Afuri Izakaya Reviews

Ok so having had a great experience on my first visit, I decided to take some colleagues from work here since I was in town. Amazing what a difference a Friday night made vs a quieter night during the week. 2.5 hour wait to be seated, cocktails at the bar took around 30 mins inclusive of queuing at the bar waiting to order and for them to be made. And when we finally sat down, the food was no where near as good as it was 2 weeks earlier.

Had heard this place was the rage. Place was packed and we had to wait an hour. No worries as they took our phone number and called when the table was ready. We went for a lovely walk. Had two vegans and two meat eaters in our party. They have one vegan ramen option and it was ho hum. Nobody seemed overly impressed with their food. Had the house salad and it was very good. The service was odd, they had runners who brought the dishes out and they just kept placing the food in front of my wife, expecting her to give it to who had ordered. This seems unprofessional for a place that charges for the ambiance. Too many other choices in the city for ramen that have better quality, more vegan choices and cheaper prices. Front end staff was friendly.

Ramen was not on my list of things to try in Portland. But I am so glad my friends convinced me to go. The atmosphere and service were amazing. You can watch the chefs masterfully preparing your meals. The food was delicious. Be sure to try the recommended saki. I preferred the ramen on the side and dipping it into the broth. The broth is to die for. It was so yummy, I went twice in one week! Check out their website for amazing details afar.us Be sure to check the opening times as well. If you cannot go to Japan to eat ramen, this is the next best thing!

I met my friend for lunch. He was a bit late so they would not seat me in this spacious and almost empty dining area until he arrived. However, once seated we ordered our ramen, which arrived very quickly. It was very good. The service was good. I felt that the prices were high. In fact, my friend's friend ate at the Tokyo restaurant and said that it was actually cheaper than the Portland restaurant! Interesting. Parking is always a problem in this part of Portland. I think I'll pass on this place.

The ramen was excellent. I had the spicy pork broth, it was super good. The dumplings were even better, my favorite I've ever had. You won't regret trying this place.

I could sit in this restaurant for hours and just keep eating. LOVE this place. It's a bigger spot than the one downtown - great space and restaurant management.

Thanks to the purity of Portland's Bull Run watershed, Afuri has opened its first foreign outpost here in Oct 2016. If you are able to sit by the 'ramen bar' area, you will be able to appreciate the team of four who assemble each ramen bowl upon order, as well as, the not-to-be-missed gyozas that appears hidden under a light 'pancake and are served with a sesame soy dipping sauce. I am still thinking about the flavorful and fresh sashimi salad. The thread of yuzu (citrus) throughout the menu runs from the ramen to atop the salad and even into their custom beer from next door neighbor Commons brewpub. The yuzu ratan was a bit too spicy for me so I will try the signature yuzu shio next time. The atmosphere and service are bright, lively, friendly and aiming to please. The warehouse height ceilings with garage style windows make this a cheerful place on even Portland's grayest days. There is a bar scene and an entire menu of sake and other adult beverages, yet I'll be returning to further explore the ramen and sides.

Well stocked bar and beautifully renovated warehouse sushi restaurant. Food was delicious and appropriately priced. Service was also excellent. A little noisy but a fun environment for all size groups and tastes. A very extensive sushi menu with a NW flavor. You won't be disappointed.

If you like ramen in a delicious broth, tsukemen (cold noodles), gyoza dumplings, and/or chirashi don (sashimi in a bowl), try Afuri restaurant. The setting is stylish, young, and modern, the service is impeccable and attentive, and the food is delicious. Slurp away!! Only one problem -- no reservations, so you must wait. But the bar serves interesting cocktails, sake and beer, and the wait seems short. By the way, you know you're in a classy place when they serve the 'doggy-bag' left-overs in two cartons (noodles and broth) so the noodles don't get soggy on the way home. Not expensive for the value.

One of those 'local' restaurants that comes up on almost everyone's Top Ten list, seemed worth a try. Appetizers were the highlight of the meal, while the ramen was a bit of a disappointment. First the best: skewers were savory and spiced just right. Chicken, eggplant and japanese peppers. Both versions of the pork dishes, Gyoza dumplings and Pork Bun were out of the park home runs, while the salmon main dish was exquisite. The Yuzu Ratan ramen completely overspiced out all the other flavors, and the ramen, could have been day old spaghetti for all that it mattered. Any effort on/in the broth was drowned out. Dessert was also a complete miss. You know when 3 chocoholics leave half the chocolate cake behind, it's a bad day. Also to recommend is the sake flights. Good/great value and nice selections.

Our close friend from SF and local Portland friend independently both highly recommended Afuri Ramen. Apparently the pH of the water in Portland was found to be ideal by the owners of the Japanese restaurant group and they thus opened a restaurant here among many other possible locations. The ramen did not disappoint. I got the tonkotsu tan tan flavored ramen with the richer, thicker, almost curry like sauce and it was delicious. I think the noodles were a little thicker than my wife’s shoyu ramen which was also great. Easy to get seats. They have a variety of cocktails to choose from. Nice wait staff and atmosphere in this downtown SW location. Very authentic flavors. Will be back! Highly recommended.

Food was well-crafted with a delightful mix of flavors and textures. Service was excellent. Ambience a little noisy, but this is increasingly commonplace. Highly recommended. My only reservation regards the desserts, which we did not enjoy - they were well-prepared, but not as expected. This reflects a regional style — even very western-sounding names like "chocolate torte" or "banana ice cream" did not offer American/European creamy/luscious textures. These dishes weren't "bad", they just were Japanese when the names led us to expect more western items.

We visited Afuri last weekend for a little date night away from our 11 month old, we were in need of some serious adult time. Walking thru the door I instantly notices the good music, and the lively vibe. The feel was very "Portland" with no pomp, and lots of soul. The sake list is extensive, and our waiteress was very knowledgeable, and she picked out some delicious sake for us. We are big wine drinkers, but new to sake. Our main course consisted of oysters, the chef spoon, Kobe beef tartare, truffle ramen, and the blackened cod. All the dishes were excellent, but the ramen was perfectly done, with the truffle being present but not overpowering, and the right level of spice for us. We will be back.

