Reviewing Aji Ramen: Authentic ramen and traditional Japanese fares in Katy, Texas.

Restaurants that sell authentic ramen used to be a pretty rare find in Katy, Texas, an up-and-coming town a little bit outside of Houston. But, due to the increased demand for this popular Japanese cuisine, they are no longer difficult to find! 

One of the first ramen restaurants that I remember seeing pop up around town was Aji Ramen, tucked away behind a bustling H-E-B grocery store on Mason Road. Although I passed by it quite a few times, I had never ventured inside until recently. As I was finishing my meal, I already could not wait to return. 

Unlike the other establishments within the shopping center, Aji’s natural wood exterior is very sleek and inviting.

The natural wood aesthetic continues inside the restaurant, with natural wood booths, tables, chairs, and bar. The centerpiece to this visually pleasing restaurant scape is a beautiful dangling natural branch adorned with lights, which is centered above a sizable middle table. To the left of the line of booths is an accent wall that mirrors the modernness of the wood fixture.  

When I walked in, I was immediately greeted by a friendly waitress who offered me water after I explained I was doing a to-go order. Unfortunately, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, I’ve been avoiding eating at indoor restaurants. Although Aji Ramen currently allows indoor dining, they’re extremely accommodating to those who prefer to do takeout.  

Aji Ramen’s specialty is obviously ramen, but they also have so much more to offer. They have an array of Japanese fares, including modern twists on old favorites like takoyaki and traditional grilled skewers. All of it looked delicious, however, I opted for chashu don and an edamame appetizer. Even in the dead of winter, Houston is far too hot to eat warm noodle soup, no matter how good their ramen looks.  

Chashu don is essentially a braised pork rice bowl with aji tamago (egg), seaweed salad, and sweet corn over a bed of perfectly cooked rice. The expertly braised pork slices melt right in your mouth, and the remaining additions to the bowl blend brilliantly with each other to create such a delightful dish that I wish I had more of it as I type this. 

The spicy edamame was like nothing I’ve had before, which I wasn’t expecting with edamame. Edamame seems like a safe choice because it’s just boiled soybeans. These, on the other hand, take basic edamame to a whole new level. This edamame is coated in a homemade kimchi sauce that is to die for. Speaking as someone who adores anything spicy and anything kimchi, these were a huge win in my book. I’d say that the spice level isn’t too overpowering, but I have a decently high spice tolerance. So, if you like spicy foods, be sure to give these a try. 

Overall, Aji Ramen was great. From the vibe to the service and the food, everything made me one fairly happy customer.  If you’re like me and are nervous about eating indoors, Aji does an excellent job of socially distancing the customers. I wish I could have hung around to enjoy the ambiance of this cozy, trendy ramen restaurant, but I’ll definitely be ordering their takeout regularly now.