Great all-around spot! We walked in on a weekend afternoon and sat at the bar. The staff were very friendly and attentive, we were greeted and given water right away. We both ordered the Tonkatsu Shio, which was the right move! Sooo good! We enjoyed sitting at the bar, as the interior feels open, clean and inviting. Great vibes and food. We'll be back! read more

Hamachi rice bowl - pretty good. Their rice is seasoned so well here. Didn't try the ramen, but tried the yuzu broth, and it's pretty light and tasty. Frozen yuzu beer - ok read more

See all

I tried the Yuzu Ratan Ramen here for the first time, and unfortunately, I don't think yuzu ramen is for me. I went into it thinking the citrus flavor would be refreshing and interesting, but I personally found the combination of citrus and ramen a little less appealing than I expected. I'm more used to having yuzu in drinks, so having that citrus flavor in a savory ramen broth was definitely different for me. The idea sounded really good, which is why I wanted to give it a try, but after trying it, I don't think I would order the same ramen again. It wasn't necessarily bad--just not a flavor combination that I personally enjoyed enough to come back for. The service, however, was really great! Overall, I'm glad I tried something different, but I just wish I was a bigger fan of yuzu ramen. read more

Afuri - Ramen Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

First time to try this place as it has been recommended by a few friends. The restaurant is bright and clean and simply decorated. The service was friendly and efficient. I ordered the special Yuzu Shio shishito peppers $6 and the Yuzu Shio ramen $16.50 with an extra serving of $2.50 noodles. The serving sizes seem a little smaller than other ramen shops, but the taste is what makes this place special. The shishito peppers were very tasty and nicely presented. There were six peppers. The ramen broth was very clean tasting, with a refreshing touch of yuzu. We requested the thin ramen to be slightly al dente and it was perfectly made. I enjoyed the slightly firm texture. The 1/2 egg was nicely soft boiled, the pieces of bamboo and greens were nice and crunchy, and the chashu was tender. I do wish there was more than one piece of chashu though. I saw you could order extra chashu for $3 but not sure if that's for one more piece. Overall a great meal and I would definitely come back for a quick and delicious meal. read more

See all

I was so hyped to try this restaurant after the rave reviews and numerous TikTok videos, but it ended up being a disappointment. Located in a small plaza near SCP, it can get very busy. The parking lot does offer valet. Non-Alcoholic Drinks: - Yuzu Limeade 5/5 - Housemade Ginger Ale 4/5: Slightly watered down. Food: - Yuzu Shio Edamame 3/5: Edamame was very small in size and overcooked. It was on the soggy side. - Tori Karaage 3/5: Mid , this was a little dry dry and bland. Also very small portions. - Shishito Peppers 3/5 - Toro on Crispy Rice 4/5: The drizzled sauce was a bit too sweet. - Citrus Hamachi Roll 3/5: Very small and the rice was falling apart. - I ordered a few pieces of the nigiri sushi and nothing special to note here. - Yuzu Ratan 2/5: Damn, this dish was not it. It was so oily and salty. Noodle texture was just okay, nothing special. Also, note that your bowl only comes with one piece of protein. Most ramen places I have been to will provide a minimum of two pieces. - Tonkatsu TanTan 2/5: Unlike the Yuzu Ratan, this broth was extremely bland and light. Overall, portions were very small at a very high price, and nothing stood out to me. read more

See all

With so many ramen restaurants in Orange County, it's nice to have one with unique flavor. Highly recommend the yuzu shio Roman so you can really taste the original and stronger yuzu flavor. The only downside is that they only give a single piece of thin cut of meat! About half the thickness of every other Roman restaurants. So if you like more protein, this is not the best option. Shishito Pepper tasted really fresh and well fried but not as flavorful as I was expecting. read more

Afuri - Shishito Pepper - Ramen Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

See all

This is the most underrated and best ramen shop in Costa Mesa for sure. The flavor of the broth is amazing, rich and balanced, but not salty which is amazing. The price is worth and the servers there are attentive and helpful. It's a small interior, but really pretty and they also have an open bar seating area. read more

