Reviewing Afuri: The best local Japanese ramen in Los Angeles.
When researching where to go for dinner on a Monday night, my friends and I chose Afuri Ramen and Dumpling LA in downtown’s Arts District. We chose this spot because the weather was on the colder side, and we were hoping to warm up with some soup. We also wanted to go somewhere casual, and the reviews of this place online were exceptional. Their Instagram was quite aesthetically appealing, so we finalized our decision to go here. When we got there, parking was easy in a nearby pay-station lot. The outside of the restaurant is super modern and unique-looking with murals and graphics. When you walk in, there is a digital ordering station in which customers order and pay before they sit. One of the workers was so kind to help my friend and me with the ordering process by giving us recommendations, sharing his personal favorites, and walking us through the entirety of the menu. We found seats at a long table near the open kitchen so we could observe all that was going on.
Afuri opened its doors back in 2016 and has shown steady growth within the industry since then. They have proudly opened 23 different Afuri’s across the world. Hiroto Nakamura and the now CEO Taichi Ishizuki met in 2011 and after five years of planning opened the first Afuri location in the US in Portland, OR. It saw such great success in Portland, establishing itself as a prime spot for authentic Japanese cuisine, that the two saw an opportunity to expand. Now we are lucky enough to have an Afuri right here in the heart of Los Angeles!
It was not long before our ramen dishes arrived. I ordered the signature Afuri dish, Yuzu Shio ramen, which consists of shio tare, chicken broth, yuzu, bamboo shoots, egg, chasu pork, endive, fried garlic, and nori. This dish was so refreshing because of the hints of bright yuzu citrus; thus, the ramen was not too creamy or heavy. All of the ingredients, especially the noodles, were extremely fresh. My friend ordered the Yuzu Ratan ramen, which consists of ratan tare, chicken broth, yuzu, bamboo shoots, egg, chashu pork, sesame, sansho pepper, lemon peel, and Korean chili powder.
Next, the spicy tori karaage gohan arrived, which includes spicy chicken karaage, chili sauce, spicy mayo, frisee, green onion, pickled ginger, nori, sesame, and bamboo shoots. I loved this dish! The spicy karaage hit the spot with excellent flavor and just the right amount of each ingredient. Everything in the bowl went really well together. Then, the crispy ramen eggs arrived. I was unsure I would like this, but both my friend and I thought they were delicious!
Lastly, the eight-piece buta gyoza, another signature dish on Afuri’s menu, arrived. Its ingredients include pork, green onion, ginger, garlic, cabbage, sesame oil, and soy. These were some of the best dumplings I have ever had. The crispy web between each gyoza is their specialty, and it takes care and time to get the precise figure. The gyoza was packed with flavor, even without the sauce, which made me appreciate them even more.
I am really happy that I finally tried Afuri! #FineRamen direct from Tokyo is their motto, and I definitely agree that the food is authentic to the Japanese culture and tradition. The aesthetic of this place is so fun as well. I love ordering at the kiosk ahead of time and observing the open-air kitchen while waiting for the food to arrive. The staff was extremely enthusiastic in the ordering process, and the service was fast. Staff were also helpful in getting us to-go boxes because we had a lot of leftovers we were not going to leave behind. I cannot wait to go back to try more of the menu and get repeat orders of my favorites from this visit.