Kukai - Tucson

I ordered the vegan ramen and the takana onigiri (rice ball filled with inlaid greens wrapped in soultang) for delivery. the raves were absolutely amazing! the noodles were perfectly boiled, and came with kombu, ingwer, green tweezers, and fried shiiitake mushrooms that were excellent. but the star of the smokers was the broth. wow! super tasteful, a little spicy kick and slightly creamy. that's a must. the takana onigiri was pretty good, but I wanted some bolder aromen. I can try the umeboshi plumb next time, and I will be there again! ps: an amazing vegan meal should not be limited to four stars, just because they died on others. I feel grateful if any restaurant has as wonderful vegan options as this.

The vegan spicy ramen were from this world. my absolute favorite.

I absolutely love these dishes! The crispy shiitake mushrooms are incredibly tasty, and the broth is delightful.

We just tried the ramen, and it was outstanding! It compares favorably to some vegan options I've had in California and even Japan. It's far better than anything available in Phoenix. I highly recommend it!

They also offer a simpler shoyu ramen, which we plan to try on our next visit. The owner was incredibly friendly and kind; he came over to check on our meal and shared a bit of his story with us. He has spent over a decade mastering Japanese cuisine and opened Kukai with his partner, who is also his Japanese teacher and makes all the sushi there. This charming little spot is located in the MSA Annex, a trendy area featuring 15 eateries and shops housed in repurposed shipping containers. If we ever return to Tucson, we will definitely come back here, and I highly recommend that everyone gives this place a try. The food is authentic, delicious, and thoughtfully prepared; the service is genuine and very welcoming. I absolutely love the atmosphere created by the repurposed containers! I would rate this place a 5 out of 5, but Happy Cow only allows a maximum of 4.