See all

Afuri is a Japanese based restaurant chain and is famous for their Yuzu ramen. The ramen is made with a mixture of chicken, seafood, seaweed, and vegetables. It has a citrusy flavor due to yuzu fruit utilized in the broth that adds a refreshing taste. Yuzu Shio ramen ($16.50 + $2.50 to substitute the pork chasu with chicken chasu) - The ramen included whole wheat noodles and half an egg. Besides ramen they offer fried chicken and some limited sushi options. Overall, the ramen tasted amazing here, and I'm glad that it's made with out pork. It is pricey though in my opinion. The seating is limited to a communal bar table as well as a handful of tables inside. The first few weeks that they opened the line was outside the door, but things have calmed down and while it is still popular, there shouldn't be a wait to be seated. read more

Afuri - Inside - Ramen Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

See all

It was $91~ for 5 items 1 ramen 1 tsukemen 1 broccolini side Beer Karaage Good, but not great. Noodles were good, but the sides seemed tastier. There is a light yuzu flavor in the background, so it never felt jarring. Albeit, the broccolini got a little oily as you keep chewing. Karaage had nice flavor but could have been juicier. read more

See all

We came here on a Wednesday night and we're seated immediately. The restaurant itself is a decent size and was decorated like any typical Japanese restaurant. As for the food, the soft shell crab roll was yum but nothing special. I really enjoyed the ramens tho! I ordered the yuzu shio and the broth was very light, although I do wish it had more of a citrusy flavor. I think the yuzu tsukemen was my favorite tho. The noodles had a really nice chew and the broth was on the lighter side for dipping noodles (it wasn't too greasy or heavy). I do feel like the noodle to protein ratio is off tho -- there's not enough meat for the amount of noodles they provide. All in all, really solid ramen place if you want something on the lighter side! Don't expect to get a rich and creamy ramen broth here. read more

See all

Really unique ramen!! The yuzu, their speciality, adds just a bit of tang and makes this ramen something you've never had before. The staff was patient and attentive. WARNING! I would check in advance if they have the matcha tiramisu (that's something I was so looking forward to having). However, they said they've been out for a few weeks. Their LA location makes them and ships them down and I guess there hasn't been any. I also appreciate that the plaza offers complimentary valet parking! read more

See all

Spicy Yuzu Ratan - yuzu chicken broth with a light tanginess to it. It's refreshing and spicy. Noodles were cooked perfectly to my preference (requested for firm noodles). The bowl only gives you ONE piece of chashu, which to me was a bit sad... could at least give me 2 pieces lol. Crispy gyoza - crispy and moist. Very good! Not sure how I feel about their sweet chili mayo sauce though lol. Definitely would come back again to try their other menu items. Service was fast and friendly. read more

Afuri - Spicy Yuzu Ratan - Ramen Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

First time trying and definitely won't be the last! Already looking forward to my next visit read more

Afuri - Ramen Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

New location with incredibly yuzu flavored dipping ramen. The line can get long so definitely visit during off peak hours. The sashimi options are incredibly fresh and the vibes are very easy going from all the staff working! Would recommend this to anyone within the area and looking for yuzu flavored food options! read more

See all

Went here for a Saturday lunch after scrolling through yelp I used to come to this location for the ramen spot that was here previously and I will say, the renovations done have completely transformed the interior into a modern Japanese sushi bar with some tables as well! Tonkotsu ramen: 8/10 Definitely wasn't bad, I did enjoy that their noodles were al dente and the broth had good flavor. I wish they would include more chashu, 1 piece isn't usually enough for me but, you can always order extra Yuzu Shio ramen: 3.5/5 I guess I didn't expect the yuzu flavor to be so prominent but I guess that's why they called it a Yuzu ramen haha. Noodles were al dente so that was a plus but personally I'd prefer if the ramen had a deeper umami as opposed to more of a citrus taste. Just a tad overpowering for me on the broth but the rest of it was good Bluefin crispy rice: 5/5 Probably my wife and I's favorite dish here. Size wasn't huge on the crispy rice which was nice since that usually sticks to my teeth a lot fish and sauce were delicious! Service is great here as well since they seem to employ a decent amount of workers, it was fairly easy to request additional things Would definitely come back to try their sizzling Wagyu since unfortunately it was out of stock when we came :( read more

