AFURI IZAKAYA

AFURI IZAKAYA, modern Japanese cuisine in Southeast Portland

AFURI IZAKAYA is a Japanese izakaya-style restaurant located in Southeast Portland, Oregon. Its offering combines traditional and contemporary Japanese cuisine, with a menu that ranges from ramen and sushi to small plates, hot and cold dishes, charcoal-grilled preparations, and housemade desserts. The company presents itself as AFURI's first location opened outside Japan.

The restaurant describes its cuisine as a high-quality experience in which every dish, whether ramen, sushi, or a small plate, is executed with a high standard of technique and finesse. The menu relies on fresh, seasonal ingredients.

Ramen with a distinct identity

Ramen is one of the cornerstones of the house. AFURI describes it as having light, crisp flavors, balancing depth and richness. The broth is made with naturally derived umami and layers of aroma from fresh, high-quality ingredients. The restaurant notes that it includes vegan and gluten-free ramen options to accommodate dietary restrictions, with the idea that authentic Japanese ramen should be accessible to everyone.

Sushi, sashimi, and sustainably sourced fish

Fresh, sustainably sourced fish runs through much of the menu: sushi, sashimi, small plates, and rice bowls. The company explains that it selects fish based on sustainability, quality, and freshness, and handles it with care to highlight its natural qualities. Among the preparations mentioned are sashimi, thin slices of raw fish; nigiri, with raw fish atop an oval-shaped bed of seasoned rice and toppings chosen to complement it; and rolls, with sushi rice, raw fish, and other fillings wrapped in nori seaweed. In addition to the core menu, the restaurant offers daily specials with items sourced directly from the Toyosu fish market in Tokyo, depending on the season.

Beyond ramen and sushi

The offering is completed by a wide range of hot and cold dishes, charcoal-grilled preparations, and desserts, with elements of traditional and modern Japanese cuisine and refined technique. The company frames the whole as an izakaya experience, with a variety of dishes inspired by Japan's izakayas.

From Tokyo to Portland: water as the argument

The choice of Portland for its first opening outside Japan responds, according to the company, to a specific factor: soft water from a pure, nearby source. Mount Afuri in Japan has long been considered a sacred place of harvest, and its particular geography produces spring water ideal for making ramen. According to the restaurant, Portland's ecosystem produces water very similar to that of its Japanese locations. In addition to that water quality, the availability of local farms and producers in the Pacific Northwest makes it possible to create high-quality ramen and Japanese cuisine.

Service and in-store experience

The restaurant welcomes walk-in parties of all sizes and offers dine-in service. Its website allows managing reservations and the waitlist, placing online orders, and purchasing electronic gift cards, as well as checking their balance. The company also offers catering and event services, and has an onigiri line under the name Onigiri Kome.

Team and working conditions

AFURI IZAKAYA presents its project as a way to share ramen culture and maintain an everyday cultural connection. The company declares its support for sustainable water management and initiatives to secure natural resources for future generations, and states that it uses ramen as a gateway to convey its interest in the culinary craft, sustainability, and community involvement. Among the benefits it offers its staff, it mentions health insurance, vacation time, a 401k plan, employee discounts, staff meals, gifts, and bereavement leave.

Location and contact

923 SE 7th Ave. Portland, OR 97214 · Email: info@afuri.us