Light, open, airy space with stellar Japanese cuisine. The flavors of everything are spot-on Japanese. Hands down the best gyoza I've eaten outside of Japan. The spring vegetables bowl was light, delicate and perfectly seasoned. We had both a rich pork-based ramen and a light chicken-broth based ramen -- each delicious, with perfect noodle texture. The ice cream for dessert was cool, creamy and not sweet -- a perfect ending to a perfect meal. For anyone who loves the true flavors and textures of Japanese food, this is the place.

Was at Afuri with group of 4, few weeks ago. Nice location and environment. Good drink menu and atmosphere. Food was terrible, ramen were served pretty cold. In two of the 4 ordered we found hairs in the bowl. Sushi was having a pretty strange smell. Probably old fish. 2 of us were sick that night from food poison. Not a coincidence. Staff has been very condescending and arrogant. General manager has been very passive aggressive and not professional. Not at the level of Afuri Brand . Have been there in Tokyo and food is another level and staff is simply respectful, polite and professional. Definitely not worth the quality and the price. Worst experience. If you look for proper Ramen in town recommend: Mirakutei and Kinboshi. Great food , extremely kind staff and great service.

We went on Valentine’s Day but it’s always busy. Ordered pork ramen which had a rich but almost oily broth, could have been spicer. Then got sashimi and a tuna roll. The hammerjack sashimi was very fresh. They don’t have high end artisanal soy sauce or wasabi. Bottom line is space is cooler than the food. Prices were as to be expected.

Stylishly hip, Afuri has updated ramen from what you might remember from your college days of living on Top Ramen. From the edomame cocktails to the cabin in the snow sake flights and asparagus skewers with Pinot noir yakitori sauce, the menu has Portland hipster written all over it. We ordered and shared the Tonkotsu tantanmen, negima skewers, gyoza dumplings and Afuri roll. They were all good and enough for two to share. Insiders tip: go early or make reservations.

There is much to like about this place despite the average ramen that is expensive. the drinks are all pretty good and the sake is fairly priced. The best were the sides, the salmon, black cod (Gindara) and the Tsukune are all excellent. The sushi is servicable but probably not the best in portland. The service is excellent...

The ramen here is outstanding, but there are some other terrific items on the menu too. The broths that take these dishes to a whole new level. Fantastic place for a quick, but excellent meal. We definitely look forward to coming back!

In town for college tours with the daughter who is a Ramen freak. Read the review in Eater and decided to go. We sat at the counter directly in front of Ramen Central. This literally was dinner and a show. The finesse of the team behind the counter was amazing! Ok, here’s the surprising part. I never can have authentic ramen as most houses only have pork based broths. I am allergic to pork( I must have been really bad in my previous life). Yes, there are vegetarian options but I am a carnivore and want the real deal. Enter: Yuzu Ratan. A spice soy tare and chicken broth base with fabulous vegetables and spices. Chashu pork is also in the dish. I asked if the pork could be withheld already having Plan B on the menu ready to order. Not only was I able to order the pork-free ramen, but my daughter would reap the benefits of my annoying allergy and enjoy extra pork in her Yuzu Shio( daughter in heaven) Ok, long story long, this is one of the best Ramen dishes I’ve have ever had! Spicy yet sublime. I was trying to think how I could take the broth home on the plane!! We also ordered the Matcha Tiramisu for dessert. Very delicate and refreshing with a Sake marscapone, lady fingers and Matcha powder on top. Hope to be able to come here again in the near future!

Afuri is a smash engineered Japanese restaurant - Portland style. The food is quite good here. Sushi was very tasty and fresh. Black cod was ok but not the best. Noodle dishes were large and quite tasty. Deserts are meant to be shared and taste great. All dishes are presented well. Quite a popular place so go early or expect a wait. We asked for "fresh wasabi" and after the obligatory " we may have some... let me check" we actually got a small serving. The overall experience was quite good. A bit on the pricy side but not unexpected. Recommended.

This is a cool space, no doubt about it. So if you are part of the young hip crowd that goes for the vibe and the cocktails, have at it. But don't for one second be fooled by the claims of Japanese authenticity. The food is far too greasy for that. Even a usually delicate dish like gyoza comes with an oily crust and a plate that will be glistening should you manage to empty it. We did not. The ramen was undercooked - al dente is one thing, rubbery is quite another. The broths, again, oily. Sushi is limited and expensive. And to complete the many reasons why we will not be returning to this restaurant: a 6oz pour of a familiar Sake that can be had for $12 at other (superior) ramen restaurants in Portland was $20 here. A lot of style, pleasant service, inferior food. It's a shame, with better food and more reasonable pricing this would make a killer restaurant but right now its just relying on being trendy and its claims of Japanese connections. Food like this would be ignored in Japan. Despite its claims to the contrary this is the most Americanized Japanese food I have yet to experience in Portland.

Looking forward to good ramen since I unfortunately live in a ramen-free area. The eatery is a large, open, industrial-type setting. Luckily, the interior was not that loud mostly because the restaurant was not extremely busy when we showed up. You order at the counter and the food is brought to your table. We sat at a large, communal type table. We ordered the Nin' Niku Tonkotsu Special Ramen of the day which included a savory pork broth, black garlic oil, chili paste, negi, and egg. Of the two ramen that we had, this one was my favorite with it's spicy complex flavor. I ordered a ramen recommended by the cashier. I believe that I had the yuzu shio ramen. One can order several appetizers and shared small plates. Wanted to try these other dishes but I was just too full after eating my bowl of ramen.

Went to Afuri based on PDX eater recommendations. Didn't lake ramen so much,strange flavor,and mostly broth,nit enough vegies. Every dish was overpriced. Sushimi,sushi,goyza dumplings,ramen nothing special.

Extra points for ambiance and service. What we ordered was close to authentic and better than many Japanese restaurants we have tried in Portland. Think there is more room for improvement so we'll try again in a few months. Customers non stop but we prefer being able to make a reservation. If you have to wait go to the Commons Brewery next door and grab some of their great beers!

Stopped in for a beer and went back for dinner.The server/Bar keep Logan was a treat!! the Ramen was the best i have had.

