Ramen512

"The prices are very high! One appetizer plus one entree and no drinks was $35. No servers. They holler at you from behind the counter when you walk in to "sit anywhere". You have to scan the QR code at the table, order your food and pay for it before it's prepared. The worst part is the tip is included before you even receive your food. They decide how much you tip. They come to your table twice. The first time is to bring you the cheapest napkins and plastic cutlery along with plastic cups and a pitcher of water. The second time they come to your table is to deliver your food. You don't get to decide how much to tip them; it's automatically included when you pay your bill before you receive your food. I'm not a fan of this style of service or the music that is blasting from a speaker on a shelf in the middle of the restaurant. The food is pretty good, but I'm too old to put up with this hip, new kind of "service"."

"It was our first time trying this place. I got Tori Tan Tan and my husband got Black Tonkotsu. We also got karaage chicken, which was delicious. His ramen was also delicious. Noodles and chashu pork in both were very good! However, my ramen broth was not good. It tasted like a spicy nutty sesame soup, I didn't like the broth at all, and even my husband, who eats anything that's put in front of him, said he didn't like it at all. So, if you don't like nutty broth that taste like sesame soup, do not get that one."

"Ramen 512 is the consistently delicious, with amazing housemade ramen noodles. I have gone back to try their specials including the yuzu kosho shio tsukemen (dipping ramen) and really enjoyed the yuzu kosho paste that added a unique and rich taste to the broth."

"Probably the most authentic ramen we’ve had here in Austin that is similar to our hometown NYC. We’ve been here at least 8 times already and that’s why I held back a a review until now. I like coming back to a place to test consistency of dishes. Savory broth and handmade ramen noodles! The texture of the ramen is perfect - not too overcooked and has a firmness spring to it. The ramen broth has the umami flavor we love and miss from NYC ramen spots. I enjoy the weekly specials that the chef also puts out at time. The Pork Chashu is seared the right way (I’m Chinese-American so I would know lol). I like the crisp sear that is lacking from other ramen joints (which I won’t name here). Some places really disappoint with their chasiu but they do it right here. The chicken karage is delectable with a good amount of batter to meat ratio. I think the meat could be cut into smaller pieces would be easier for kids and women like me with smaller mouths haha but it’s a personal preference. It’s self-service here which is common in Austin joints but I’d love if they could take it to the next level with waiters/waitresses some day like the ramen joints in Japan. I’ll never forget the delicious ramen in Tokyo and NYC, but for now, this is probably the best in all of Austin. Will be coming back again and again!"

"This could very well be the best ramen in the Austin area. My previous favorite was Marufuku in Mueller and it's still a solid choice however, Ramen512 might have a slight edge. The chashu was charred perfectly and had a smokey and savory taste to it. It was soft, tender and slightly fatty which is what you would expect with the chashu. The noodles in my black tonkatsu were al dente and you could tell the quality and freshness of the noodles. In fact, the owner transported a ramen noodle making machine directly from Japan. That's how fresh you'll get your noodles. The unique thing about the black tonkatsu is the black garlic oil which really gives off a nice garlicky flavor. Not to mention, the broth isn't overly salty which is very common for some other ramen places. My friends, who introduced us to this restaurant, got the tan tan men and the shoyu ramen. They both really said it was good and that they enjoyed it as well. I'll have to try some of the other options to ensure that the rest of their menu holds up to this review. We did try the karaage chicken which like Marufuku the pieces were a bit larger than bite size. I would have rather the pieces be bite-sized so that they can be shared easily. Overall highly recommend and I will definitely be coming back to try it and if anything changes I will update my review. Otherwise, give this a try."