I went around 5:30pm on weekend and got seated immediately without any wait. I got the yuzu shio ramen. Ramen was simple clean and had a hint of yuzu taste to it. I wish the flavor was more pronounced. It's a small restaurant that maybe seats 6-7 tables and had lots of bar seatings. We had to wait a while for ramen to be served though. We waited about 15 mins or so. Maybe we were just hungry but it felt a whole while to get our food. Other than that, food was good. I wish they had more than shichimi or chili powder to make things spicy. read more

Afuri - Ramen Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

See all

The Citrus Hamachi roll was amazing! This is a must order item. We also got the Yuzu Ratan Ramen which had shoyu-rare and chicken broth which was good because the broth soaked into the ingredients, however the broth was a tad vinegary which made sipping the broth not as enjoyable. If you like a spicy soup this is a good bowl to get. Make sure to get extra eggs. I also probably would have preferred the thick noodle. read more

Afuri - Yuzu Ratan - Ramen Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

See all

Here for lunch on my search for non-tonkotsu, clear simple broth ramen. Easy parking, very short wait. I ordered the panfried gyoza: light and tasty. And the Yuzu shio ramen: The soup was fabulous with the citrus tang; the thin noodles so perfectly al dente and alive--the only note of disappointment: I wished it came out much hotter, and the cold egg was jarring. My friend ate ALL of his tonkatsu shio ramen with thick noodles. Friendly staff, fast service! Our waiter Theo was delightful and informative. read more

See all

This place took over the ikkousha (another ramen spot) which I really liked. Interior decor is very nice and much more upscale. All the plates and bowl were cute. Seems they're known for their chicken broth taken with yuzu so I got the spicy version of it to try. Wish I got the non spicy because it was kind of overpowering. But I'm really glad I got to try this new type of ramen. Definitely will come back for the original. My girlfriend likes tonkotsu which we ordered and was very standard (but good). Loved the pork belly in it. Probably one of my favorite pork bellies. For apps we did the karaage and mixed crudo. Tons of flavor on karaage and it's sitting on a bed of sriracha mayo. If you don't like the sauce maybe ask for on side. Sushi slices were THICK. Quality of fish was good but I wish the salmon were a bit fattier. It didn't taste or smell fishy at all so it was probably fresh. The capers were an interesting touch as I've never had capers with sushi before. Service was great. Came on Wednesday at 830 and there was no wait. read more

See all

Broccolini was amazing. I think this was the highlight. I'm not a tree-hugger but the flavors were great. I'm pretty sure this was the least healthy thing on the table, it was drenched and crispified in oil, like fried kale, and the florets disintegrated immediately on bite. Topped with garlic and soy sauce. The only complaint I have is: the lemon with the broccolini had no skin, I couldn't squeeze it! I got a PEELED lemon wedge. I've never been served that before. Ramen was cool too. The yuzu shio was milder and delicious, the shoyu was more sour and flavorful. I preferred the shio. Comes with a half egg. Noodles were amazing, smooth and delicious. Seaweed was placed carefully so it doesn't get soggy. I put it into the soup anyways hah. Soy sauce on the table is made for a maniac, that was probably the saltiest soy sauce I've ever tried. Great place for Broccolini and ramen. We had to wait 15m on Sunday morning within 1h of opening, not too bad. Solid food and cool interior! read more

See all

If you want a classic ramen experience with exceptional flavors, Afuri is a must try. We came in after a long night of fun, and needed some good broth and noodles. Portion size was justttt right as well, not too much to get bloated but neither too little. Service was quick and engaging, and the ambiance is a more modern take on your traditional ramen restaurant. Would recommend if you're looking for a great hangover cure! read more

