Michelin-Recommended Austin Restaurant DipDipDip Tatsu-Ya to Close Aug. 17

DipDipDip Tatsu-Ya, a North Austin staple for Japanese hot pot, will close on August 17, marking the end of its six-year operation. The announcement follows a high-profile year for the restaurant, which was listed as “Michelin Recommended” in the Michelin Guide Texas 2024.

The closure is part of a larger transformation of the area, but specific information about what will replace DipDipDip has not been disclosed. 

In a statement, chef and founder Tatsu Aikawa reflected on the restaurant’s impact. “DipDipDip allowed us to share a unique side of Japanese cuisine, a place where we could slow down, cook together, and share something special,” he said.

DipDipDip Tatsu-Ya was known for serving shabu-shabu and nabemono, two traditional Japanese hot pot styles. The menu featured high-quality meats like brisket and Kurobuta pork belly, along with creative dipping sauces such as ponzu, citrus soy, and spicy sesame gomadre.

The restaurant also earned local acclaim, being named Eater Austin’s Restaurant of the Year in 2020. It was one of several concepts from Aikawa and his Tatsu-Ya team that helped redefine modern Japanese cuisine in Texas.

While DipDipDip prepares to close, the larger Tatsu-Ya group continues to expand. Ramen Tatsu-Ya, the original concept launched by Aikawa in 2012, will open its sixth Austin location later this summer. Additional locations exist in Round Rock and Houston, with another Houston spot expected to debut this winter.

Aikawa has also launched Tiki Tatsu-Ya on South Lamar, the izakaya-inspired Kemuri Tatsu-Ya, which received a Bib Gourmand in the Michelin Guide, and Domo Alley-Gato, a sake bar connected to the East Sixth Ramen Tatsu-Ya.

DipDipDip is not the first Tatsu-Ya concept to close. BBQ Ramen Tatsu-Ya shuttered in 2023 with plans to reopen elsewhere. However, no new location has been launched yet.

Until its final day, diners can still visit DipDipDip Tatsu-Ya at 7301 Burnet Road, Suite 101.

Chef Aikawa has yet to reveal what’s next for the space, but fans of the Tatsu-Ya group are already anticipating what new flavors may emerge.

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