Icon

Kemuri Tatsu-ya

$31 to $50

Japanese

Make a reservation

2 people

Mar 15, 2025

11:00 PM

Booked 58 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
Japanese, Izakaya, Barbecue
Hours of operation
Sun 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–11:00 pm
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
Neighborhood
Austin
Cross street
E 2nd Street at Pleasant Valley
Parking details
Private Lot
Public transit
Take an Uber!
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, Wheelchair Access

Experiences

Reservation-First Available
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 103 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
Japanese
Austin
Innovative
Austin
Japanese

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Kemuri Tatsu-ya offers an exciting fusion of Texas barbecue and Japanese cuisine, creating a "unique, cool restaurant" experience. Guests rave about the "amazing food and wonderful service," with standout dishes like brisket and innovative cocktails. While some mention the lively atmosphere, others appreciate the "fun vibe" and decor.

103 Reviews

S
Savannah
Austin3 reviews
3.0
Dined 1 day ago
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 VIP
Las Vegas23 reviews
5.0
Dined 1 day ago
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.
Is this helpful?
M
Marcellous VIP
New York City3 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
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 2 days ago
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?
M
Madeleine
Central Coast7 reviews
4.0
Dined on March 7, 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.
Is this helpful?
K
Kevin
Austin5 reviews
5.0
Dined on March 2, 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?
J
Justine
Austin2 reviews
5.0
Dined on March 1, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
From start to finish everything was great! We appreciate how fun and nice everyone was!
Is this helpful?
A
Aubrey
Austin9 reviews
4.0
Dined on February 24, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 5
Food is always consistently mind blowingly good here. Fish collar, hot pockets and the ramen were highlights. We also tried the chicken skewers this time and those were shockingly good too.
Is this helpful?
K
Kevin
Austin5 reviews
5.0
Dined on February 24, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
always a unique pleasure. I'm always impressed by the depth of knowledge of the wait staff
Is this helpful?
T
Tricia VIP
Houston1 review
5.0
Dined on February 22, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Honestly was extremely that I picked an inside reservation and was seated basically outside. Glad I brought a jacket because the heaters outside weren’t enough. However, the food make the experience 10x better. All the food we got was some of the best food we’ve had in austin. Will definitely come back for the food but want to sit inside next time
Is this helpful?

FAQs

Kemuri Tatsu-ya is rated 4.6 stars by 103 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people

Mar 15, 2025

11:00 PM

Booked 58 times today

Experiences are available.

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

Additional information

Cross street
E 2nd Street at Pleasant Valley
Neighborhood
Austin
Hours of operation
Sun 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–11:00 pm
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Japanese, Izakaya, Barbecue
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
Private Lot
Public transit
Take an Uber!
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, 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 reservation

Why they're an Icon

Additional information

Experiences

Reservation-First Available

Hightop Bar

Menu

What 103 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 reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information