Popular sushi chain in south Arlington getting ‘Killer Ramen’ makeover
With a handful of thriving Piranha Killer Sushi restaurants now in Fort Worth, north Arlington, Flower Mound, Austin and San Antonio, all owned by chef Kenzo Tran, the brand’s longtime sushi restaurant in south Arlington is making a change.
Tran and Dien Nguyen, the owners and chefs, closed the Arlington Highlands location in October and will reveal a new concept, Piranha Killer Ramen, in the next few weeks.
Nguyen came up with the new ramen-focused menu. He is also the one behind the menu at Wabi House in Dallas, with its small plates and similar ramen focus. (Kenzo Tran also owns the popular Pho District on West Seventh Street in Fort Worth, and he and Nguyen have plans to bring Fort Worth’s first Wabi House to Magnolia and Eighth avenues on the Near Southside next year).
“When I first came to town, the market wasn’t saturated with sushi restaurants yet,” Tran said. “I added some crazy combinations and became known for my spicy sushi creations, but now most sushi restaurants have incorporated some version of them on their own menus.
“In this business, creating and change are a must. That’s why we always want to stay ahead of the trend.”
Adds Thao Dang, manager of the south Arlington restaurant: “Piranha Killer Sushi has been in this same location for 10 years, ever since Arlington Highlands opened. Kenzo and Dien want to give the customers a whole new experience in Japanese cusine.”
The decade-old spot was ready for a major revamp, and a huge renovation is underway. When construction is complete, it should help the restaurant better fit with the new ramen concept.
“Our goal is to bring a cozy Japanese feeling to our customers so they could feel like they are in Japan,” Dang said. “We will be the first restaurant in Arlington that has a huge tatami table.” The traditional Japanese tatami room can seat 18 to 20 people, so it will be perfect for big parties or it can be treated as a common table.
Sushi fans won’t be disappointed. The same stunning sushi is still on the menu, but ramen will take center stage. “We are planning a more refined sushi menu. It will not be as extensive and will focus more on sashimi and nigiri varieties,” Tran said.
The menu is still being designed, but diners can expect about eight varieties of ramen, including Tonkatsu (featuring chashu, wood ear mushroom, butter corn, egg, mayu oil and scallion), and spicy miso (with minced pork, bamboo shoot, scallion, chile strips and a poached egg). Additional toppings will allow you to customize the ramen to taste.
There also will be classic Japanese izakaya small plates including tako yaki (fried octopus balls) and chicken yakitori skewers. The menu will hit some of the highlights of Japanese comfort foods, which are so common at street stalls and tiny ramen shops and izakayas scattered in nearly every neighborhood throughout Japan. “Our small plates will bring a modern twist to traditional izakaya cuisine,” Tran said.
One intersting addtion is Piranha Killer Ramen’s new infusion bar. “It’s called infusion bar because we will infuse our own liquor in-house.” Dang said. The plan is to create cocktails that could not be served anywhere else. A selection of sake (from Japan) and soju (from Korea) also will be a draw.
“We want to bring in a concept that we know there is a demand for,” Tran said. Piranha Killer Ramen hopes to open by the end of January.
Piranha Killer Ramen: 309 Curtis Mathes Way, Suite 149 (Arlington Highlands), 682-410-0504. Website and hours to be announced.
This story was originally published January 17, 2018 at 12:13 PM with the headline "Popular sushi chain in south Arlington getting ‘Killer Ramen’ makeover."