Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to main content
OpenTable logo
  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Austin
  4. Austin
  5. Austin
Kemuri Tatsu-ya, Austin, TX
Icon

Kemuri Tatsu-ya

$31 to $50
Japanese

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 52 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • 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 16:00–22:00 Dinner Mon–Thu 17:00–22:00 Fri, Sat 16:00–23:00
  • Phone number
    (512) 803-2224
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Area
    Austin
  • Cross Street
    E 2nd Street at Pleasant Valley
  • Parking details
    Private Lot
  • Public transit
    Take an Uber!
  • Additional
    Gluten-free Options, Vegan

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 100 people are saying

Kemuri Tatsu-ya reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

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

NoiseModerate

Diners' Choice Awards

  • 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.

101 Reviews
  1. Marcellous VIP

    New York City3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined today

    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?

  2. OpenTable Diner

    New York City1 review

    5.0

    Dined today

    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?

  3. Madeleine

    Central Coast7 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    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?

  4. 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?

  5. Justine

    Austin2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 1 March 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?

  6. Aubrey

    Austin9 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on 24 February 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?

  7. Kevin

    Austin5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 24 February 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?

  8. Tricia VIP

    Houston1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 22 February 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?

  9. Joon

    Salt Lake City1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 21 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great experience and service. Helped make my partner’s birthday special.

    Is this helpful?

  10. jennifer

    Seattle2 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on 18 February 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    The food was pretty good but is also seems a bit complacent. The service was barely present, walking passed multiple times with no engagement or checking in to see how our table was doing despite never having dined there before. They also offered no real description or instruction with the food despite the opportunity to create a more complete idea of the intention of the dishes. For what we paid and the hype of this restaurant it was disappointing.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Kemuri Tatsu-ya is rated 4.6 stars by 100 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 52 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Kemuri Tatsu-ya

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
    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
    Gluten-free Options, Vegan
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Impressum
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
Copyright © 2024 OpenTable International Ltd. Alphabeta Building, 14-18 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AH - All rights reserved.
OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.
Booking Logo
Priceline Logo
KAYAK Logo
Agoda Logo
OpenTable Logo