"If you’re in search of a bowl of very classic, Japanese ramen, head to one of the other spots on this guide. But if you’re ready to try some inventive Mexican-Japanese dishes like mole tsukemen and carnitas tonkotsu ramen, head to Ramen del Barrio inside of Hana World Market in North Austin. Sure, the dining area has all the expected sex appeal of a grocery store food court, but the heavy wooden accents and hanging paper lanterns makes sitting at the bar here feel a bit like you’re at a small ramen shop in Tokyo—just as long as you don’t look behind you. The star of the show here is the carnitas tonkotsu bowl—the broth has all the creaminess of an excellent bowl of tonkotsu, plus tender chunks of slow-cooked pork belly and buche. Squeeze a lime over it all and take a sip. It’s almost like drinking a taco. " - nicolai mccrary, raphael brion