This year was my second in a row of visiting Austin in mid-December. I have really fallen in love with this incredible city. I live in Denver, Colorado, but I always head to Albany, New York, for the holidays, so a quick weekend visit to Austin in between these two homes of mine is becoming a truly wonderful transitional tradition. My partner and I go for the music, stay for the food, and have a grand old time exploring everything else that Austin has to offer.
The Austin food scene is exceptional, and this time around, he and I returned to a few of our favorite places from our 2024 visit, like Sam’s BBQ and Gourdough’s Donuts. But we also wanted to make sure we tried something new to us during this visit, too.
Initial Reactions for Kemuri Tatsy-ya
So, for our special holiday dinner out, we chose Kemuri Tatsu-ya in East Austin. My companion found it on the city’s list of Michelin-suggested restaurants, and it certainly sounded interesting. I wasn’t quite sure how a restaurant could successfully merge Japanese cuisine with Texas BBQ, but I was sure interested to find out.
It turns out that the chefs at this charming little spot manage to combine these two cuisines from opposite sides of the world with great mastery, and this end-of-the-year meal ended up being one of my most memorable dinners of 2026.
Photo by Christy Articola
Kemuri Tatsu-ya’s owners describe the restaurant as an izakaya first and foremost. In Japan, izakayas first existed as rest stops for travelers. Eventually, they began to serve food and drinks.
Today, in Japan, the word izakaya refers to a neighborhood pub where people gather, which makes the descriptor quite fitting for Kamuri Tatsu-ya. It exists in a rather residential neighborhood, providing a place where people can meet up and share food and drinks after work near their homes.
What to Expect from Kemuri Tatsu-ya’s Menu
Further, the menu offers a vast selection of kinds of alcoholic beverages one might find in an izakaya in Japan, including beers, cocktails, shochus, and sakes. And, the edible menu selections are all shareable, small plates that encourage dining companions to try a variety of things while having a shared, collective dining experience.
All in all, this restaurant provides American diners a general idea of the type of meal they might enjoy at an izakaya in Japan, but it also both elevates it, while simultaneously keeping it familiar, by adding a Texas BBQ twist. More on that bonus to come.
Photo by Christy Articola
We made an early reservation at Kemuri Tatsu-ya because we had plans to attend a concert afterward; our 5 p.m. reservation meant that we were the first diners to arrive. We were led through the front of the restaurant to seating in the rear, in a somewhat chilly but somehow also very cozy space that I later learned had once been an open deck.
The space is enclosed now, and it’s beautifully decorated. It warmed up as our meal progressed. It’s lit with red lights in Japanese-style lamps, and various Japanese art and ephemera cover the walls. The music that would accompany our dinner was a well-curated hip-hop playlist spanning all eras of the genre, which pleased me quite a bit.
Our waiter introduced himself and told us a bit about the menu. Like most restaurants, it’s divided into sections: Toriaezu (starters), Chilled, Skewers, Classics, Smokehouse, and Dessert. At this restaurant, it makes the most sense to go through it in order.
My partner and I decided to sample something from each section – and I’m so glad we did. Not a single item we chose was just okay or average. Rather, I was immensely impressed with every single item.
From the Toriaezu section of the menu, we began with Taiyaki Cornbread. It was baked in the shape of a fish and was served with sesame butter and local honey. The cornbread was light and fluffy, a strong start to our meal.
The Chilled menu included a number of enticing, cool options including two Japanese salads and a pickled turnip dish. We chose the Bluefin Tuna Carpaccio after the waiter informed us that it was one of the restaurant’s most popular selections, and the Beef Tartare, pictured below. Both were excellent. The Beef Tartare offered our first peek at the restaurant’s Texas influence, with Texas Pecans, and we enjoyed scooping up the tender beef with the nori rice crackers.
Photo by Christy Articola
The next section of the menu is dedicated to skewers, also known as yakitori in Japan. These all looked fantastic, and we had trouble choosing from among them, but we finally settled on a pair of Negima Skewers. Negima is chicken thighs and leeks, or in this case scallions, and we enjoyed eating these right off the stick and dipping them in the tare sauce accompaniment.
Photo by Christy Articola
As the menu at Kemuri Tatsu-ya progresses, the Texas cuisine starts to poke its way through. Each section seems to lean a bit more Texan, but in a sneaky manner that is wholly welcome. For example, the Classics section of the menu includes Japanese octopus fritters, as well as fried chicken and brisket.
We ordered and adored the Hot Pocketz, which are smoked gouda and BBQ brisket wrapped in a triangular tofu skin. These melted in our mouths, and I can still remember their flavor as I write this, a month after our meal.
Photo by Christy Articola
We also enjoyed the Guaca-Poke from this section of the menu as well. This tasty combo was poke, which, as you probably know, is best described as deconstructed sushi, served with the perfectly crisp type of tortilla chips found only in the south.
Photo by Christy Articola
The menu delves deep into the heart of Texas in its penultimate section. The Smokehouse section includes brisket, ribs, pork belly, and BBQ all the way. However, Temiru Katsu-ya doesn’t want diners to forget this is a Japanese restaurant, either – and so it offers an ongoing balance between Texas and Japan with offerings like fish, BBQ eel, and a bento upgrade in this menu section as well.
We chose the Chashu Pork Belly and the BBQ Eel here. Both were exceptional. These two items were delicious, luscious, and velvety-soft, and we were both impressed with their perfect flavor and texture overall. Wow!
Photo by Christy Articola
There’s only one dessert on Kemuri Tatsu-ya’s menu, and it’s Banana Pudding-Matcha Whip. That was fine with my companion and me, as we are banana enthusiasts. We ordered it to share, and it was the perfect closer to a fantastic, memorable, and unusual meal.
Photo by Christy Articola
My Overall Thoughts on Kemuri Tatsu-ya
I loved everything about Kemuri Tatsu-ya. This restaurant is absolutely deserving of its Michelin Guide nod, and it was one of the best meals I had all year. I was impressed by the service, the decor, the ambiance, the menu, and of course, every single bite of the food.
Kemuri Tatsu-ya is well worth the praise, and I recommend it to anyone interested in what Japanese/Texas BBQ fusion is all about. You’re sure to love it. Next time you’re in Austin, don’t miss it. If you live in Austin, I am jealous that you have easy access to this very special restaurant anytime, as I am already counting down the days until I get to return to Kemuri Tatsu-ya again next year.
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