San Antonio’s northwest side has a new slurp spot. TenTen Udon & Tempura has slipped into the former Nama Ramen digs and turned the long-running ramen address into a fast-casual udon and tempura bar. The shop centers on Sanuki-style udon, the thick, bouncy wheat noodles, and a self-serve tempura line where diners grab individual pieces of fried vegetables and seafood. Staff build each bowl at a counter, so customers can watch the noodles and broth come together right in front of them.
TenTen sits at 6526 Babcock Road, Suite 105, and started with a soft opening earlier in the winter before shifting into regular hours, according to MySA. The outlet pointed to a bright dining room and a menu driven by customizable bowls and tempura sold a la carte. The paper also reported that the owners threw a grand-opening celebration in December and mapped out a midday service that can sell out on busy nights.
A Sanuki-Style Shift
TenTen leans into Sanuki-style udon, a chewier and thicker noodle from Japan’s Kagawa Prefecture, paired with a build-your-own-bowl setup and a self-serve tempura bar, as CultureMap San Antonio reports. The concept comes from the team behind Onigiri Fuku, which helped rework the room after Nama Ramen closed. The quick-service format is designed to offer affordable, made-to-order noodle bowls for students and workers in the area.
Behind the Counter
Operating partner Kevin Chu walked a reporter through the tempura bar and told Fox San Antonio that “everything is fried, fresh to order.” The outlet highlighted toppings like braised beef and a fire-kissed pork belly alongside classic tempura choices such as shrimp and sweet potato. Staff assemble the noodle bowls first, then customers head to the tempura station to round out the meal.
Lunch Deals And Prices
Reviewers have found TenTen’s lunch specials easy on the wallet, with several donburi and bowl combos running about $12.99 including a drink, according to a later review from MySA. The paper also noted a bright interior dotted with lanterns and service paced for the midday rush. Expect shorter waits earlier in the week, along with lines when special combos hit the board.
How It Fits The Neighborhood
The opening adds to a steady wave of Japanese quick-serve spots moving into San Antonio’s northwest corridor and brings new life to a space left empty when Nama Ramen shut down after a decade, as CultureMap San Antonio noted. TenTen broadens the strip’s choices and gives nearby residents and students another affordable counter-service option. Early online chatter and local write-ups suggest the udon-focused format is already pulling in regulars.
Fox San Antonio reports that the shop briefly ran a promo tied to its TV segment, offering a free tempura piece and a drink with an entree for customers who mentioned the show. For anyone hunting a hot bowl or just a quick hit of crispy tempura, TenTen is positioning itself as San Antonio’s new go-to for Sanuki-style udon.
