AFURI Ramen, a popular Tokyo-based ramen brand, announces its expansion into Texas with the opening of its first location in the Greater Heights neighborhood. Opening to the public on November 1, the new location will be in the new development space at 1215 N. Durham Drive, Suite B-100, Houston, TX 77008. It will occupy 3,600 and 800 square feet of interior and patio space, respectively. The restaurant is rooted in authentic Japanese flavors and will provide an extraordinary culinary and educational experience for guests.
“We are thrilled to bring high-quality, authentic Japanese cuisine to Houston. Texans now have the opportunity to experience Japan without catching a flight,” said Taichi Ishizuki, CEO of AFURI Ramen in a statement. “We can’t wait to introduce the Heights to the depth and tradition of our cuisine, and we hope to inspire a deeper appreciation for authentic Japanese flavors.”
AFURI Ramen first opened its doors in Japan in 2003 followed by its first United States outpost in Portland, Oregon in 2016. The restaurant has since amassed a strong following with 7 locations nationally, 28 locations internationally and plans to expand.
AFURI is named after a mountain in Japan’s Kanagawa Prefecture. Steeped in legend, Mt. Afuri is thought to be the father of Mt. Fuji and is associated with the gods of rain and thunder in Japanese mythology. Mt. Afuri has long been known for its pristine waters and is revered as a sacred mountain of good harvest. Drawn to its natural spring water and abundance of locally farmed ingredients, AFURI Ramen opened its first kitchen at the foot of the revered mountain and had the dream of bringing fine Japanese ramen to the rest of the world. In contrast to the numerous Japanese restaurants across the globe serving less traditional ramen made with lower-quality ingredients, AFURI aims to adhere to a high standard of quality and authenticity. Afuri stands out by using all GMO-free products and omitting MSG from all of their dishes. They further cater to their customers’ needs and preferences by offering vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options. Diners also have the ability to create their own unique ramen combinations.
The AFURI Ramen menu is centered around their signature Yuzu Shio ramen – a light, delicate broth made from a reduction of local chicken, dry fish, seaweed and vegetables to produce a layered, complex umami flavor with a hint of refreshing yuzu citrus. Other ramen highlights include the Tonkotsu Shio, a tonkotsu broth soup with scallions, kikurage mushroom, black garlic oil, chashu, pickled ginger, egg, sesame and thin noodles as well as the customizable ZEN ramen, a chicken broth soup with shio tare, thin noodles and garlic chips plus customizable toppings, meats and noodle substitutions.
AFURI’s Houston location will offer sushi, sashimi and handrolls. Menu standouts include the AFURI roll with salmon, avocado, cucumber, salmon caviar, tobiko, chives, fried leeks and sesame, the Tuna Handroll with tuna and cucumber, and an assortment of sashimi offerings such as Moriawase, Albacore, King Salmon, Tuna and Hokkaido Scallop.
Curated small plates include Tori Karaage with Japanese fried chicken, nanban sauce, yuzu kosho egg salad, shishito, house made furikake, chive and lemon, Hotate Carpaccio with scallop, yuzu vinaigrette, orange, tobiko, microgreens and chives, and Tuna Tartare with spicy tuna, chives, salmon caviar, yuzu kosho ponzu, micro greens, fried leeks, wasabi and gyoza chips. Guests can choose from a selection of Donburi, a traditional Japanese dish of steamed rice topped with various ingredients, such as the Albacore Don with hazelnut rayu , onion scallions, poke sauce or the Karaage Don with Japanese fried chicken, sweet chili soy sauce, mayo, sesame, scallion, pickled ginger and kizami nori. Dumpling offerings include flavorful options like Buta, Spicy Crispy Gyoza. Afuri’s featured dessert is the Basque Cheesecake – a hearty slice served with yuzu curd, whipped cream and candied hazelnuts. To complement each meal, AFURI Ramen will have a full bar with a selection of carefully crafted cocktails, sakes and whiskeys.
“We know what an authentic dish tastes like and we also know that AFURI is one of the first to bring these flavors into the city,” said Patrick Sun, Houston franchise owner. “Houston has such a diverse group of communities here and we wanted to ensure all can be included in this experience. That’s why our Houston menu features a variety of meat and broth selections and a gluten-free noodle.”
Encompassing a total of 4,439 square feet, AFURI Ramen features a modern, minimalist interior with impressive cuts of white oak and a large open-concept kitchen where guests can watch the noodle and broth-making processes from the comfort of their table.
AFURI Ramen will be open for lunch and dinner service from 11 am – 10 pm Sunday through Thursday and 11 am – 12 am Friday and Saturday.
