Love love love Afuri! Yuzu flavor ramen is such a unique thing and I love that they do it so well here. The noodles are cooked al dente and the chashu is nice and smoky. Although I wish there was more than just one piece for the price I pay. The kaarage appetizer however, was very generous in the portion. I love the egg salad that it sat on top of. Chicken was crispy but very juicy inside. The hamachi roll was just ok. I'm not a fan of carrots inside my sushi. I wish the inside was a California roll or a different filling instead of just vegetables. Service was great! We sat at the bar and the waiter was very attentive and friendly. Parking situation is just ok. They do offer complimentary valet but you'll have to circle around a few times for self parking since there's so many restaurants here. read more

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Good ramen shop but portion sizes were smaller than I expected and typical of other shops. Decent amount of seating. Good service. Plenty of parking. read more

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came on a Saturday for lunch. place was busy. seemed like this place was the only place that was crowded. we waited for 20 min . It had a bar and few tables but you couldn't choose where you prefer to be seated bcos the tablet to put ur name under didn't give u that option. I was not sure what kind of ramen afuri was known for but since the first few choices were yuzu ramen kind, we all got that. we ordered the shio, Ratan and shoyu n tsukemen. I never really had yuzu flavor broth for ramen but it was definitely strong and we weren't used to such overpowering flavor. the ramen were good and we did select the yuzu flavor so I couldn't complain about it, even if I didn't like it. but, if u like yuzu then this is the spot. we also ordered Hamachi roll. portion was small. our service was pretty good and place was clean. however, I did have to admit it's on the pricier side. read more

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Got a drink and sashimi plate at the bar. Yuzu sour was so refreshing. Sashimi was delicious and just the perfect portion for a light early dinner. Service was great. Although not very spacious but cozy and comfortable. Lightings are just right. Perfect spot to hand out in summer. read more

Afuri - Sashimi Plate - Ramen Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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one hour wait on a friday night omg. they have a digital waitlist at the store only, no yelp waitlist. i guess bc they restaurant doesn't have a lot of tables (they do have bar seating) which is why the wait is so long. i got their signature yuzu shio and yuzu shoyou and honestly both are just okay. broth is def yuzu flavor and refreshing, but overall more savory than salty. i do feel like the portion is small, unfortunately i don't think i'll come back read more

Afuri - yuzu shio (left), yuzu shoyou (right) - Ramen Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I tried Afuri in Japan and was pleasantly surprised to see they opened a location in Costa Mesa. I was intrigued by their yuzu ramen offerings but remember that I don't love the yuzu shio. So I decided to try the yuzu-tsuyu instead and loved it. I got the noodles warm and it was a good choice. The texture was perfect - nice and chewy. The dipping sauce was balanced in flavor and had the right amount of yuzu. The kakuni pork was delicious though I wish it came with more. I added chicken chashu for more protein but wish I had added more kakuni pork instead. The egg was perfectly cooked and jammy. My friend and I shared the snap pea salad and the spicy ramen eggs. The snap pea is a smaller portion and nice for a light started. Highly recommend the ramen eggs. The eggs sit in this curry-like aioli and has a slight kick but it's really not very spicy at all. They know how to cook their eggs here, that is for sure. A couple of hiccups with the service - they forgot my friend's dipping sauce and forgot my spoon. But otherwise friendly. Restaurant space is small but aesthetically pleasing and reminiscent of what you'd find in Japan. Would return. read more

This is my favorite ramen spot in the states!! I don't like when ramen is too creamy/heavy. The broth here is so delicious - it's lighter with yuzu flavor. Their most popular item is the yuzu shiyo ramen, and it did not disappoint!! The yuzu made the broth refreshing and unique. The egg was also perfectly cooked. They only give one piece of chashu pork so they're not as generous with the toppings. But overall would definitely come back!! We came in a Wednesday at 830pm and waited around 10 minutes. Interior is casual but had an overall modern Japanese aesthetic. read more