I did some research on why Portland was a city of choice for Afuri, plain and simple, it was the water, near perfect Alkaline levels. That being said, my meal was perfect along with the ambiance and service. I ordered the pFreim pilsner, homemade tofu and vegan tantanmen. The beer was good, tofu was amazing and the ramen was outstanding. I highly recommend Afuri if you are vegetarian but you don't have to be a vegetarian to enjoy Afuri. Itadakimasu!

The restaurant is in a converted warehouse. It is bright, clean, has great lighting fixtures and an open kitchen with the most elaborate ventilation system ever! The room is a bit noisy, and they do not accept reservations. That means at least a 45 minute wait on weekend evenings. (As an aside, Afuri follows two trends that I find disturbing. First, they aren't customer-centric enough to accept reservations. Second, they don't bother to stage the meal - Afuri just serves whatever you order, whenever it is ready. When customers think about what comes first, restaurants simply don't seem to care anymore.) The cocktail program is superb. Our group sampled several cocktails, and they were all exceptional. The staff was very knowledgeable about he menu, and helpful in guiding our choices. While the food varied from more than serviceable to quite good, the restaurant is wildly over-hyped.

This place had it all. It was romantic, had a great service and had great food all around. The ramens, the oysters, the desserts, the egg rolls, the ambiance, the sake....everything was on point. It was a very very pleasant evening for my wife and I. We will return. They even mentioned that kids are welcome in the earlier part of the evening.

Went with 3 generation for family get-together. Located in a warehouse-type location, it has an open ambiance. If you are expecting strongly flavored ramen you will not be satisfied with this experience. If you enjoy subtle, delicate flavors you will love this place. Among the 8 people (including 2 children), we tried many dishes ranging from their signature item, Yusu Shio and other variations - all excellent. The Buta Asparagus appetizer and Pork Buns were excellent. The Sake (salmon) sushi was fresh with excellent fish. Would definitely recommend if you are looking for an excellent ramen experience. The wait staff was very accommodating and welcoming to the kids (8 and 10).

I started with ordering their oyster, uni, ikura spoon which was a delight. Yuzu shio ramen is nice, light and refreshing broth, hamachi sashimi was decent quality and the black cod. The blackcod is charred on top but raw underneath, I noticed the texture was slightly off but didn't realised it was raw, the lighting in the restaurant is dim so I can't really tell, finally i put it under the light and realized it was raw. I mentioned to the waiter and he arrogantly says that he will mentioned to the kitchen, took the plate away but didn't offer to make a new one for me:O Shocking!!! and he still charges for the black cod in the bill. Terrible service.

I agree that this place is expensive for ramen and there are better in portland, but the gandari and sushi and fish meatballs were all excellent and fairly priced. The sake was also well priced and tasty. Although i'm not a full fledged ramen guy, I thought the ramen was average and not worth the $15 bucks. Service was excellent and spot on. You know something is going good when John Gorham of Toro Bravo is sitting next to you sampling the wares.....

Great atmosphere, happening joint that is not too loud, you can have conversation. Asian food very creative and the Ramin is excellent. I highly recommend this for an mid range restaurant experience

Local friends took me to Afuri for lunch. It is a restaurant with the new style service where you order your food at the counter, get a number, and the food is brought to a table you find for yourself. I realize restaurants are adopting this new style of service due to be high labor costs, but I am not a fan. The ramen itself was excellent, but we were there for lunch and it took well over 25 minutes to get our food...for lunch. And it was not busy when we ordered. Minimalist slow service were a black mark on an other wise excellent ramen and nice setting. If you are going to streamline service, at least get the food out.

This is the best ramen I've had anywhere. Josh, my server was awesome and answered all my questions. He recommended the Yuzu Ratan which was awesome. The Soft shell crab bun was delicious. Both items were awesome. As I said before, of all the Ramen restaurants I've visited in the U.S. and Canada, Afuri has the best food. Portland, OR. has excellent eateries, but I am returning tomorrow to Afuri. I highly recommend this establishment. Great service, best ramen, and awesome atmosphere.

What a surprise. This fresh new restaurant is a delight in every way. With a modern open air kitchen bristling with shiny metallic exhaust hoods that works perfectly with the converted warehouse feel. Afuri came highly recommended and did not disappoint. We went for lunch and ordered pork ribs (amazing) and dumplings as entree followed by 3 different ramen bowls for the mains. They were so delicious we couldn’t help having a taste of each other’s. It was full on traditional Japanese ramen with a modern twist . This is a must experience for Portland with its incredible Japanese Garden!

Close to china town and voodoo doughnuts we ate Yuzu shoyu noodle tan tan noodle and buta dumplings nice as ones in Japan it was cold outside ramen noodles made us warm enough to see around again 日本のあふりには行ったことはありませんが、一般的なラーメンより美味しいぶるいに入るとおもいます。13ドルくらいです、一杯。

The place's location is pretty good and there is enough parking around it. When you enter it looks like any other hip restaurant with its large open space and high ceiling. The layout is pleasant, maybe a bit noisy. Staff is ok, of course, no Japanese... Anyway, it has the ingredients of a good Japanese restaurant, but then you order and the dishes arrive - and you realise this is exceptionally good food, really fresh, really tasty and really making you order more (though, don't forget that in my experience after a Japanese meal you always feel that you could have eaten more - and probably it’s a great way to go back and to keep your weight). Look at the pictures, the meal was a delight. And it is definitively on my list to go back when I am back in town. Pricewise it was more than ok for the great quality.

I was lucky enough to be taken here by a work colleague on the way from a Rogue Brewery event. My colleague was a chef in a former life, so I knew it was bound to be good but this exceeded my expectations. I had tuffle miso and a lemongrass cocktail (Kusa). Although not cheap the portions are large so I was given a carryout which was lunch the next day too... and it tasted even better. The place was busy but service good & I'm really looking forward to visiting again as I loved the entire experience. My only slight criticism might have been that they didn't have wifi (I was visiting from UK, don't have international roaming & needed to get an uber) but actually, on reflection, this is an extremely smart move by the management as it meant the place wasn't full of teens "socialising" on their smart phones but real people having lunch with their real friends & real families!!.... so... please don't offer wifi, as the clientele would probably change & this place is just great as it is.

