Very cool modern Japanese spot in Slabtown. AFURI has a slick, contemporary feel -- large, open space with a younger, hip atmosphere, but still relaxed and casual. The huge rolling doors open the restaurant onto the patio when the Portland weather cooperates, which gives the whole place a great indoor/outdoor feel. The food was very good across the board, fresh and well prepared, and the service was equally good -- friendly, competent and attentive without hovering. Everyone we dealt with seemed genuinely pleasant and knew what they were doing. Overall, a really enjoyable dinner in a great-looking space. Good food, good people, good energy. Definitely a place we'd come back to. Solid 5 stars. read more

Afuri Slabtown - Ramen Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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The only reason this isn't 1 star because Afuri's Tsukemen is really delightful! However, everytime I come here, the service is truly abysmal (honestly both locations). I did recently experience something that was really frustrating. I went in to order a to go order, the lady said it was going to be 15 mins but I had a meeting to get to, and I was trying to be a good customer by not rushing them and saying, hey, let me come back to it in about an hour- so no rush! The girl said that wasn't possible. What?? What's the difference if I got it the second it was done vs if I got it a little bit later? She said they only do that for phone orders... ok, can we pretend this is one? Anyways, she was nice enough to ask the kitchen if they can speed it up, which they did. Great right? Now, I don't know if it was out of spite or just truly forgetting but my tsukemen (noodles you dip in sauce) didn't have the tare (the sauce)- which of course I only find out when I was back home and far away from the restaurant- so it was a really frustrating surprise to come home having just bought $20 + tip noodles that I couldn't really eat since I didn't have any sauce to go with it. I don't think I'm gonna come here again read more

My friends liked this restaurant so much, we came here back to back nights. For our group of four, we didn't have much of an issue getting seats on Friday or Saturday night, but I'd recommend making one if you're able to plan ahead. The food: My recommendations - Yuzu Tsuyu Tsukemen - my first no-soup ramen experience and it didn't disappoint. Got the nontraditional "warm" noodles instead of cold, but with the cold sauce, I thought it was pretty good. Reminds me of other Asian cold noodle dishes (which I typically love) but with the added fun of dipping). Tangy, sweet, savory, saucy. Yuzu Ratan - Their menu highlights a type of ramen that isn't commonly found in the US. The broth has definite citrus flavor from the yuzu, but it also reminded me of beef and tomato. I quite liked the noodles here - thin and very good chew. Quite a unique experience. It's not my favorite style of ramen, but definitely worth trying. Tori Karaage - slight fried texture on the outside and still juicy center. Another dish with yuzu from the sauce. This is a good one! Ota Tofu Yakko - firm tofu, yuzu ponzu sauce, and bonito flakes. The combination is cool and refreshing. The other dishes - Kaisen Don - I thought this dish was fine, but nothing special for the price. 4 pieces of fish with ikura and tobiko. Tonkotsu Shio - flavorful broth, but not very creamy or oily. I tend to like very rich tonkotsu. Crispy Broccolini - oven roasted to the point where the leaves tasted a bit like kale chips. Looking for a different style of ramen? It's worth a stop to Afuri to try their Yuzu Style read more

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This place is great! With cold, refreshing yuzu lemonade -perfect for summer- or exceptional service, this place is perfect! Additionally, most of the time it's somewhat empty but still lively, allowing for a nice and quaint experience. read more

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I eat here about once a month because this is my go to Portland Ramen spot. I've never had a bad experience! A note on the ambience : Yes the restaurant is usually super busy but the staff always communicates the wait/ acknowledges everyone! I always get the vegan ramen. I loved the hazelnut based one they had but the new cashew one is honestly just as good and kinda spicy which I love!! I've also been to their other locations, which are just as lovely if slabtown is too busy/ out of your way. read more

Afuri Slabtown - Miso Cashew Tantanmen (v)* - Ramen Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Do not dine in here - nothing about this place warrants the 2 hours and nearly $200 that it can cost. What's more, try to stick to the ramen. Orders were mistaken and/or poorly paced, with yawning gaps between courses, and their appetizers are banal bordering on subpar. One of the two soft shell crabs we were served was not properly cleaned and enduced immediate nausea. Never again. read more