Afuri - Menu - Ramen Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

We visited Afuri with friends since this was a bucket list restaurant to try and I already have my husband asking when we're going back for more! A cozy restaurant in a small strip mall, perfect for a date night or family lunch/dinner. The menu was extensive with so many offerings. We started with the yuzu lager and I ordered a House made ginger ale. All of these items were amazing, the ginger ale lives rent free in my head. We started with the deep fried ramen eggs which were amazing. A different take on a ramen topping favorite. I ordered the yuzu tsukamen and my husband's yuzu ramen. The noodles were cooked perfectly, the tsukamen was perfection. I normally can't finish a whole bowl, but I couldn't stop eating it! The ramen was perfection, a nice warm hug even if it was a little toasty outside that day. My husband did order an extra bowl of noodles and it was absolutely worth it. I do like they offer 2 different types of noodles for everyone's preference. Do not sleep on this place, run over and see how good it truly is! read more

See all

So excited to have Afuri in OC! I came right at opening at 5PM on a weekday and was seated immediately. Opted for the Sanmi Crudo and karage to start off with, and the Sanmi Crudo was great, super thick cuts of fresh fish. The karage was okay, I expected more of a coating like how the photos on the menu looked. I appreciated the shishito peppers with it though! As for the ramen, I got the Yuzu Shio and the Yuzu Ratan. I definitely preferred the Yuzu Shio because you can really taste the yuzu flavoring. Yuzu Ratan was subpar, it was a little too oily for me and the yuzu flavor was hidden behind the "spice." Parking may be difficult during peak hours, especially since it's in the same plaza as other popular restaurants like Anjin's, so be prepared! read more

Super psyched that Afuri opened in OC! We arrived right before opening on a Saturday and had no problem getting seated (and easy parking, too). I ordered their Yuzu Shio ramen and really enjoyed the lighter chicken-based broth. It had a nice refreshing tone, thanks to the yuzu, which made it a pleasure to drink. The egg was perfectly cooked. The weakest part of the dish was the single slice of chashu. My husband loves spicy and got the Yuzu Ratan, which did have some heat. A great addition to the OC ramen scene! read more

Afuri - Yuzu Ratan - Ramen Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

See all

Afuri has way more variety than I expected -- not just ramen. The sushi/sashimi quality was actually really good, plus they have a ton of apps and cocktails too. LOVED the house made margarita. We tried the popular yuzu ramen and personally I was not blown away by it, but I think it's just because I usually prefer a richer, creamier broth. This one was definitely lighter and more refreshing, if that's your thing. The tsukemen was a bit better imo but still missing some of the umami elements in the dip broth. The sashimi platter I highly recommend!!! The cuts were very impressive and much better than even some omakase places that I have been. I would come back for this alone. :) Tip: the waitlist gets long super fast and you can only join it in person on their little in-store tablet. Definitely try to get there before 6:30pm if you want to beat the dinner rush. read more

See all

很多時候，傷害我們的不是別人的話，而是我們把那些言語放在心裡了， 要記得，別人的情緒勒索，偏見，冷水，那是他們要修的課題，不是妳的～ 來介紹有名的拉麵店～阿夫利， 現在他們開到 Orange County 來了，之前在洛杉磯剛剛開幕時，常常看到有吃貨在分享，這次離我比較近， 就跟好友來探探這店， 裝潢，以拉麵店來說， 看起來是很高級的，最好吃的是他們的炸雞塊， 拉麵我也喜歡，但是偏小碗，另外朋友被菜單燒到， 多點的生魚片跟鐵板牛排，歪嘴雞們吃了可能會罵人，我是覺得很普通，尤其鐵版，熱騰騰～滋滋響的端上來， 很多小熱油還跳到我手臂上， 可是真正吃下去，肉較老，差我們台式鬥牛士非常遙遠，這些都是個人感受，這裡環境很優雅， 冷氣也足， 很適合中午聚餐，吃個簡餐，就在名店 anjin 旁邊， 喜歡這家拉麵的，以後不用跑到洛杉磯市中心啦！ read more

