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Tanuki Ramen & Izakaya Hits A Home Run!
I’ve been wanting to try Tanuki Izakaya & Ramen for awhile. So when my significant other suggested trying it on a Friday night, I wasn’t adverse at all. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the food and the customer service were on point. In fact, I don’t have a single critique of the food or the customer service, not one!
The Atmosphere
When you first walk into the restaurant, you can see a sushi bar counter and a bunch of booths and tables. The place appeared crowded on a Friday night. I appreciated the thoughtful Japanese decorations and the line of beer and sake laid out by the sushi bar for everyone to see. It was busy but still inviting.
We were warmly greeted, and invited to sit at the sushi bar while we waited for a table. They came to take my drink order within 2 minutes of my arrival, and I thought it was nice that I could have a sake while I waited for a table.
The Food
The menu has a pretty well thought out menu, with ramen, and izakaya options, being the primary stars here. I decided to keep it simple. We ordered the Black Mayu Tonkatsu Ramen with extra soup, and noodles, and a extra ajitama egg. We also ordered Agedashi Tofu, A5 Wagyu, and Gyu Kaibi (beef short rib).
Black Mayu Tonkatsu Ramen
The Black Mayu Tonkatsu Ramen was delicious. From the first spoonful, I was hooked. True ramen is all about the broth. If the broth isn’t flavorful and tasty, you aren’t going to like the ramen. The menu describes this ramen as rich pork broth with toasted garlic oil, bbq pork belly, soft boiled marinated egg, nori, ginger, fungus, green onion, and cabbage. They offer a kotteri option which offers thicker broth.
I really appreciated the flavorful broth with the delightful pieces of pork belly. The ginger, green onion, and fungus really added to the depth of flavor. I am sold. I will be back for this specific ramen again and I will continue to get it with extra noodles, soup, and egg.
Agedashi Tofu
I love tofu. So there was no way I was going to not try Tanuki’s Agedashi Tofu. It was just as it should be. The tofu itself was nicely fried. It was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. It was served with a sauce which I both poured on it and dipped it in. I really liked this dish.
A5 Wagyu
The A5 Wagyu was just as tender as I’d imagined it would be. It was flavorful and delicious with every bite. This is absolutely a must try! If you aren’t a vegetarian, you MUST TRY this wagyu when you come into Tanuki!
Gyu Kaibi
The Gyu Kaibi was tasty as well. I found it to be well flavored with the meat itself being quite moist. I would totally order this again but I need to be honest and say I preferred the A5 Wagyu. So if you’re debating between the two, go for the A5 Wagyu. If you want to try both, then do go for both and you won’t be sorry.
Overall
I had a chance to speak with owners John and Steve a bit. They were friendly and explained their vision behind their restaurant. They wanted to create a restaurant with high quality food and make it accessible to to the local community. I also appreciated our cheerful server Ada, who was spot on with her customer service, and always seemed to appear just when I needed something.
My dining partner and I were very impressed by the food, the customer service, and the warm atmosphere of Tanuki Ramen & Izakaya. I will definitely be back again.
Go for the Black Mayu Tonkatsu Ramen and the A5 Wagyu! MUST TRY! Tanuki Ramen & Izakaya is EGT APPROVED! Tell them Jax sent you!
Tanuki Izakaya & Ramen
7119 Elk Grove Blvd, #125 Elk Grove, CA 95758 (916) 829-2186 www.tanukiizakayaramen.com
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