There were 12 of us and we had to wait. Once you order food comes out as its ready. The Ramen took the longest. The salmon was very good.

Wow - my new Portland fave! Amazing noodles; I have had Yuzu Shio, Yuzu Ratan, and Tonkatsu Tantanmen; the latter two are in the moderately spicy category. Loved them all, but would order the Tonkatsu any day, any time! Don’t sleep on the sake sampler or their great cocktails - especially the Kemuri!

I visited Afuri with a friend’s strong recommendation and it did not disappoint. We were warmly greeted and after being notified of a 15+ minute wait, we opted to have a drink first. We sat at the bar and I was impressed by their beer and whisky options. After being seated we had some apps and some sake- they do a cool thing where they let you choose your sake cup from a few unique options. I ordered the tonkatsu ramen with extra pork belly. It was phenomenal!! The broth was silky and rich with flavor. The noodles were absolutely perfect, great gauge and texture that worked well with the ramen. I added some extra spice for kick. I would highly recommend this place for the ambiance, the customer service but especially for the FOOD!!

Young, vibrant, and modern looking Japanese traditional dishes. Nice and bright environment, tasty ramen noodles, and traditional Japanese dishes with beautiful presentation.

We went to Afuri as two couples. Were pleasantly surprised we got in immediately (6pm Friday). Did fill up by about 7. Place is beautiful w high ceilings, lots of steel and open kitchen w eating bar. There is also a lovely bar area while you wait either unique(and strong) cocktails. Started w pork dumplings, beautifully plated and yummy. Had the Afuri signature rolls - two different tuna rolls - not my fave but good. Then on to the ramen. We each had a different type and loved it. Mine was a little thicker broth than usual ramen which I loved! The best thing about Afuri is that unlike many portland restaurants, especially those that are popular at the moment, service was attentive and friendly. Would definitely go back.

This place was really good but it didn't live up to the hype that a local gave it. While the room and vibe was Portland cool, my main issue is the fact that they served me a ramen with pork in it when i explicitly told them not to - and that i was a vegetarian. Somebody wasn't listening. As well, they didn't appear to have a veggie broth on the menu which was disappointing. At least this is what i was told. The rest of the meal was solid. The sushi and sashimi were both very good. But to be frank, i have had better in Vancouver BC and in my hometown of Vernon. I would go back and I would recommend this restaurant.

The food and drinks are outstanding and Afuri. We had multiple small plates for sharing instead of an entree. The shishito peppers, carrot and eggplant skewers were excellent and the wait staff friendly and attentive. We will definitely be back.

An outstanding meal prepared and served with humility and reverence for each ingredient. This was one of the best dining experiences of my life- outstanding, even in the broad field of Portland's foodie culture.

I love logging onto to Caviar and having them deliver Aufri's noodle and dumpling soup. The order is fast; as is the delivery. But most important the soup is amazing. They don't put many vegetables in the soup; so sometimes we throw some steamed veges in to add some extra nourishment. Get in here.

We went to the restaurant for brunch. Traditional style Japanese dishes. I had the Japanese brunch which included grilled mackerel, salmon and rice, sunomono with shrimp and crab. Everything was wonderful. They also have four kinds of ramen and I got to taste the shio style which was good. Save room for the Honey toast! Enough for 4-5 people! Cinnamon apples, ginger custard, ice cream and lots of yumminess! Dinner time is very busy!

This location of Afuri has a more extensive menu than the location in NW Portland. It’s a nice large space with high ceilings and a hipster vibe but people were friendly. They don’t take reservations but we were seated immediately at the counter on a Friday night. It’s interesting to watch the chefs work. Everything we ordered was delicious especially the gyoza and sushi. The sushi was very fresh.

During a recent visit to Portland we wanted to have ramen for lunch, we tried Afuri on the recommendation of a friend. The ramen is "non-traditional" in the sense that it had yuzu in the broth and also a different feel to the ramen itself. Both of our dishes (Yuzu Ratan and Yuzu Shoyu) were really good, the yuzu flavor was a real enhancement, we both enjoyed it. The gyoza were very tasty as well, and juicy, although we wanted them as a starter and they ended up arriving after the ramen (not a big deal). It's a bit pricey for lunch, our two ramen dishes, plus gyoza and one draft beer was $50 before tip, but I'm glad we tried it. Service was good and the atmosphere is quite modern. Plus Voodoo Donut is right next door - stock up on the carbs all at once!

The food is AMAZING! We had the dumplings (delish), raw oysters (the best I have ever had), and TONKOTSU TANTANMEN (spicy sesame miso tare, pork broth, garlic bok choy, leek, white soy shiitake mushroom, sesame chili oil, garlic ginger pork crumbles). To say that it was fantastic is an understatement. The service is friendly and helpful. Atmosphere is open and modern with a warm vibe.

Last night we ate dinner with my folks at Afuri and it was delicious! We managed to score the last table for four when we arrived at around 6pm. Everyone who helped us was polite, from the hostess to the waiter. We ordered a variety of things, all of which were delivered hot and timely. We shared the delicious Goyza and a couple of the sushi rolls, which were all delicious. The food, although very good, is not spectacular. The fish was very fresh, but again, the preparations aren't groudbreaking. It is solid Japanese fare and I would definitely return.

I had the Yuzu Ratan Ramen, which had a delicious spice to the broth, perfectly crunchy veggies, slice of pork, half an egg, and a hearty helping of noodles. It was a wonderful way to warm up in a rainy day. My wife enjoyed the Gyoza dumplings, which had a neat tear apart design on the plate. They had a crispy top & soft bottom, and were filled with a tasty pork filling.

Upbeat Japanese cuisine in a very modern beautiful restaurant led by Chef Chance at the ramen center. Come sit in front of Chance for a great show.

