From Tokyo to 620; the former CEO of AFURI Ramen opened his first U.S. restaurant on the border of Cedar Park & Austin, and it's built around one bird.
Including working at Michelin Star ramen restaurant in Tokyo, Taichi spent 10 years as CEO of AFURI and, by his count, opened about 40 restaurants in 18 years, from Portland and LA to Hong Kong, Singapore and Toronto.
Last year he sold his shares to build something small of his own. The first Onebird opened in Tokyo. Austin is the first in the U.S.
He moved here from Portland in March with his wife and their three young boys. Of all the Texas cities he scouted, he says Austin "felt like home."
The idea: one bird, many kitchens
"Chicken is the one protein everybody likes," Taichi told us. So the menu isn't strictly Japanese. It's Japanese, Thai and Southern, all built from the same whole chicken. Even the country gravy is made with his house chicken broth.
What to order
The Bird ramen. The whole chicken in one bowl. Broth from the feet, neck and carcass, topped with breast slow-cooked at 140°F for two hours, a crispy-skin thigh, a thigh-breast-gizzard crumble and a marinated egg.
Broth-brined fried chicken. Crunchy outside, juicy inside.
Khao man gai. Thai poached chicken and rice.
Milk bread sandwiches. Bread baked in-house for Japanese-style fried chicken sandos. (Taichi also ran a bakery business.)
The sauces. Every one we tried was a hit.
Pro tip
Getting it to go? The ramen comes in a clever take-out bowl with reheating instructions. Follow them.
Visit the Cedar Park location
📍 12129 RM 620 N, Ste 100, Austin, TX 78750
📞 (512) 243-5283
🌐 eatonebird.com
📸 @eatonebird
