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Kemuri Tatsu-ya

$31 to $50

Barbecue

Make a booking

2 people

25 Mar 2025

March 2025

10:30 pm

Booked 57 times today

Experiences are available.

Innovative
Lively
Good for special occasions

Recognized by the James Beard Foundation, Michelin Guide and named one of the best restaurants in the U.S. by Food & Wine, Bon Appétit, GQ and more! Japanese izakaya and Texas barbecue are arguably the two best cuisines to enjoy while imbibing. Kemuri Tatsu-ya offers a mash-up of the two, plus an excellent selection of booze—including a ‘whisky bible.’ Guests are welcomed into the space with an enthusiastic “irasshaimase!” from the staff. The experience only gets better from there with creative dishes like Taiyaki Cornbread, Brisket Tsukemen and Guaca-Poke. Bright, innovative cocktails, including super-chilled Toki highballs cranked out from a machine, are
an essential part of the experience. Reserve a table today to get a taste of this iconic Austin
restaurant, brought to you by Tatsu Aikawa and the team behind Ramen Tatsu-Ya.

Why they're an Icon

Executive chef: Tatsu Aikawa

From the OpenTable editors: When it opened in 2017, this MICHELIN Bib Gourmand quickly racked up accolades—including a spot on Bon Appétit’s best new restaurant list—for chefs Tatsu Aikawa and Takuya Matsumoto’s innovative Japanese izakaya-meets-Texas smokehouse mashup. That looks like smoked chicken wing yakitori, brisket hot pockets, and chili cheese takoyaki chased with beer and whisky in a cozy, wood-lined tavern.

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Barbecue, Izakaya, Creative Japanese
Hours of Operation
Sun 16:00–22:00 Dinner Mon–Thu 17:00–22:00 Fri, Sat 16:00–23:00
Phone number
(512) 803-2224
Website
https://www.kemuri-tatsuya.com/
Payment Options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual

Location
2713 E 2nd St, Austin, TX 78702-4715
Area
Austin
Cross Street
E 2nd Street at Pleasant Valley
Parking details
Private Parking
Public transit
Take an Uber!
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, Wheelchair Access

Experiences

Reservation-Table
Multiple dates available
During peak times, reservations can be held for up to 5 minutes and there may be a wait even with a reservation. Take an Uber--you'll thank us!
Hightop Bar
Multiple dates available
Hightop style counter seating. Full menu available!

What 108 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6

4.6 based on recent ratings

4.7Food
4.5Service
4.6Ambience
4.5Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Austin
Innovative
Austin
Barbecue
Austin
Innovative
Austin
Barbecue

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Kemuri Tatsu-ya offers a unique Texas-Japanese fusion experience with inventive dishes and a vibrant atmosphere. Guests rave about the "amazing food" and "fantastic service," with standout items like the brisket, bento boxes, and creative cocktails. "A must-visit in Austin" for its innovative menu and "fun, eclectic vibe."

108 Reviews

OT
OpenTable Diner
Greater Boston1 review
5.0
Dined on 17 March 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Unagi bento box and hotate were absolutely divine. Loved it
Is this helpful?
J
Jesus
Austin1 review
5.0
Dined on 16 March 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Food was amazing! Staff was so knowledgeable about the menu and was very helpful too. I would recommend it on a night out when you just want to try something new, definitely worth it.
Is this helpful?
JB
JBOntario VIP
Chicago9 reviews
3.0
Dined on 16 March 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
It seems that the restaurant is inconsistent. Dined Saturday evening, two weeks in a row. Nothing was incredible. Everything was good, but no real stand outs. Very competent service and pleasant service.
Is this helpful?
S
Savannah
Austin3 reviews
3.0
Dined on 15 March 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Food and drinks were good! It’s a cool place. We sat outside on a nice day which helped. Sort of a weird spot in a neighborhood but still cool.
Is this helpful?
J
Jesse
Austin23 reviews
5.0
Dined on 15 March 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
I adore this place. It’s the perfect mix of funky and eclectic with incredible food. My only real gripe is the check in process can be a bit clunky even with a RSVP. Parking is nightmarish too.
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M
Marcellous VIP
New York City3 reviews
5.0
Dined on 14 March 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Our experience was just outstanding from the moment we arrived. We did not know what to expect as we were just exploring options around the city of Austin. We were greeted at the entrance and taken to our table and were greeted in Japanese by the staff as we walked in to our table. We decided to try the skewers, and have to say our most favorite was the short rib and mushrooms ones. Another favorite was the Brisket and Bento box! Both are a must! I had the House margarita they serve, which was really good, not too sweet. My boyfriend had the sake and it was also great. Matt was our server and he did a fantastic job guiding us over the menu, service was excellent and fast. Overall we had a great experience and will definitely go back when we come visit Austin again.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York City1 review
5.0
Dined on 14 March 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Amazing food, service, and very unique concept and menu which really shines and puts this restaurant above others. The staff really made our night special with thoughtful touches to celebrate our anniversary which we really appreciated. This restaurant has been stellar every time we go and we’ll definitely be back.
Is this helpful?
JJ
JennJ
New York City2 reviews
3.0
Dined on 8 March 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 5
I get this is Japanese fusion, but most of it just didn’t work. The dishes that are more traditional Izakaya fare, like the mushrooms are delicious.
Is this helpful?
M
Madeleine
Central Coast7 reviews
4.0
Dined on 7 March 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
Always a fun experience. Great service, great food, great vibe. No duds on the menu.
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K
Kevin
Austin5 reviews
5.0
Dined on 2 March 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Very well run and the food is off the hook. Very impressed with the staffs knowledge of the menu. Thanks for a great experience!
Is this helpful?

FAQs

Kemuri Tatsu-ya is rated 4.6 stars by 108 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

Booked 57 times today

Experiences are available.

2713 E 2nd St, Austin, TX 78702-4715

Additional information

Cross Street
E 2nd Street at Pleasant Valley
Area
Austin
Hours of Operation
Sun 16:00–22:00 Dinner Mon–Thu 17:00–22:00 Fri, Sat 16:00–23:00
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Barbecue, Izakaya, Creative Japanese
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
Private Parking
Public transit
Take an Uber!
Payment Options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, Wheelchair Access

Website
https://www.kemuri-tatsuya.com/
Phone number
(512) 803-2224

Kemuri Tatsu-ya

Make a booking

Why they're an Icon

Additional information

Experiences

Reservation-Table

Hightop Bar

Menu

What 108 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is Kemuri Tatsu-ya restaurant rated?

Is Kemuri Tatsu-ya currently accepting bookings?

Make a booking

Additional information

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