The space is as beautiful as the food. Old warehouse with huge shiny vents reaching up 3 stories and garage doors the open to the warm spring evening. bar, tables and even the chairs look so fine. and there is food too! we ate at the counter (there are bar seats, a very long counter with many seats and regular tables as well) - counter has the the added bonus of being able to watch the food being made. and the smells are wonderful. The bar offers many Saki flights as well as beer, wine and cocktails. Saki stored in cedar barrels had a wonderful taste -- since I generally don't like saki, that was refreshing. Ramen- having watched them prepare so many bowls, I had to order a bowl. Tonkotsu is a pork broth delight that could be a whole meal. brought out fresh and hot. their grills are wood fired and right there for all to see. we had the Asparagus, Nasu (Eggplant) and Kobe Beef. perfect. ordered a second Kobe as it was just as tender as it can be. START WITH THE Gyoza Dumplings by the way. enough for 2 or 3 or 4 people. there are none better. right off the stove top with a presentation that looks like a pie. wow. just wow. homemade tofu was probably the most unique presentation. large piece of fresh silky tofu is brought with ginger, scallions and other flavors... mix it up to your liking and it almost looks like a yogurt. we didn't get to the sushi or sashimi or dessert as we kept ordering the other dishes till we were full. guess we have to go back for more. Area has lots of construction but in the evenings there is parking off 7th within a block or two- head south.

I had dinner at Afuri last week and enjoyed everything. The food is fresh and delicious. The setting of the restaurant is very inviting. It is full of light, soaring high ceilings and amazingly not very loud as sometimes you expect from large spaces. It seems there are good acoustics in place to cut on noise. Service was efficient, polite and friendly. We did a family style dinner and all dishes were delicious, especially the seaweed salad which I usually don’t care for that much but I was surprised that it could taste so good. Kudos to Afuri, you have created a fabulous place, without doubt Afuri is not just another Japanese eatery.

Plenty of choice when it comes to Japanese food in Portland, with the easy go to option always being bamboo. However, I urge anyone who goes there to check this place out. The bar is great to wait at and have a cocktail whilst waiting for your table, and the open space of the restaurant is also inviting. The food itself is pretty good, the tuna dish that was recommended to me by a friend needed a second Order, and the sake menu is also varied for anyone’s taste. Service was also great, with staff both knowledgable, fast and friendly. I will definitely be returning when I’m back in town!...just the HAMACHI JALAPENO CARPACCIO* is enough of a reason to alone!

Spicy, rich, smoky, deeply flavorful broth. Everything else in the bowl added texture and complexity. Perfect thin noodles held it all together. I will return.

This restaurant was recommended by a friend. Being a frequent visitor to Japan, I was looking forward to dining here. The restaurant is located in a former warehouse. The signage is inconspicuous so I had difficulty finding the restaurant. The service is impeccable. The food's presentation is very attractive but taste is not quite up to par with what you'll find in Japan. For a higher end izakaya, which has a beautiful bar, the Nihon shu and beer list was surprisingly limited. All in all, my experience was a good though, when I first learned that we were dining at an izakaya, I had high expectations that were not met.

We were in the downtown convention center area so we decided to come here for dinner. Hubby wasn’t happy with the walk from the train station... it was a much shorter walk going back, however, but interesting location indeed. I’d recommend reservation, though we didn’t wait too long since we got there in a good time but line was getting longer. We both ordered ramen and husband had some sushi. $8 for 2 salmon sushi seemed a bit expensive - I’m used to paying $5. Ramen was good. Enjoyed the open kitchen area where we can see the gyoza being prepared and dishes out nicely!

We had the perfect meal here after flying across the country from Georgia! Their handmade gyoza dumplings are so good, and the ramen selection will please every palette.

This is our first visit. Not cheap, but interesting to try (had lunch here). We had a couple skewers (we liked them all, with the smokey fire taste to them) . We also had one bowl of the yuzu ramen which my significant other and I shared (it was very filling). It was cozy. Slow service but staff was polite. No complaints really, we left satisfied.

Ramen added this is the same as just plain Afuri. It is great wonderful seafood, service and setting with an unbelievably creative and adventurous drinks menu. In a converted warehouse and CROWDED. Five minutes after they opened on a Sunday afternoon there was a waiting list.

Based inTokyo, this little casual, hip, downtown Ramen noodle shop has much more than traditional Ramen fixes! Easy to order giant kiosk style touch screen iPad (2X) then you pick up a number tag and wait for your bowl to arrive. Portion is on the small side so if you are hungry, you may need multiple orders! I ordered the tsukemen for the first time. Presentation #1, taste #1, satisfaction #1, portion #3. Will I come back? You bet! So many interesting items to explore! Enjoy your tasting journey 😋

I guess you are paying for the décor??? Most of the food we tried was really good but the skewers (which would be the equivalent to Japanese yakitori) for example were not much food for the price. The Tonkotsu Tantanmen Ramen was not what we expected. The gyoza and Yuzu Shio Ramen were really good just hard to feel good about the price.

I went specifically for the ramen, but the isakaya-part means lots of small dishes and lots of drinks options. Super cool, industrial decor. Superior ramen - excellent noodles, excellent broth. Excellent beer from one the local breweries.

I had not felt well earlier in the day and wanted to have a dinner dish with some sort of broth. My daughter who is local to Portland suggested this restaurant. The atmosphere is very hip and the food was excellent. Their house made Ginger ale was to die for. I can't speak highly enough about how wonderful the Yuzu Shio ramen was. The gyoza dumplings were so fancy and yummy. If in the Portland area be sure to check out Afuri.

This place was like a heaven! The Spider Roll was amazing, the Kobe Steak is out of this world, and finally the Beat Salad is the best I every had. The service is impeccable, and the place is a really cool atmosphere for any dining occasion. I highly recommend this place.

Afuri never disappoints with the creative, quality offerings. The Chef's Bowl is amazing! Consisting of a poached egg, ikura, tobiko, uni, wasabi and dashi soy, this dish is a must. The Wagyu beef tartare is another go-to, as well as the Ebi-Kani Croquette. The gyoza dumplings are always on-point. The Hamachi Jalapeno Carpaccio is lackluster. The jalepenos were not even spicy. The service at Afuri has been going downhill since they opened. Very unorganized and unprofessional, which is surprising for a restaurant of this quality.