Afuri - Ramen Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

We got seated right away even on a Sat evening! It was so beautiful in there, very intimate and peaceful. I like how there's bar seating or tables. We ordered the homemade ginger ale, the crispy tuna rice which was AMAZING, the citrus roll which I highly recommend, the crudo, the ramen, and the chirashi. We would definitely come back again! The service was very friendly too. Everything came out fast and well plated. read more

Been meaning to try this place ever since finding out they opened a location here in OC. It's located in the plaza where the 7leaves and Wanderlust Creamery is on Bristol Street. My partner and I went around 3pm and put our names down on the waitlist, had 10 parties in front of us, and got the text after 20 minutes that our table was ready. The seating area is pretty small but spacious enough to fit big parties. My partner and I sat at the bar area which was nice. The crispy ramen eggs were a delicious appetizer before we had our ramen. I got the yuzu shio and my partner got the tonkotsu shio. We were both really hungry and managed to finish our bowls. The broth for mine was citrusy yet subtle and the noodles were thin which I loved but overall a good bowl of ramen. Will definitely be back to try more of the small plates, sushi, and other ramen options!!! read more

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

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My friend and I love ramen so we decided to try out Afuri. The parking is always very easy to find parking, and the wait on a Sunday afternoon for lunch is not bad at all for a group of 2. We got the yuzu shio ramen and yuzu shoyu ramen. The shio is definitely lighter and compliments the yuzu flavor very well, but the shoyu ramen is bolder in flavor so it would just depend on a person's personal taste in ramen. The pan fried gyoza definitely tastes fresh and handmade. If you're wanting to try something new and different, Afuri is the place to go. Ambience is very chill, and the staff are efficient. The check in process, I'll admit, is a little ridiculous though. Their check in machine is not that responsive so it takes three times the effort and time to even put in your phone number to check in. Overall it's not exactly my new favorite spot that I'll rave to everyone about, but it's definitely a safe choice to take your family out, catch up with friends, or go on a date. read more

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Honestly, kinda mid. The yuzu in the ramen doesn't really shine anywhere, and the ramen is small given the price. Karaage was good but not enough for me to want to come back by myself. Service is great though read more

Happened to notice Afuri during their soft opening while visiting another shop in the plaza and decided to wait for a table. It sounded vaguely familiar to me until the wait staff confirmed it's the same Afuri chain in Tokyo. We sat at the bar and ordered their trademark ramen - both classic and spicy. Both were great! The yuzu flavor is strong in the classic and less noticeable in the spicy. I could definitely see this as my preferred ramen during the summer. The portion was ok, maybe a little smaller than usual. The noodles were excellent. I am not sure if I would want to wait a long time for a table but I was happy with the food and service. read more

Just tried this newly opened ramen spot and we already know we'll be back soon! We ordered the yuzu shio ramen, kids ramen, tsukemen, and a few appetizers, and everything was delicious. I'm usually not a big ramen person because a lot of ramen feels too heavy or oily for me, but this place was surprisingly refreshing and light while still being super flavorful. They let you choose between a soba-style thin noodle or thick noodle, and honestly all of us preferred the thin noodles. One thing I really appreciated was how clean and comforting the soup tasted -- I had no problem letting my kid drink it too. The staff were also incredibly friendly and attentive even though the restaurant was very busy. You can tell everyone is working really hard. Overall we enjoyed everything a lot and are excited to come back again soon! read more

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

This lot is ebb and flow but usually plenty of parking. I came last Thursday at noon and they had a line outside, I opted to comeback today and sneak in earlier. 1115 was perfect and I sat right away. Friendly service ready to answer questions as needed. I was after the Yuza Shoyo as I have not tried a Yuza ramen and was curious. I tend to lean pork broth but this was nice for a change and I enjoyed it. I think its one my wife is going to love. I dont drink much anymore but I did enjoy the bar set up, they had some nice looking stuff on display. Looks like they have a lot to make and a couple frozen drink makers that had me curious. The menu looked to have much more than ramen, I was after ramen today, Im also looking forward to trying some other items. I also want to try the tonkotsu to really compare them with my local favorites. Service was great, ambiance was pleasant everything new and nice. I was in and out pretty quick and enjoyed what I ordered today. read more