See all

Was craving ramen and saw a new place that popped up in our area. We don't usually go to LA do it's nice to have an LA staple close by now. We got their yuzu ramen. The broth is definitely tasty and different from what we usually get and the citrus notes were definitely interesting. The egg appetizer was okay, but the hand roll was nice and flavorful, albeit a bit on the pricier side for a roll. Parking is pretty easy in a big lot. Interior is more spacious than in the previously ramen shop this place replaced. No complaints about service, very attentive and prompt. As a caveat, we did go during the soft opening. read more

See all

We waited about 1.5 hours for lunch around 1:30 PM on Mother's Day, so be prepared for a long wait during peak times. The restaurant itself is small with a minimalist vibe. We ordered the following to share: * Afuri Gyoza * Tori Karaage * Bigeye Tuna Nigiri For our entrees, I ordered the Kara Tsuyu, my husband got the Hazelnut Tantan, and my daughter ordered the Tonkotsu Tantan. As a family, we all agreed that the Tori Karaage was the standout dish and honestly some of the best karaage we've ever had. It was incredibly flavorful, crispy, and juicy. The gyoza were just okay, while the bigeye tuna nigiri was fresh and tasty. Unfortunately, the ramen dishes were disappointing. Both the Hazelnut Tantan and Tonkotsu Tantan were missing bok choy and tasted fairly bland. My Kara Tsuyu had decent flavor but was a bit too sweet for my liking. Overall, the appetizers were much more impressive than the ramen. read more

See all

This is my 2nd time at Afuri. On my first trip, I ordered the yuzu shoyu ramen, and I thought the broth had too much yuzu. I would've preferred less tart. I had a sip of my wife's yuzu shio broth and that tasted more balanced to me. So this time around, I ordered a yuzu shio ramen for myself and I'm glad I did. The broth was as tasty, well balanced between yuzu and salt. The char siu was a thin slice, but tender and a little fatty. The egg was perfectly jammy, while the menma and greens give some textural variety and crunch. What I find different about Afuri from other ramen shops besides the use of yuzu is their house made noodles, which were thin and perfectly bouncy. There will always be a long wait during weekends, but if you have late night ramen cravings, I recommend coming after 10 so you get seated right away. read more

Afuri - Yuzu shio ramen - Ramen Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Overall a good experience. Great ambiance and unique flavors. I can't say it'd be a part of my regular ramen rotation just because I prefer traditional, but it's still a good bowl of ramen. I love that they have a kids menu! The Yuzu flavor in the ramen is very obvious. It's almost a little herby in a sense. The broth isn't super fatty since it's shio, it does feel a bit lighter than traditional tonkatsu. Clean and modern interior. Great service. Parking in this lot is a nightmare. read more

Afuri - Kids Menu - Ramen Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Afuri, a popular Japanese ramen chain, finally opened up a location in OC! I'm so glad that I don't have to drive to LA for yuzu ramen. Afuri is located in a popular food plaza, so parking can be tough on the weekends. This restaurant replaced Hakata Ikkousha. Currently, the restaurant is still in their soft opening phase. There's not a lot of seating inside, so the wait will probably be long on the weekends. There's a few tables and bar seating. The workers are hard working and friendly. I came on a weekday, so I didn't have to wait too long for a table. I came with my cousins, and we all basically ordered the same ramen. Our server was friendly, and answered all the questions we had. She was apologetic when they couldn't make a substitution for thick noodles in the yuzu shio ramen. The tori karaage was juicy and crispy. I liked that you could taste the yuzu in the sauce. Maybe I was expecting too much from the yuzu shio ramen, but I was a bit disappointed. The ramen came out warm and not hot. The yuzu flavor and broth was mild and a bit overwhelming. They give you a lot of noodles, but it didn't quite match up with the protein in the bowl. I had also ordered a yuzu limeade, but it didn't come out until after the ramen. The worker did apologize for the wait. The limeade was tasty though. They're still working out the kinks, so I don't blame them. My cousins and I agreed that this restaurant was ok. It is a bit pricey, but the quality is there. I do recommend this restaurant though, which is why I'm rating it 4 stars. Maybe I just didn't order the right ramen? However, the chicken karaage and limeade were good. The service was wonderful. I can tell that they care a lot about making their customers happy. Also, it's nice to have a yuzu ramen shop in oc! read more