The seafood salad is the best thing I ever had at a Japanese restaurant. The ramen is okay, I have trouble getting over the layer of fat at the top of the soup, but the broth was tasty spiked with yuzu and the noodles chewy and well behaved. The dragon roll was good, Salmon with fried taro root was beautiful. The seafood custard was good enough to go back for alone. There was a drink menu with atypical cocktails from Japan and liquors made with a variety of grains. A long wine list and five beers many from the breweries in the area. Yum and double yum.

I was told about Afuri by a former coworker who found it to be excellent so when we needed a place to have lunch today, we stopped by the Afuri Ramen on SW 3rd in downtown Portland. This location is relatively new. The decor is airy and modern with community seating inside and out as well as seating along the windows. We ordered the kim chee gyoza, the yuzo shio ramen, and a tonkatsu shio. The broth is outstanding. My tonkatsu broth has a different element that I have not tasted in other ramen broths: caramelized pork fat. This added a mild pleasing flavor. Neither broths were salty but had lots of excellent flavor, which was a nice contrast to other salty ramen broths we have encountered. The kim chee gyozas were excellent and packed some heat. Overall an excellent ramen option that does a great job of distinguishing themselves from an increasingly crowded ramen scene in the Metro area.

We waited over an hour for a table at this hopping scene. The gyoza were good, the ramen and sushi so so. Afuri will have to step up its game food wise. Stop in for a drink then head someplace else for dinner - you can do better in PDX.

Recommended by a friend , we ventured to this east Portland New restaurant. Vibrant, fun, exciting. Menu had a lot of great selections. Atmosphere was eclectic! Good wait staff....very attentive.

Artful dishes served with kindness in a pretty space. We've quickly figured that there are generally wait times everywhere in Portland and the best places have longer waits. So a Sunday evening meal at 6 translates to just a little later everywhere. Here, you can get a drink at the bar and there are out door tables set aside for waiting. And the wait is with it! Try the yuzu beer the restaurant made with a brewing partner. The staff were so sweet and efficient. Then the food. You cannot go wrong. the fish was amazing. A good izakaya should have done impressive meat on a stick and they do this clever thing with their gyoza where the flip them out on to a dish leaving a papery film for the pan bottom which presents so well. You can look past the plastic folding tables street side. We were grateful to be outside - pandemic is still raging after all. But the inside space was well vented and tables were spaced in there too.

We went to the location next to Voodoo Doughnuts cause it was easier to walk to from our hotel. This location does not have a full wait service, you order first and then they bring it to you. Indoor and outdoor seating. Great location for casual eating. They offer a vegan ramen, very good but a little salty. Recommended!

We came an hour before closing which we don't typically do but the hostess was positive and inviting. We got our meals very quickly. The service itself was great, however, we all thought our ramen was a bit bland and we had to add more soy sauce than we normally do to flavor it.

If you're looking for authentic, delicious ramen then look no further, this is the best in town. As a ramen connoisseur I have tried them all and Afuri is perfectly balanced, interesting, and exceptionally flavored, with magnificent broth. The appetizers are well presented, beautifully crafted, and never to much flavor or size, just right. The atmosphere is lovely too, great light, nice wood decor, simple but elegant art. It doesn't get any better for a lunch meeting over food to die for.

We three had lunch. FOOD: 4.5. - Hazelnut Tantanmen (Ramen). Spicy. - Tonkotsu Tantanmen (Ramen). Spicy. - Grilled saba - Basque Cheesecake. SERVICE: 5.0. Marianne was wonderful, answering our questions and checking back on us frequently. Easy to pay with cellphone by just scanning QR code on invoice; the online tool also makes it easy to split bill among several parties. AMBIANCE: 3.5. High-ceilinged and industrial.

Very high quality! Great atmosphere. Menu has great variety not just ramen. Ramen is terrific as one would expect. So is everything else. We prefer sitting at the ramen bar and talking to the cooks.

We went here for the first time this past Sunday evening around 6 PM. There were several seats available at the counter and one open table, which we chose. Very lovely space and efficient service. My husband enjoyed their signature ramen and agreed as others had posted that it was a bit bland. Better with a little soy sauce added. He'll opt for a spicier choice of ramen next time. I loved my sashimi choice and the pork buns were excellent! As noted in my title, our food came out quickly. We also had a flight of saki just for fun. I will order an individual glass next time. There will definitely be a NEXT TIME!

On the previous day we visited Voodoo Donuts and while leaving we noticed this place very close by. We had eaten so we came back the next day. Upon arriving a staff member was friendly and quick to acquaint us to their kiosk ordering menu. It was simple to use then we just put in the number of one of the available table identifiers and took it with us to our seat. We sat by the window to do the people watching that is so interesting in a tourist area. The food was prepared quickly and we both ordered a bowl of ramen. The portion was good and the flavors of the ramen were quite good. Several other items of noodle and ramen are available and we would go back to this restaurant next time inn Portland.

The Ramen is incredible. So is the sake menu. The gyoza set was prepared as one big single pie. However, the service is incredibly slow, from taking your order, to bringing your drinks, to bringing your appetizers, to bringing your ramen, dessert, bill, etc. 1.5 to 2 hours to get in and out for ramen, prepared generally rather fast, is exceedingly slow.

Absolutely amazing! I was concerned, with all of the hype, that there was no way Afuri could live up to my hopeful expectations; it does! My partner and I came on a crowded Tuesday evening and waited about 40 minutes. No problem though...we had drinks at the bar and had time to peruse the menu and ask the very friendly bartender for recommendations. When our seat at the counter overlooking the action of the kitchen was ready, we were hungry and excited. We started with a couple of the skewers that our server recommended, the Mune and the Tsukune. Both were delicious! We then ordered the Yellowtail Sashimi and the pork dumplings...both were beyond amazing! I highly recommend both of these dishes! For our entrees we both opted for Ramen: I ordered the Miso and my partner opted for the Torigari spicy. Both broths were complex and very, very satisfying. I loved sitting at the counter so I could watch all the action and the chefs and cooks were very friendly and asked us several times if we were enjoying each dish. Some of the best food I've eaten anywhere and wonderful, friendly service. PDX is lucky to have Afuri in our city and I can't wait to go back and work our way through the menu!!