Had our eye on this location because it replaced Ikkousha, our favorite ramen joint before it went downhill and ultimately closed down. Afuri definitely fills the void! The signature yuzu shoyu is a unique and refreshing flavor that kept each slurp very interesting. Comes with thin noodles. The tonkotsu tantan broth is also very rich and flavorful with a kick. It comes with slightly thicker noodles and was extremely satisfying. Still in soft opening but it seems like a very cute ramen shop. Extremely limited seating so I imagine it will get very busy. read more

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The quality of the ramen was great and I love that they have interesting flavors like yuzu shio, yuzu shoyu, tan tan men, etc. Usually those types of flavors are only in Japan so it's nice to have it in the OC! The reason I'm taking off a star is because of, the wait. We were told the wait was 20-30 min, and it ended up being longer than an hour. PLEASE Afuri, make an online wait list on yelp or your website. The restaurant is quite small so this would help your business and the wait time immensely! Another reason I'm taking off another star is because of the price/amount. My tonkotsu tantan was $20. The ramen is kinda small and skimpy on the toppings. Disappointed there was no egg (had to pay $2.50 for one) and they don't allow any substitutions either read more

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

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No remote waitlist or reservation . I went on a Saturday around 3pm and waited about 45 minutes for a table for two, which felt a bit long for an off-peak hour. if I'm waiting during off-peak hour, I'd expect the food to be mind blowing. Quiet, and well lit, has an open kitchen setting. Price-wise, it's reasonable for the quality. The food is good and well-executed, but nothing particularly memorable or crave-worthy. It's the kind of place you'd return to if you happen to be in the area and there's little to no wait--but not somewhere I'd go out of my way for. I got the Yuzu shio. Very light soup base so you don't feel as heavy after eating a whole bowl, which I'm assuming thats why they're popular! I guess it could use another piece of chashu in the ramen and I wish it was more tender. Karage has a thin batter and not the super crispy kind. It has an egg salad sauce on the bottom that went very well with the chicken! It was my personal favorite of what I ordered today. You can skip the tofu, it's underwhelming! read more

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Afuri Ramen has finally landed in Orange County, and for ramen enthusiasts who have made the effort to their LA locations, this is a very exciting news. The menu spans the full spectrum. Their signature Yuzu Ramen with clean, citrus chicken broth is deeply complex. For those spicy lovers, you will love the Tonkotsu Tantan (what I order this time) for its rich, spicy and layered flavor. They also offer Tsukemen (dipping noddle) for those that wants concentrated flavor without compromise. I paired my spicy Tantan with Tori Karaage and a glass of Yuzu Sour this time. The fried chicken was crispy and well seasoned, one of my favorite. And the Yuzu Sour was very refreshing, perfect to wash down the spicy creamy tonkotsu broth. Afuri isn't just another ramen shop. It has a refined, yuzu foward, izakaya vibe. For the many times I have visit Afuri, the taste is consistently Great. read more

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Most popular yuzu ramen chain Afuri from Japan finally opened its new location in Costa Mesa CA Yuzu tsukemen/dipping ramen is most popular. Different from ramen with broth tuskemen has more yuzu flavor from the dipping sauce. Comes with chashu pork and veg. I wanted to try their gyoza but it was sold! So I got Wagyu beef on sizzling plate which is a bite pricy but totally worthy! Big portion and juicy Wagyu meat. Smells so good~ Their Yuzu cocktail was delicious as well, with a refreshing citrus taste. Restaurant offers tables and bar seatings. Friendly stuff with fast service. read more

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We are so happy Afuri finally opened in OC! Brought kids there during their soft opening. Besides ramen, the kids' favorite was the fried egg and we had to add one more order. The sashimi was fresh, and the soft shell crab was so yummy! The staff were all friendly and helpful. We liked the ambiance as well. Plenty of parking, and it is next to a lot of other popular dessert and shopping spots! read more

