Immigrating from Tokyo to Austin as a cultural exchange student, Tatsu Aikawa spent his time living in a “hippy commune” and skating with “the cool kids” on The Drag. Some 35 years later, Aikawa prepares to open the eighth location of his popular ramen restaurant, Ramen Tatsu-Ya, on the same street where he spent his youth.
Under 1,000 square feet, the shop Aikawa dubs “L’il Ramen Tatsu-Ya” is nestled on The Drag. It features unique artwork and designs that celebrate the intersection of Aikawa’s roots in both Austin and Japan. Opening this fall, the new location will feature a limited menu and special offers.
“The first location I opened in 2012 — it’s never been a dull moment,” Aikawa said. “I’m happy to share a piece of culture with everybody. It’s always exciting.”
Aside from the personal connection Aikawa said he feels with the location, he also noted a connection between The Drag and his name.
“My name in Japanese means dragon,” said Aikawa. “So ‘Tatsu-ya’ meaning like ‘a house of dragon’ worked out because The Drag is short for dragon.”
To celebrate this connection, Aikawa sketched out a dragon design to fit the exterior. Artist and UT alumnus Michael Sieben (BFA Studio Art, ‘99) said he worked with Ion Art and Show Goat Mural Works to bring the three-dimensional design to life.
“(Aikawa) wanted to see a dragon’s head (at) at the order window,” Sieben said. “He wanted teeth to surround that, so it’s almost like you’re ordering noodles straight out of the dragon’s mouth.”
Sieben, who has worked on past Ramen Tatsu-Ya locations, said this store also held personal significance to him as a former UT student.
“It’s right next to where I would get off the bus when I was going to UT,” Sieben said. “To be able to do something that’s so public in that area is amazing to me because that’s right where I went to college. To be further along in my art career than I was as a 20-year-old, I’m so honored.”
In addition to Sieben’s art, Austin-based Kim Lewis Designs holds responsibility for the store’s design. Founder and director Kim Lewis said she feels lucky to work with a client with such a big imagination.
“Tatsu is really fun and creative and exciting to collaborate with because he really cares about not just his food but the experience,” Lewis said. “The energy at each of his locations is very different but feels similar. There’s a vein that runs through all of them.”
UT alumna Caroline St. Clergy (Interior Design, ’23), a designer at Kim Lewis who helped lead the project, said this store felt like a homecoming.
“It’s surreal to be on campus again in a different context, contributing to the actual fabric of the community,” St. Clergy said.
Lewis and St. Clergy said they have spent a lot of time working on “L’il Ramen Tatsu-Ya” and feel excited for the public to experience the space.
“The Drag is so iconic. Honestly, the pressure of creating something that deserves to be on The Drag is such an honor,” Lewis said. “I love that Austin still cares about these artistic moments, and that they are so deeply rooted not only in the student culture, but in the city culture itself.”
Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story named the new restaurant as “Little Ramen Tatsu-ya;” instead, it is “L’il Ramen Tatsu-ya.” The article has been changed to reflect this. The Texan regrets this error.