Go to spot for lunch in Slabtown during the work week. Service is either really good, or kind of off putting. Mainly it's great but there have been some times that the front woman checking people in is in a foul mood and she doesn't hide it. I appreciate their GF noodles, even tho they charge a pretty penny for them. Broth is yummy and their edemame is the best in Portland. Vibes are lovely in the summer with the roll up doors open and cozy in the winter with the fire pits outside. Solid ramen overall. read more

4.5 out of 5 Love everything I got here! The tempura soft shell crab was my favorite of the night. In my not so humble opinion, if you only love California rolls and sweet n sour everything, don't claim you like Japanese or Asian food. Just don't. It's okay to be a chicken nugget person. I got the Yuzu dipping noodles with cold noodles this time. Again, the braised pork flavor was on point but still overcooked, slightly better than at the Izakaya though. The tempura soft shell crab was the highlight of my dinner. It wasn't just good, it was the doctoral thesis of umami. Savory, succulent, and perfectly crisp. I didn't even need the dipping sauce. The shell was truly soft, almost like there was no shell at all. I've been hurt by some not so soft soft shell crabs before, that was a nightmare for the roof of my mouth. I had a bite of my partner's vegetable rolls, the moisture and vinegar balance in the rice was perfect. The non alcoholic ginger ale was super refreshing. I think they added a touch of bitters because I could taste the bitterness in the aftertaste. It was zesty and perfect for washing down all the food. And the staff here were staffing. read more

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Stopped in, no reservation on a Friday night and they got us right in. I believe our servers name was David, he was excellent. We tried a few things, Bok choy appetizer, recommended. It is very open seating, not a place to have a private conversation for sure. Parking can be a challenge, this is not uncommon in the area. I think the best part was the cheese cake to be honest. I did not find the sushi to be exceptional for the price and size. read more

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FIRE FIRE FIREEE! I've been craving ramen and so glad that I was introduced to this spot. It's located in a cute area in Portland. The service is super fast. Everything came out after 5-10 minutes of ordering. The crispy bockchoy was so good, and a good light starter before the main. I order the Yuzu Ratan and omgosh that was so bomb and so filling! read more

Afuri Slabtown - Yuzu Ratan - Ramen Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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After attending a dog show event, my friend and I were walking around his neighborhood and checking out the newest buildings in NW. A lot has changed and grown in the past few years. We decided upon getting our ramen fix. The hostess greeted us as we walked in and sat in the bar It was nice and quiet since we were the only ones there while most of the restaurant was occupied. My drink of choice was the "Cherries and Claritiy". It was very refreshing and the flavor and essence of cherry tasted delicious to the last drop. After studying the menu, my friend and I each ordered the spicy warm ramen and he ordered a couple of appetizers. Food arrived promptly with dipping sauces and food presented elegantly. After stirring the noodles and toppings together, I dug in and enjoyed each bite. Unfortunately there wasn't much spice if any. It looked like the spice powder stuck in the bowl and didn't get mixed well. Other than that it was pretty good. The sushi I sampled was pretty good and the hint of soy sauce with each dip satisfied my taste buds. We did notice the gyoza didn't arrive and it turned out that order didn't get processed all the way through to the kitchen. The bartender humbly apologized and asked if we still wanted it. We got pretty full so we politely declined. I do like the open kitchen aspect and if I am in the area I may check it out to see the full action. read more

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Great ambiance with a nice fire pit that is perfect for a nice evening. The ramen is quite good as well and prices are standard, although I wish the portion was a little bit bigger. That's really my only complaint. read more

Afuri Slabtown - Ramen Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Upon arriving, we were greeted and offered indoor or outdoor dining. Our server was nice and friendly and patient with my 2.5 year old nephew. All of the noodles were delicious and umami! Even the seltzer was very tasty. Will definitely be back for the food and excellent service. read more