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It's always exciting to see chains from Japan come into OC, and with their speciality being yuzu flavors I had high hopes. The restaurant is pretty small but they do offer bar seating for less of a wait. I went on a Thursday night and waited around an hour for a table for 3. For drinks we got a yuzu sour and a frozen yuzu lager, both had that delicious yuzu flavor. I love that they serve the yuzu sour in a cup you would get in Japan. The lager was really good and the frozen part on top was a great way to keep the beer cold for our entire dinner. We ordered the spicy karaage for an appetizer, and it definitely has a kick. I think it could have been crunchier/crispier but the flavors were good. Although the menu says it comes with egg salad, the spicy version just comes with a spicy sauce (for an extra $1). Onto the entrees! The Yuzu shoyu had a strong yuzu flavor that matched well with the typical shoyu broth. I always prefer thin ramen noodles so it was nice it was paired with that. While it was good I think the broth was a little bland and depended a lot on the yuzu for flavor. The tonkatsu tantan was very rich and creamy and it was paired with thicker noodles that matched the heaviness of the dish. This one also could have had a bit more flavor outside the spice and richness, we also probably would have switched to thin noodles instead. The yuzu tsuyu tsukemen was my personal favorite, the dipping broth was much more flavorful and with the cold noodles and citrus flavors it didn't feel as heavy and was almost refreshing. Definitely recommend. I took a star off because they have a separate waitlist based on the size of your party and as a party of 3 we waited around 55 minutes with only two tables in front of us the whole time. However, the waitlist for 1 to 2 people were only waiting around 15-20 minutes. Overall we really enjoyed the drinks and a couple of the dishes, will probably return once the hype dies down and probably only in a party of 2. read more

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Come here for lunch with my coworkers. We were seated immediately, the server was attentive and the food was served promptly. I got the Yuzu Rattan ramen. It was spicy enough to be enjoyable and the yuzu flavor was refreshing. read more

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

One of the best ramen around, bar none. Dishes taste clean, many with Yuzu. Ramen is cooked to perfection. Delicious appetizers and fun drink selections. read more

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The place is clean and quick with attentive staff. I ordered 2 items - The Yuzu Shio Ramen and the Soft Shell Crab handroll. The ramen was fragrant and the broth was clear but the broth is very citrusy so if you love lemon, you will love this. The softshell crab handroll was the star of the show for me, the flavor of the soft crab with the crispy outside on the seaweed was delightful. It was worth the taste and I would get it again. Overall pleasant experience! Would like to try their Tsukemen or more savory noodle dishes next round! read more

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The Costa Mesa location is too cheap on the yuzu juice/flavor. Having actually had Afuri in Tokyo, I loved the strong yuzu flavor and the Yuzu Ratan is actually sour. I understand people here who aren't used to yuzu may be turned off by how strong and sour it should be, but for those of us who've had Afuri in Japan, I wish they'd stay true to flavor. Even the LA location, while also weaker than Afuri in Kapan in terms of yuzu flavor, makes it stronger than this location. And when I asked for extra yuzu juice on the side, I was charged for it. The LA location doesn't charge for it. read more

Will preface this review, this was my first meal of the day at 10pm so I was hungry. The restaurant recently opened in place of Hakata Ikkousha, which was one of my more frequented ramen restaurants in the area so I was curious of the new replacement. Entering at 10pm there was no line at 10pm which was nice, we were sat immediately and the service was quick. I ordered the Yuzu Ratan, which is a spicy yuzu chicken broth ramen, and my girlfriend ordered the tonkatsu shio, which is a tonkatsu broth with shio tare. I ordered mine with extra noodles because I was so hungry. We also ordered a side of the soft shell crab tempura. The food came out very quickly and the immediate highlight was the softshell crab tempura. The tempura batter was light and crispy, and the crab complimented it so well, along side the yuzu dipping sauce. 10/10 would recommend. It came as an order of 2 pieces which was perfect for us. The ramen came out, slightly above room temperature, not piping hot, but the flavor of the yuzu was very pleasant. A unique offering, the yuzu flavor really paired well with the chicken broth, and melded into a wonderful flavor. The chashu was well cooked, and the egg was perfectly jammy. The tonkatsu was fatty, and full of flavor. It did remind us of the god fire flavor of Hakata. Overall the yuzu ramen was much more of a standout and I would recommend trying one of those before going straight to a tonkatsu. Again, I was hungry, but I ordered an extra side of noodles, but that was not filling at all. They said my side was already added to my bowl, and I honestly couldn't tell, I thought that was the normal size and the side of noodles would be presented to me afterwards but it wasn't. Definitely if you're hungry, I would order more than just a singular bowl. Overall the experience was good, the food was worth trying, and if you have to get something I highly recommend the soft shell crab read more

