Spent the morning sightseeing downtown Houston this morning, this ramen shop popped up on my radar in time for lunch. Been craving a nice bowl of ramen, so I ordered the spicy miso tonkatsu ramen and a side of shrimp shumai. The broth was so very flavorful and silky, I drank it from the bowl. I didn't need to any additional seasonings. I could have this ramen every day!

Delicious- keep coming back. Everything is put together perfectly. Also, service awesome from the one man show.

I went here to this location this afternoon for the first time since the one on Durham closed. I was very pleased with some of the red broth ramen I had there, but decided to get the basic Tonkotsu Ramen this time since my friend had it last time we were at the original and bc it looked great online here too. It was very bold, basic, well-balanced and very delicious. The broth was very good, kind of creamy, had a highly prominent bone broth flavor and a miso aroma in the mix. The meat slice was very tender, savory and tasty. The noodles were very good, soft, thin and paired very well with everything. The black mushrooms and green onions were nice additions to the meal. Great, fast n friendly service at this location. When it comes to ramen spots, Jinya and Samurai Noodle do it best imo. The quality is another noticeable food bonus compared to most ramen shops down here.

This is a downdown spinoff of the Heights location, and it's amazing. Same fantastic selection of broth, which includes the Shiro Tonkotsu. Easily the best ramen around. It's creamy Tonkotsu with a sweet aftertaste, apparently traditional in Northern Japan, but very unique in this area. Completely worth a try. Service is excellent, quick, and friendly. All my questions were answered, and I was even able to order extra broth like you can at the Heights location. Solid win. This place is tragically located inside one of those pretentious dining halls that's only got one bar and the restaurants can't serve alcohol due to some TABC BS. DEFINITELY pre-game before you get here, or hit up one of the nearby dive bars when you're done with the ramen. I'll definitely be back, but next time, I'll take more indirect route on foot. Preferably past a few bars. The ramen at Samurai is so, so good I'm still willing come here even with the alcohol situation.

Thomas Tang was floored the first time he had an authentic ramen made at Ryo-san's Samurai Noodle in Seattle. The exquisite and surprisingly satisfying experience inspired him to bring the joy of meticulously crafted bowls of ramen to Houston, not without hurdles and the strict approval standards of the founder. Today, I walked into a modernly designed, high-ceiling, open space that is Downtown's Lyrics Market. It's clean, sparkly, bright, and inviting. Thomas is already serving up hot bowls of enticing ramen to the lunch crowd. He's engaging and friendly to customers who walk up to the counter, displaying the same passion and pride since the first day I met him at Samurai Noodle Heights. For years, he insisted on not compromising on the spirit of making a delicious bowl of ramen. He invested time and money in making fresh ramen noodles in-house with ingredients and a machine imported from Japan. The chicken and pork broth are constantly boiling in gigantic pots, whereas others might simply order pre-made noodles and pre-packaged soup base. Every single bowl starts with the soul of ramen, the proprietary Tare (seasoning), and is constructed with the proper noodle that pairs with the corresponding broth, before finishing with an assortment of toppings. I respect the man, his principles, and his execution. Whether it is at his store in the Heights or the space at the Food Hall, this guy doesn't compromise on quality, doesn't cut corners, and doesn't just want to make a quick buck. I'm a boring, old-fashioned guy who always prefers the Shouyu broth made with chicken stock, the noodles cooked at least Kata (firm), and the toppings I would eat last after savoring just the soup and noodles. The high standard, flair, and authenticity of Samurai Ramen remain unbroken at the Lyrics Market. It's a food hall I would visit because of the convenience of free two-hour downtown parking and the fun activities one can enjoy in the heart of the Theatre District. I'm proud to have a friend like Thomas, who continues to dutifully serve a bowl of "simply good ramen, no hype!" Ramen Lyric Market