I can’t think of any food as nourishing for body and soul as a bowl of good soup. It soothes the sniffles, it mends the heart, it fills the belly and it’s surprising there aren’t more restaurants that specialize in soup. Let’s be glad we have Lucky Cat, and be glad that they not only make good soup, but hit the mark with just about everything they offer.
Read MoreCertainly, Lucky Cat’s Japanese-inspired menu of ramen, dumplings, and rice bowls adds excitement to a street already known for its eclectic personality. Accessible, affordable, and destined to grow, the menu reflects Nicholson’s goal to make fun and interesting dishes that taste good.
Read MoreTo begin the design process, we picked out a few strong elements — the lush green sofa, statement lighting fixtures, and red chrysanthemum wallpaper, among others. The rest of the elements sort of fell into place by sticking to a color palette and adding different textural components.
Read MoreThe ramen pop-up-turned-permanent establishment is, without question, here to stay. Don’t miss the Memphis BBQ bao (steamed bun) and bar lead Paul Gilliam’s Asian-inspired cocktails. The lunch deal is a delight — just $13 for a steamed bun (bao), greens with addictive sweet chili vinaigrette, and either half-portioned ramen or rice bowl.
Read MoreAnchoring the Broad Avenue Arts District, Wiseacre Brewing Co. has developed a cult following with colorful, intricately illustrated can designs and a laid-back attitude toward craft beer. Down the street, The Cove mixes a kooky pirate-ship ambience with impressive drinks while hosting bands and Lucky Cat Ramen, a popular pop-up serving Asian specialties.
Read MoreAn ever-changing menu board lists the day’s offerings, which usually include a veggie bowl as well as pork and chicken offerings. The permanent location will serve alcohol as well as non-ramen selections like yakitori, tempura, and raw dishes.
Read More“This is an ideal and meaningful location for us,” says Zach Nicholson. “We did our very first pop-up shop just down the road at City & State and later held regular pop-up shops at The Cove. This neighborhood has been kind and supportive to us and we’re glad to be putting down permanent roots where we got our start.”
Read MoreChoose classic or special ramen bowls, or go for the inventive steamed buns like crispy pork belly bao or octopus with fried tomatoes.
Read More…they’re a casual BYOB ramen and pork bun spot at Peabody and Cooper, and in the next few months, they will graduate to the next level: an upscale Japanese restaurant and late-night eatery in Cooper Young.
Read MoreLuck has nothing over good ol’ hustle by the folks at Lucky Cat. Zach and Sarah Nicholson parlayed their popular ramen-heavy pop-ups into a hoppin’ brick-and-mortar space at the corner of Cooper and Peabody.
Read MoreDespite enthusiastic social media, I hesitated to try Lucky Cat’s ramen, worried that it wouldn’t match the wonderful ramen I’d loved in New York. What a chump. From the first soft-boiled egg, dyed a little by a soak in soy sauce and drizzled with garlic/scallion oil, to dinner’s final slurp, I couldn’t be more pleased.
Read MoreSo, how much ramen did Zach serve last weekend? “The ramen noodles are 5 ounces per serving. So, doing that math, we served about 150 pounds of noodles.
Read MoreMany of their ramen ideas “come from just sort of reminiscing about our most profound food experiences,” Nicholson said. “We think about, ‘What were the best things we’ve ever eaten? And can we replicate those textures and flavors through the lens of ramen?’”
Read MoreJust hearing the description of "spicy tan-tan," one of Zach Nicholson's ramen noodle creations at Lucky Cat Ramen, made me crave a bowl.
Read MoreIt’s safe to say that we’ll all probably be seeking some comfort food, and Lucky Cat has us covered. Specializing in Japanese comfort food, its sublime ramen noodle bowls will definitely cure whatever ails you.
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