Yes, their ramen is wonderful - the vegetarian mushroom ramen broth was the richest I’ve ever tasted - but that’s a small part of their menu. The fish served as sashimi or in rolls was incredibly fresh. So was the cooked fish such as their miso cod. The wagyu beef tartare was superb. This was the best Japanese food we’ve had in Portland and on a par with Nobu in New York City. Complementing the food was an extensive sake list. We had a fine bottle of Yoki No Basha (cabin in the snow) junmai for $64 but you could spend a lot more if you were so inclined. Desserts were excellent, too. Highly recommended.

Wow! My friend and I were in town for a short visit, he found this gem as we were looking for dinner before our trip back to Seattle. Great environment, great food, great experience. We started with oysters, fried chicken, then I had the duck ramen. I plan on being a regular @ Afuri. I couldn't stop talking about our experience to my wife, so we plan making the drive to Portland again.

I was in town visiting my cousin and super excited for ramen. However, in all honesty, it wasn't that good. I got the Tonkotsu Ramen and the broth was basic, in fact, it had a bitter taste to it. Additionally, the toppings were lacking, I think mine had some corn and greenery which was just...lacking. MOST importantly the egg was terrible. A ramen egg should ideally be slightly running AND slightly sweet. Mine was completely cooked so I was disappointed. Overall, this was a cool place to eat surrounded by several other cool restaurants but this one was disappointing.

The open atmosphere of Afuri felt trendy and also inviting. It was a rainy Portland day when we ducked in here for something to warm us up. There were couples and groups and families and solo diners seated all about the restaurant. We were seated at a table for 2 and felt like we could get comfortable very easily. Our server was incredibly kind and helped us navigate the menu. I found the perfect vegetarian ramen that wasn't too spicy - just the right amount of heat. I'd definitely recommend swinging in here for a delicious bowl of ramen.

I love the vegan ramen dish at Afuri. They are located a bit of distance from my home so I rely on Caviar to make deliveries. The first three times I ordered through Caviar the wrong meals arrived at my house. Although both Caviar and Afuri fixed the issue and sent out new meals, this meant waiting twice as long to eat; plus, having to tip the Caviar delivery persons twice (cause you can't blame the second delivery person for the wrong delivery of the first delivery person; plus it might have been Afuri's fault). Bottom line though, great food.

We love a great ramen and Afuri (a very popular restaurant in Japan) has now opened up in Portland! Lucky folks! They did an amazing job building out the interior of the restaurant which is at least two stories high with exposed ducts and beams. All freshly painted and so clean. The menu is extensive so you could have many of the specials you would find at other Japanese restaurants, but we came here for the ramen which we all agreed was especially delicious. They offer a number of different variations, so if I lived in the neighborhood I would try every single one. The gyoza may have been the BEST I have ever eaten in my life. Check it out! The prices are amazingly affordable especially for the excellent quality.

An excellent experience with Ramen and noodles prepared the way they should be. The service and menu will please anyone looking for Asian food. We will return again!

Our family has been vacationing in Portland, OR since 8/11 (with a side trip to the Redwood National Park) and we have not had anything more surprising than this jewel. We were wandering around Portland waiting to be able to check into our accommodations and thought we would check out Voodoo Doughnut. The line was wrapped down the side of the building so we thought we would give Afuri Ramen + Dumpling a shot. My goodness, what a find!! The food was amazing - I had tonkotsu tantanmen, a ramen bowl that was simply the best I have ever had. The rest of the family had the buta gyoza, the crispy pork gyoza, and the steamed gyoza; again, the best we have ever had. I'm not sure when I will be able to be back in Portland again, but you can absolutely count on me going to Afuri first thing.

Ramen in a high end restaurant? Yes, it's clean. It's modern. It's quiet. It's seriously good food at a reasonable price.

Had lunch recently at Afuri. Nice atmosphere, service was prompt and friendly even with a good-sized lunch crowd. Particularly enjoyed the small mushrooms in the miso soup, the strong green tea and the small dessert cup (a Japanese take on tiramisu) that came as part of the lunchbox. Definitely plan to return.

We went here during the restaurant's 1 year anniversary and the food was great. But what really surprised me was the great service we had from the staff. It just seemed like all of them really liked working there. It was great to have a waiter that seemed authentically interested in the restaurant.

When I heard this Japanese restaurant chose Portland because of our soft water I (needed to make their Ramen noodles) I knew they must be serious about their food. Having recently been to Japan – I was not disappointed! The vibe is urban casual with garage doors that open in the summer and let's the outdoors in. The service is surprisingly fast and the presentation is beautiful.

I Have been to Afuri for both lunch and dinner. My lunch experience preceded my dinner trip by several months. On both occasions the service at this very informal restaurant was solid, the food was fairly priced and was very good. I'll be going back, as I live in the Portland area. Perhaps I'll see you there?

Really enjoyed my visit to Afuri. Love the atmosphere & design of the place - grab a menu, walk up to the counter, order & seat yourself. I ordered some Pork Gyoza Dumplings to start and loved them. They came with a spicy type aioli which was good although I would have preferred a lighter sauce. Next came my ramen - I went with the Yuzu Ratan which was phenomenal. Broth was exquisite - so many different flavours emulating from it but the noodles were the star - stunning in fact. I could've eaten another bowl it was that good. Cannot wait to get back to Portland and go here again.

