Alum of LA’s Famed Tsujita Ramen Arrives in San Diego

After spending five years training at Tsujita, the acclaimed noodle shop deemed “the king of tonkotsu ramen in Los Angeles” by the late, great food critic Jonathan Gold, chef Daiki Tanaka is bringing his talents to San Diego where he will open his first solo restaurant. Called Artisan Noodle TATSUKI, it will slot into the Broadway space that previously housed two other downtown ramen spots.

The opening is scheduled for Thursday, August 1, when Tanaka will give away 100 bowls of ramen at lunch and dinner to those who follow the eatery’s Instagram account.

Focusing on just a few specialized dishes, Tatsuki’s menu will offer classic tonkotsu ramen, made with an intense and silky broth that involves 60 hours of preparation. It’ll be paired with fresh, thick noodles from Sun Noodle. A spicy miso ramen will also be featured as well as dipping ramen, or tsukemen, in which the cooked noodles are served with a side of rich, flavorful broth. Side dishes will include two kinds of pork buns, and the eatery plans to begin pouring beer and sake later this fall.

Courtesy photo

Tatsuki means “a tree with strong roots” in Japanese, which Tanaka says represents his desire to become a mainstay of the San Diego food scene; he intends to open a second location here by the end of 2019. The chef shared, “I’d like people in this city to enjoy our high-quality ramen that we make with our heartfelt care, and I’d like my business to stand here for many years.”

The 35-seat restaurant will be open Monday through Saturday, with lunch served between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and dinner offered between 5 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.