I adore the ramen here. The yuzu, if you get it, works so well in all the forms, shio, shoyu, miso... and the tonkotsu pork broth is also excellent. It seems to me like portions, especially the noodles, have increased nicely, which I very much appreciate, as they seemed to be getting a little small. Now, things are great! We sat out on the patio, which was wonderful. Traffic was light, the sun was out and it was a perfect day for ramen. We also enjoyed the agedashi tofu, which I think they coat with Mochiko, giving it an overall stretchiness that is a wonderful improvement on this old standard. Miki is Japanese. She loves it. If someone visits here from Japan, where a Shinkansen to the area around Mount Afuri would not be complete without a bowl of their ramen, I am sure a visit here would be joyful, if not demanded read more

Afuri is located in beautiful industrial space with high ceilings. The vegetarian ramen is always wonderful. The sushi is also great. Service can be a bit hit or miss but mostly pretty good. read more

Small portions so you buy more, but expensive. Luckily for me the ramen portion was perfect, but I can imagine others would not be satisfied. The noodles were the star of the show, but I enjoyed every part of it. The tonkotsu was decently mellow, but allowed for other flavors to hold their own. read more

If you like spicy ramen order Tonkatsu Tantanmen and add an egg. I picked up through Grubhub and it was ready when I got there. You can always trust AFURI for reliable food but this is my favorite ramen on the menu so far. ($5 off Grubhub order over $25) read more

Afuri Slabtown - Tonkotsu Tantanmen - Ramen Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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I have always been obsessed with Yuzu Shio Ramen and afuri does it best!!! The soup comes out piping hot and not too salty, the noodles are thin chewy yet firm, the menma bamboo shoots are made in house, which is different than most Ramen shops who use canned bamboo shoots. The quantity and quality is perfect. Everything about this bowl is absolute perfection and I rave about it every time I was able to convince two more friends to order this and we all looked at the bowl clean. need I say more? The spicy Karaage chicken tasted more like marinated Korean fried chicken, and I would not really consider this as Karaage. However, our group ordered the Hamachi aburi rolls and it was excellent. read more

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Came here one evening and thought that it was a great place for a casual dinner! their menu is pretty diverse in that it offers a multitude of small plates and ramens (with unique twists). The inside of the restaurant is beautiful (especially in the evening) and if you come on a nice night outside, then you can sit outside at one of their fireplaces! My boyfriend and I ordered two ramen combos: the tonkatsu shio and the yuzu tsuyu with the potstickers and takoyaki. Unfortuantely, when they brought out the yuzu tsuyu, it was mixed up with an order of yuzu shoyu. However! Our waitress was very kind, apologized, and sent in a new order of yuzu tsuyu for us. The food overall was great and the portions were perfect. Despite the mix-up, service was also amazing. I had a great time here and would come again to this location. read more

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Afuri is a Portland staple, and I am so glad that their locations keep popping up in new neighborhoods. The slabtown spot is more industrial than its other locations, with the large indoor space being light, airy, and very open. The ceilings are extra tall so you will feel as if your dining experience is more personal thanks to the intentional design. Outdoors, the heated patio is great whenever the rain is not occurring. We took one of the outdoor tables, and the servers were very quick to help us. We were surprised at how attentive they were outside, considering other Portland restaurants often avoid sending staff outside. Great job! Each of us ordered one of the teas, and they are all great options. My only feedback would be to include more non-caffeinated teas or tisanes. The food was brought to us quite quickly, which made all of us happy after finishing some workouts. I ordered the softshell crab bun and the seasonal tuna don bowl. Both were exceptional, but, the softshell crab is a truly unique experience. The entire crab is cooked, without the shell, and I could come back to consume one of these often. The bathrooms are pretty far inside, so if you have to go, I'd recommend going once. However, I was wearing cycling shoes so my experience was slightly more challenging. I am sure for anyone else it would be ideal. Parking is very challenging in this area - plan to bike or walk over. read more