See all

Recently visited their soft opening by chance. This place has amazing Yuzu flavor ramen! Broth is quite light and refreshing. One can find themselves dunking their head into a bowl and not come up for air until it's empty. Staff were very nice, polite, and provide informative recommendations. Always love it when the team stays engaged with us throughout the meal. We also ordered the Softshell Crab Roll. To my surprise, being predominantly a ramen shop, tasted amazing! Their appetizer Fried Ramen Egg with the sauce beneath it will light your tastebud to stardom. Scallop Sushi was also a delight to enjoy. Inside, you'll be surrounded with good Japanese jams and a modern take on terms of design. Very clean and tastefully decorated. We can't wait to come back and try more of their ramen variations. Great job team! read more

See all

Incredibly delicious, REFRESHING ramen. Not a word that typically comes to mind when I think ramen. But if you try one of their 3 yuzu ramens, you slurp broth without the heaviness of other rich ramen. My friend and I ordered the Yuzu Shio ramen and we both finished our bowls, broth and everything! The citrus complements the umami chicken broth so well. And the chashu was tender and juicy. The interior is stylish fusing a modern ramen shop aesthetic and Japanese pop culture. There were cute figurines of Astro Boy and a Gundam decorating the walls. No wait and a few open parking spots on a Sunday at 5pm. Definitely recommend a visit! read more

Afuri - Yuzu shio ramen - Ramen Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Afuri opened up in Culver City last year right as we were moving to Orange County and was bummed I hadn't gotten a chance to try it. Luckily, Costa Mesa has one so I finally got the chance to check out the spot. After debating, I went with the yuzu shoyu because after reading a few reviews I realized that this is what they are known for. We also added the blue tuna rice crispie and loved the flavor but the tuna didn't taste the freshest. The ramen came out next and with one bite, I could understand the hype. The broth is light and refreshing but also manages to retain a deep flavor profile at the same time. The noodles were perfectly al dente and the thin bamboo shoots add the texture to each bite. For dessert, we got the matcha tiramisu but definitely wouldn't recommend. I'm not sure if it was an older tray, but the lady fingers tasted a bit stale and a little bit too soggy for me. Also with a price tag of $12, I would have expected more. The ramen was a 5 star for me but the tiramisu brought it down to a 4 star overall rating. read more

Afuri - Ramen Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

We came on a Sunday afternoon and only waited 10 minutes for us to be seated. The service we had was minimal, but everyone was friendly. The place was very nice looking and clean. But after getting a table, one of our plates was greasy, so that was a bit off putting. The food made up for it though. We weren't that hungry at first, but all the food was so good! Food/Drink: Tori Karaage 5/5 - One of the best karaages we've tried recently - The sauce it came with was citrusy which I liked a lot Yuzu Shio Ramen 4/5 - Flavor was light and citrusy - Comes with thin noodles, but I'd prefer the thicker noodles next time if they can substitute Yuzu Tsuyu Tsukemen 5/5 - We both liked this one the most - Very good flavor - They ask if you want the noodles cold or warm, which was a first for both of us since other places usually make it cold Yuzu Frozen Beer 3/5 - Pretty bitter tasting at first from the frozen part - The actual beer was p good considering I don't like beer Overall, I would come back again to try the other dishes on the menu. I was looking at the kaisendon to try next time and I'd definitely get the tsukemen again. They gave $5off coupons for the next visit too and are having a ramen giveaway for their grand opening. read more

See all

Saw this place popping up on my Yelp feed lately and decided to give it a try. Parking is extremely tricky in this plaza since there are so many fooderies in the area. We arrived around 7 PM and it took about an hour waitlist to finally be seated. We got the Yuzu shoyu ramen yuzu shio ramen, toro karaage and frozen afuri yuzu lager. Staff was extremely friendly and food arrived very quickly. The karaage was so juicy and tender it was almost worth the wait. The Ramen was the main hit both were excellent. The broth was so unique and a bit citrusy in a good way. It was honestly some of the best broth I've ever had. Also the texture of the thin noodles was so good. I ended up devouring the entire bowl. The frozen lager was also very unique where it's a beer topped with frozen Yuzu blend. Definitely something new for me and it was a great experience. The inside of the restaurant was also very nice and modern but the space itself is very small, hence the long wait times. Overall, the experience itself was great and very quick to where we finish our meal in less than half an hour, but I don't think it was worth waiting an hour on the waitlist. I would come back but maybe not during peak hours so I won't have to wait as long. read more

