Afuri

This restaurant is not hard to miss with its bright and eye-catching Japanese pop artwork adorning the storefront. The interior is even more impressive, featuring a modern design and spacious seating. I particularly loved the natural light streaming in, creating an airy and inviting ambiance. The bar setup, showcasing an array of Japanese liquors, added a stylish concept.What we ordered:FROSTY YUZU KIRIN BEERThis pint-sized beer was served ice-cold, topped with a glacial yuzu frosting. The presentation was flawless, with the immaculate swirl of frosting sitting beautifully on the beer. Drinking it directly proved a bit challenging, so I opted for a straw, sipping from beneath the frosty layer. A unique and refreshing experience!BUTA GYOZAThis dish featured pan-fried gyoza presented in a connected web, and while the taste was solid, I'd likely explore other appetizers on my next visit to broaden my experience.YUZU SHIO RAMENI learned that "shio" ramen is salt-based, while "shoyu" relies on soy sauce, a subtle but important distinction. Normally, I'm a tonkotsu ramen enthusiast, but after a heavy, spicy meal the day before, I opted for something lighter. This was, without a doubt, one of the BEST shio ramen bowls I've ever had. The broth was incredibly clean, with a delicate sweetness from the yuzu. I found myself giving a slow clap of applause for how PERFECT it was.

We stopped by around 5:30pm on a Friday and were seated right away as the place was quite empty. The parking garage underneath is convenient, though Culver traffic can be a bit unpredictable. Service was prompt and friendly, which was nice.We tried the Tonkotsu Shio, which was pretty standard, but the broth had a nice richness without feeling too oily. The Yuzu-Tsuyu Tsukemen, however, was a major disappointment. Instead of a balanced flavor, the broth was overwhelmingly citrusy and cold, which made the experience feel like eating noodles drowned in yuzu juice. Maybe we missed the menu highlights, but overall, this spot is just okay. If you're in the area and craving ramen, it's an option. But with so many amazing ramen spots in LA, I'd say skip it!

If I hadn't had this in Japan, I'd probably have enjoyed a bit more but few things:- spicy karaage had good flavor! - my spicy yuzu tsukemen (that I was soo looking forward to) was entirely missing the yuzu flavor. It wasn't discernible at all. - tried my friend's yuzu shoyu and def taste the yuzu but broth was on the oily side - crispy bok choy also just tasted like really oily bok choy :(- was asked if I want cold or hot noodles. I picked hot but received cold+ our waitress was really sweet though..

A hidden gem in the Arts District, this ramen spot offers a solid variety of appetizers and sushi to complement your ramen cravings.I had the duck ramen (a special they seem to offer occasionally), and it was nothing short of amazing. The broth was rich, savory, and so flavorful that I didn't leave a single drop behind.Feeling indulgent, I decided to add crispy ramen eggs and a spicy tuna roll as sides. The spicy tuna roll was a pleasant surprise--it could easily hold its own at a dedicated sushi bar. The crispy ramen eggs had amazing texture. A real treat. Whether you're in the mood for comforting ramen or want to mix it up with some standout sushi, this place is worth a visit!It does get fairly busy so just a heads up on that part. I was solo so grabbed a seat at the bar which was quick!

Everything from the food to the decor was amazing. I came here while I was visiting my uncle from San Diego. The ramen was delicious and full of flavor and the hand roll was very fresh. Would definitely come back next time I'm in LA!

Afuri Ramen and Dumpling is located in the Arts District of Downtown Los Angeles. A large space with lots of regular and a couple of long communal tables. The menu is a combination of Ramen, Japanese appetizers and dumplings. It's a hipster vibe with steep prices considering what you actually get. Overall the food was good with the exception of the fried bok choy which was oily mess. The portions for all the other items are tiny. The best item was the dessert of basque cheese cake. The drink prices were pricey too. $300 for party of 5. Service was good from the food runners. The service from the servers was spotty.

Vegetarian review: loved the fried hard broiled egg appetizer. Reminds me of a vegetarian karaage. I ordered a second one. The kid's vegetarian sushi wasn't bad. As a vegetarian, I was thankful they had the option. It's not what you would get at an all vegetarian sushi restaurant but something you would expect at a non vegetarian restaurant. Simple and fills you. It's a great option. My kids ate it. I'm sure the vegetarian option in the regular /adult menu is better. Wasn't hungry enough to try the ramen. Edamame was a hit with the kids. Ramune drink didn't have high fructose corn syrup. The kids loved them. Other non vegetarian kids enjoyed their kid's ramens and karaage. Service was great. They accept Apple Pay. Free Street Parking at 2:30p on Sunday afternoon wasn't bad. Coming back for the fried egg appetizer.

Came here for the beers after seeing a reel by @loculize_la on IG and it did not disappoint! The frozen slush on top of the beer is citrusy and adds a nice refreshing taste to the beer. Highly recommend ordering it if you pay a visit.My friend and I started off with the fried dumplings and spicy chicken karage as our appetizers which were good. Dumplings were soft and crispy and the karage was good, but caught me off guard because it looked like a meatball but was just chunks of chicken inside. We also got a spicy ramen (forgot to take a picture) based on our server's recommendation and it also had a nice citrusy flavor to it which had a nice refreshing flavor. Ambiance of the place was great and the service here was excellent as well. Definitely will come back soon!

Ramen tastes nice! Chicken broth is so sweet and the Yuzi smells great. And the Ambiance feels awesome too.

Tom was a great server! We will be back. Food was good too! It was also clean! And lastly Tom was very well mannered