My daughter and I walked from the Hotel Eastlund down to this restaurant after checking out the reviews and menu online. She will be an exchange student in Japan in a year or so, and is currently studying the language, customs, culture and food of Japan. The restaurant is in an industrial area and that's the vibe you get when you enter. High ceilings, industrial fixtures, and lots of light as the eatery is in a converted garage. The garage doors are still in place and were partially open when we arrived. This was good and bad. The good: fresh air on a hot day (they have fans, but no AC). The bad: lots of flies wanted to eat with us! There is some outdoor seating on wood benches along the street, but frankly it didn't smell good outside, so we came inside. Once we found the front entrance - which seemed to be a little tricky! We were greeted warmly and quickly seated. We had the option to sit at the ramen bar or a booth. We chose 'booth'. Very quickly we had menus and fresh water to drink. Both my daughter and I choose to order hot ramen dishes, and she also got some salmon sushi. I ordered fresh iced tea and she had fresh lemonade. The sushi was room temp, buttery texture and not at all fishy. Perfect as expected! The ramen dishes were beautiful and flavorful. Plentiful in noodles and assorted additions, I couldn't finish mine. Both ramen bowls we ordered were about fifteen each, but there were some less expensive options. The menu appears to be seasonal, with changes possible. Vegetarians will also be able to find a good meal here. (My daughter is a vegetarian.) The drink menu was incredible! I could see coming to Afuri for days on end and never having the same thing twice. Lunch for both of us was about fifty dollars. A splurge for us who don't live in the city, but definitely worth it. I'm glad we gave it a try and I know we'd do it again. Something to note, this place was started by a proprietor who wanted to find just the right water for making his ramen noodles. Portland is the only place outside Japan that he found this, and thus this authentic, Japanese ramen restaurant. NOTE: Reservations are recommended for parties over 6 for evening seatings.

Dear Afuri: Pork gyoza are not deep-fried. They are pan-fried. Usually I don’t get so picky with authenticity, but in their front window, they claim “Direct from Tokyo”... which would indicate some respect for “authenticity”. My Tonkotsu Ramen was ok, but they forgot my ajitama (soft-boiled egg) and they would not compromise on not adding garlic/shallot chips to my wife’s ramen even though she is allergic. I thought they were ok but over-hyped...

With a large group of us at lunch time, midweek, we were able to be seated immediately. While street parking was a bit tight, we managed to find spots within a 2-3 minute walk from the restaurant, so that worked out well. The kitchen/dining area is a cool open-concept design, and as expected of a true Japanese export, is kept spotlessly clean. We all ordered various appetizers and entrees, and were delighted with the variety! Gluten free options were available, making one of our party extremely happy. Service was efficient, and prices seemed fair for the quality of the food we enjoyed. Darling husband and I will definitely be back for more!

Great restaurant with delicious ramen but the other options are just as good. Please the open space with chic minimalist decor is beautiful.

I wish I had ordered something else. I got the ramen noodles and it was so so. Service was good. Crowded when we were there.

Afuri deserves a 5 star rating for the atmosphere and design space alone. The mix of industrial steel, reclaimed wood and open sliding windows and doors makes it one of the coolest new dining spots in PDX. Although I can't make this review a food-focused review, as I went for a late night meeting and didn't partake in the beautiful food - I can say that my table mate fully enjoyed his meal. I did, however, imbibe in the plentiful drink and pour offerings. One thing that has always stymied me about Japanese restaurants is the lack of international beer. Most of the best Japanese places I have eaten only offer Japanese beer. Not true for Afuri. They even have an ale (brewed by The Commons) that is matched to their menu. That's cool. A final note about the popularity of Afuri - don't be deterred by the large crowds (we went on a Monday and the place was 75% full). Sitting at the sushi bar affords an opportunity to get the full lay of the land. Afuri is a nice departure from the usual Portland restaurant scene and well worth a visit.

The pork in the Kakuni Bun was delish and although the Spicy Chicken Bun wasn’t really spicy, it was still very good. Both had great dough texture that didn’t over power the middle ingredients. The Tonkatsu Shio had multiple components and we were happy that it wasn’t drowning in Shoyu or salt. Prices were reasonable and atmosphere authentic and approachable.

I saw that this place has a $$ next to it. This place needs a $$$ for sure! The bowls of ramen start at $14. (In Las Vegas, $6.75 and 10x better) This place is very modern, and plays cool hip easy listening music. Ambiance is great. Our server greeted us with warm smiles but when we asked about bottles of sale- she didn't know much about it. She had to run to the back a couple times to ask questions - no biggie. If you get a bottle of wake, the server comes over with an assortment of glasses and you get to pick your own! For appetizers we ordered gyoza. It came out hot, but one look at it - it looked like it came out of a freezer bag and was put in between a sandwich heater. Something new on the menu - truffle ramen $18. Does NOT come with chashu or egg and of course I wanted both. So there goes a $24 bowl of ramen. As far as the taste- it wasn't anything too spectacular! No bamboo shoots. Instead of using shredded green onions, you get Chinese chives. My egg was not cut in half. And I recall getting only one piece of chashu. The rest of my family got the traditional Yuzu Shio $15. One taste of that broth and I immediately regretted getting the Truffle ramen. Dammit! Also, the spoon that come with this is just too long and awkward. This place isn't bad, but I've had better and this place is pricey for sure.

Looking for a tantan ramen and found Afuri and their YUZU RATAN which had it's own flavor and while different was really good, I'll definitely be back to try more. Also had the toasted rice green tea and that was the best I've had - got it as a subscription on amazon now - it's that dang good! Andrew @ the bar provided exceptional service while juggling a busty lunch. Hope to elevate to 5 next trip back!

We were just exploring the neighborhood and had a hankering for hot noodle soup. 2 items were outstanding that I highly recommend: the homemade limeade, and the chicken bun. The noodles were good but I thought the broth lacked some depth and wasn’t nearly hot enough for a cold wet day in winter. Also for 2 at a fast food eatery, $47 was way too much to spend.

I Bought a Second Meal Here Even Though I Was Completely Full. The food was so good that I risked busting a gut, clearing my plate, then ordering more small plates until I literally couldn't eat another bite. I had ramen in chicken broth, seaweed salad, vegan gyoza (so good!), karagge (chicken nugets, Japanese style). Then, I bought another order of gyoza to wash it all down. I was splitting this with friends, but we each got our own ramen, so we all ate like pigs. Every bite was delicious, the service was excellent. Can't recommend this place more highly!

This is a new place in Portland that we had to try because my friend in Tokyo advised us to go - it is famous there - and this is their first shop outside Japan. We ordered the ramen dish she recommended, and the gyoza because we like them. Both were excellent! They don't take reservations here, and it is very crowded and noisy, so go prepared to wait, but you'll be glad you did!