See all

Compared with their other locations, the exterior is nothing special--more like an outdated OC restaurant than an upscale destination. The interior is equally simple, cold, and uninspiring, almost like dining in a school canteen. Nothing particularly modern or luxurious about it, except the prices. Service is friendly, but not quite professional or attentive enough. Several basic utensils had to be requested rather than automatically provided. ---Yuzu Shio: Sounds amazing, but not my thing. The broth was uninspiring and the noodles were just okay. Wouldn't order it again. --+Tonkotsu Shio: Overpriced for something that tasted very average. From the noodles to the broth, nothing really stood out. -++The side dishes, on the other hand, are where things get addictive. The crispy ramen egg and soft-shell crab tempura are perfect with their amazing yuzu beer. The karaage can be inconsistent, though--sometimes crispy and delicious, other times soggy. ---Teppanyaki Wagyu Skirt: Tasted more like a premium steak than wagyu. Good flavor, but the meat wasn't cut all the way through, and no knife was provided. While trying to pull it apart with chopsticks and a fork, hot juice splashed straight onto my eyelid. So yeah, for a second there, my mouth wasn't the only thing tasting dinner--my eye got a sample too. +++Yuzu Beer: To die for. Refreshing, dangerously easy to drink, and probably my favorite thing here. -++Basque Cheesecake: Almost perfectly made--smooth and creamy, not dense or chunky. Just a little too sweet for me. ---Matcha Tiramisu: Something was off. The milk had a strange bitterness that definitely wasn't coming from the matcha. Maybe it was starting to turn--or had been sitting around a little too long because nobody ordered it? Either way, not a flavor I wanted to investigate further. I'll come back for the small plates and that dangerously addictive yuzu beer. No ramen, no teppanyaki for me. read more

We ordered a soup ramen and a tsukemen. Both were good with a good balance of richness, deep flavor, and the hint of freshness from the yuzu. The chicken karaage was average but paired well with the refreshing yuzu beer (we had to get an extra 4 pack to go). Was it worth the 1 hour wait at 1:30PM on a weekend, one definitely might argue. Overall the staffs were friendly and the ramen was delicious. read more

Happy to hear that another Japanese staple has landed in OC! The restaurant was a bit on the smaller side, so definitely expect a bit of a wait. Parking is kinda difficult in this small plaza. The restaurant had a really clean and bright interior! Afuri specializes in a really unique Yuzu ramen made with a chicken broth rather than your standard tonkotsu base. Because of this, the ramen comes out with quite a refreshing flavor. The super bright and acidic broth was a nice change of pace when your standard ramen is rich, heavy, and sometimes a touch too oily. The yuzu flavors were strong and cut through any greasiness nicely, which made me want to keep eating bite after bite. Lots of noodles too! Karaage was also really tasty. The spicy Karaage was sauced up with a spicy sweet coating, and the chicken was juicy and well seasoned. Overall really happy with Afuri! A great ramen option when you're not looking to go into a food coma right after your meal. read more

Afuri - Yuzu Shio Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

See all

Finally, the perfect Yuzu Ramen in the states! I no longer have to fly to Japan to satisfy my Afuri cravings! I started with the sashimi plate, which was incredibly fresh and generous with the portions. For the main event, the Yuzu Shoyu was standout! the broth was deeply flavorful yet light enough that I could actually monitor my sodium levels without sacrifice. Service was exceptional, ambiance was japendi style. The noodles were served with that perfect al dente snap. To top it all off, the Yuzu Beer with the signature foam was easily my favorite part of the meal. Truly a 10/10 experience, I can't wait to come back! read more

See all