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Unique ramen flavors, but don't think it was anything spectacular. We ordered a yuzu shio and a yuzu shoyu. The yuzu shoyu was a bit too sour for my liking, but the shio was good. The inside of the restaurant felt clean and nice, service was good. Only reason I'm docking a star is because I don't think it was really worth it for the portion size and flavor. read more

Saw that this new location was gaining some social media attention and, since I do enjoy a good bowl of ramen, I decided to give it a try (never had it at any other locations). We got the Yuzu Shio since hearing that this is a very popular option, and also the Tonkotsu Tantan with added pork chashu. Yuzu Shio was very light and refreshing, using a chicken broth base that felt very clean, but with so much flavor - definitely something that you can just keep sipping on. Tonkotsu tantan was a pork bone broth base, very rich and creamy, with a little bit of a kick from the spice. They were both good, and I typically gravitate towards a tonkotsu ramen, but I would say that the Yuzu Shio was the standout and I get why it's so popular. Would come back for that again and possibly try another one of their other yuzu options. Great service and, though we got lucky finding parking, it's located in a plaza with lots of restaurants so I could see it getting quite busy. read more

Afuri - Ramen Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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If you want to try a lighter, almost refreshing ramen definitely try this place out. Noodles were cooked perfectly and their yuzu shio is one of the most interesting ramens I've tried. Staff were super friendly and helpful as well (I got a chance to practice my broken japanese lol). And if you don't want a yuzu ramen, they have traditional tonkotsu ramen also. Karaage was different but excellent as well. ごちそうさまでした！ read more

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

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First time here to dine with my family in this ramen / sushi place. Ordered Tori karaage ,yuzu shio, yuzu shoyu, yuzu tsuyu , tonkatsu shio . Food is great and delicious however Service sucks!!!!! Servers were rude, they ignored us you on top of that they forgot our karaage and we are almost done eating right before they can serve our appetizer . We have to wait 5-10 mins our water to be refilled and ask for napkins!!! Prietty expensive for a small portion of ramen serve.... Poor service Overall!!! read more

Honestly just a little disappointing all around. We were seated promptly on a Monday at 6. The server went over the menu with us which was nice! After a few minutes she came back to take our order. When she took our order she informed us that several things were out of stock including 2 of the main proteins for the ramen. Why didn't she review this with us when she reviewed the menu? We received our order and everything was good and fresh. However, the Chashu portion was incredible stingy. Only 1 slice! Also only half a ramen egg. With competitors in the area like Ramen Nagi, and Hironori, I'm not sure their unique broth will be enough to bring me back. Also, they don't accept Amex. Not their fault but this always sucks. read more

Wanted to try this place out because they replaced my favorite ramen restaurant but turned out to be very underwhelming :( We started off with the chicken karage and it came out cold and soggy. The egg salad under it was good, but couldn't save the chicken. The ramen was good, nothing special. The tonkotsu shio came with one slice of meat and a little bit of mushroom and ginger. The hazelnut tan tan had good flavor but was lacking. Service was great though! They were very nice, but probably would not return again. read more

