Matsuba Ramen

Esperanza Lantana de Sage 5 months ago

There’s something about a good bowl of ramen that doesn’t try too hard, and Matsuba Ramen gets that right. My wife and I stopped in this evening and ordered the Toridashi, the Toridashi Red, and the chicken katsu. Three simple dishes on paper, but what came out told a different story. The Toridashi is the kind of bowl you take your time with. The broth is rich and creamy without feeling heavy. The chashu is tender with a slight char, and the mushrooms and greens bring balance to each bite. It feels clean, thoughtful, and well executed. The Red builds on that same base with a chili oil that adds warmth without overpowering. It lingers just enough to keep you going back for another bite. It complements the dish instead of taking over. The chicken katsu is crisp, juicy, and straightforward in the best way. No extras needed, just done right. We also ran into the owner and head chef outside, who was genuinely grateful for our visit. No ego, just pride in what they’re serving. Places like this don’t need hype. They just need people to show up hungry. Matsuba Ramen is doing things the right way.

Angelica Le Edited 3 months ago

Overall Avg: 3.7/5 [delivery] Toridashi Black ($18.50) + Chicken Chashu Deluxe ($5): The deluxe comes with chashu pork, ajitama, bamboo shoot, and green onion. We thought the portion would be bigger, but this seems to be the standard sizing for ramen in Austin. The chicken broth was good but not as flavorful as pork broth, and it felt like it could have developed more depth with a longer simmer. Their chicken chashu, on the other hand, was very similar to pork chashu and was tasty. 4 Pieces Yakitori ($11): These chicken skewers (2 thighs and 2 tsukune) were disappointing and very dry. Pork Chashu Bowl ($14.50): Delicious and authentic. Recommend eating it fresh if you can. Beef Bowl ($14.50): Loved the jammy egg. This bowl tastes similar to a Yoshinoya beef bowl with good flavors overall but the beef had a lot of fat on it. Takoyaki ($9): Came with 8 pieces, and the batter was really good. Chicken Katsu ($11.70): For one piece of katsu, this felt way overpriced. It tasted good but not worth the cost. Glazed Sweet Potatos ($5): It's basically candied sweet potatoes that sounded better than it tasted. You have to air fry it or it does not taste good, and even then it was just

CJ C 10 months ago

Stopped here late in the evening on 11/4/2025. The staff refuse to take your order at the window, even though you're standing right in front of them. Instead, they re-direct you to ordering online while they resume scrolling on their phones. The staff are also non-English speaking. Influencers touted this as an authentic ramen experience, but this cannot be achieved by having Mexican workers sling out Japanese food. You would have to know exactly what you want and what you are ordering, because these people refuse to speak to you or answer any questions about the menu. It is also quite expensive considering the lack of service and plasticware for dine-in.

tulley's world a year ago

Matsuba is an amazing hidden gem if you prefer a lighter, healthier chicken-based broth that is still tasty with lots of umami. It was a bit of a drive to get to this ghost kitchen, but there was ample no-frills seating to have your meal. We ordered online and picked it up at the window. The toridashi black (chicken broth with black garlic oil) was delicious. You also have the option of ordering chicken instead of pork chashu. We also had karaage as an appetizer and dorayaki for dessert, which was a fun finish to the meal. In my opinion, it is more difficult to make a flavorful chicken broth for ramen than a pork based one (tonkotsu), but these guys do a fabulous job of it. I love their attention to detail (read their reheating instructions on the pamphlet in the order, and you'll see what I mean), and I will definitely visit again next time I'm in Austin!

Aaron Brown a year ago

Delicious ramen! Love how the container keeps the broth separate from the ingredients so it's fresh and tasty to-go. Ordered the miso pork deluxe with spice bomb and vegan with spice bomb. Both were rich with flavor with healthy portions. Definitely recommend the spice bomb which comes on the side for extra flavor🌶️ Will definitely return🍜