served us until she remarked with a sweet smile " oh no nowadays you have to pay for everything" - gone is the culture of courtesy. To maintain a good business, there's a need for flexibility and understanding. People get to go to a place to eat, that's the goal however not all customers or consumers are the same. I feel sorry eating there - it should feel like "the more you eat the more you crave" but our experience is the other way around, the more I dig in the worse the food tasted... I used to bring visiting friends to this place - it is now in my never list. Sad.

Ambiance - ok it is quaint and what makes it stand out from the others is the pretty miniature arty crafts on the walls. music is reasonably tolerable- although I wouldn't really want to be reminded about feeling bad having to eat there again when Britney Spears was singing, "oops I did it again" - I should've just made my own tonkatsu at home. Never learned. Overall - 1 star. Very disappointed. Finding a parking space was also challenging cause there are quite a few dining competitors in the area. Where can one find a place that actually ask you to pay for everything and have the audacity to ask for tips and at suggested rates as well. Despite expressing that the food is not to your liking? Only here. But this is just me. I still paid for the food and gave a bit of tip because I am that nice. I know I didn't have to pay for something that I find awful. I hope you guys out there will have a better encounter, food and all. This is a never ever again for me. But good...

Today was my first time eating at Ramen Tatsu. I came here months ago but there was a wait so ended up leaving. The one thing I hate about this shopping center/strip mall is the sh*t parking. I go to Hachi and Cafe Maiko (see my review!) frequently but sometimes have to park across the street because there is zero parking.

Stepping into Tatsu, we were immediately and cheerfully greeted. Seating was 'seat yourself' with booth seating on the right, two-person tables in the middle, and more tables along the left. The kitchen/prep area is in the back left with restrooms in the back right.

Looking through the menu, I was really excited because Tatsu has all the goodies you want: tako wasabi, fried oysters, gyoza, takoyaki, chicken karaage, tonkatsu, shrimp shumai - and more - along with a solid selection of ramen, curry, and a selection of rice bowls.

I ordered the shoyu ramen, large fried rice, and chicken karaage. The next two comments are personal preference so played no role in my rating: the broth came out medium-hot (temperature-wise) and the noodles were more than katame (firm). I always prefer the broth to come out piping hot or I get the impression that the food either sat for a while or was rushed and not brought up to the appropriate temperature. I prefer my noodles made katame but this was a little more than katame.

The standard toppings for the shoyu ramen are chashu (2 pieces and tasty), half an egg, and green onions. The ramen is good but I can't say there's anything remarkable about it. The fried rice was good but l felt it was oily and lacked flavor. The karaage came out hot - the outside was crispy and the inside hot and juicy. But, I felt it lacked flavor. I could taste the garlic but maybe needed more soy sauce or salt prior to frying.

I'll definitely be back because I want to try some of the other items on the menu and I want to see if today's visit was an outlier. I think I mentioned this already but the service was great and prompt. See you soon,...

I went to Ramen Tatsu for the first time recently, and I was really impressed. First off, I loved the interior—super cozy and unique. The wall art featuring different restaurant-style figures gave the place a fun personality, and the tables felt like something you'd have at home, which made the whole experience feel warm and comfortable—like I was eating in someone’s dining room. I ordered the Spicy Miso Ramen with extra toppings: spicy bean sprouts and a boiled egg. Honestly, I was surprised (in a good way) at how spicy it actually was! I love spicy food, but it’s rare to find a Japanese spot that brings real heat—and this one did. The ramen came out hot (temperature-wise), and the broth was rich and flavorful. The bean sprouts were super crunchy and added a great texture. The egg was somewhere between soft-boiled and poached—not runny, but still soft, and it just kind of melted into the soup. So good. I also got the fried oysters as an appetizer, and they were delicious—crispy on the outside, soft and tender inside, and served hot and fresh. You could tell they came straight from the kitchen to the table, which made them even better. As for the service, it was okay. The server was kind and polite, but one thing that stood out (and not in the best way) was how often she came by to clear dishes. After we finished eating, she came by about four times in ten minutes trying to take our empty plates. It kind of interrupted our conversation and made us feel a bit rushed—even though the place wasn’t busy at all (only two other tables were occupied). We were only sitting there for about 10 minutes after finishing, so I wish we had been given a bit more space to just relax. Overall, though, I really enjoyed my experience. The food was great, the atmosphere felt warm and welcoming, and I’d definitely go back—especially for that ramen and the oysters and can’t wait to try...