Afuri Slabtown - Ramen Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Good Ramen! I am particular about my ramen and must say, well done! Great attention and detail to the food quality, service, and atmosphere. I ordered the Yuzu Shoyu Togo and it was the perfect cold-weather lunch. While I waited, I was offered and severed from a variety of teas to enjoy. This is a traditional Japanese style Ramen and dumpling house, (no tempura or teriyaki options), but with an elegant upscale twist. I was a bit worried that the price range might be too high, but the menu prices were not exorbitant. I will be back as they have a nice selection of saki and I love soft shell crab. Definitely a great place for atmosphere, ambience, and social gathering over a wonderful Japanese experience. read more

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Parking was easy on a Monday night and the servers were super sweet and attentive. 10/10 yuzu tsuyu tsukemen! Great dipping broth, strong yuzu flavor, definitely would get again! read more

Afuri Slabtown - a bowl of ramen with a hard boiled egg - Ramen Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I think this is a great restaurant and don't understand all the negative reviews. All I can say is You pay for what you get, and this is authentic and a Japanese owned chain. I think it's definitely worth the money. I have tried three ramens, and have enjoyed them all. I have had the traditional pork based ramen which is rich and dreamy. I have had the Zen chicken which is light and aromatic. You can add items and I like to add Bok Choy, and mushrooms. I have tried both Gyzozas pan fried and deep fried. I prefer the pan fried ones. I like both the teas, and non alcoholic drinks. I haven't tried the booze ones but they sound good, and look good. I think the basque cheesecake is to die for. They just started having Bentos, and they remind me of bentos I had when I visited Japan. So, I look forward to going back and trying some of the Bentos . I think the service is excellent. I found the staff to be friendly, helpful and efficient. I have found everyone friendly and helpful except for one hostess that seemed to have lots of attitude. Other then that one all the staff have been extremely friendly, kind, and quick. I like the ambiance, it has an industrial minimalist vibe which I like. It feels modern and industrial which I like. I also like it the you can see them making your food, and doing food preparation right before your eyes. I saw a gentleman slicing up wagyu for the bento which was interesting especially his skill in using the slicer to make such thin slices. I also like seeing all the large industrial vats where the ramen is made. Afuri is definitely an upscale addition to the crowded Japanese restaurant market in Portland. read more

Wife and I tried a bowl of Hazelnut simmering broth with ramen noddles (no meat flavor, no problem, loved this rich nutty broth) topped with fried garlic and green onion. The ramen noddle bowl with braised pork was also delicious. Options to add on more ingredients to build your own ramen bowl Trendy Slabtown location, big roll up doors, indoor or outdoor seating. Quick service! Made fresh! With black tea. Yummy! read more

Afuri Slabtown - Ramen braised pork - Ramen Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Haven't tried any afuri location before so I had high hopes. I definitely was not disappointed! Walked in and managed to get two counter seats. Looks like there were a lot of reservations that night so no tables were available, but I really didn't mind at all. I love being able to watch the kitchen. Ordered the soft shell crab roll. It was delicious. It was 5 pieces, so if you're hungry maybe order another roll. The yuzu shio was delicious as well! The broth was so delicate but super flavorful. I loved it! You could see them making the noodles fresh too. The quality was definitely there and I can't wait to come back. read more

Afuri Slabtown - Yuzu shio - Ramen Near Me - Portland, Oregon

This is our first time at this location. We first experienced Afuri at the downtown location a while back. This new location in Slabtown is aesthetic AF! ~ ACCOMMODATED OUR LARGE GROUP ~ We came in for a surprise birthday dinner on a Monday night. There were 10 people in our group. Our friend tried to call them to reserve ahead of time, but couldn't reach a person. So we walked in 30 min. before we had intended to go in for dinner and fortunately, they were able to get the tables set up for our large group. Our host was only able to seat our group once a majority of us had shown up. My husband and I sat at the bar and ordered our drinks while we waited for the rest of our group. ~ FRIED EGGPLANT = PERFECTION ~ I ordered the CRISPY NASU DON for myself and our friend ordered a bunch of appetizers for the entire group. I wasn't able to try them all, but I did love the CRISPY NASU BUN. I loveeee eggplants and they fried these to perfection. ~ WILL COME BACK FOR HAPPY HOUR ~ Service was fast and attentive. I highly recommend Afuri for a large group and celebratory dinners. They also have a happy hour menu that I'd come back for! read more

