Tanaka Ramen

I've been here 3 times now but just getting around to writing a review. To start off, the location of this restaurant is great- Brookhaven in a great shopping plaza. Parking close to the restaurant can be challenging depending on time & day. The management recently changed and it's noticeable in the cleanliness of the restaurant and improvement in service. Once you step inside, you'll see very impressive decor on the wall behind the bar. A person I came with said that it's very similar to the decorations that he sees when he goes to Japan. It's a really spacious restaurant with lots of seating. There are 3 booths, bar seating, high top tables, and small party tables in the center. Appetizers - edamame: it's silly to comment on this but these were SO PLUMP !! - Pork Gyoza: I don't like dumplings but I actually enjoyed these. The center was soft but the outer edges were crisp. The taste of these were on my mind for days after. - Brussels sprouts: fried with tempura sauce. I'll just say right now that all of their fried menu items were fried to perfection. Sooo crispy. - karaage: served with spicy mayo. Again, so crispy and yummy with the sauce. Take bites with the lettuce that it's served on top of and tastes so fresh. - Takoyaki: I'm not a fan of this dish in general but I tried since it was my first time here. The insides seemed to be more chopped/grinded than usual but I actually preferred this because I don't like the texture of octopus. It made it more savory when bitten into. Ramen - The signature tonkotsu: the base of the soup is in their house ramen sauce and black garlic oil. It is so flavorful. - Karashi spicy ramen: the pork chashu is so soft and juicy. This is same as the signature but blended with special fresh chili paste. You can choose from mild, medium, and spicy. I didn't choose a level, but the regular that came out had a decent amount of spice. From 1-5, maybe a 2? The noodles were really chewy and both soups were seasoned really well. I'll have to come back to try some of their rice dishes !

I was a little worried that this place would skew more trendy than authentic given the neighborhood, but the food was excellent. I had the kagaare chicken and the house special tonkatsu ramen. The chicken was perfectly cooked and crispy (and somehow got crispier the longer it was out) the the flavor of the ramen was spot on. The only drawback to the experience was the service, which was nice, but very very slow. There were only two tables dining at the time, so they weren't slammed. But sometimes these things happen. *shug* Would definitely return.

So I've been here twice for Ramen. The Tonkotsu is BOMB, and the spicy chicken isn't far behind. Seriously, if you want Tonkotsu, come here. They only put a couple slices of pork in it, but GOOD GOD it's good. Also spicy chicken is almost as good. Going to try the curry noodles next. Service is a little slow, but they have a "Now Hiring" sign up front. The service isn't bad enough to stay away. Y'all need this ramen in your life.

I have a wheat allergy so I ordered the gluten free noodles for the Tonkatsu Ramen. The gluten free noodles were absolutely fantastic. They had the perfect texture and chewiness that ramen noodles should have. The broth was also very rich and flavorful. I am impressed and will be a repeat customer due to the fact that they provide the gluten free noodles option so that I do not have to bring in my own noodles.