Category: noodles

AFURI Ramen

Rating
9.5/10

Wait
5 Minutes

Value
$14 per dish

Where
Portland

Tonkotsu Shio
Creamy and decadent are just some of the words that can describe this dish – imagine Shin Ramen Black but x1,000,000. The pork broth has a richness and depth which makes every sip sinful. The noodles are think and cooked to have the “QQ” texture. The Chasu is thinly sliced so that it will melt in your mouth. The soft boiled tea egg is cooked perfectly with the yolk slightly runny. I can go on and on about each component of the dish, but it’s better if you just order it. 

Buta Gyoza
I’m a huge proponent of thin skin dumplings and Afuri has some of the thinnest skins. Not only are the skins thin, Afuri is still able to get that nice crunchy layer. The most interesting thing about the dish is probably the presentation as it’s is served in a pin wheel fashion, bottom side up.

What I’ve learned from my brief stay is Portland is that the city does beer, coffee, and Asian food very well. Being a cold and rainy day, ramen definitely came to our mind. Afuri being close by, we decided to try it out. Straightaway, Afuri is not a esoteric ramen joint where there is only Japanese staff, this is more of the millennial hipster place with full sleeve tattoos, Scandanavaian-esque interior, and Western staff. Albeit Afuri checks all the marks for being trendy, the food is amazing. 

Afuri space is minimal and stark. It follows the adaptive reuse design trend which combines exposing the old structure of the building and contrasts it with clean minimal wood furniture. In this case, the wood furniture are the large communal wood tables. It’s notable that the seating arrangements at Afuri are either counter/bar seating or “beer hall” style tables. A great feature of the space are the large windows, absence of walls (open kitchen), and high ceilings which make the space feel much larger than it is. 

When it comes to ramen, I’m all about the broth and noodles. Afuri has some of the most interesting and flavorful broths and the most “QQ” noodles. Reading the “About” section of Afuri, they pride there selection to open in Portland due to the “soft water” and the ecosystem being similar to that of the Afuri mountain in Japan. I usually take these self written theses with a grain of salt, but if “soft water” makes Ramen taste this good, I’m on the “soft water” band wagon.

Afuri is some of the best ramen I have ever had. My consensus is the “Portlanders” who rate this place low just tells me that this city must have some of the highest expectations when it comes to food. This tempts me to come back and visit Portland to explore more of the scene.

Website – https://afuri.us

Taiwan Bento

Rating
8.5/10

Wait
5 Minutes

Value
$11 per dish

Where
SF

Beef Noodle Soup
For me the broth is the most important part of the Beef Noodle Soup. Taiwan Bento’s broth has depth and a rich flavor with a note of sweetness from the relish. The noodles are medium thickness and cooked to the perfect “QQ” consistency. To nitpick, it would be awesome if some pieces of beef tendon could be thrown into the mix. 

Braised Pork Bento
A must order if you love pork belly. The pork belly consistency is perfect, the flavors are complex with savory mixed with a touch of sweetness, and the portions are quite generous. A nice addition to the braised pork is the cilantro garnish, which makes the overall dish feel a bit light and refreshing. The only random thing about the bento box is the edamame, not to sure why it’s added. 

When someone mentions a Taiwanese restaurant, you can count on me being there ASAP. We quickly headed over to the East Bay, and to our excitement Taiwan Bento serves up classic Taiwanese dishes. The menu has a good mixture of street market food like the Taiwanese Sausage, traditional dishes like Beef Noodle Soup, and the all to known Taiwanese soft drink Apple Sidra. 

What is quite noticeable about Taiwan Bento is how quick the service is. We probably received our order of Braised Pork Bento and Beef Noodle Soup within 5 minutes of ordering. Although we came on a weekend, I can imagine during a lunch rush hour the fast service can be a godsend. Don’t let the “quick service” deter you because the food is delicious. It hits all the right spots with flavor, generous portions, and affordable prices. 

Although the food is amazing, the overall space is a bit lacking. The space is lofted and if you’re sitting on the second floor and look down, you can see gigantic cobwebs between each of the beams. It seems as if they have never cleaned or dusted the space. Also, the area where the trays and dishes are returned seem to pile up and become a unsightly mess. It’s understandable that Taiwan Bento is a fast-casual take out joint, and also that not everyone has the luxury or budget to create an impressive space. However, simple things like keeping the space clean and managing the trash can have a significant impact on the dining experience. 

Overall, Taiwan Bento is a great restaurant with good tasting traditional Taiwanese food. I can’t wait to find another excuse to head back to the East Bay to try the other items on the menu. Hopefully by then, Taiwan Bento spruces up the interior a bit.

Website – http://www.taiwanbento.us