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what's tastier than ramen? Afuri! There are many locations with the same menu. I enjoy the hazelnut tantanmen. The creamiest broth I've ever had and it doesn't leave me feeling heavy or bloated. Second visiting this location, and I love it! Such a chic design, and it's awesome that you can see the kitchen. I really like the passion fruit cocktail and wow the crispy bok choy was unbelievable delicious. Excellent service. Very attentive staff and it was easy to get a table during a busy time of the night. read more

This is our second time at Afuri! My partner and I really enjoy the food and I like being in an open space and being by big windows to people watch or see the stores around the area. We ordered the Spicy Tori Karaage, the Kara-Tsuyu, and their Albacore Tuna Tataki. Here's the review of the food: Spicy Tori Karaage: The chicken was breaded well and super crispy! If you like spicy, I definitely recommend this small plate to start out with! Our karaage had grilled shishito and was on a bed of slight garlic mayo and chili sauce drizzle which complements well with the crispy chicken. I wanted more, and would have been totally happy to get a bucket of this if they sold it . The only thing I wish they added was a small cup/bowl of the mayo/sauce since I am so used to my karaage from other places coming out with mayo/sauces separately. Kara-Tsuyu: I wasn't in the mood for a soupy ramen and tend to usually prefer dipping ramen. This is also a spicy dish as it comes with a dipping broth on the side. They also came with thick noodles (which I love) and I asked for it to be warmed up. I absolutely loved my ramen with the dipping broth as it had a good amount of kick and was definitely flavorful. I even dipped my karaage in it because it was so good I would definitely order this again! Albacore Tuna Tataki : When the plate presented itself the presentation was okay; however you get 4 pieces of seared albacore and I didn't find that fulfilling. The albacore was pretty thin, and overall it tasted good with the ingredients complementing each other. But, I wouldn't order it again because of the quantity you get for the price you pay for. I have gone to other sushi restaurants with a similar dish like this and they have had given more pieces than this which I find better and worth it. read more

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Stopped in for a late lunch mid afternoon on a Saturday. Just me another guy at the far. The place was empty but we were promptly attended to with good service through out. I didn't order any alcohol but they had a pretty expansive bar. I started with a hamachi roll while I waited on some tonkatsu shio ramen. Nothing fancy about the sushi roll but it satisfied the craving. The ramen was excellent. Rich but not overpowering broth and wasn't too thick. The pickled ginger added a nice touch. Would return and try other items if I'm in the area read more

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First time trying Afuri! I heard good things about this place from my friends. We came in on a Sunday evening for dinner. Service was attentive and courteous. The drinks and food were great! I decided to try the tsukemen here. It was decent! Shared the soft shell crab bun and kaarage, which were also good too. The drinks here are smooth and delicious! Our bartender said it was her first day there but she did a great job! I would come back the next time I'm in town! read more

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I've heard wonderful things about this place and am glad I was finally able to try it. We tried their spicy karaage, tonkatsu shio, tonkatsu tantan, and the corn/eggplant fritters. The flavor on the karaage was good - I do wish it was a bit crispier but overall really good. The shio had really good flavor - the garlic oil added a wonderful depth to it. The chashu was ok and could've used more char to it in my opinion. The fritters were crispy and really unique. The location is beautiful with an open kitchen concept that I really liked. Service was great and they were super helpful and quick with service. I'd admit it was a bit pricey - $61 for everything. But overall I think it was worth the stop. read more

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Our family loves this place. It's so kid friendly and they always have great service and good food and drinks. My husband and son love the ramen and I love any of the sushi and apps. Always order their homemade got sauce paste. read more

I come here often when it's convenient and I think it's very good! Their ramen is enjoyable and their NA drinks usually are too. The place itself had a good vibe to it as well. I recommend for anyone to try it out! read more

