Ramen News

Ramen restaurant with focus on quality lands in downtown Arlington

Photo by Eric Sandler

There's an ambitious new ramen concept in town. Called Kintaro Ramen, it will open at 101 E. Abram St., in downtown Arlington, on the street level of a new residential building that's on the site of the former Arlington Public Library.

Kintaro is from Han Le, who is opening his first restaurant and says he's excited to be part of the downtown Arlington neighborhood.

"Arlington is a city undergoing much growth and revitalization," Le says in a statement. "I believe this is the perfect time to bring a new concept to add a little culinary diversity to that part of town."

The menu is small, but offers well executed bowls at an approachable price point.

Ramen will be available in three versions:

Tonkotsu. A silky, luscious tonkotsu broth inspired by the Fukuoka pork broths and cooked for 48 hours to extract all the flavor from the bone, cartilage, and marrow.
Chintan. A full-bodied chintan broth inspired by the Tokyo whole chicken broths blended with a selection of dry fish and soy sauce. The chintan broth will be completely pork free.
Miso. A miso broth with pork and chicken and koji red miso tare.

They'll also have a ramen special that changes every month, starting in April.

Le says their goal is to stay true to the flavor by limiting the toppings available to each broth.

"We are not looking at creating a build-your-own or catch all ramen, but instead to cater a unique flavor experience," he says.

His goal is to be on a level with what he believes are the area's better shops including Hinodeya, Ichigoh, and Marufuku.

In addition to ramen, they'll do gyoza filled with pork; chicken karaage; steamed chashu buns; and seaweed salad.

There are two entrees: panko-crusted pork chop with steamed rice, and Nikujaga short rib like a stew with potato, carrot, and shiitake mushrooms, served with shirataki noodles.

There are two desserts: matcha green tea ice cream with Fruity Pebbles, and creme brulee.

They'll also serve sake and Asian beers.

They'll be open daily for lunch and dinner, with late hours Thursday through Saturday until midnight and hope to open in mid-February.

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Cheesecake News

Dallas dessert shop Val's Cheesecakes calls it quits on Greenville Ave

Photo courtesy of Val's

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A Dallas dessert shop has closed its doors: Val's Cheesecakes, located at 2820 Greenville Ave., closed for good on December 17 after 12 years.

Owner Valery Jean-Bart issued a statement saying that he was ready to move on to new things.

"The time has come to officially close the doors at our Greenville location," he said. "This is not just the end of a chapter; it is the end of a place that has been a huge part of my life and journey. Over the years, we have built something special here, but the time has come to let this space go so we can move forward with clarity and purpose."

Jean-Bart started selling his cheesecakes in 2012 after a career in civil engineering. He took the inspiration from his mother's love of cheesecakes before she passed from breast cancer.

Over the past decade, he had many ups and downs, with other locations that he opened and closed, often abruptly, and more than one closure followed by a reopening.

But he said this time he was closing permanently, calling the past few months "a challenge" but also a reminder of what matters.

"Focusing on friends, family, and my personal life is more important now than ever," he said. "I am leaving this location on my own terms, proud of what we have accomplished and ready for what is next."

What is next is Val's Blue Label, his other shop in the Cedars District at 1112 S. Akard St. which he opened in March 2023 and which is described as an elevated cheesecake experience that also holds classes and workshops.