Afuri - Hazelnut tan tan (back) and tonkotsu shio (front) - Ramen Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Went back to Afuri Ramen for a second visit and it definitely lived up to the first! I had to get the Yuzu Ratan again. This time we also tried a few more starters, and they did not disappoint. The fried chicken was juicy and full of umami! A must order. We got there around noon on a Saturday, line was expected but they text you when the table is almost ready so that's a plus. Service was just as friendly and efficient, and everything came out quickly even during a busier time. read more

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I visited afuri during a busy weekday lunch and ordered the Yuzu Ratan. The pork was sweet and flavorful, perfectly complementing the refreshing yuzu broth, which had a nice tang without being overly spicy. I only had to wait about 10 minutes, which is pretty reasonable given the lunch rush. The service was excellent--warm and friendly, which made the meal even more enjoyable. Overall, it was a satisfying experience, and I would happily return for another bowl of that delicious Yuzu Ratan. read more

Not ready yet. As it presents and operates currently, AFURI is not yet ready. My friends and I were eager to try this new ramen restaurant boasting its origins from Japan and already established domestic locations, but unfortunately we were left with an overall upsetting experience. The space is small with limited seating (counter seating and a row of tables) so we joined the waitlist with 4 tables of medium parties (parties of 3-4) ahead of us. We waited 1 hour and 20 minutes and then noticed that on the waitlist website it stated "Online Waitlist has been expired." Maybe the system they use just automatically deletes waitlists over an hour, idk. However, we never got a follow up text regarding our status or an available table. We had to go inside and alert one of the staff of the issue and luckily a table of 3 had just finished and cleared out so we got seated finally. They definetely need to switch to the Yelp waitlist system and should look into enabling the online waitlist and/or reservation system like the LA, Brooklyn and Oregon locations ASAP. Unfortunately it seems like the long wait times are partly due to the understaffing of the restaurant and lack of urgency from the staff. There was I think 3 FOH total, with one server also handling expo on top of everything else. I think operations could be smoother with even one more person, maybe a dedicated expo or a dedicated host on a busy night such as the weekend. We ordered 1 yuzu shio and 2 yuzu shoyu, which was reflected on the receipt, however we received 2 yuzu shio (with one spoon missing) and 1 yuzu shoyu. In regards to the ramen itself it was average, but nothing to write home about compared to the other great ramen spots in OC. I will give props to their noodles however, pretty good texture! As it stands right now, I would hesitate to recommend this spot as it stands now. I would feel more inclined to suggest and dine at other established spots like Ramen Nagi, Hiro Nori, Kitakata Ban Nai, Ramen Tsukemen & TAO, etc. Hopefully AFURI can work out its kinks (im sure it's wonderful in Japan!), but until then a return will be unlikely. read more

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Ramen was delicious. I got the spicy one with the citrus flavor, substituted the pork for chicken and added green onions. Service was good. The second our water canister was empty, they changed it out right away. The ambiance was nice. Went for lunch so I was not able to enjoy a beverage, but I will be back... read more

Yuzu shio is definitely a hit. Super recommend the spicy karaage. Great service. Was about a 45 minute wait on a Sunday night but worth it. read more

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Afuri, the fine ramen spot from Japan just opened in OC! Known for their yuzu ramen, and it's definitely a must-try. I've been to their LA locations a few times and really like the Yuzu Ratan. Broth is flavorful yet not overly salty like traditional ramen. It also has a nice refreshing yuzu kick. My friend got the Yuzu Shio as a lighter option for its pure, clean yuzu flavor. Plus, their noodles are all made in-house. The service was fast and attentive. Love the atmosphere here and really liked the bar seating super chill vibe and great if you're dining solo! $25-$30 /person Can't wait to be back again for their cocktails! read more

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Light but flavorful chicken broth. Drank the soup, bamboo shoots strips are a good match. Of course the Chai Siu is nice and tender. read more

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

Bad service Won't even give me extra dipping sauce for my cold noodles after I spilled half of it. Made it sound like I was asking for them for Gold. Not worth the wait, and the waiter staffs are not friendly. I don't put up with shit attitude like that. read more