Tatsu Ramen
$$ Ramen
7111 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90046
If it was the 90s and Tatsu used automated phones instead of iPads to order ramen, this place would definitely suck. “If you would like an automated lunch, press one, o diga en Español marque dos, or to speak to a ramen representative press zero.”
Unfortunately, automated phone messages are not dead yet. They just have yet to be replaced by iPads. If we ever take a look back at life in the 2010s, Tatsu is the kind of place that will epitomize the decade. This is the first time I have ever ordered a meal (and a free water) with an iPad by myself.
As I was biking eastward on Melrose from a job in West Hollywood, I parked my bike and actually wanted a sandwich at All About The Bread next door. I decided I wanted to take a look at the menu at Tatsu but saw the line of iPads and I couldn’t resist trying it out. If it was just a menu, I probably would not have even ordered anything.
As I was clicking on the iPad, I ordered the vegan hippie bowl. I checked the item and then came the modification list with a bunch of modifications to un-hippie. Want pork? Want beef? How about cheese? You sure you don’t want cheese? No cheese. Tofu, green onions, and spinach. I showed my receipt, got seated, and got my bowl. It was as good as I expected it to be. The delicious broth offered a hint of ginger with perky noodles and good tofu in a fat kid’s cereal-sized bowl.
But the iPad! I imagine it will become more and more common to use an iPad not just as a cash register, but as a robot.
Useful: 4 Funny: 5 Cool: 4