Mueller’s Aldrich Street district is adding a ramen option as Marufuku Ramen opens its second Texas location at 1900 Aldrich Street, Suite 180, in the Shorenstein Alpha building on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022, according to Eater Austin.
What to expect
The menu centers on Hakata-style tonkotsu ramen made with pork bone broth and thin noodles, alongside selectable spice levels, as reported by Eater Austin. The company highlights a deluxe chicken paitan that comes with a whole chicken leg and offers rice bowls and small plates, including gyoza, karaage, takoyaki, and steamed buns, according to Marufuku Ramen.
Service will include dine-in, takeout, and third-party delivery, as noted by Eater Austin and confirmed on the company’s site, Marufuku Ramen.
Who is behind it
Marufuku Ramen was founded by Eiichi Mochizuki and Koji Kikura, who opened the original restaurant in San Francisco in 2017, according to Eater Austin. The brand has expanded with multiple locations in California and single locations in New York and Frisco, Texas, the latter opening in 2019, Eater Austin reported.
Neighborhood context
The Mueller opening arrives amid a cluster of food and hospitality activity on and around Aldrich Street. A second Austin outpost of Tiny Boxwoods’ walk-up bakery offshoot, Tinys Milk & Cookies, is planned for the street level of the Origin Hotel at 1825 McBee Street, as reported by Eater Austin. The hotel includes the all-day restaurant Blue Lacy on site, according to Origin Hotel Austin.
Eater’s coverage also points to other nearby moves, including a brick-and-mortar by Veracruz All Natural taking over the former J.T. Youngblood’s location, as reported by Eater Austin. These additions help drive steady foot traffic to Aldrich Street’s residential, office, and retail blocks.
How it fits the market
Austin’s ramen field already includes long-running players. Eater’s report notes the presence of Ramen Tatsu-ya and that New York’s Ivan Ramen briefly operated as a delivery and pickup pop-up in spring 2021, according to Eater Austin. The broader Japanese dining category has also expanded, including the opening of Uchibā downtown in 2023, as covered by Axios.
Local demand for global cuisines is supported by Austin’s diverse population and a dining culture that spans food trucks to full-service restaurants. Data compiled by Austin POI describe a mix of residents and steady growth that has encouraged new concepts citywide. Cultural surveys of the city’s food scene underscore how Austin’s culinary identity embraces international influences alongside Texas staples, according to Mount Bonnell.
For Mueller, Marufuku adds a sit-down noodle shop to a walkable stretch that now includes a hotel restaurant, a forthcoming bakery window, and established coffee, retail, and entertainment. That variety may help the ramen shop capture both neighborhood residents and visitors drawn to nearby parks, offices, and the cinema.
Key details
- Address: 1900 Aldrich Street, Suite 180 (Shorenstein Alpha building), Mueller — per Eater Austin and Marufuku Ramen
- Opening date: Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022 — per Eater Austin
- Cuisine: Hakata-style tonkotsu ramen; also chicken paitan, rice bowls, and small plates — per Eater Austin and Marufuku Ramen
- Service: Dine-in, takeout, and third-party delivery — per Eater Austin and Marufuku Ramen
Marufuku’s entry gives Mueller another option for quick takeout and sit-down meals near Aldrich Street’s central plaza and hotel, adding to a district that continues to build out its restaurant mix with concepts drawing citywide interest, according to reporting from Eater Austin and updates from Origin Hotel Austin. Read the press release on austin.eater.com.
