Kathy Tran
Audio By Carbonatix
Following the acquisition of the lauded Dallas sushi spot Tei-An by its CEO, Hunter Pond, Vandelay Hospitality expands its portfolio by purchasing another of chef Teiichi Sakurai’s restaurants, TEN Ramen.
Located in a mixed-use complex in West Dallas, Ten Ramen opened in 2015 with a tight menu of six ramens, plus three rice bowls and edamame. After it opened, the Observer reviewed it as “singular” and more recently, asserted that it serves “the best ramen in the city.”
According to the press release regarding its next phase, this purchase happened an unspecified number of months ago, and Vandelay has been managing the space.
Expansion to the West Village
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In a press release, Pond says that Vandelay will open a second location in the West Village in spring 2026. At the original location, Sakurai aimed to create a space evocative of traditional Japanese noodle shops, featuring a small, narrow layout with a standing bar for dining and watching the kitchen at work.
The new shop will not follow that blueprint. It measures over 1,000 square feet and includes a ramen bar for 10, a full-service bar and a dining room for 28.
“Vandelay Companies is designing the space, ensuring it reflects the neighborhood’s energy while maintaining the warmth and craft of the original location,” the press release says.
If we were forced to name the energy in the West Village, we’d be hard-pressed to do it in a word. It’s a mix of fast-casual spots, like Medicino Farms and Village Burger Bar, and fancier restaurants, like Namo and Bar Collette. It’s Jonathan Adler and it’s Sephora.
Previously, Vandelay Hospitality’s design team was accused of what could be called design plagiarism by the owner of Lure Fish Bar in New York City, who felt its Anchor Sushi Bar lifted too liberally from his own designs. In a statement, a Vandelay representative acknowledged that Lure was a source of inspiration.
One thing that won’t change, according to Pond, is the food.
“We haven’t touched the recipes, they’re perfect just as they are,” Pond said. He did not say if there are any plans to expand the menu in the new location.
