After building a rep for making some of DFW’s best sushi, Jesús García left Texas for the West Coast to learn everything he could about making ramen. After studying the classic dish in Japan and working at some killer ramen spots, Garcia has returned to Fort Worth to sling noodles in Arlington Heights.
Taking over the dimly lit space formerly occupied by Kin Kin Urban Thai, Oni Ramen has officially opened its doors at 2801 West 7th. The new spot’s decor (and name) finds inspiration from traditional oni masks depicting demons and devils from Japanese folklore. Perhaps not surprisingly, the restaurant’s super-spicy hot sauce, laced with scorpion and Carolina Reaper peppers, has also earned the moniker "oni."
Garcia doesn’t make his own noodles in-house, but they’re fresh and springy. Yam noodles, a solid option for gluten-free diners, are also available. Top your choice of noodles and bowl of tonkotsu broth with tender braised pork belly, hard boiled egg, or corn on the cob. If it’s too hot for ramen, uber-trendy tuna poke is also on offer.
Oni Ramen is now open for lunch (11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.) and dinner (5 p.m. to 10 p.m.). Most excitingly, you’ll be able to slurp noodles until 4 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. In the meantime, scope out photos of the new space above.