Afuri is a Japanese ramen and dumpling restaurant that opened locations in Portland due to our abundance of quality water. Like beer, water makes a big difference when it comes to making ramen broth. Plus, the bounty of PNW farms and produce make for other heat ingredients. The menu includes small plates, dumplings, donburi, ramen, and a few desserts. This location on NW 21st is pretty cool. It's very modern, with big glass windows, booth and bar seating, high ceilings, and an industrial feel. There is a small amount of outdoor seating near an electric fire pit. I came in with a big group and the service was great. Things were timed well, staff was friendly, and they had no problem splitting up the bill. read more

Afuri Slabtown - Menu - Jan 2023 - Ramen Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Drinks here are delish, as I really enjoyed their cocktails. The food especially their spicy karaage and tonkatsu ramen are superb. The servers are friendly and attentive. The environment is modern industrial with an open kitchen. I really like this place! read more

Afuri Slabtown - Ramen Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I had such a wonderful time joining the first (of many) get together with new people using the Yelp reservation technology for a large party. We walked up, of course in cold January, a little early but stood outside by the fire pit table. While there wasn't a lot of heat, it began to set the ambiance of the restaurant itself. Warm, inviting, and welcoming. We were kindly welcomed when we entered the restaurant, let them know we were with the Yelp reservation, and were quickly seated at a very long table. The one odd thing was that my husband elected to sit on the long bench, while I was across from him on a chair, and they put a table insert in after he sat down. He was locked in. While I think this created an ambiance of "togetherness" as individuals arrived, he was locked in for the evening. I think still having the option to get up and move about would have been more preferable. So nothing wrong with how they set up the event table, just a preference. The waiter was a bit amazing. I don't think I ever saw him take notes on our order, but he got remembered our order through the evening and got it right. However, I know that a few others at the table did not have the same experience. The food was better than good, but it also depended on the item ordered. My favorite by far was the Ikageso Karaage - fried squid, sweet soy sauce, shishito, chili sesame, chili threads, and lemon wedge, The squid was amazingly fresh!! The flavor melded together and melted in your mouth. We liked it so much, we ordered two (2) orders of the squid appetizer. The spicy chicken bun which consisted of a piece of fried chicken, spicy sauce, yuzu kosho egg salad, green onion, and pickled ginger was also good, but for a single chicken piece and bun, I thought it was a bit pricy for this single small serving that my husband and I split. We also had a shared order of edamame which was ok, but nothing special. I was not a fan of the seaweed salad with mushrooms, unfortunately. The biggest questions??? Would I come back? Absolutely. What would I try next time? Definitely a bowl of ramen which looked delicious (slightly spying on others who ordered ramen) and I would also be very interested in trying a larger variety of the dumplings, which looked amazing!! @Sarah C. - thanks for continuing to build community in Portland, OR, and helping us all get to meet new and fascinating people. It is so good to be out and enjoying the city and meeting new people. read more

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Our second visit to Afuri Slabtown did not disappoint. The first time we came for the ramen. Dreamed about it days after. Added the pancakes. Superb! This time we started with the spicy salmon roll. Tasty but what followed was even better. We both ordered from the donburi menu. Bothe the karaage and the albacore were exceptionally scrumptious! And then, there was the Basque cheesecake. To die for! I cannot wait to come back a third time!! The service was delightful, the atmosphere just right for a Monday night out. read more

Japanese cuisine... mostly ramens, rolls, and a few appetizers; plus beer, sake, and I think whiskey. I came just for a bowl of Tonkotsu Shio ramen which was okay. For a weekday evening they were doing good business. The Slabtown location is perfect. Service was good. It's a big place and does not have a unique ambiance. Worth trying at least once. read more

Afuri Slabtown - Tonkotsu Shio Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Great ramen place to bring a group of friends for a good time! Ambiance is super modern with the fire tables and open concept kitchen. Ramen is super flavorful and so many choices (servers were super helpful in explaining all of the options!). Also got some gyozas which were great and I had a yummy fruity gin cocktail. read more

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Love this Afuri location in the middle of Slabtown - such a great spot with lots of other restaurants and bar options around. I always get the tonkotsu tantan and it never disappoints. Their karaage and gyoza are also super good! And as always, amazing service. read more

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